Blog

Truck Accidents: A Note from Your Kalamazoo Auto Accident Attorney

Recently, I receieved an email from a representative of the Sleep Help Institute. They had read one of our previous blog posts that showed lack of (or poor) sleep as a significant factor in auto accidents leading to serious personal injury. I was referred to their page on truck driver ...

Automobile Accidents… Cause and Origin from Your Kalamazoo Auto Accident Attorney

When you think of horrible auto crashes (unfortunately I do...lots) what do you think of first when it comes to causation? I think most people would think drunk driving, for good reason. Speeding, or otherwise disobeying traffic laws? Sure, that has to be a biggie, right? In reality, it is ...

Finding a Personal Injury Lawyer in Kalamazoo

I speak to tons of people on a regular basis who believe they are in need of a personal injury lawyer in Kalamazoo. The vast majority of these people I do not end up representing for a number of reasons. However, I always ask these folks how they found their way ...

How to Know When it’s Time to Settle with the Other Driver’s Insurance Company

If the other driver’s insurance company is trying to settle with you right away, they know their driver was at fault, and you probably could build a good case against them. Obviously, it’s important to gather all relevant information after an auto accident, but it’s also important you’re careful about ...

Information about Survivor Loss Benefits from Your Kalamazoo Auto Accident Lawyer

One of the things included in many Michigan no fault insurance auto policies are survivor loss benefits. This means that if you have lost a loved one in an auto accident, you may be entitled to these benefits no matter who was deemed at fault. The purpose of survivor loss ...

Highs and Lows of a Kalamazoo Personal Injury Lawyer

I am going to get a bit retrospective here. i have been doing this (representing injured people) for nearly a quarter of a century and would like to look back for a moment at some of the points in my career that have provided me so very much joy and, ...

Nuts and Bolts of an Automobile [Accident] From Your Kalamazoo Auto Accident Attorney

You never want to get seriously hurt in an automobile accident, trust me. As a lawyer who specializes in representing those that do, I am constantly working on methods and practices to improve the outcome in these cases. By "improved outcome" I am referring to quicker and larger settlements and ...

A Day in the Life (of a Kalamazoo Personal Injury Attorney)

The Beatles song rings through my head as I post this...wake up, get out of bed, drag a comb across my head...but I digress. If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident (or another type of accident) and have hired a lawyer or are looking to do so ...

So-Called “Self Driving” Cars: A Kalamazoo Auto Accident Attorney’s Perspective.

Having dealt with automobile accidents and injuries for nearly 30 years of my life (23 years as a Kalamazoo auto accident attorney and 6 years as a claims adjuster) lots of people ask me about the latest rage in the automobile industry, that being self driving cars. It is an ...

Five Tips for Making Sure You Get Paid Medical Benefits After an Auto Accident

One of the most costly benefits in your no fault Michigan auto policy is Personal Injury Protection (PIP). These benefits can either coordinate with your medical insurance policy which would mean the auto insurance pays secondary or not coordinate which would mean the auto insurance pays primary. Either way, PIP ...

How to Best Approach Your Disability Claim

If you’ve suffered an injury or illness that has left you unable to work, everyday events can become harrowing experiences. Suddenly, small car repairs, household upkeep and electric bills become difficult – if not impossible – to overcome. With no income and an influx of bills, it’s easy to fall ...

What You Need To Know About Construction Site Injuries

In America, construction accounts for 6% of the workforce and 20% of workplace fatalities. In addition to this, over 400,000 people suffer injuries while working on construction sites. With those alarming numbers in mind, it’s important for every construction worker to know their rights when it comes to workplace safety ...

An Alarming Percentage of Car Accidents Involve Cell Phones

A report issued in 2013 shows that there is a direct correlation between using a cell phone while behind the wheel and car accidents. It is truly important for an auto accident attorney to uncover the reason for an auto accident that has caused death or serious injury. Any and ...

Organizing Medical Bills and Other Documents After Being Injured in an Auto Accident

After being involved in an auto accident, the stress of managing all of the logistics can be overwhelming. From filling out paperwork and making phone calls to visiting doctors and tracking medical bills, it’s easy to get lost in the process. However, it is essential to your case that you ...

Six Tips for Making Sure You Get Paid Medical Benefits After an Auto Accident

Six Tips for Making Sure You Get Paid Medical Benefits After an Auto Accident One of the most important (and costly) benefits in your no fault Michigan auto policy is Personal Injury Protection (PIP). The medical benefits can either coordinate with your medical insurance policy which would mean the auto ...

What to Do If You Are Injured In a Traffic Accident

When disaster strikes, it helps to be mentally prepared. In the case of auto accidents, this means understanding the situation and reacting accordingly. In many cases, victims are so overwhelmed by the circumstances that give in to actions that, in the long run, do not benefit their ability to achieve ...

The Cold, Hard Statistics on Dangerous Driving Decisions

From time to time, we’re all guilty of making bad decisions. When those decisions are made behind the wheel, though, they can have catastrophic, life-changing consequences. A recent survey by AAA has shown that 87% of Michigan drivers engaged in risky behavior while driving their vehicle. While most of these ...

Should Police Be Able to do a Roadside Scan of Your Electronic Devices if You’re Pulled Over?

Many Americans believe that a “textalyzer” law is long overdue. The number of accidents caused by distracted drivers as the result of texting has continued to rise. Research has shown that texting while driving creates a risk of crashing in line with driving while drunk. Michigan law enforcement officers almost ...

Why Michigan Auto Insurance Rates Are the Highest In the Nation

Every month, when the auto insurance bills come in the mail, countless Michiganders heave a sigh of exasperation. With our car insurance rates coming in over 130% higher than the national average, we wonder why we’re paying so much and, more importantly, what we’re getting out of the deal. In ...

Recommendations for Winter Driving, Whiteout Conditions, Car Accidents and Pileups

With ice forming on the pavement as we speak, Michigan’s roads are quickly becoming perilous. It’s about this time that most seasoned winter drivers slow down, pay closer attention to their surroundings and, if possible, decide to stay off the roads entirely. However, car accidents are exactly that… accidents. While ...

Kalamazoo Auto Accident Attorneys and Survivor Loss Benefits in Michigan

Under Michigan’s no-fault law, if you’ve lost a loved one in an auto accident, you may be entitled to survivor loss benefits from the driver’s insurance company, regardless of who was at fault. Survivor loss benefits are a form of monetary support provided to family members to make up for ...

Three Key Items to Gather After an Auto Accident

After you’ve been involved in an auto accident, gathering the necessary documentation and evidence can be daunting, especially if you’re recovering from an injury. With your physical recovery, it can be challenging to find the time to identify, gather and sort all of the items that you need to successfully ...

Learn About Your Loved Ones’ Rights While They Are in a Nursing Home

If you have parents, grandparents or relatives that are transitioning into a nursing home, it’s important that you learn about their rights. As they may be unable to remember or understand them, you must act as their first line of protection against nursing home abuse and neglect. Whether they are ...

Hazardous Materials and Worker’s Compensation Claims

Hazardous materials laws, labeling and requirements are one of the most difficult aspects of personal injury law to navigate. Because of the highly specialized chemical nature of these materials and the often delayed medical responses, many workers are uncertain about whether or not they have a case. At Giffels Law ...

Steps to Take after You’ve Been Bitten by a Dog

In Michigan, we have what is called “strict liability” when it comes to victims of dog attacks. If you are attacked without provocation, you are entitled to damages from the dog’s owner. In order to win your case and collect damages, however, you will need to be able to prove ...

Dos and Don’ts After a Personal Injury Auto Accident

If you’ve ever been involved in a car accident, you know that it is a scary and confusing event. Aside from the worries of whether all of your passengers are okay, a flood of secondary concerns come at a rapid pace. Is your car still operable? If not, how will ...

How to Choose a Personal Injury Lawyer

When you have been seriously hurt in an accident, you need a lawyer whom you can trust. Several factors must be taken into account when selecting a lawyer for your personal injury case. The US Federal Trade Commission recommends the following considerations when looking for a lawyer for your personal ...

Why I Became a Lawyer

I did not grow up with a burning desire to become a lawyer. On the contrary. When I was a kid, I did not think that working long hours going through stacks of paperwork seemed dynamic or interesting at all. Of course, I had no idea what lawyers did back ...

Risk Management 101 for Dog Owners

First of all, Michigan law makes it clear that if you own a dog, you are responsible for it. There is no getting around that. If your dog bites someone, you can be sued. Contrary to urban legend, there is no "free bite" law. Even without a history of your ...

When Do I Need to Hire an Auto Accident Attorney?

I have been representing people involved with accidents (like car crashes) for 20 years. Before that, I was on the "other side"... an insurance claims adjuster. I guess it's understandable that people often ask me "when do I need to hire a lawyer?". First of all, I am not going ...
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