Mazda Recalls 193,000 SUVs

On August 5, 2015, Mazda announced that they are recalling their biggest SUV in order to fix suspension parts that easily rust and come loose, sometimes causing a loss of steering control, a defect that could potentially increase the risk of auto accidents. According to Click On Detroit, the recall covers more around 193,000 CX-9 SUVs in the United States from the 2007 through 2014 models. Specifically, Mazda said in documents filed with the U.S. Safety regulators that front ball joints can rust from water leaks and separate from the suspension.

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The ball joints of the vehicle allow the wheels to pivot when the steering wheel is turned, and without this feature functioning properly the driver can lose control of the steering and potentially cause an auto accident. Mazda dealers will replace the ball joints on both sides of the vehicle. Owners of the older models in states where salt is used to clear roads will receive their repairs first. During June 2015, the NHTSA opened an investigation on this issue, and have recently come to the conclusion that a recall is necessary. No crashes or injuries have been reported so far from this issue.

This isn't Mazda's only recall of the year. Exactly one month before this recall, on Friday, June 5, 2015, according to CBS Detroit, Mazda announced that they were recalling nearly 540,000 cars and pickups in the US and Canada. The reason for this recall was because of defective airbags on the driver's side of the car. 503,000 cars had an issue with the driver's side airbags and 35,000 pickup trucks had a similar issue with the passenger side airbags.

If you have been injured in a car crash involving a recall or defective car, call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Our accident attorneys are here to help you with questions about insurance problems, medical expenses, and pain and suffering benefits as allowed by Michigan law. Call us today, at 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation.

Continental's Automated Car

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Continental Automotive's highly automated vehicle can handle multiple aspects of driving including stop-and-go traffic, highway cruising and steering, and can even safely slow down and maneuver around objects. According to the Detroit News, the car is filled with technology to help the car drive on it's own including a long range radar, four short range radars, four small surround-view cameras, as well as a camera attached to the windshield that looks ahead for cars, objects, pedestrians, etc. The technology can help the vehicle detect blind spots, automatically brake, and restart in highway traffic jams, while actively attempting to avoid car accidents. Despite all of the technology, from the outside, the car looks exactly like a Chrysler 300.

“I know the car has everything under control,” said demonstration driver Ibro Muharemovic, Continental’s head of advanced engineering. Continental is demonstrating its vehicle during the Center for Automotive Research’s Management Briefing Seminars here. “It sees everything around me, it sees everything in front of me and it’s able to proactively, not reactive, but proactively avoid anything that’s happening.”

The inside of the automated car looks fairly normal, besides a bar that runs along the dashboard, which lights up different colors to show what mode the vehicle is in. In addition to this, there are multiple screens in the car, one with the GPS system and important information for the driver such as the current road's speed limit, and a third which shows the camera view of what is in front of the vehicle. With technology advancing and company's like Continental making progressive in the automated driving area, vehicles could possibly be seen with this new technology in the next several years.

If you have been injured in a car or motorcycle crash, call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Our accident lawyers specialize in all types of auto accident cases. Call 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation today.

Teenager Killed In Distracted Driving Crash

On Monday, August 3, 2015, a teenager was killed in Gerorgetown Township, Michigan, in a multi-vehicle crash due to a driver being distracted by his GPS system and a sandwich he was eating at the time. According to CBS Detroit, the Ottawa County Sheriff's office says the victim of the auto accident was a 13-year-old boy named David Talsma from Hudsonville, Michigan.

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The victim was the passenger in a Totyota van driven by a 16-year-old when the motor vehicle was struck by a Chevrolet pickup truck on I-196 in Gerorgetown Township. The driver of the pickup truck was a 40-year-old man from Crown Point, Indiana. He told the police that he was eating a sandwich and looking at his GPS device at the time of the accident. He admitted to being distracted and said he didn't realize that traffic was slowing down for a construction zone. In addition to the Toyota van and the Chevy pickup truck, three more vehicles were involved in the car crash. Although five vehicles being involved in the accident, the 13-year-old was the only one killed. Several passengers suffered injuries. 

Distracted driving leads to motor vehicles accidents around the world each day, especially within the state of Michigan. Distracted driving consists of texting and driving as well as using your GPS device and eating while driving, both of which we saw in this car crash. Anything that causes the driver to take their eyes of of the road is considered distracted driving. According to the Official US Government Website For Distracted Driving, in 2013, 3,154 people were killed in motor vehicle accidents involving distracted drivers, and in addition to this, 424,000 people were injured.

If you have been injured in a car or motorcycle accident as a result of distracted driving, contact a lawyer at The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Our accident attorneys are experienced in handling all types of car and motorcycle crashes. Call 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation today.

GM Offers $1 Million To 124 Families For Ignition-Switch Deaths

In November 2014, General Motors recalled over 2 million Chevrolet Cobalts and other small cars for an issue regarding the ignition system in the motor vehicles. The ignition switches were faulty, and could unexpectedly lead to the engine of the car turning off, thereby causing auto accidents. This issue so far has lead to 124 deaths, 14 serious injuries, and 237 minor injuries. In 2014, GM spent over $3 billion on recalls, as well as additional money in order to compensate for the victims related to the faulty ignition switch.

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Recently, General Motors completed a review of 4,342 claims and declared 124 deaths eligible for at least $1 million. According to the Detroit Free Press, those eligible for compensation have 90 days to accept or reject the offer. As of now, not all offers that have been accepted have been payed. These claims were filed by families of people who either died or were injured by the ignition switch issue, which in addition to unexpectedly turning the engine off, could also cut electrical power to steering, air bags, and other functions of the car.

GM said last month that they have set aside $625 million in order to compensate families, and as of July 17, the company has paid out $280 million. Those families who filed claims in the 124 death cases will receive a minimum of $1 million settlements each. The settlement amount could be larger, depending on the age of the person killed, his or her profession, salary, and whether or not they were a parent.

If you have been injured in a car crash involving a recall or defective car, call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Our accident attorneys are here to help you with questions about insurance problems, medical expenses, and pain and suffering benefits as allowed by Michigan law. Call us today, at 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation.

Sales Jump For GM, Fiat Chrysler, and Ford

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As expected, the U.S. automotive industry has enjoyed increasing sales overall in 2015, and the numbers were no different for July. According to the Detroit Free Press, new vehicle sales rose 6.4% in July for General Motors, 6% for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, and 5% for Ford. With the help of falling gas prices and an improving job market, sales keep on rising. Due to gas prices falling, sales of pickup trucks, SUVs, and crossovers are becoming more popular.

For Fiat Chrysler, in the United States, Jeep sales rose by 23%, Chrysler sales rose by 10%, and Ram rose by 1%. Despite these increases in sales, Dodge fell by 13%, and Fiat sales fell by 15%. At Ford, sales of the Ford Mustang increased by 29%, and the luxury brand of Lincoln rose by 21%, led by the sales of the MKC crossover. In addition to this, Ford's results were also helped an increase of 4.8% in sales of the F-Series pickup truck.

GM's growth from the month of July was led by Buick, which increased sales by 17.6%, led by a 64% gain in sales of the Encore compact crossover. Chevrolet sales rose by 7.8%, largely due to a 34% increase in sales of the Silverado pickup truck. In addition to this, GMC sales were up 1.4%, while Cadillac sales decreased by 7%.

These increases in sales are mostly due to large and mid size pickup trucks, as well as large and mid size crossovers. These cars seem to be increasingly popular at the moment, while the demand and sales of SUVs is falling. For example, at Ford, sales of the Lincoln Navigator increased by 24%, but sales of the Expedition on the other hand fell by 37.5%.

If you have been injured in a car or motorcycle accident, call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Our accident attorneys are here to help you with questions about insurance problems, medical expenses, and pain and suffering benefits as allowed by Michigan law. Call us today, at 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation.

Cell Phone Usage Is Impaired Driving

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Recently, a teenager in Winnipeg, Canada, was sentenced for an auto accident that she caused in 2010. In the crash, two people in another vehicle were killed, two were seriously injured, and one person had suffered minor injuries. At the time, the negligent driver was 17 years old, when she ran a red light on Bishop Grandin Boulevard. According to the Guardian, the judge said that the teen's ability to drive was impaired by alcohol, as well as her texting on her Blackberry. At the time of the accident, she was traveling 96 km/hr, while the speed limit was 80 km/hr, she was using cruise control on her vehicle, and there was no evidence of her attempting to brake or swerve out of the way to avoid the collision.

People that text and drive are considered impaired drivers. Drivers becoming distracted from using their cell phones is something that you see everyday on the road, including holding up traffic and not realizing the light is green, as well as switching lanes without using turn signals, both of which can cause car accidents.

According to Texting and Driving Safety, in 2011, at least 23% of auto collisions involved cell phones, which is 1.3 million crashes. On average, the minimum amount of time your attention is taken away from the road when texting and driving is five seconds. If you're traveling at 55mph, that five seconds of driving would be equivalent to driving the length of an entire football field without looking. Through research conducted by Texting and Driving Safety, they found that 34% of teenagers have texting while driving. In addition to this, 52% have admitted to talking on the phone while driving. Although teenagers are involved in many accidents regarding impaired driving, adults do it too. 48% of young drivers have seen their parents talking on the phone while driving. Waiting to return a phone call or text can save lives on the road. Next time you need to reach someone while driving, wait until you stop for break, or wait until you reach your destination.

If you are involved in a car crash involving impaired driving or texting and driving, call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Our accident attorneys are experienced in handling all types of car accident cases. Call 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation today.

Predatory Auto Loans & Questionable Auto Insurance Quotes

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Recently the House Financial Services Committee voted on and passed HR 1737, a bill, that would allow for more lenders to prey on consumers and issue high-risk , high-interest auto loans on new and used vehicles.  In effect, it would cancel the 2013 Consumer Financial Protection Bureau federal guidelines which set forth certain obligations for auto loan lenders.

New York Times editorial board member, Teresa Trich, had this to say in a recent editorial piece:

Republican-dominated House committees routinely pass awful bills that please their corporate constituents but go nowhere. The committee vote on this bill, however, was 47 to 10, with 13 Democrats joining all of the Republican members in voting yes. Overall, the bill has 124 co-sponsors, including 55 Democrats. The level of support reflects the power of auto dealers, who are often among the most prominent businesspeople in any given congressional district and who do not want scrutiny of their lending practices.
The bill’s supporters say it would make needed changes to regulatory procedures. What it really would do is condone overcharging and discrimination in auto lending.

Drivers across the country also face ongoing issues with car insurance companies.  Many of these auto insurance companies continue to conduct "Price Optimization" strategies to increase profits as explained by NPR.  

Trich's New York times editorial explains how some auto insurance companies are doing whatever they can to increase profits at the expense of the driver with the insurance policy.

 Farmers, Geico, Liberty, Nationwide and Progressive — rates were almost always higher for unmarried drivers than for married ones. Among those five, however, only Geico was found to charge different prices depending on whether an unmarried driver had never been married, was separated or divorced.
In several cities, Geico and Progressive charged domestic partners more than married drivers.
In addition, the report found baffling increases in premiums for some women who were widowed. It also found evidence that price difference between married and unmarried drivers occurs at various age levels.
The report calls on state regulators to investigate insurers’ use of marital status in auto insurance pricing.
The not unreasonable hunch is that marital status is largely unconnected to risk and thus should not be much of a factor in the pricing of auto insurance.

At the end of the day consumers must make sure they are reading the fine print, seeking information from multiple sources for auto loans and obtaining multiple auto insurance quotes to make sure the consumer is protected.   If you have any questions about your insurance policy or are considering buying auto insurance and have questions, call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC for a free consult. 


Michigan State Troopers Ticket Distracted Drivers

On Tuesday, July 28, 2015, aggressive and distracted drivers were targets of a special enforcement detail conducted by the Michigan State Police in St. Clair Shores, on I-94. This initiative by the state troopers was taken due to multiple complaints from people who drive through that section of I-94 frequently. In total, 12 state troopers participated in order to prevent distracted driver car crashes in Michigan.

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According to the Detroit Free Press, Michigan state police made 217 traffic stops which including ticketing 115 people for speeding, 14 for distracted driving, and 38 for not wearing a seat belt. In addition to this, they also caught 10 people driving on a suspended license, arrested four people on fugitive warrants, and wrote 40 other citations for traffic offenses.

The day after the initiative, on Wednesday, July 29, Michigan State Police said in a news release that they will continue to conduct such traffic details around Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties in an effort to reduce auto accidents, injuries, and distracted driving altogether.

Distracted driving can lead motor vehicle crashes and potential serious injuries or even death. Distracted driving can consist of texting and driving, eating and driving, using the GPS, or anything else that causes the driver to lose focus and take their eyes off of the road. According to the CDC, each day in the U.S., 9 people are killed and 1,153 people are injured in accidents related to distracted driving. When you take your eyes off of the road, you you are putting your life at risk, as well as other drivers on the road.

If you have been injured in a car or motorcycle accident as a result of distracted driving, contact a lawyer at The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Our accident attorneys are experienced in handling all types of auto accident and motorcycle accident cases. Call 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation today.

GM Recalls Cadillac ATS

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On Wednesday, July 29, General Motors announced that they are issuing yet another recall, this time for the Cadillac ATS. According the Detroit News, the Detroit Automaker is recalling these vehicles for an issue with power sunroofs, after recalling 67,000 cars for the exact same issue earlier in the year. The previous recall regarding the same issue recalled 2013-15 Cadillac ATS cars worldwide, due to the power-operated roof panel systems automatically closing.  Although this auto defect is unlikely to cause automobile accidents, it is still being recalled by GM. 

In these vehicles, the roof can automatically close with less force than required when the “slide” or “tilt” switches are not fully recessed. The new recall includes the 2016 model of the vehicle and supersedes recall earlier in the year. GM said that 7,900 motor vehicles in Canada are being recalled. However, when asked about how many vehicles in total were being recalled, they immediately declined to say anything. GM dealerships are set to replace the roof console accessory switch. Vehicles that were part of the previous recall will also require re-inspection and repair.

Last year, in November, 2014, GM recalled m ore than 2 million Chevrolet Cobalts and other small motor vehicles for an issue with faulty ignition switches, which could unexpectedly turn off the engine of the car, which had led to 121 deaths, 14 serious injuries, and 237 minor injuries. Altogether, in 2014, GM spent $3 billion on recalls, as well as additional money in order to compensate for the victims and families related to the ignition switch issue.

If you have been injured in a car crash involving a recall or defective car, call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Our accident attorneys are here to help you with questions about insurance problems, medical expenses, and pain and suffering benefits as allowed by Michigan law. Call us today, at 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation. 

Gadget Hacks GM's Onstar System

GM's Onstar system offers features including the ability to locate the motor vehicle, unlock it, and start the engine, all of which you can do from an app using your smartphone. However, a man named Samy Kamkar, has recently developed a small $100 device that can easily hack into the car's Onstar system, if placed anywhere in the vehicle. Next week, during the DefCon hacker conference in Las Vegas Nevada, August 6 to 9, Kamkar plans to show the details of the new device that he's developed, which can allow a hacker to track a target vehicle, effortlessly unlock it, trigger the alarm,  start the engine, or even cause a car accident.

“As soon as you’re on my network and you open the app, I’ve taken over,” Kamkar says.

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Luckily for GM car owners, the device can do almost everything except for putting the car in gear and driving away. GM cars still require the key to be in the ignition for you to do so. So far, Kamkar has shown that if a hacker were to attatch the device somewhere on the vehcile's body, such as the a bumper or the chasis, the device can intercept and capture commands sent from the user's smartphone. This can ultimately lead to a variety of incidents ranging from privacy breaches to theft.

“If I can intercept that communication, I can take full control and behave as the user indefinitely,” says Kamkar, a well-known security researcher and freelance developer. “From then on I can locate your car, go up to it and unlock it, and use all the functionalities that the RemoteLink software offers.”

Once the driver comes within range of Kamkar's device, it impersonates a familiar Wi-Fi network, in order to trick the phone to connecting to it. Smartphones nowadays are constantly searching for available known networks to connect to. For example, Kamkar can name his network “attwifi” so that it appears and is recognized as a common Starbucks connection. If the owner of the vehicle opens the Onstar app while within Wi-Fi range of the device, it is designed to exploit a vulnerability in GM's app in order to steal the user's credentials and send them to the hacker. Kamkar has said that once a hacker recieve's the car owner's credentials, they can cause havok from anywhere across the internet. A hacker could potentially run the vehicle's ignition to drain the gas, or even fill a garage with carbon monoxide.

If you have been injured in a car or motorcycle accident, contact an attorney at The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Our accident lawyers specialize in all types of auto accident cases. Call us today for a free consultation at 844.4MI.FIRM.

New Record For Average Age Of Cars On U.S. Roads

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Recently, the average age of motor vehicles on the road in the U.S. has increased, despite consumers buying new vehicles. According to the Lansing State Journal, the typical car on the road in the U.S. is a recording breaking high of 11.5 years old. Since the Great Recession, Americans are buying cars at an annualized rate of more than 17 million vehicles. Although Americans are buying newer cars, the average age of vehicles on the road is still getting older, which may affect the number of car accidents on Michigan roads.

American consumers are buying new motor vehicles at a fast pace and are likely not to scrap their old cars that are still running perfectly fine. People are buying new cars and still keeping their old one on the driveway. Another possibility is that the old vehicle was sold or sent to a used-car market, where someone else bought it. According to the IHS, U.S. vehicle owners bought 42% more care than scrapped in 2014.

"Vehicles are simply lasting longer than ever before," said Mark Seng, global aftermarket practice leader at IHS Automotive, in an interview. "The consumer is hanging onto their vehicle longer than ever before."

All of this is possible due to automakers improving their cars in terms of safety, reliability, performance, and more. The number of vehicles that are at least 25 years old is around 14 million, which is 8 million higher than in 2002. In addition to this, the number of vehicles that are 16 to 24 years old is 44 million, which is 26 million higher than 2002. The IHS projected that over the next five years, the number of vehicles that are older than 12 years will increase by 15%.

If you have been injured in a car crash involving an older vehicle, call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Our accident attorneys specialize in all types of auto accident cases. Call 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation today.

Detroit Opens Up First No-Kill Dog Shelter

Recently, a nonprofit dog rescue group has been licensed to operate Detroit's first no-kill animal dog shelter. According to the Detroit News, Detroit Dog Rescue initially formed in 2011 as a foster-based operation. In May, 2014, they opened their shelter on Detroit's east side, and now they have been given a permit from the state to run their no-kill shelter. Detroit Dog Rescue's group executive, Kristina Rinaldi, says that they are must known for taking in troubled animals that most people would describe as unadoptable and even some aggressive breeds of dogs.

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Currently, the Detroit Dog Rescue shelter has room for 30 dogs at a time, and since they first started in 2011, they have found homes for around 650 dogs. Rinaldi says that they want to relieve the burden on Detroit Animal Control, which is under fire for its kill rates. The Detroit Animal Control operates under the Detroit Police Department on an annual budget of around $1.2 million. They have 20 staff positions and can house up to 200 dogs.

“We know that we are not going to walk into Detroit Animal Control and see a lot of dogs that can be placed right off the bat,” she said. “It’s not going to happen. But we are willing to put the time in. We’re willing to provide a service to the city at no fee to the residents or the city.”

In 2014, the police department took in 3,320 dogs and 1,803 cats, as well as other animals. Out of these 3,320 dogs, 2,383 of them were euthanized, along with 1,244 cats. Earlier this month, a Detroit resident complained about the conditions and treatment at Detroit Animal Control. In addtion to this behavior, earlier this month, a Detroit resident complained about the treatment and conditions of the Detroit Animal Control. She said that her dog was confined in a small cage without water. With the help of the Detroit Dog Rescue, Rinaldi believes that the partnership will open new doors for animal welfare in the city.

If you have been injured by a dog bite, contact a dog bite lawyer at The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Call 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation today.

Ford Sets North American Profit Record

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On Tuesday, July 27, 2015, Ford Motor Company reported their earnings of $1.9 billion, which is now the new quarterly profit record in North America. According to the Detroit News, Ford's pre-tax profit was $2.9 billion, up $269 million from last year. Ford posted a revenue of $37.3 billion, beating analysts estimates of around $35.3 billion. Ford also beat analysts expectations for earnings per share, with 47 cents per share, 10 cents higher than analysts estimates.

Ford's earnings were 44 percent from last year, making it the company's best quarterly profit since 2000, and the third best since the Great Depression. These record numbers were achieved even though the company had limited supplies for some of their best selling motor vehicles, including the Ford Explorer and the F-150 truck.

“We delivered an outstanding second quarter, a great first half of 2015, and we are confident the second half of the year will be even stronger,” President and CEO Mark Fields said in a statement.

Ford set a second-quarter record in Asia Pacific, making $192 million, $33 million more than last year. Despite gains in the Asia Pacific area, Ford lost $185 million in South America due to currency issues, and lost $14 million in Europe, while making $46 million in the Middle East and Africa. They lost money in Europe due to an unfavorable currency exchange rate, and have said that they're continuing a plan and have hopes of making profit soon. As well as Ford, General Motors exceeded expectations with a quarterly earnings of $1.1 billion, and Fiat Chrysler are set to announce their earnings on Thursday, July 30th.

If you are injured in a car or motorcycle accident, call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Our accident lawyers are highly experienced in dealing with all types of personal injury accidents. We will work to ensure you obtain all benefits you are entitled to under Michigan law. Call us today at 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation.

Hamtramck, Michigan Residents Fill Potholes Themselves

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Hamtramck residents are filling potholes themselves to reduce auto accidents.

On Thursday night, July 23, 2015, a group of friends and Hamtramck residents complained and said they were fed up with their city's roads and potholes. According to the Detroit Free Press, instead of waiting around for the city to fix them, the residents decided to put matters into their own hands. They went out and bought 17 bags of cold patch, which is around 900 pounds, for $120. On Saturday morning, July 25th, the group of friends dragged themselves out of bed and spread out down the street with handheld packing tools on the rockiest road near their homes, Lumpkin Street, between Caniff Avenue and Casmere Street.  

Just an hour and a half later, the six Hamtramck residents filled up most of the block after running out of materials. The Detroit Free Press reported that Hamtramck's potholes are notorious for being some of the worst in the region. In March 2015, one block of Charest Street had 33 potholes, including one that the Free Press described as an “ovalish monster”, which was over five feet in length. Recently, in a previous article, we discussed the dangerous and defective roads in Metro Detroit area along with the rest of the State of Michigan.

This upcoming weekend, the people of Hamtramck plan to do more work and fix other potholes in the dangerous streets. They've already bought more cold patch bags and are hoping that other residents in the area volunteer to help.

“If every resident bought a bag of cold patch, this would be over,” said Maritza Garibay, adding that a bag costs about $10 and that the process is extremely simple. “You just have to tamp it down.”

If you are injured in a car or motorcycle accident caused by poor road quality or conditions, contact an attorney at The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Our accident lawyers specialize in all types of auto accident cases. Call us today for a free consultation at 844.4MI.FIRM.

GM Open Safety Test Area In Milford, Michigan

Recently, General Motors (GM), opened a $14 million test area for active-safety systems at its Milford Proving Ground. According to the Detroit News, this new investment is supposed to help GM quicken the development of advanced car safety features, including self-driving vehicle technology, with the ultimate goal of reducing car crashes. GM will deploy 22 active safety technologies on their 2016 model vehicles. One feature they are adding is automated braking that will alert a driver, and stop the car before a front-end collision. Another feature is a system that will alert a driver and automatically apply the brakes if a driver fails to see a pedestrian in front of the vehicle.

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Both of the features mentioned above will use cameras in order to identify pedestrians or an upcoming potential collision. These features, along with others including a lane-departure warning system are available for around $400. The pedestrian braking system will be available on the 2016 Cadillac CT6 and the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. It will fully stop a motor vehicle up to 20 miles per hour in order to avoid auto accidents. Eventually, these active safety features will be available on all GM models including the Buick, Cadillac, Chevy, and GMC vehicles.

The safety testing area opened by GM is 52-acres, which includes an observation building with a robotic control station, a 16-acre area for testing automated vehicles along with robot controlled vehicles, a tunnel simulator, an area for highway simulations, and areas for parking and pedestrian testing.

Jeff Boyer, vice president of global vehicle safety, said vehicle-to-vehicle technology could have helped warn drivers behind the initial crash on Interstate 94 in western Michigan this January that eventually involved some 190 vehicles. 

With this test area, GM hopes to improve on its transform and improve its safety culture, after the faulty ignition switch crisis last year.

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident or motor vehicle crash, call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Our experienced accident attorneys will deal with insurance companies, to ensure that you receive all the benefits you are entitled to, so that you are able to focus on your recovery. Call us today, at 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation.

Fiat Chrysler To Pay Largest Ever Fine From NHTSA

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On Monday, July 27th, 2015, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles have agreed to pay the largest fine ever from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for safety concerns that may lead to auto accidents. In addition to this, they're set to buy back approximately 500,000 vehicles and offer financial incentives for the repair of 1 million jeeps. According to the Detroit Free Press, Fiat Chrysler will pay up to $105 million in fines and penalties to the NHTSA. These penalties were issued on Sunday, July 26th, 2015, due to the auto company's lax attitude toward addressing safety issues in millions of its motor vehicles.

“Today’s action holds Fiat Chrysler accountable for its past failures, pushes them to get unsafe vehicles repaired or off the roads and takes concrete steps to keep Americans safer going forward,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx in a statement. “This civil penalty puts manufacturers on notice that the Department will act when they do not take their obligations to repair safety defects seriously.”

The NHTSA said it was concerned about Fiat Chrysler's slow completion rates on recalls, slow or inadequate notifications to consumers, faulty approaches to fixing safety problems, and improper actions by dealers. According to Click On Detroit, the RAM pickup trucks, which are the company's top-selling vehicle, have defective steering parts that can cause drivers to lose control and in many cases lead to car crashes. In order to get these cars off of the road, Fiat Chrsyler has agreed to buy them back. In addition to this, owners of more than a million Jeeps with vulnerable rear-mounted gas tanks will be able to trade in their vehicle for more than market value, or be paid to get them repaired. So far, at least 75 people have died from this issue in crash related fires and many more are likely to have been injured in Jeep defect accidents. 

If you have been injured in a car crash involving a recall or defective car, call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Our accident attorneys specialize in all types of auto accident cases. Call 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation today.

Two Michigan Teens Charged With Underage Drinking

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On May 8th, 2015, five teenagers from Shelby township were involved in a drunk driving auto accident, which ended up killing three.

According to the Detroit News, all five of the teenagers had been drinking. The driver, Jonathon Manolios, was drunk driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.08. The two other passengers that died in the crash had blood alcohol levels of 0.02 and 0.07. The Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickerman said that they were in a 2008 Jaguar S-type, traveling between 72 mph and 82 mph, before the they hit a guardrail, flipped five times, and tumbled into Stoney Creek. Four of the five teenagers were ejected from the vehicle. Gregory Bobchick was the only passenger wearing a seat belt, keeping him in the motor vehicle.

Recently, the two teens who survived the crash, Bobchick and Joeseph Narra, have been criminally charged. They will both face a misdemeanor charge for underage drinking, which is punishable up to 90 days in jail, but no charges will be made that are directly related to the accident. Investigators found beer in the vehicle and an empty bottle of Captain Morgan rum near the crash site. According to Sherrif Wickerman, they stopped at a liquor store in Shelby Township on the way to Stoney Creek and picked up a case of bottled Corona beer, using a fake ID.

According to the CDC, alcohol is the most commonly used and abused drug among youth in the United States, and is responsible for 4,300 annual deaths among underage youth. Although drinking is illegal for people under the age of 21 in the United States, people aged 12 to 20, consume 11% of all alcohol consumed in the United States. On average, underage drinkers consume more drinks per drinking occasion than adult drinkers. In 2010, there were approximately 189,000 emergency room visits by persons under 21 for injuries and other conditions regarding alcohol. Drinking and driving can lead to catastrophic automobile accidents and should be prevented at all costs.  

If you have been injured in a car crash involving underage drinking, contact a lawyer at The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Our accident attorneys specialize in all types of auto accident lawsuits. Call 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation today.

American Cars More Popular In Midwest

USA Today recently reported that American cars are more popular than foreign cars in the American heartland, while along the coasts, the west coast in particular, American cars are much less popular.

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In fact, San Francisco and nearby San Jose have the strongest preference for both Asian and European car models, and the least interest in models from Detroit's Big 3, says the survey conducted by CarGurus.com, a Cambridge, Mass.-based online car shopping information site.
At least metro Detroit is loyal to those Big 3. It's the town where interest is highest in models from General Motors, Ford and Fiat Chrysler, followed by heartland bastions such as Oklahoma City, St. Louis, Indianapolis and Pittsburgh.
At the same time, Detroiters are also the least likely to drive Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Mazda, Subaru or Mitsubishi models, which account for 15% of the local market. Detroit is the only out of 51 metro areas where Japanese automakers have less than 29%.

Start Your Mazda With This App

In a recent July 2015 press release, Mazda North American Operations announced an app called Mazda Mobile Start.  This app that can be set up at Mazda dealerships enables Mazda owners to do the following remotely:

  • Start the engine
  • Lock the doors
  • Turn on the panic alarm
  • Find your car using GPS

According to Mazda's spokesperson, "Mazda Mobile Start comes with more than just the features and functions of the app; it also comes with peace of mind... Mazda Mobile Start was created with convenience and safety in mind to enhance the overall driving experience that matters so much to our customers."

Mazda further stated that:

Included with the purchase of Mazda Mobile Start (MSRP $500) is a complimentary one-year subscription to the Mazda Mobile Start app, which is available in the iOS App Store and Google Play. Annual renewal for the service is $65. Mazda Mobile Start is currently compatible with the 2016 Mazda6 and 2016 Mazda CX-5 (automatic transmission only). It is expected that additional models will be added this year. Genuine Mazda Accessories purchased while a vehicle is still covered by the New Vehicle Limited Warranty are covered for the duration of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty or the Parts Warranty, whichever is longer. 



Jeeps Recalled So Hackers Don't Cut Brakes

Jeep Accident Lawyer

Information has been released that over 1.4 million Jeeps will be recalled because of a software glitch where the SUV becomes vulnerable to hackers.  This security flaw actually lets hackers disable the Jeep's brakes while the car is moving, which will greatly increase the risk of an auto accident.

WIRED reported that:

On Friday, Chrysler announced that it’s issuing a formal recall for 1.4 million vehicles that may be affected by a hackable software vulnerability in Chrysler’s Uconnect dashboard computers. The vulnerability was first demonstrated to WIRED by security researchers Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek earlier this month when they wirelessly hacked a Jeep I was driving, taking over dashboard functions, steering, transmission and brakes. The recall doesn’t actually require Chrysler owners to bring their cars, trucks and SUVs to a dealer. Instead, they’ll be sent a USB drive with a software update they can install through the port on their vehicle’s dashboard.
Chrysler says it’s also taken steps to block the digital attack Miller and Valasek demonstrated with “network-level security measures”—presumably security tools that detect and block the attack on Sprint’s network, the cellular carrier that connect Chrysler’s vehicles to the Internet.