Personal Injury Blog – Law Offices of Goodman Acker

March is traumatic brain injury awareness month, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – along with our Detroit personal injury lawyers – wanted to take the opportunity to increase awareness regarding this poorly understood condition.

The fact is, it’s not just car accident victims that might suffer a brain injury. It happens every single day on playgrounds, sports fields, battle fields, construction sites and even on newly-mopped surfaces in restaurants and retail shops.

The Detroit Free Press recently published an article reporting on research completed by the Cleveland Clinic. The study found that college football players may experience significant and long-term brain damage due to repeated blows to the head – even when they haven’t suffered a concussion.

Scientists administered brain scans and took blood samples from nearly 70 college football players both before and after games throughout the 2011 season. What they found was that the 40 players who had taken the hardest hits to the heads measured elevated levels of an antibody that is closely associated with brain trauma – even though they did not have a diagnosed concussion. The brain scans of those players revealed abnormalities.

This strikes at the theory that concussions are the only cause of sports-related traumatic brain injury. It also may shed some light on the plight of others who have suffered head trauma as well.

And it underscores how much we don’t yet know about the science of the brain and how much more we have to learn about the causes of long-term damage. In many ways, our brains are remarkably resilient muscles, but in others, they are incredibly fragile and vulnerable.

The CDC indicates there are approximately 1.7 traumatic brain injuries every year, though that is likely a low estimate as not all incidents are reported.

The severity of a brain injury can range from mild to severe. On the low end of the spectrum, one would experience a brief change in either their level of consciousness or mental status. On the high end of the spectrum, there would be extended periods of unconsciousness, amnesia, loss of function or other long-lasting side effects.

Specifically, a traumatic brain injury could result in significant damage to your ability to think, taste, touch, smell, communicate, express and understand. It may also significantly impact your emotions, and many sufferers of TBI also report increased rates of depression, anxiety, aggression, social inappropriateness and personality changes.

It can also cause epilepsy and sufferers are at increased risk of early-onset Alzhemier’s and Parkinson’s disease.

Part of the reason TBIs are so concerning is many people don’t recognize when they have suffered one. For example, you could be in a car accident one day and walk away feeling generally fine, only to days later find yourself suffering from dizziness, confusion and severe headaches that are indicative of a TBI.

That’s why anytime you have suffered a blow to the head for any reason, it’s best to get it checked out by a doctor.

If you have suffered a traumatic brain injury in Detroit, contact the Law Offices of Goodman Acker for a free case consultation. Call 1-866-366-8567.

Michigan drivers over 65 years old have long been among the safest drivers in the state. Between 1998 and 2002 in Michigan, researchers discovered the number of crashes involving older drivers decreased by 6%, fatal and serious injury crashes decreased by 23%, and crashes in which an older driver had been drinking decreased by 27%.  And here’s another startling statistic: children are twice as safe when their grandparents are driving instead of their parents nationwide, according to a recent scientific study written about in Time Magazine.

Even so, even the safest drivers have accidents. Dealing with the aftermath of an accident can be a nightmare, especially if you’re injured by a reckless driver. Medical bills pile up fast. You might not be able to work. Your entire quality of life can instantly be disrupted. Take back control! Contact an experienced Michigan personal injury attorney focused on results. Contact the Law Offices of Goodman Acker. Our experienced Detroit personal injury lawyers are renowned throughout Michigan for their first-class service and precise attention to detail. We carefully examine the facts for every accident and go the extra mile to get to the truth. We then use this information to build a case with one goal in mind: to get you the compensation your rightfully deserve. Put your trust in a Detroit personal injury lawyer who puts people first. Contact the Law Offices of Goodman Acker.

Statistics involving older drivers are complicated. They wear seatbelts more than younger drivers. They’re involved in fewer drunk driving accidents. Even so, more than 500 people nationwide over 65 years old sustain injuries in auto accidents every day. And the odds of being involved in a fatal car crash increase every year for drivers over 75 years old across the country.

Knowing what to do after an auto accident can be confusing. Insurance companies often put pressure on injury victims to accept a settlement fast. Don’t be fooled. Insurance companies are not on your side. They work tirelessly to pay you as little as possible. Don’t let insurance companies push you around. Level the playing field. Put the power of a tough Michigan law firm in your corner. Choose the Law Offices of Goodman Acker. We mean business!

Applications for Social Security benefits hit a historic high in 2009. That year, more than 2.74 million people submitted applications for Social Security benefits, more than any year in the program’s 75 year history. Many people applied for Social Security since they wanted to collect retirement benefits at the earliest age possible (62 years old) due to fewer job opportunities as a result of the recession.

But Social Security benefits aren’t just for retirees. Did you know you can receive Social Security benefits if you’re younger than 62 years old for a variety of reasons? The most common reason why people under 62 years old receive Social Security benefits is for medical conditions which prevent them from working.

Two types of Social Security benefits are available for people with medical conditions: Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits and Social Security Income (SSI). You can receive SSD benefits if you have a medical condition expected to last at least one year and have worked a certain amount of time (varies by age) in the past several years. SSI is available to people who have not worked long enough to qualify for SSD benefits.

In both cases, the federal government routinely denies initial claims. The government rejects 60 to 70 percent of all first-time disability claims. The government may also try to not pay the maximum amount owed to a recipient. The entire process can sometimes take years and be extremely frustrating.

Don’t give up hope. You can appeal. You have rights. Getting money you’re legally entitled to receive can be difficult, but there are ways to make sure you get your Social Security benefits. You just need someone in your corner who understands the system. You need someone who knows how to get results. You need the Law Offices of Goodman Acker.

Serving clients throughout Michigan, Goodman Acker has years of experience successfully fighting for clients to receive their Social Security benefits. The government created this system to help those most in need. Let us help you. Contact Goodman Acker today. We’re on your side.

Accidents happen. But what happens if you get injured in your apartment or rented house? What if you slip and fall down the stairs because of a lose railing? Or you get electrocuted by faulty electrical wiring? Or maybe a poorly maintained driveway or sidewalk caused your injury? Who’s responsible? Who’s liable? Your landlord? Who will pay your medical bills? What about lost wages? What are your rights?

And what if you sustain an injury at work in a rented office? What if you’re a guest at your friend’s rented apartment and you get injured? What should you do? Questions often lead to more questions in tenant injury cases.

A landlord can often be held liable if authorities determine the landlord was negligent in maintaining the property. By law, landlords are required to safely maintain their property for tenants. This is especially true for maintaining public areas. Public areas include driveways, door steps and stairwells shared by more than one tenant.

Your lease could also play a big role in what happens. Some leases include liability exemption clauses. Often, an exemption clause only applies to the tenant. That means a landlord can be held liable for injuries to a third party on the property, even if there is an exemption clause. But exemption clause laws vary from state to state.

Tenant injury cases are complicated. Don’t leave yours to chance. Take action. Contact the Law Offices of Goodman Acker, P.C. today. At Goodman Acker, our experienced lawyers work tirelessly to get your family the compensation you’re entitled to and the justice you deserve.

You have rights. We can defend them. Don’t let insurance companies or landlords push you around. Contact Goodman Acker and take back control of your life.

Toyota’s defective break problem resulted in dozens of deaths, injuries and one of the largest vehicle recalls in American history. Since November, Toyota has recalled more than 9.9 million vehicles worldwide – including 8 million in the U.S. – for defects that caused unintended acceleration. Such defects have been blamed for 37 deaths nationwide since 2000.

To make sure similar deadly defects never happen again, lawmakers in Washington have drafted legislation requiring all automakers to install anti-runaway technology. Such improvements include brake override systems, stop-start technology and event data recorders.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also wants lawmakers to give the administration the power to instantly institute recalls of vehicles deemed to be a public danger. The safety administration wants the right to stop to the sale of vehicles deemed an “imminent hazard” to the public, temporarily eliminating the current public-hearing process.

Accidents happen. People get hurt. You life can change forever in an instant. Don’t leave your future to chance. If you own a defective Toyota vehicle or have been involved in an automobile accident, take action. Contact the law offices of Goodman Acker, P.C. When you chose us, you get knowledgeable automobile attorneys who understand every nuance of federal and state transportation laws. Our experienced lawyers will vigorously defend your rights and get you the compensation you are entitled to as a victim of an automobile defect or accident.

Don’t delay. Act now. We can help you get the justice you deserve.

Michigan recently outlawed texting while driving.  Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed the new texting law on April 30 live on ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show.’ Before, there were no restrictions on texting while driving in Michigan. Starting July 1, the new law will prohibit drivers from reading, writing and sending text messages while operating a motor vehicle.

What does the new law mean for you? If you caught texting while driving, the police can pull you over and ticket you.   First offense $100.00, second offense $200.00.

What does the new law mean for everyone else?  It means that the streets should be a little safer, and if you have an accident and you were talking or texting, it could cost you plenty.

Accidents are complicated. Laws change. You need expert advice. We can help. The seasoned, knowledgeable lawyers at Goodman Acker, P.C. know what to do if you are a victim of a texting while driving accident. We have years of experience successfully fighting for the rights of accident victims. Don’t let someone else’s reckless behavior ruin your life. Take action.