Truck Accident Recorded On Facebook Live

According to CBS News a man in Rhode Island was involved in a car accident while recording a Facebook Live video. The driver was Onasi Olio-Rojas, 20 of Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Olio-Rojas was recording himself going 114 miles per hour and was seen weaving in and out of traffic on Route 6, when he lost control of the vehicle, hit a garbage truck as it entered the highway, and then crossed three lanes to crash into a concrete barrier. 

“He has his camera in his right hand, videotaping himself as he’s driving, has no seatbelt on, he starts to hit speeds of 90 miles an hour, which increases to 100 miles an hour, then you see several erratic lane changes where he goes from the high-speed lane to the low-speed lane, into the breakdown lane, in and out of traffic,” Capt. John Allen of Rhode Island State Police told CBS affiliate WPRI.

The video was posted to Olio-Rojas’ Facebook page and authorities have verified its authenticity. The Rhode Island State Police has even asked Facebook for an official copy so that it could be used as evidence in court.

“I mean, the video makes the case. The independent witnesses certainly help, but nothing beats actually watching it on the video.” Capt. Allen said.

Rescue crews extracted Olio-Rojas from the vehicle and rushed him to the hospital Fortunately, Olio-Rojas was diagnosed to be in fair condition. Once he is conscious and alert, Mr. Olio- Rojas will be arraigned from his hospital bed. Police told Olio-Rojas that he was charged with reckless driving and operating a vehicle while having a suspended license. In fact, Olio-Rojas' license was suspended due to 5 previous traffic violations including texting while driving. He was also involved in 3 vehicle car crashes in 2016 alone. 

“Mr. Rojas just has a blatant disregard for anyone else on the road,” said Allen. Mr. Olio-Rojas will be arraigned from his hospital bed.

Distracted driving accidents have increased by 28% since 2005, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Accidents caused by distracted drivers are becoming a growing problem in America with drivers using their cell phones to not only make phone calls and text, but to record video and watch movies, all while they are behind the wheel. These actions not only put the driver but other drivers and pedestrians in danger. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) list drivers in their 20s to be responsible for 27% of distracted driving accidents. 38% of drivers in their 20s were using their cellphones at the time of the fatal accident. Have you been hit by a distracted driver? Speak to an auto accident attorney today at The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC.  Call 844.4MI.FIRM.

Walmart Truck Driver Pleads Guilty To Vehicular Homicide In Tracy Morgan Case

Back on June 7, 2014, Tracy Morgan, actor and comedian known for his antics on the TV show Saturday Night Live and for his character Tracy Jordan, on the TV show 30 Rock, was involved in a truck accident with a few of his friends. The crash with a Walmart truck left Morgan with a traumatic brain injury and several broken bones including his ribs and caused him to be in a coma for 6 days. Morgan's friend, fellow comedian James "Jimmy Mack" McNair, was killed in the truck crash. Now, two and a half years later, Morgan can finally put his truck accident behind him for good.

According to CNN, Kevin Roper, the driver of the Walmart truck, pled guilty to second-degree vehicular homicide and four counts of third-degree aggravated assault in Middlesex County Superior Court, in New Jersey. Roper was responsible for crashing into Morgan's chauffeured limo on the New Jersey Turnpike in Cranbury, New Jersey. At the time of the accident, Roper had been behind the wheel of the Wal-Mart truck after not sleeping in the past 24 hours. He had decided to drive 12 hours to work before starting his 14-hour shift, which according to federal regulations, which state that truck drivers should have at least 10 hours off in order to have enough time to sleep, is illegal. 

"Mr. Roper entered a guilty plea to certain counts of the indictment pending against him," Roper's attorney David Glassman told CNN in a statement. "In exchange, he was granted admission into the PTI program (pretrial intervention program)." By entering a 3 year PTI program Roper will be able to maintain a clean record, and the charges against him would be dismissed upon completion of the required 300 hours of community service while staying arrest free. 

Glassman’s own opinion of the court's decision was that the deal was "an exceptional result and opportunity given the serious nature of the charges and potential for far more serious outcomes. Kevin is grateful for this opportunity to get these charges dismissed and move on with his life."

As for Walmart's role in the crash, “Safety is the absolute highest priority for Walmart,” the retailer said in an emailed statement acquired by CBS New York. A Walmart company spokeswoman said that Roper’s truck was equipped with a system designed to slow its speed and notify him of stopped traffic ahead, but it is unknown if the system was working at the time. 

However, due to the notoriety of the accident, Walmart made an undisclosed settlement with Morgan back in May 2015. The only statement made about the settlement came from Morgan who said, "Walmart did right by me and my family, and for my associates and their families. I am grateful that the case was resolved amicably."

Tracy Morgan is currently on a comedy tour titled, “Picking Up The Pieces.” 

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 72,000 crashes and 800 deaths are attributed to drivers who fall asleep behind the wheel.  The CDC states that the warning signs of drowsy driving include lane drifting, frequent yawning or blinking, and difficulty remembering the last few miles. If any of these symptoms occur, it is best for drivers get to a secure location and rest until they are able to proceed to their destination. If you or anyone you know has been involved in an accident involving a driver who fell asleep at the wheel, please feel free to contact the Michigan Law Firm PLLC. Our attorneys are highly qualified in dealing with a variety of motor vehicle accidents. Call us today, 844.4MI.FIRM, for a free consultation.

40 Car Pileup On I-96 Causes 3 Deaths

Around 9:30 AM on Thursday, December 8, 2016, Michigan's Livingston County Police dealt with a 40 car pileup that left 3 dead and 11 injured on the westbound side of I-96 between the the Okemos and Williamston exits. The pileup was a result of the recent snowfall causing whiteout conditions and had later frozen over the roads making them a hazard. 

“It was very chaotic for them to get to the victims to assess the situation,” Livingston County's Lt. Eric Sanborn said at a news conference.

When the police finally arrived to the scene, they found a semi-truck that had been jackknifed across the majority of the lanes on I-96. They counted about a dozen vehicles that were scattered across ditches. Some drivers were located on the median or shoulder of the highway and several dozen other vehicles were found to be severely damaged and had to be quickly removed from the road. 

The accident was so extensive, that the police closed down both the east and westbound lanes in order to rescue the cars that had slid into the median. Authorities also had to extend westbound I-96’s closure from M-59 to M-52 until later that evening, in order to properly remove the vehicles from the roadway. The eastbound expressway later opened for traffic at 2:50 PM.

Kathleen Gray, a Detroit Free Press reporter, was headed to Lansing, Michigan when she encountered the accident. She said the pileup caused "the most terrifying sound" she ever heard. Gray herself was almost hit by a tractor-trailer that skid on the ice behind her and was unable to flee due to traffic being at a standstill. "Fortunately, he was able to stop before plowing into me," Gray said, noting that "it probably took about an hour to get through the accident scene. Traffic was able to pull around the jackknifed tractor-trailer on the shoulder of the freeway."

With this recent snowfall and future ones in Michigan's forecast, drivers should let this accident serve as a grim reminder to drive slow, when there is snow.

As stated by the Free Press, the Michigan Department of Transportation announced that they, along with several road commissions and municipalities, will start using green lights on winter maintenance vehicles, which they hope will better catch drivers' attention and help reduce car crashes. No matter what precautions are taken however, car accidents are still always possible. If you or someone you know has been in an auto accident caused by hazardous weather conditions, please contact The Michigan Law Firm PLLC. Call us, at 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation.

Ann Arbor's Traffic Enforcement Campaign

Two years ago, Ann Arbor, Michigan was the target of a traffic enforcement campaign intended to get drivers to stop and yield to pedestrians at crosswalks. To enforce the campaign, officers were stationed at 36 crosswalks. Within six months, Ann Arbor police made over 1,300 stops, issued 480 citation,s and 903 warnings for speeding and other violations. This has led to an 11% drop in traffic stops within Ann Arbor. 

Of course, the campaign has received complaints but, since Ann Arbor pedestrian car accidents have decreased, the city council is looking forward to implementing the same campaign at Western Michigan University (WMU). The council has assigned $150,000 to WMU in order to increase driver yielding rates at crosswalks, more importantly, mid-block pedestrian crossings. The money is budgeted to pay the policing staff for overtime, work assignments, data preparation, field reviews, project managers and improvement to infrastructure such as signs and pavement markings. The city also intends to find and work with community partners like the Washtenaw Bicycling and Walking Coalition to address issues such as pedestrian safety. 

Since Ann Arbor's sidewalk ordinances are different from the rest of Michigan, the police are trying to make sure people are informed. This creates a bit of a challenge when some of the drivers who aren’t from Ann Arbor. 

Ann Arbor Police Officer Jamie Adkins, took the time to educate citizens about mid-block pedestrian crossings and what you should do when approaching them by saying, "[These are] marked crosswalks and unmarked crosswalks that have curb cuts. There are some nuances to it in terms of if they're coming into your path versus moving away from your path, but the crux of it is that Ann Arbor requires motorists to stop for pedestrians who are waiting to cross at the crosswalk.”

"The original program's success has been found to be sustainable through follow-up research four years later,” wrote city traffic engineer, Cynthia Redinger, in her memo explaining the study.

The study has also gained recognition in Florida through Ron Van Houten, a psychology professor at WMU, who is looking to implement the study for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Drivers nationwide can look forward to seeing pedestrian crosswalk ordinances being enforced for public safety through traffic citations. With the nation's growing concern of accidents caused in pedestrian crossing zones, it was only a matter of time before states took notice and started to correct the problem. 

Ann Arbor's traffic enforcement campaign has brought to light how supplementing enforcement and education can greatly improve pedestrian and motorist safety. Studies have proven, that in changing drivers attitudes when approaching and yielding at crosswalks, it can, in turn, improve traffic flow and keep accidents from occurring in pedestrian crosswalks. If you or somebody you know has been injured by a driver neglecting to adhere to crosswalk ordinances, please call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC.  Call us today, at 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation.

Macomb County Cop Found Not Liable For Dog Bite

Earlier this summer in Macomb County Circuit Court, Sheriff Deputy Kevin Szlaga was sued by Gail Foster of Kentwood, Michigan after Szlaga's police dog, Zeke, bit Ms. Foster on the forearm. The Michigan Court of Appeals overturned the lawsuit in a 2-1 decision claiming Szlaga has governmental immunity since he was operating within the course of his employment. 

The dog-bite accident occurred at Szlaga’s cottage in Clare County while both Szlaga and Zeke were off duty. According to Macomb Daily, Foster was attending a bonfire that Szlaga was hosting for the new neighbors in the area and tried to reach around Szlaga’s wife to pet Zeke. Zeke, who was tethered to the porch of the cottage at the time, bit Foster. As a result of the bite,  Foster required skin grafts and has been left with two permanent scars. The lawsuit asserts that Foster was attacked, but Macomb County attorneys state that she contributed to the dog bite by entering Zeke’s tethered range. 

Foster’s attorney, Glenn Saltsman maintained that immunity should not be applied in this instance because it wasn't a governmental function in which Szlaga and Zeke were exercising their police duties. Since the bite happened while on vacation and on private property, Saltsman argued that Szalaga was acting as a private citizen despite the dog being county property.  

County attorneys on the other hand, stuck by their convictions that Szlaga and by extension the county, are protected by governmental immunity and that if Szlaga were to be sued for anything, it would be gross negligence. Since Foster is found to be contributing to the bite and could have been informed of the dog’s history due to public records, the attorneys believe the suit should be dropped and that it should be noted that Zeke is the legal cause, laying liability on him and not on Szlaga. 

After the court's findings were revealed, Judge Deborah Servitto seemed to be in disagreement by giving her opinion on the case stating that there were too many unanswered questions about Officer Szalaga and Zeke’s relationship.

The CDC recommends that people shouldn't pet dogs that are unfamiliar to them. With 4.5 million dog bites occurring each year in the United States, it is unfortunate that one of them involves a policemen and his service dog.  If you or somebody you know has been a victim of a dog bite, call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Our attorneys are highly experienced in pursuing dog bite cases and will work hard to give you the help you need. Call us today, at 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation.

Bus Driver Asked Children, "Are Y'all Ready To Die," Before Crashing

Johnthony Walker, 24, was charged with vehicular homicide after allegedly killing 5 children from Woodmore Elementary School, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on November 21, 2016. Walker was a school bus driver transporting 35 children ranging from ages 5 to 10. According to CBS News, more than 20 children were injured and had to be rushed to the hospital after it took nearly two hours for emergency crews to clear them from the accident. Kirk Kelly, the interim school superintendent, confirmed that one of the children killed in the accident was a kindergartner, another was a first grader, and three of them were in the fourth grade. Kelly refused to release the names of the students, but did divulge that 12 of the students have remained hospitalized with 6 of them in intensive care. 

The accident was caused by Walker who was supposedly not paying attention and going well over the posted 30 miles per hour speed limit. Jasmine Mateen, whose 6-year-old daughter was killed in the crash, recounts, “My daughter said right before the bus flipped that he was speeding around the curve and asked them ‘Are y’all ready to die?’” According to another boy on the bus, the bus then hit a garbage bag and a mailbox before flipping over and finally wrapping around a tree.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) sent out investigators to acquire the school bus’ black box. The black box contains data of the vehicles movements which the NTSB will analyze to confirm or deny witness accounts and the local authorities' findings. NTSB chairman Christopher A. Hart says they are focusing on gathering witness accounts and any other evidence pertaining to the accident, including if the school bus had any cameras.

Ms. Mateen had a total of three children aboard the bus, including her daughter who died in the accident. One of the children, who was seated next to the sister who passed away, claims to have seen her sister “smushed” between the seats. Mateen, along with a few other parents whose children rode on Walker’s bus, claim to have complained about Walker’s incessant habit of speeding, before the accident but were unsuccessful in causing action to be taken. 

On whether or not the school district had received the complaints the parents made involving Walker, Amy Kutcher, the Hamilton County School District Spokeswoman, declined to say. Kutcher would only admit to Walker being an employee who was hired by an outside contractor, Durham School Services. “Legally there is no way that we could discipline someone who is not our employee,” Kutcher continued to say, “We’ve got 192 Durham bus drivers. Obviously, this is a bad one.”  
  
The Durham School Services CEO,  David A Duke, did release a statement via twitter saying that the company is “devastated” by the accident and are working with authorities as well as school officials to investigate the crash. The NY Post researched that Durham School Services, "has had 346 crashes over two years, including three resulting in deaths and 142 with injuries, according to federal figures. During that period, it had 53 incidents involving unsafe driving violations."

Walker actually had a sullied driving record. Not only was he found at fault in an accident in which his bus crossed the yellow line on a curve and hit another vehicle, on September 20th, but his license was also suspended for a month in 2014 for failing to show proof of insurance. Aside from a spotty driving record however, it did not appear that Walker had a criminal record in Tennessee. In fact, Walker's mother, Gwenevere Cook assured WDEF, “He don’t hang on the street, he don’t smoke, he don’t do drugs, he don’t drink. He’s never been in trouble, never, ever been in trouble.” Instead Walker was a father to a three-year old and a well-liked bus driver. 

Walker appeared before a judge on November 29, 2016 facing five counts of vehicular homicide and charges of reckless endangerment and reckless driving. According to CNN, a police spokeswoman said that a sixth vehicular homicide charge would likely be added.

School bus accidents are even more saddening than regular bus accidents as they involve children. As heartbreaking as the Chattanooga bus crash was, citizens of Michigan should remember that any type of motor vehicle accident is always possible. Injuries sustained in automobile collisions can be minor or may even lead to death. If you or someone you know has been involved in a motor vehicle accident, including a public bus or school bus crash, call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Our firm is highly experienced in handling all types of automobile accidents and will fight to grant you any benefits you may be entitled to under Michigan Law. Let us do the hard work while you and your family focus on healing. Contact us, at 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation.

Hit and Run Accident In Mt. Clemens, Michigan

Detroit, Michigan resident Jazzmine Victoria Ransey, 23, was arraigned for a hit and run car accident where she allegedly struck her boyfriend with her car. According to the Detroit Free Press, the accident took place in Mt. Clemens on North River Court, shortly after 11 a.m. on November 11, 2016 in the Clinton Place Apartments parking lot. Deputies and fire personnel were dispatched to the scene where they found the car crash victim, Ransey’s 41-year old boyfriend. The injured victim was quickly rushed by ambulance to McLaren Macomb Hospital where he was reported to be in critical condition. The hospital also confirmed Ransey’s boyfriend suffered from serious injuries consistent with being hit by a vehicle. 

Jazzmine Ransey was identified as the main suspect after witness accounts placed her at the scene of the crime, running over the crash victim's head before fleeing. Local news has reported that when detectives contacted Ransey, she admitted to being involved in an altercation in the parking lot with her boyfriend earlier in the day. Upon further inspection of her 2002 Ford Taurus, it was reported that police found evidence that placed Ransey at the crime scene.  Ransey was later brought for questioning at the Macomb County Sheriff’s office. 

It was reported that Ransey was charged with one count of failure to stop at a crash causing serious injury.

If you or somebody you know has been injured in an hit and run accident, call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Speak to an experienced Michigan personal injury lawyer.  Call us today, at 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation. 

Speight's Clavicle Fracture Cost Michigan A Win Against Iowa

University of Michigan’s quarterback Wilton Speight broke his clavicle in a game against Iowa on Saturday, November 12, 2016. Two opposing players tackled Speight and fell on top of him causing him to rotate his shoulder in obvious discomfort.  Speight was walked off the field and stuck on the sidelines while physicians poked and prodded at his shoulder for the remainder of the game. 

Having a fractured clavicle is a common injury in contact sports such as lacrosse, football, and soccer. However, most people are unaware that victims of an automobile collision are commonly known to have this injury as well.

3 Ways a Clavicle Bone Is Known To Break

  1. One of the breaks is called a distal clavicle fracture. The distal clavicle fracture is an ordinary injury from accidents occurring for example when a person hits the dashboard.

  2. The second clavicle fracture is a fracture that breaks in the middle of the clavicle bone. This injury is the most common type among car accident victims, and can be caused by overextending the arm in order to brace the person's fall.

  3. The third is the least common clavicle fracture, called a proximal fracture. The proximal fracture occurs near the breastbone, and may be caused by an accident victim's chest hitting the steering wheel upon impact. In severe cases the clavicle bone can suffer a compound fracture causing it to puncture through the skin or penetrate nerves, blood vessels, and even the lungs. These severe injuries can lead to an alarming amount of complications such as difficulty breathing and an exorbitant hospital bill for corrective surgery. 

The Symptoms of a Fractured Collarbone

According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, the following are symptoms of a fractured collarbone:

  • Swelling, tenderness and bruising along the collarbone.
  • Increased pain and difficulty moving the arm.
  • The shoulder slumps forward, inward or downward.
  • A bump along the collarbone. 

A fractured clavicle in adults, generally takes six to eight weeks to heal in adults, so Speight isn't expected to take the maize and blue field anytime soon. “It’s going to depend on how he feels,” said University of Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh. “Could be a (game-time decision). We will know based on what the doctors say and how Wilton’s feeling.”

It is imperative that anyone who has a fractured collarbone or has any of the symptoms of a broken collarbone should immediately seek medical attention, especially if involved in a motor vehicle accident. 

Having a clavicle fracture is a serious injury that can affect your life in a significant way. Not only do injuries sustained in automobile accidents prevent you from carrying out your everyday life, but they also cause medical bills to pile up. If you or somebody you know has suffered a clavicle fracture caused by a car accident, please call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Our firm will work hard to get you any benefits you may be entitled to under Michigan law. Call us today, at 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation

Samsung's Latest Phone Is Literally Blowing Up

The Samsung Galaxy Note 7, praised for its bigger battery which could power the phone for an impressive nine hours, was supposed to be the next great phone for Samsung. According to The Washington Post, the company advertised that the phone was "designed to be a key that opens the door to new experiences on the go." Since its August 19, 2016 release, the Note 7 has indeed become known for all of the above, though not in the way Samsung had hoped.

On Thursday, September 15, 2016, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a recall of the new Samsung phones, saying that defective Note 7 batteries had been linked to "26 reports of burns and 55 reports of property damage, including fires in cars and a garage." The recall followed numerous reports, including one where police officers responded to a report of a car on fire in a residential neighborhood in a southern Florida beach town. Officers found a vehicle "fully engulfed in flames." The driver, who was unharmed, told police he had been charging his Samsung 7 phone when it burst into flames.

The first lawsuit related to the phone was believed to be made by a Florida man, who filed a claim against Samsung on September 9, 2016, alleging that his Galaxy Note 7 exploded and caused him severe burns on his right thigh and left thumb, Reuters reported. In the lawsuit, Jonathan Strobel claimed that his Note 7 exploded in his front pants pocket while he was at a Costco on September 9th. The explosion was intense enough to burn through his pants and also severely burn his left thumb when he reached in to try to remove the phone. "He has a deep second-degree burn, roughly the size of the phone, on his right thigh," Strobel's attorney, Keith Pierro, told Reuters.

Similar reports have continued to plague Samsung, since they first issued a voluntary recall of its Galaxy Note 7 phones because of a "battery issue" on September 2nd and offered to give replacement phones to customers who had bought the devices. The lithium-ion batteries in the phones could overheat and pose a safety risk, the company said after it had received a few dozen reports of Note 7 batteries catching on fire. "To date (as of September 1) there have been 35 cases that have been reported globally and we are currently conducting a thorough inspection with our suppliers to identify possible affected batteries in the market," the company said in a statement. "However, because our customers’ safety is an absolute priority at Samsung, we have stopped sales of the Galaxy Note7."

According to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), in September, Samsung recalled around 2.5 million phones after complaints of exploding batteries. After having a replacement program in place to replace the recalled Note 7's, Samsung insisted that all replaced devices were safe. However, that was followed by reports that those phones were catching fire too. A Kentucky man said he woke up to a bedroom full of smoke from a replaced Note 7, days after a domestic flight in the US was evacuated after a new device started emitting smoke in the cabin.

Now, Samsung has permanently stopped production of the Galaxy Note 7. They had already reduced the Note 7 production volumes, but now, they have made the decision to completely stop producing the Note 7. Owners are expected to be able to return the phones for a refund or an exchange for a different Samsung phone. "We recently readjusted the production volume for thorough investigation and quality control, but putting consumer safety as top priority, we have reached a final decision to halt production of Galaxy Note 7s," the company said.
"For the benefit of consumers' safety, we stopped sales and exchanges of the Galaxy Note 7 and have consequently decided to stop production."

Consumer Tech Analyst Caroline Milanesi of Creative Strategies told the BBC that Samsung should "call it a day" on production of the Galaxy Note 7 to limit long-term risk to the brand.
However, South Korea's finance minister had warned that the country's exports would be hurt if the phone model was scrapped. In the end, Samsung decided that the safety of it's customers is what is most important.

Phones which set themselves on fire has the potential to cause several accidents. Whether a phone charging in a car causes the car to explore or a pedestrian with a smoking pocket walks into oncoming traffic, it appears that the Samsung Note 7 is a dangerous device. If you or anyone you know has been injured in a car accident due to the faulty manufacturing of a product such as the Samsung Note 7, call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC today. Our attorneys are highly experienced in dealing with all types of personal injury cases and will fight to get you the help you need. Call us today, at 844.4MI.FIRM, for a free consultation.

How To Share The Road With A School Bus

It’s an average Tuesday morning, and you're in a hurry to get to work on time. Unfortunately, you are now driving behind a school bus which is stopping every 50 yards along its path to pick up students on their way to school. Many drivers flirt with the temptation of driving around and passing the bus, even as the lights begin to flash and the STOP sign comes out. Not only is passing a school bus while it’s stopped and picking up students illegal, it’s extremely dangerous. DriveSafely.net estimates that 50,000 motorists illegally pass a school bus every single day. While a good portion of these drivers make the decision to pass the bus because of a lack of patience, there are many drivers that pass a bus because they are not familiar with the local laws pertaining to school bus safety. 

The Michigan State Police (MSP) have outlined how driver’s should react when driving near a school bus, as well as the possible consequences for breaking the law. 

School Bus Safety Tips for Drivers: 

  • Prepare to stop when a slowing bus has its overhead yellow lights flashing
  • Stop at least 20 feet away for buses when red lights are flashing, unless driving in the opposite direction on a divided highway
  • Slow down in or near school and residential areas
  • Look for clues such as safety patrols, crossing guards, bicycles, and playgrounds which indicate children might be in the area
  • Watch for children between parked cars and other objects

The MSP suggests that drivers treat school buses as regular traffic signals. When the overhead lights are flashing yellow, drivers should prepare to stop. If the bus lights are flashing red, stop immediately and do not attempt to pass the bus. When hazard lights are flashing, it is okay to proceed around the bus with extreme caution. The MSP also encourages parents to have a talk with their children about what they can do to stay safe when boarding and exiting the school bus. Children should stay in sight of the bus driver at all times, and always walk around the front of the bus, not the rear. Children are also advised to not hurry off the bus, and make sure that there is no oncoming traffic before crossing the street.

Governor Rick Snyder signed a bill into law in 2012 which made it illegal to pass a school bus while it is unloading students under any circumstances. Violators of the law could pay a fine between $100 and $500, as well as serve a required 100 hours of community service. 

No matter how frustrating it may be to get stuck behind a school bus, there is no excuse for breaking the law and endangering school children. If you find yourself getting stuck behind a bus on a daily basis, it may be best to find a different route to work. If you or somebody you know has a child injured due to a car attempting to pass a school bus, please call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Our firm will work hard to get you any financial support for medical services and any other expenses you may experience, that you may be entitled to under Michigan law. Call us today, at 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation. 

Playing Pokemon Go While Driving May Cause Accidents

Pokémon Go has come under fire recently due to several accidents that have been caused by people who are playing the game. For those who don’t know, Pokémon Go is a location based augmented reality game for mobile devices. The game, which is available on both Android and iOS devices, works by using the GPS in a user’s phone to determine that user’s location. Based on the user’s location, the game then causes Pokémon appear around the player's character which the player can try to catch. In the past, people who played other Pokémon games were able to catch Pokémon only within the game, on the devices screen, but Pokémon Go lets users try to “catch ‘em all” in real life, which has been appealing to millions of users.

For those who don’t know what Pokémon is, it started off originally as a video game for the Game Boy device. The name Pokémon is believed to translate roughly to Pocket Monsters. Basically, Pokémon are virtual creatures that the player, or "Pokémon Trainer" attempts to catch by throwing a "pokeball" at it. Once caught, the Pokémon then belongs to the Trainer who caught it.

The reason Trainers want to catch Pokémon is so that they can train them to become more powerful, with the intent of battling other Trainers. Originally, there were two main goals or premises of the game. One was to travel around the virtual Pokémon world to defeat all eight Gym Leaders, who were very skilled Trainers. After defeating the Gym Leaders, Trainers would face off against the four best Pokémon Trainers in the game, known as the Elite Four. Once the Elite Four were defeated, there were no real goals left to achieve, except to complete the Pokédex, by catching one of every single Pokémon in the game.This was the second main goal of the game. 

Pokémon Go takes the same basic premise as the original video games, except it allows players to feel like they are actually catching these Pokémon in real life, because they only appear based on the player's location and surroundings. The application also allows players to take pictures to show the Pokémon actually appearing in their surroundings. 

While this game has been enjoyed by millions of people since it's release, it has also been causing dangerous car accidents. Since Pokémon only appear the GPS location is moving in real life, and certain Pokémon only appear in certain locations, some users are playing Pokémon Go while driving. This dangerous distracted driving has led to many accidents due to users not paying attention to the road. These accidents have ranged from single-car accidents, to multiple-car accidents, to pedestrian acciddents, and have caused a lot of people to be upset with Niantic, the company that created Pokémon Go.

In response to the complaints, Niantic has tried to put out measures in to prevent users playing Pokémon Go while driving, such as displaying an alert message whenever a user opens the app, which says “Do not play Pokémon Go while driving.” More recently, Niantic also has created a pop up message which appears when the application believes a player is going to fast, and which blocks the user from playing unless they agree that they are a passenger in the vehicle.

In addition to the safety reasons for not playing Pokémon Go while driving, Click On Detroit reports that drivers playing Pokémon Go could also face jail time and fines if caught catching and driving. Michigan has laws against reckless driving. Motorists are likely to be pulled over by law enforcement if they are a threat to themselves or others on the road.

Using Pokémon while driving is very dangerous and may result in motor vehicle collisions. If you or anyone you know has been involved in a car accident caused by a distracted driver, call The Michigan Law Firm. Whether you were hit by a driver playing Pokemon Go or any type of distracted driver, our attorneys can help you. Call us today, at 844.4MI.FIRM, for a free consultation.

Ford Invests $150 Million In Velodyne

Driverless cars are a concept that many have been dreaming about for years. However, we are now in an age of technology where driverless car features are not only possible, but actually exist and are starting to gain steam with big time auto manufacturers like Ford and GM. In addition to some driverless features, companies like Ford are wanting to develop a completely autonomous car. According to the Detroit Free Press, Ford is aiming to have such a car available by the year 2021.

In an effort to work towards their goal of having a completely driverless car by 2021, Ford, along with web services company Baidu, recently invested $150 million in Velodyne. Velodyne is a Morgan Hill, California based company that was founded in 1984 which produces high-end audio systems, but it is now on the forefront of the driverless vehicle frontier. Velodyne received $150 million from Ford and Baidu to continue development and production of Lidar, which is the 3-D light-powered radar that helps self-driving cars see where they are going.

Mike Jellen, the company's president and COO, said the investment will help expand development and manufacturing operations and also speed the advancement of Lidar technology. "We ship Lidar today, we have thousands of them in the field, but what automakers are really looking for are longer-range sensors and higher-resolution sensors at a lower cost," Jellen said.

Until recently, Velodyne's Lidar systems cost about $8,000 — too high to be cost effective for an automaker trying to sell to individual customers. Later this year, Velodyne will begin producing a system that could cost as little as $500 for each unit, if a high enough volume is ordered. This is good news for Ford, because it means that their goal of trying to bring a completely driver-less car to market by 2021 is starting to look like a goal that can be reached. 

One concern for customers and manufacturers of driverless cars is the issue of how safe the technology of the autonomous car is, and whether or not these cars will be involved in more or less crashes than a normal automobile. Until autonomous cars become mainstream however, we won't know exactly how safe they are. In the meanwhile, drivers should be careful while operating human controlled vehicles on the road. If you or somebody you know has been injured in a car accident, call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Car accidents can cause a lot of stress which our attorneys hope to alleviate by working hard to help you. Call us today, at 844.4MI.FIRM, for a free consultation.

NFL Takes Precautions Against Concussions

The 2016 National Football League (NFL) regular season started  on Thursday, September 8, 2016. This is an exciting time of year for many NFL fans, as it is a brand new season full of hopes and dreams for their favorite NFL team.

Another exciting thing that comes with the start of the NFL season is the start of fantasy football. For many who play fantasy football, the hope for a new fantasy season can match or even sometimes exceed their excitement for the actual NFL season. Of course, one of the concerns that comes with fantasy football every year, as well as with NFL teams, is injuries to athletes that play this game. This year in the NFL, a new rule change is being implemented that is thought to help with reducing injuries. This year when a team receives the ball on a kickoff, and the play results in a touchback, the receiving team will be awarded the football at the 25-yard line.

In previous years in NFL history, teams were given the ball on only the 20-yard line after a touchback. The main reason behind this change is believed to be to try to cut down on concussions across the league. On a kickoff, players are usually moving faster than on almost any other type of play, and with 22 total players running full speed at each other on the kickoff, many injuries have resulted on kickoffs in previous years. The NFL has been trying to find ways to cut back on concussions in previous years, changing many rules and details of the game to try to avoid concussions as much as possible.

According to ESPN, The NFL says reported concussions in regular-season games rose 58 percent from 2014 to 2015, the highest number (182) in any of the past four years. Jeff Miller, the NFL's Senior Vice President of Health and Safety Policy said during a conference call, that the league will study what might have caused the incidence of head injuries to rise so much this season. Among the possible explanations Miller mentioned were a doubling in the number of players screened for possible concussions, "unprecedented levels of players reporting signs and signals of concussions," and that trainers who work as spotters or independent neurologists on sidelines "are much more actively participating in identifying this injury." As the season is already underway, it will be interesting to see if the new rule helps to decrease concussions from 2015 to 2016.

Brain injuries from concussions can be very serious injuries, but it isn't just NFL players who deal with concussions and the lingering issues that can stem from concussions. Concussions can also occur when involved in a motor vehicle accident, even if the accident wasn't a major one. If you or anyone you know has suffered a concussion or any other injuries from a car accident call The Michigan Law Firm today. Our attorneys are highly experienced in dealing with all types of motor vehicle accidents and will work hard to get you the help you need. Call us today, at 844.4MI.FIRM, for a free consultation.

Coming Soon: Regular Software Updates For Your Car

Just like your smartphone, your car may soon be able to get regular software updates to fix problems, improve performance, and to add new features. According to The Detroit Free Press, by 2022, more than 200 million vehicles around the world will be able to get over-the-air software updates according to ABI Research, a company which studies technology trends.

Nearly one-third of the defects that lead to recalls might be fixed with an over-the-air software update, resolving problems without having to make a trip to the dealership, which saves the car owner money, while also saving automakers up to $6 billion a year. “Streaming updates to cars is going to be a big play for the auto industry,” said Scott Frank, marketing vice president of Airbiquity, a Seattle-based company specializing in connected-car services. “It’s central to a lot of new things we’re working on. Phones and TVs are already updateable. Your car will be, too.”

The number of features that could possibly be affected are suprising. According to The Detroit Free Press, the first steps will include connecting to the cloud for entertainment and security functions, but Frank says nearly every aspect of how vehicles operate will be affected. Many updates that now require a trip to the dealer for a software flash, like the addition of Apple CarPlay in a car that was originally sold without it, will be handled by beaming new software to the vehicle. Software-only recalls, which would be the perfect candidates for streaming updates, affected 3.3 million vehicles in the U.S. last year. That’s nearly 5 times the number of vehicles that were affected in 2014, which is a trend that is likely to continue as vehicles add more software and electronics. Updates will include fixes, new security to keep up with would-be hackers, and adding new features.


“Adding features and improving performance post-purchase is a game-changer for the industry,” Frank said. Potential examples include new transmission programming to increase fuel economy, updated navigation information, and new infotainment apps."

The service will also make new levels of service and repairs possible. A good example would be how to deal with going over a nail or something sharp in the road. This of course would be seen as a negative inconvenience to any driver, but Frank sees an opportunity to build customer loyalty. “First, the car sends a warning message that you’re losing tire pressure,” he said. “The car could look for nearby service dealers and centers, download coupons, make an appointment and tell you that service is waiting for you 20 minutes down the road. The car is made intelligent by the data and analytics we can offer through the cloud. It improves your experience as an owner.” Frank says that vehicles capable of all these functions should be available by 2020.

These software updates could help prevent many accidents by fixing issues and bugs that could prevent your vehicle from not working properly. However, just as software can be updated, it can also malfunction or be hacked. Have you or anyone you know has been injured in a car accident due to faulty car software? If so, call The Michigan Law Firm today. Our attorneys are highly experienced in dealing with all types of motor vehicle accidents. Call us today, at 844.4MI.FIRM, for a free consultation.

Tired Driving Can Happen To Anyone, Even Professional Athletes

Tired driving is a bigger issue than most people realize. Sleepy drivers pose many risks that don't seem to be as talked about as drunk or distracted driving. According to the National Sleep Foundation’s Sleep in America poll, 60% of Americans have driven while feeling sleepy and 37% admit to actually having fallen asleep at the wheel in the past year. These statistics include all Americans, even professional athletes. Recently, former University of Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson drove his car into a pond.

Robinson, who is currently a National Football League (NFL) running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars, drove into a pond while asleep at the wheel over the past 4th of July. According to NBC Sports, The Florida Times-Union reported that Robinson was found asleep behind the wheel of a car by police responding to reports about a car crashing into a pond early on Sunday morning. Luckily, neither Robinson nor his passenger were hurt. According to the report, Robinson was screened by two officers and found not to be intoxicated. In a post to Twitter, Robinson indicated that he fell asleep at the wheel.


“I just wanted to let everyone know that I was involved in a single-car accident on Saturday night, and thankfully, everyone was safe and remained unharmed,” Robinson said. “I thank God every single day for the opportunities he has presented me with and I’m grateful every morning to wake up healthy. I should not have been driving that late or when I was that tired, but again, I’m just glad that everyone was safe. God Bless."

In this scenario, Denard Robinson knew he was tired but felt as though he could continue driving without danger. The problem is that many people cannot tell if or when they are about to fall asleep. Others may believe that if they pinch themselves or drink coffee, that they will not fall asleep. Many others shrug it off and attempt to drive anyway if sleepiness comes on while driving. What these people don’t realize, however, is that when you are tired, or even just a little bit drowsy, you are putting yourself and others in danger.

When To Stop And Rest 

Here are some signs provided by the National Sleep Foundation that when experienced should tell a driver to stop and rest:

•    Difficulty focusing, frequent blinking, or heavy eyelids
•    Daydreaming; wandering/disconnected thoughts
•    Trouble remembering the last few miles driven; missing exits or traffic signs
•    Yawning repeatedly or rubbing your eyes
•    Trouble keeping your head up
•    Drifting from your lane, tailgating, or hitting a shoulder rumble strip
•    Feeling restless and irritable

 

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), an estimated 1 in 25 adult drivers (aged 18 years or older) report having fallen asleep while driving in the previous 30 days. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that drowsy driving was responsible for 72,000 crashes, 44,000 injuries, and 800 deaths in 2013. However, these numbers are underestimated and up to 6,000 fatal crashes each year may be caused by drowsy drivers.

It is important for people to realize that no matter how much of a rush they are in, that if they are tired in any way, that they should not get behind the wheel of a vehicle. When taking long road trip, drivers should periodically stop, rest, and refuel as often as possible. It would even be beneficial to take long road trips with at least one other driver, so that each driver will be able to rest and take turns. Most importantly, if a driver become tired during a drive, they should immediately pull over and stop driving until they are 100% awake and energized. By following these steps and by being able to recognize tired driving, thousands of people will be able to avoid being involved in motor vehicle collisions.

Have you or anyone you know been injured by a driver that was driving tired or asleep at the wheel? If so, call The Michigan Law Firm today. Our attorneys are highly experienced in dealing with all types of motor vehicle accidents including those involving tired drivers. Call us today, at 844.4MI.FIRM, for a free consultation.

The Creepy Clown Craze Is Sweeping The Nation

Sightings of creepy clowns have become far to common of an occurrence in the last month and have only been increasing with Halloween around the corner. What started as a joke is not something many people are finding funny anymore. There have been reports of everything from arrests to even a death that has been attributed to these types of clown incidents. Just last month, the death of a 16-year-old in Reading, Pennsylvania was attributed to someone wearing a clown mask. According to Fox News, police in eastern Pennsylvania found a 16-year-old who was stabbed to death during a fight that broke out after a person showed up wearing a clown mask. Authorities said the incident happened the night of Sunday, September 25th around 8:30 p.m. in Reading, located about 50 miles northwest of Philadelphia.

It appears as it came out of nowhere, but the clown craze quickly swept the nation. In another crazy story involving clowns, a Wisconsin couple is facing child neglect charges after they allegedly left their 4-year-old child at home for hours to take part in a “creepy clown” prank. According to NBC Chicago, during the early morning hours on Friday, October 9th, police received reports of two men in clown masks chasing vehicles in Menasha, near Green Bay. A 20-year-old man and a 29-year-old man were found at the intersection of Appleton Road and Midway Road dressed in full clown costumes, according to the Menasha Police Department, as dash-cam video recorded police taking them into custody. A 26-year-old woman was also found in the area and is accused of driving the two men around during the “gag,” police said in a news release. Police said their investigation later revealed the woman and the 29-year-old man had left their 4-year-old child at home unattended for “a minimum of a few hours while they were out participating in this prank.” The child was placed outside of the home by the Department of Human Services and the parents have been referred to court on charges of child neglect. The 20-year-old man was not charged in the incident.

Clown incidents have become so dangerous, that now clown costumes and clown masks are being banned from stores, and even whole counties. According to USA Today, Kemper County in Mississippi has made it illegal for any public appearance of clowns through November 1st, the day after Halloween. So, any children or adults planning on being a clown for Halloween, will have to choose another costume. County officials deemed the recent clown-scares sweeping the nation as justification for the decision to make clown appearances illegal until the day after Halloween. Those who dare to put on a clown costume, mask, or makeup are subject to a fine up to $150 if they are caught by the local sheriff's office.

Some companies are also making the decision to not offer clown masks for purchase in stores or online. According to CNN Money, Target decided two weeks before Halloween that they would pull some clown masks off their shelves and out of their online store after sightings of menacing clowns across the country. "Given the current environment," Target spokesman Joshua Thomas said, "We have made the decision to remove a variety of clown masks from our assortment, both in stores and online." Home Depot took a similar step last month and pulled a Halloween decoration called the Scary Peeper Creeper from its stores in Canada following complaints from shoppers.

Clown have also been spotted here, in Michigan with one such sighting in Sterling Heights. According to The Detroit News, Police are investigating claims that people dressed up as clowns attacked a 7-year-old boy and scared two women in Sterling Heights, the latest in a series of Metro Detroit scary clown sightings. The child reported someone wearing a clown mask with “red hair, a red nose and red facial features” approached him outside his home on the night of Tuesday, October 4th. The person, whose gender was unclear, then allegedly wielded an object and scratched the youth’s arm before fleeing on foot, the child told authorities. Broadcast media reports said the suspected assailant had a knife, but police would not confirm that. Fortunately, The boy was not seriously hurt in the attack.

Some of these incidents have proven to cause harm or even be fatal, which makes clowns a serious problem. It's important to know that this kind of action can result in problems for not only those who witness creepy clowns, but also for those who are just trying to have fun. Victims of clown sighting may try to attack or even shoot clowns who get the jump on them causing harm to both parties. Others may even suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder from the fright of seeing and fending off a clown attacker. And in the instance that one of the parties is in a car, the sight of a clown is scary enough to cause drivers or pedestrians to loose their wits for a moment, causing a car accident. Pulling silly pranks just for a laugh is not worth the damage that can and has been caused in these incidents.

Have you or anyone you know been injured due to a distracted driver or have been involved in an accident caused by a distraction? If so, call The Michigan Law Firm today. Our attorneys are highly experienced in dealing with all types of accident cases and will work to get you the help that you need. Call us today, at 844.4MI.FIRM, for a free consultation.

Eminem's Ex-Wife Pleads No Contest To Drunk Driving Charge

Kim Mathers, the ex-wife of popular Detroit rapper Eminem, avoided standing trial for driving under the influence by pleading no contest Tuesday, October 18, 2016. According to Click On Detroit, Mathers crashed the vehicle in Macomb Township, near 23 Mile and Card Road, last October and was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. Police and emergency personnel realized Mathers was upside-down in SUV which hit a light pole just after noon. In cellphone footage, reportedly showing the aftermath of the crash, and officer is heard saying, "You know who it is? It's Kim Mathers. She's hammered." According to the police report, Mathers told police she'd drank a fifth of Malibu rum and crashed the car on purpose.  Police believe the crash was a failed suicide attempt

Kim called in to local Detroit radio show “Mojo in the Morning” on 95.5 FM in May of 2016, according to CNN, to clear up what happened during her crash in 2015. "I did this on purpose and I'm so sorry," Mathers said on the show. "I never lied to [first responders]. I told them everything that I did. I said that I was sorry and that it was intentional and I didn't expect to make it out alive." On October 18th, Mathers decided to plead no contest and move on. Outside of court, Mathers and her attorney had very little to say. "I just want to put this all behind me," she said. Mathers is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 22. Her lawyer said there are no terms to the plea.

Kim Mathers and rapper Eminem (whose real name is Marshall Mathers) were teenage sweethearts who married in 1999 before divorcing in 2001. In 2006 they briefly remarried before splitting again. The couple share a daughter, Hailie, and Eminem reportedly adopted his former wife's daughter from another relationship. 

Drinking and driving is never a good idea. Whether Ms. Mathers was trying to commit suicide or thought that saying to is a good defense is irrelevant because Ms. Mathers put the lives of other drivers in danger when she attempted to get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol. Luckily, no one, including Ms. Mathers was injured due to her recklessness. If you or anyone you know has been injured in an accident involving a drunk driver, call at The Michigan Law Firm. Our attorneys are highly experienced in dealing with all types of automobile accidents, including those involving drunk drivers. Call us today, at 844.4MI.FIRM, for a free consultation.

MLB Pitcher Hit In Head By 105 MPH Line Drive

One of the many dangers of playing baseball is that a ball flying over 90 miles per hour, and even sometimes over 100 miles per hour, can do some serious damage if it were to hit a player. One such scary situation involving Los Angeles Angels pitcher Matt Shoemaker occurred on September 4th. Shoemaker was pitching to Seattle Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager in the second inning of the game at Safeco Field in Seattle, when Seager ripped a line drive right back at Shoemaker, which drilled Shoemaker right in the head, as he tried to avoid it. The line drive that hit Shoemaker came off Seager's bat at a stunning 105 mph, according to MLB Statcast. The Angels pitcher fell to his knees before the Angels' trainers hurried out to the pitcher’s mound, followed by Shoemaker’s teammates, and even Kyle Seager as well. After remaining on the ground for some time, Shoemaker rose to his feet, firmly holding a towel to what appeared to be a bleeding head. He had to immediately leave the game and received a standing ovation from the Seattle crowd as he walked to the visiting team’s dugout.

Shoemaker was immediately taken to a hospital to where according to the New York Daily News, a CT scan revealed a small skull fracture and small hematoma. Shoemaker had to undergo surgery to stop bleeding in his brain. He had the procedure performed late on September 4th and was being treated by Dr. Manuel Ferreira of the University of Washington Medical Center. Los Angeles athletic trainer Adam Nevala stayed with Shoemaker until he was able to travel to Southern California.

General manager Billy Eppler provided the update on September 5th, saying Shoemaker had been receiving CT scans every 2-3 hours when the third image showed increased bleeding, shortly before 9 p.m. That’s when surgery was determined to be the next step. “The CT scan confirmed or when they actually did the operation that confirmed where the bleeding was,” Eppler said. “They were able to access that area. They were able to seal it, stop the bleeding. He was wheeled back up into recovery and is recovering fine.” As bad as this situation with Matt Shoemaker was, the fortunate side of the whole situation is that Shoemaker is still alive, and looks like he is going to be alright.

Brain injuries form sports accidents can be very serious injuries, but these same or even worse injuries can also occur when involved in a car accident. Sometimes, traumatic brain injuries don't present themselves right away. This is why it is absolutely important to immediately see a doctor following any kind of car crash. If you or anyone you know has been injured in a car accident, call The Michigan Law Firm. Our attorneys are highly experienced in dealing with all types of motor vehicle accidents and can get you the help you need. Call us today, at 844.4MI.FIRM, for a free consultation.

$1 Billion I-75 Construction To Last Until 2030

Last month, a 14-year long project to improve and widen Interstate 75 in suburban Detroit, Michigan officially got started. 14 years is a long time for most anything, but when it comes to construction on a major highway, 14 years seems like an eternity.

Fox 2 Detroit talked to Bloomfield Hills resident Indigo Zuri, who said "It's needed but the flip side of that is 14 years is a really long time...Why so long? I'll be too old to drive in 14 years." CBS Detroit talked to Annie Rosenborough of Detroit, who was among motorists not happy to hear about any of it. “I’m going to have to get up a little bit earlier to get to work on time,” she told WWJ’s Charlie Langton.


The first construction of the project started with a 2-year, $90.8 million project to reconstruct both directions of I-75 between Coolidge Highway and South Boulevard in Oakland County. The project includes reconstructing pavement, replacing bridges and modernizing the Square Lake Road interchange. The Michigan Department of Transportation says lane closures are planned. 

A new traffic configuration is expected to last into early September, when additional work on the project is scheduled to begin. The first phase includes roadways in Bloomfield Township and Troy. The right lane of southbound I-75 from the Square Lake interchange to Coolidge Highway will be closed as road crews prepare for a traffic shift. That traffic shift will happen in mid-September. This first phase of the project will cover about three miles of the interstate and is set to be complete in November of 2017. Of course, with construction comes more traffic, and delays all along I-75. "It's going to be a pain. We acknowledge that; we understand that, but this work needs to be done. We have to improve safety. It's our responsibility to put out the safest freeway we can," says Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) spokesperson Rob Morosi.


Drivers will also see some single-lane closures on northbound I-75 from Coolidge Highway to South Boulevard, and on the north and southbound I-75 ramps to westbound Square Lake Road. This is just the beginning of the construction that is planned, as the work is taking place in phases through 2030. Overall, the construction will widen the roadway from 8 Mile all the way up to M-59 and the cost of the roughly 18-mile project is expected to top $1 billion. 

Waiting in traffic can make anyone impatient, but worse than having to wait in traffic is getting into an accident in traffic. Many drivers are so impatient that they will tailgate and push their and your luck to the limit. If you or somebody you know has been injured in an accident involving an impatient driver, call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Call us today, at 844.4MI.FIRM, for a free consultation.