Medical Malpractice Matters – “Tort Reform”

Monday, April 19, 2010

During the legal career of an experienced Michigan personal injury lawyer, it is common to represent a number of clients who have sustained severe personal injury as a result of medical malpractice or a doctor’s negligence. Throughout the country, some legislators are trying to push for so-called “tort reform” that puts a cap on the amount that patients can receive from medical malpractice lawsuits.  Michigan has long had “tort reform” which places such caps on recoveries.  However, as many news sources have pointed out, this system leaves no safety net for people. Blogger Andrew Cohen commented, “A system where doctors are rich, patients have no guarantees, and only patients have to make sacrifices is unacceptable.”

The most important people to listen to are the millions of people who have suffered personal injury or died as a result of a doctor’s negligence or medical malpractice accidents. After going through the complex legal system, some of these people victimized by the results of “tort reform” in their particular state.   Such caps should be banned, including  “proposals like ‘caps’ on compensation for families who need funds to survive; one-sided use  of clinical guidelines as a means of removing accountability for providers; and proposalsl to involuntarily  remove cases from the jury system.    Keeping informed, and opposing these arbitrary and unfair limits is important. 

The Law Offices of Bredell and Bredell supports the victims and the families of victims of medical malpractice. A negligent doctor can cause lfie changing consequences for patients, including severe personal injury or death. Because medical malpractice can have such extreme outcomes, it is essential to contact a hard-working Michigan personal injury attorney for legal advice and legal representation immediately.  Call us today.

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MI Car Accident – Detroit Police Investigate Crash Involving a Shot Man

Throughout the career of an experienced Michigan personal injury lawyer, it is common to represent individuals who have sustained severe personal injury as a result of a car crash. However, in a  Detroit car accident, it is believed that one of the passengers in the vehicle causing the crash had been involved in a shooting minutes before.

Michigan State Police investigated the crash on the Southfield Freeway at Grand River. When the police officers arrived on the scene of the car accident, they noticed that something was just not right. According to Sgt. Nate McQueen, “There was a wounded man inside the vehicle… There had also been a shooting in Detroit, and he may have been a part of that shooting.”

According to the unidentified man, at the time of the car accident, he was being driven to the local hospital after being involved in an altercation outside of a Detroit nightclub. However, police are still investigating the case as there was also a shooting at a gas station located near the car accident scene. According to police, one thirty-five year-old man was  left dead at the scene, while a car sped off onto Southfield Freeway. The unidentified wounded man was rushed to the local hospital by ambulance.

The effects of car accidents are devastating–severe personal injury or death can occur as a result of negligent or inattentive driving. The Law Offices of Bredell and Bredell encourages all persons who drive on the roads to pay attention to the road at all times, and minimize all potential distractions including cell phones or the radio. If you sustain personal injury as a result of a car accident, a hard-working and trustworthy Michigan personal injury attorney will be able to provide answers to the many questions you will undoubtedly have. Therefore it is important to contact injury counsel for the best outcome for your case possible.

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Personal Injury Matters: Employee Accidents Can Leave Employers Liable

Friday, February 12, 2010

Throughout the career of a hard-working Michigan personal injury lawyer, it is likely to see claims of accidents caused by drivers who are not paying the utmost attention to the road. However, the situation becomes increasingly complicated when the car that caused the accident was a company vehicle–then, not only is the driver at fault, but so is the driver’s employer.

In recent years, personal injury claimants, as well as their personal injury attorney, have been pursuing lawsuits against both the driver of the company car, as well as the employer. In 1999, a motorcyclist was killed by an attorney who was on his company cell phone discussing sensitive legal matters with another lawyer. Because the attorney driving the car was using company resources, the firm paid the $500,000 wrongful death lawsuit settlement. A more recent example occurred in 2007, when an International Paper employee rear-ended a woman resulting in the loss of her arm. As the driver who hit her was in a company car using his business cell phone at the time of the car accident, International Paper was responsible for the multi-million dollar payout

As seen by the few examples above, employers are often held liable for personal injury caused to another due to their employee’s negligence while on company business. However, this could also hold true if the employee who caused the car accident was in a company car or in a personal vehicle. The real test for the court is whether the driver was engaged in “distracting” company business matters when the accident occurred. Additionally, if the company encourages or expects this type of business activity while in the car, then it could increase the likelihood that the organization will be held liable.

Basic agency law maintains that an employer is responsible for the torts that are caused by its employees if the worker was acting within the scope of his or her employment at the time. Additionally, many personal injury attorneys successfully argue that the employer is directly responsible for the negligent activities of their employer because they failed to implement proper practices or training techniques to prohibit this dangerous behavior.

The Law Offices of Bredell and Bredell encourages all drivers to pay attention to the road while driving, and to not use cell phones. Distracted driving can cause car accidents resulting in severe personal injury or death. Devastating injuries such as these can be life changing and have irreverseable consequences. For the best legal advice and legal representation, it is important to contact Bredell and Bredell,  experienced Michigan personal injury attorneys.

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Michigan Accident – Snowmobile Accident Kills Detroit Sisters

In snowy Michigan, snowmobiling is a beloved past time for residents of all ages. Even though it can be a fun activity, it can also be incredibly dangerous. As a Michigan personal injury lawyer, it is common to assist clients who have sustained severe personal injury in a winter recreational accident–much like the tragic example of the two Michigan sisters who were recently killed in a snowmobile accident.

According to Michigan State Police, Karen Schwarck, 59, and Edith Bonno, 57 were up north enjoying an annual winter festival on the island. After the festivities, they took a snowmobile ride on the trails of historic Mackinac Island, attempting to take photographs of the beautiful winter scenery. Schwarck’s husband Donald reported the two ladies missing when they did not return home by 10:15 that evening. Law enforcement officials found the two bodies at the bottom of a steep hill. Mackinac Island Police speculate that the women lost control of the snowmobile due to the snowy weather conditions. Furthermore, it is not believed that alcohol played a factor in this tragic recreational accident.

Snowy, winter weather creates an ideal environment for fun and exciting recreational activities. However, because of the slick conditions, it also creates a prime situation for recreational accidents to occur. As seen by the example of the two Detroit sisters, severe personal injury or death can ensue, even with the most experienced riders. It is important to eliminate as many distracting factors as possible, such as cell phones. Taking your attention off of the road even for a split second could cause a tragic accident. According to Michigan State Police, there have been at least fifteen other snowmobile accident fatalities since December, 2009. Therefore, this winter The Law Offices of Bredell and Bredell encourages all those participating in recreational activities this winter to pay attention and play it safe!

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MI Safety Matters: Car Accidents Caused by Winter Weather

During the legal career of an experienced Michigan personal injury lawyer, it is common to represent clients who have sustained severe personal injury as a result of a car accident. Unfortunately, auto accidents are even more likely to occur in the slick and icy winter months. 

Michigan State Police Trooper Aric Dowling was one of the many police officers in the state who responded to numerous accidents during the recent snowstorms.  Included in that group is a tragic car accident occurring yesterday morning on highway I-94. A Ford Focus driven by Ypsilanti resident, Tracy Guest, 35, slammed into a BMW while traveling eastbound. Then, the vehicle was t-boned by a Waste Management truck. Two passengers in the car and truck were sustained personal injury as a result of the car accident, and were sent to the hospital. Guest was not as lucky–as a result of the impact, she died at the scene of the car accident.

On one recent snowy day over 2,800 phone calls were placed for emergency road side services to AAA. The great number of emergency calls highlights some important stafety tips regarding driving in Michigan winter weather. As the roads may be slick, icy, or not completely plowed it is possible for the car to spin out or slide. Therefore, it is vital that all drivers on the snowy roads pay the utmost attention to the road, reduce their speed, and keep an assured clear distance at all times.   All distractions, such as cell phones or iPods will only increase the likelihood of a car accident occurring.

The Law Offices of Bredell and Bredell encourage every Michigan driver to exercise extreme caution while on the roads this winter. Slower speeds, paying attention to the road, and wearing a seat belt are three important tips that can be the difference between life and death in the event of a car accident. As seen by the example of Tracy Guest, severe personal injury or death can occur as a result of car accidents in winter weather. Should you or a loved one sustain injury in an auto accident, it is important to contact us, your hard-working and trustworthy Michigan personal injury attorneys.

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