Jay Trucks and Associates Legal Blog

In the early part of this decade, giant tire manufacturers Firestone and Bridgestone, recalled over 15 million tires due to defects that cause tread separation, tire blowouts, rim or tire explosions, and other unexplained failures. Before they were recalled, and since, these defective tires have been responsible for untold numbers of tire blowouts and car accidents resulting in thousands of injuries and in some cases, fatal injuries. Other

And now, some US importers are recalling tire valve stems made in China because of defect as well. One Florida driver's death is being blamed on faulty valve stems. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) began an investigation last summer and early reports say it seems that these defective valves are prone to cracking prematurely.

If you or a loved has been involved in an auto accident that you suspect resulted from a defective tire, please contact the Michigan auto accident attorneys at Jay Trucks & Associates today for a free consultation. There are statutes of limitations and deadlines of when you must file a claim in order to qualify for a settlement.

Everyone can relate to the disappointment you feel when a purchased product doesn't work the way it's supposed to or breaks before it's even been used. In severe cases of defective products, the results can be injurious to you or a loved one. And when this happens, it's not a simple matter of returning the defective item to the store for a refund. It can mean unexpected medical bills, long recovery periods or even the interruption of the ability to work and provide for your family. In some cases it can even mean death.

According to the Michigan Product Liability Act, all claims must prove that there was some sort of defect in the product. In addition to proving the item is defective, the injured person must prove that the defect caused injury or damage and that an actual injury was sustained.

Product liability law can be complicated and if you suspect you have a claim, you need to hire an experienced attorney to help. If you live in Saginaw, or anywhere in Michigan, the Saginaw product liability attorneys at Jay Trucks & Associates are here for you.

Employment law covers a wide gamut of topics from injuries occurring at work, sexual harassment, wrongful termination and discrimination (whether racial, age or sexual in nature).

At Jay Trucks & Associates, we are know all about Michigan employment law and its many facets. If you or someone you know has questions about the following, we can help:

• I was injured at work but not sure if my situation warrants a workers compensation claim.
• If I do qualify for workers compensation benefits - how do I file a claim or repeal a denied claim?
• I recently had a job interview and feel I was passed over for the position because of my religious beliefs - do I have any recourse?
• My employer tells racial and sexual jokes in the office - is this considered harassment under Michigan or federal law?
• I was recently laid off, as were several others in my office who are close to retirement - I want to know more about age discrimination law. Can you help?

As shown here, there are many components of employment law, each with its own set of regulations and subtleties. Trying to decipher these laws on your own can be quite complicated and confusing.

If you have a question about employment law and what your rights are, please contact the experienced attorneys at the law firm of Jay Trucks & Associates. We'll be your advocate and help you figure out if you've been wronged in any way.

No one can deny that the economy is tough right now. Unemployment is at a 20-year high and more people than ever don't have access to affordable healthcare insurance, either through an employer or privately. With or without a job and/or insurance, the cost of medical care is through the roof. One of the most common reasons for filing bankruptcy is because of medical bills.

So what can you do to help control the cost of medical care in your home? Here are a few suggestions to consider:

If you have medical bills that are beyond what you can pay right now, call the provider and ask them to work with you on a payment plan. Most everyone would rather have a portion of what's owed every month, than no payments for a long time or no payment at all.
Negotiate the costs up front. If you have a procedure looming and the cost seems too high, call the surgery center or hospital and see what they can do for you. Most institutions have several levels of costs depending on the insurance provider or method of payment. Offer cash and you may get a substantial discount.

If you've been injured in an accident or at work and your medical bills are piling up, please contact personal injury attorneys at Jay Trucks & Associates for your free consultation today.

If you are injured in an accident while at work, there's a very good chance that your medical bills and some form of lost wages will be paid under Workers' Compensation benefits. In Michigan, in general, all employers are required to carry Workers' Compensation insurance for their employees. There are a few exceptions to this rule that can be explained by your Workers' Compensation attorney at Jay Trucks & Associates.

Injuries on the job should be reported as soon as possible to get the ball rolling on Workers' Compensation benefits to the employee. Part of this process includes examination from a doctor to document and give an opinion on your injuries and your recovery. It's important for you to express all of your symptoms and pains to the doctor at the time of your exam. It's also good to know that in Michigan, the employer has the right, at least initially, to choose the doctor that you see.

If you've been injured at work and have questions about your workers' compensation rights, please contact the experienced workers' compensation attorneys at Jay Trucks & Associates. We'll review your case, let you know what your rights are, and help you get the benefits you deserve.

State Farm has recently been hit with a Civil RICO (Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organization Act) suit resulting from claims that their independent medical examiners, or IMEs, are anything but independent. IMEs are routinely used by insurance companies to provide an unbiased opinion on an injured person’s state of being and whether (and which) medical treatments are necessary for their recovery.

It seems that State Farm was influencing their IMEs to report that certain treatments were not medically necessary and therefore not subject to coverage under their policies. The IME companies contracted by State Farm were allegedly told that unless the reports were written and files the way State Farm instructed, then State Farm would no longer need their services and would look elsewhere for other IME companies to contract with. It has also been reported that Allstate has had a similar suit filed against them.

If you or a loved one has been injured and been wrongly denied medical treatment by your insurance company in Michigan, please contact the personal injury attorneys at Jay Trucks & Associates today. We offer a free consultation to discuss your potential case and can offer you information on your legal rights.

When the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was conceived, it estimated that at that time over 43 million Americans were living with disabilities and often with discrimination. The writers acknowledged that while laws were already in place to prohibit discrimination for reasons of race, color, sex, age, national origin and religion, there was nothing to protect disabled Americans.

The text of the ADA prohibits discrimination against the disabled in many areas like employment, government, public accommodations, housing, voting, transportation and telecommunications. Its purpose was to give national guidelines for federal, state and local governments to follow in making the above categories reasonably accessible to all Americans. The guidelines apply to making public areas likes restrooms, shops and restaurants accessible as well as providing reasonable accommodation at places of employment.

If you are disabled and feel you have been the victim of discrimination because of your disability, please contact the disability discrimination attorneys at Jay Trucks & Associates. We are intimately familiar with the rules and regulations of the ADA and fight every day for the rights of our disabled clients. Schedule a free initial consultation with us today and we'll review your case together. Remember, if we don’t win a recovery for you, you don't owe us anything.