Legal Question in Personal Injury in Michigan

Auto Accident-Do I have a Case?

I was hit by a drunk driver on 1-1-05; he was driving a vehicle owned by his family's company. He was arrested, bonded out, went to court and ordered to pay court costs & restitution and placed on 3 years probation. I sustained a lower back injury and have been in continual pain since then; x-rays and bone scan do not show any broken bones or disc injury; latest diagnosis is that I probably had Osteoarthritis in my back that was not symptomatic until exacerbated by the accident. No treatment to date has helped, and I have been told that I will probably have this pain for the rest of my life, treated only by pain meds.I have an office job that is relatively sedentary, so I continue to work - although I am always in pain. There are many things I can no longer do. This has had a significant impact on my daily life, and I am now on anti-depressents. So, here's the question(s).

1) What's the probability I have cause for civil action against the driver (he's a college student); 2)What about a third party claim against his relative, who owns the business the offender's truck was registered to, or the last place he drank that night?

I am in my late 40's and concerned about my ability to continue working. Any advice is appreciated.


Asked on 6/25/05, 9:55 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
William Stern William Stern, P.C.

Re: Auto Accident-Do I have a Case?

Let me start out by telling you that I am a plaintiff's lawyer with 29 years experience and am a sustaining member of the Michigan Trial Lawyers Association. Based on what yo0u told me, your case will be dismissed because your injuries are not of a sufficient severity to allow recovery under Michigan's No-Fault law. Basically, your legislators that have been elected by the public have allowed drunk drivers to get off without accountability, dispite the garbage that they give you during elections. This state is run by the insurance industry and big business. In order to allow recovery, your entire lifestyle has to be destroyed. You would have to miss substantial time from work, have broken bones, etc. Even cases with broken bones are being dismissed. If you talk to any lawyers who have a different opinion, seriously question their experience. A case like yours years ago would have had substantial monetary value. No more. William S. Stern 248-353-9400

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Answered on 6/26/05, 8:16 am


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