UPDATE 136 FROM ROB AND LIN

Hello to our good friends of Steve's Army.

We feel it is necessary to bring another attempt by our GOP legislators to "reform" Michigan Auto No-Fault to your attention. As most of you may know Steve is not an auto accident victim so his recovery is not paid for by our Auto insurance. Just the same, we feel the need to make you aware of this again.

This time, our legislators are trying to make you believe their changes will somehow benefit you more than the last attempt.

They are raising the benefit payment cap to 10 million. This sounds good at first glance because 10 million would cover all but a very small amount of catastrophically injured auto accident victims. While they guarantee at least one year of benefits, any subsequent benefits allowed are based on something called "reasonable progress". What this means is VERY FEW will get benefits past 1 year. Our legislature, GOP in particular, doesn't understand that catastrophically injured victims can go backwards faster than they go forward. Our experience dictates that these victims need daily exercise just to maintain their health and have any chance to progress towards recovery. To reduce, limit, or stop these benefits might condemn these poor victims to a nursing facility. These people have a right to a quality life, lets make sure they are allowed to keep it!

Additionally, the GOP is trying to get this reform passed before the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association is forced to turn over it's records to the public. A judge ordered the MCCA to turn over it's records but the judgement is under appeal.
These records are the missing piece of the puzzle that will determine if the current No-Fault system is sustainable. To vote on anything this serious without knowing the facts proves some politicians are not acting in the best interests of the people who elected them! You wonder what their motives are???

Michigan Auto insurance is expensive, however, the MCCA assessment is uniform, $186 per vehicle.  No-Fault is not the problem. It is 3X more costly to insure the same vehicle in Wayne Country as it is in most of the suburbs because we have no consumer protection laws that would regulate this. Some people say just let the victim sue the "at fault" person. That doesnt work either because you never know how much money will cover your costs, so you tend to ask for more, which could bankrupt some and therefore not get you what you need.

THIS is simple. Tell your rep to get all of the facts before he/she "acts in your best interests"!! Tell them to fix something that really is broken, like our roads, not No-Fault that has worked perfectly for over 30 years!  Ask them why they won't let the people vote on this topic?

 We suggest that you contact your representatives and make them accountable. Feel free to post their answers to you on this blog.

Throughout our ordeal we have met many good people who would be severely impacted by this change. They deserve better.

Thank you for reading this and please continue to keep Steve in your thoughts and prayers. Good things are happening!

Rob and Linda