If you are a Canadian citizen injured in a Michigan car accident, you may be wondering if you can seek compensation for your losses. Fortunately, Michigan’s no-fault benefit is known as one of the best auto insurance policies in the United States and Canadians who get involved in car crashes in Michigan can utilize it to their advantage.

Injured Canadians who would like to seek support following a Michigan accident will have to have Canadian auto insurance that is certified in Michigan or an auto insurance policy that allows him or her to elect to collect Michigan no-fault benefits.

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Medical malpractice is when a doctor, surgeon or other medical professional steps outside the norms of their profession by providing substandard care and puts a patient in harm’s way. Unfortunately, medical errors and mistakes often result in severe injuries or even death. If you or a loved one has been injured as the result of medical negligence, you will need an attorney who has the expertise to understand the legal and medical aspects of your case and the knowledge of how to prove and win your Michigan medical malpractice case.

The first step in a medical malpractice case is to establish that you had a doctor-patient relationship with the individual or entity that provided you with care. This relationship is established when the victim visits a doctor, nurse, surgeon or other medical specialist. Therefore, the medical records should be adequate to establish that a relationship existed.

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A scald is a type of burn that results from spills, splashes, immersions and contact with steam or hot liquids. Hot liquids are extremely dangerous for individuals of all ages, but the elderly are particularly vulnerable to scalding burn injuries. Their skin tends to be less sensitive, so their reaction times are reduced. This means that when they come into contact with a hot liquid, they may not pull away quick enough to avoid scalding.

They also tend to have thinner skin, which means that they may suffer a deep scalding burn quicker compared to someone who is younger. Nursing homes in particular should take all necessary steps to ensure that their residents are protected from these types of devastating burn injuries.

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Surgical errors are preventable mistakes that are the direct result of poor planning, inadequate procedures or sheer incompetence. Surgical errors are considered forms of medical malpractice if the surgeon’s negligent actions fall below an acceptable standard of care when compared to the actions of reasonably competent surgeons.

It is important to remember that all surgical procedures involve risk and patients can suffer a heart failure or stroke even when no mistakes are made. This is why patients are required to sign implied consent documents before going under the knife. This consent form does not, however, protect doctors from litigation when egregious errors cause harm to the patient.

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Michigan is experiencing a very unpredictable and severe winter this year. It is important for all Michigan residents to take the steps necessary to avoid being injured in a slip-and-fall accident. Walking in ice and snow is often treacherous and victims of slip-and-fall accidents can suffer devastating injuries such as bone fractures, sprains, strains, contusions and even traumatic brain injuries. Whenever you are outside this year, it is important that you take the steps necessary to decrease your chances of falling.

Slip-and-fall prevention starts with your shoes. It is absolutely necessary to wear shoes with rubber soles that can grip the sidewalk and keep you firmly planted on the ground. If you are going somewhere nice and want to wear high-heels, it is advisable to carry them separately and to wear sensible shoes until you are safely inside. It is also in your best interest to remove snow from the bottom of your shoes before entering a building so that you do not contribute to other potential slipping incidents.

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Snowmobiles are extremely popular in Michigan and this winter has afforded many opportunities to get outside and ride. Snowmobiles are fast, exhilarating and fun. They are also, unfortunately, very dangerous. According to statistics reviewed by the Detroit Free Press, 60 people were killed in Michigan snowmobile accidents over the three-year period between 2009 and 2011. Over a five-year period, 130 snowmobilers were killed in Michigan.

Most Michigan snowmobile accidents are preventable and result from mistakes made by the driver. Common contributing factors of snowmobile crashes include speed, alcohol, unknown trails, inexperience, a lack of parental supervision and reckless behavior. Not all accidents, however, are the fault of the driver. Inclement weather, dangerous trails, manufacturer defects and the negligence of others can cause a tragic crash as well. In these types of cases, financial compensation should be available for the injuries suffered by the victim.

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Pharmacists are trained professionals who can be held accountable for their actions. They are responsible for properly filing prescriptions with the right drug at the right dosage as well as accurately disclosing appropriate usage. Pharmacists must also warn the patient of potential interactions with other medications and answer patients’ questions about drug usage. When a pharmacist makes an error such as dispensing the wrong medication, the resulting damages can be catastrophic.

Pharmacy errors can have a number of adverse effects. Errors classified as “misfills” include:

• Dispensing the wrong dosage of the right medication. Patients given the incorrect dosage may suffer from an insufficient or overdose of medication.
• Dispensing the wrong medication. Patients in such cases may suffer harmful side effects from the medication as well as suffer damages from not receiving the medication they needed in the first place.
• Mislabeling the prescription. It must be clear how much medication to take and how to properly administer the drug.

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If you or a loved one has been injured by a dog in Michigan, you may be wondering how you are going to pay for the mounting medical bills. Many dog bite injuries require immediate medical attention and some require follow-up visits and plastic surgery to erase or lessen the scarring. Fortunately, Michigan law allows victims of dog bite incidents to pursue financial compensation for their losses.

Under Michigan law, dog owners are strictly liable for the actions of their pet. According to Michigan Statute 287.351: “If a dog bites a person, without provocation while the person is on public property, or lawfully on private property, including the property of the owner of the dog, the owner of the dog shall be liable for any damages suffered by the person bitten, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner’s knowledge of such viciousness.”

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We’ve experienced several heavy snowstorms in Michigan this winter. It is absolutely vital that you take every precaution to drive safely this winter and that you do not leave without a fully charged cell phone. It is not advisable to drive while using your phone, but you may need it if you are stranded or involved in an accident.

There are several steps you can take before even leaving your driveway to reduce your chances of being in an accident during inclement weather. It is not advisable to drive in snow and icy conditions unless your tires are properly inflated. It is also crucial to ensure that your brakes are in good working order. Check your vehicle’s fluid levels and make sure you completely clear the windshield of all ice. Always have a shovel, ice scraper and an extra set of gloves in the trunk of your car.

As a general rule, it is necessary to leave extra space between vehicles when driving in wintery conditions. It is more difficult in such weather to slow down, stop, turn or change lanes when the roads are slick. Remember that bridges and overpasses are particularly prone to these types of conditions. If you typically travel on less-traversed roads, it may be in your best interest to choose busier streets and highways that Michigan roadway crews are more likely to plow and salt more frequently.

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When slip-and-fall accidents occur on someone else’s property, victims may be able to pursue financial compensation for their injuries and losses through civil litigation. Negligence cases become more complicated, however, if the victim fell on an icy sidewalk. It can be difficult to prove who was responsible for the hazardous conditions and who should be held liable for the victim’s losses.

In general, slip-and-fall accidents involve situations where someone is injured by tripping or slipping because of a dangerous condition on someone else’s property. This is common during the wintertime when negligent premises owners fail to keep floors and stairs dry and fail to post warning signs around dangerous locations.

When discussing outdoor accidents, the dangers are often weather-related. It is possible to hold the owner of a private sidewalk or walkway liable for a black ice patch or other hazardous condition. The victim must prove that the owner of the private driveway was aware or should have known of the black ice or dangerous situation and failed to protect visitors on his or her property.

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