Brain Injury Lawyer

The Brain Injury Association of Michigan has issued a press release praising the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's efforts to increase the safety standards for all domestically produced automobiles after September 1, 2008.

"NHTSA has, in particular, demonstrated bold leadership in upgrading a
number of vehicle restraint standards," said Michael Dabbs, president of the Brighton-based non-profit association.

You can read more here.

To whom it may concern:
August 7, 2002 I experienced an awful "accident": while putting a car seat in the rear seat of my 1992 Mercury Villager, my daughter entered the vehicle to tell me something and accidentally bumped the gear stick. The vehicle WAS OFF, in PARK, and the KEYS WERE IN THE KEYHOLE. Due to the heat I had the sliding door of the van open. The van began to roll backwards. My daughter, three years old at the time, remained standing in the driver's seat area. I attempted to jump forward to somehow stop the van from rolling. I didn't make it...I fell out and behind the van! The rear and front tire of the van rolled over my right leg causing extensive damage (tibia compound fracture) that later caused several forms of nerve damage through out my body: R.S.D., Small Nerve Peripheral Neuropathy, and Automomic Neuropathy.
I did file a complaint at the time and was in communication with Mr. Clarence Ditlow. I could not find any lawyers willing to take my case at the time because we could not prove the neuropathy was temporary or chronic. Time proved it to be both chronic and progressive. Tests and many specialists at the most advanced medical facility here in Wisconsin finally confirmed the accident was the cause of all my symptoms. Tests ruled out all other possibilities.
About a year ago as I began to "get the pieces of the puzzle" put together and had proof that the crush injury caused my now handicapping multi-system nerve damage, I reconnected with lawyers; again, nobody was interested in taking on Ford. It seems they have ways of manipulating their way out of compensating consumers for their negligence. I then contacted Ford-Mercury (Ms. Julie Shananski: 313-337-3323). They had a "specialist" check out the vehicle for any malfunctioning parts. I never drove the vehicle again; I put it in storage. The gentleman found no evidence that there was anything wrong with the transmission or gearshift. And said that their vehicles have a built-in feature which allows the vehicle to be moved out of park and into neutral even while the vehicle is off in order to tow them. This intentional built-in feature is not shared with the consumer. Had I known this was a possibility I first, never would have purchased the van. Second, at the very least I would never have left the keys in the ignition in spite of the minimal five minutes I did. This built-in feature destroyed my life.
Ford-Mercury did request my medical records and admitted they would like to compensate me for something in recognition of the serious injuries I received. Since the three-year deadline of a trial was approaching I complied and submitted medical records proving the accident was the cause of my nerve damage. They responded less than one week later ignoring my medical files completely and restated that 'they are not interested in trying to reach a settlement with me. They obviously took advantage of my trust and set me up!
I lost my quality of life completely as a result of this accident. I have a BA in Elementary Education but cannot work because of the added stress to my body. I cannot take part in any activity that would enable me to possibly fall and re injure an extremity because the R.S.D. could return and not be reversible (it in remission now). The Small Nerve Peripheral Neuropathy causes severe burning, itching, and pain on my extremities as well as numbing and tingling sensations. I now have Restless Leg Syndrome and Periodic Leg Movements during sleep resulting in no quality of sleep and feelings of "a form of anxiousness". My G.I. system is all out of sorts: I have Rapid Gastric Emptying and Slow Transient of my Intestines, which causes extreme cramping, bloating, nausea, severe constipation, and diabetic-like symptoms. I've had a Heart Ablation done: the cardiologist severed a portion of my SA Node of my heart due to Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia (rapid heartbeat). I also have the opposite: Postural Orthostatic Hypertension which causes me to me dizzy, shaky, blurred vision, nausea, and more. I lost a lot of bone and gum tissue in my mouth and get painful ulcers due to the "drying" effects from the A.N.: dry mouth, vaginal dryness, and nasal membrane dryness, and dry eyes. It is very embarrassing, painful, and expensive to maintain oral health. I have very difficult times of feelings of chest pressure and difficulties breathing due to the above symptoms. I have both chronic fatigue as well as insomnia. I could go on and on. The bottom line is, every bodily system has been negatively affected by this and my life, as I knew it prior August 7, 2005 is over forever.
My "disease" caused by Ford-Mercury vehicle has affected not only my life, but my entire family bears the pain as well. And I cannot even begin to explain the cost of healthcare to maintain the little quality of life I have left! Between medication co-payments ($250.00 per month) and an average of $100,00 - $200,00 a year of health insurance claims and a rough estimate of about $3,000 a year or more for my dental care. And Ford Mercury has offered me nothing. I can no longer work. My husband has two jobs to make ends meet. And our dreams of building a home are now forced to be forgotten since we cannot count on me for a second source of monies if he were to be laid off.
But what is worse that all of this is my biggest fear was that this would happen to someone else before I have gotten the chance to educate people of the unknown dangers they are exposing their children to by owning Ford-Mercury vehicles. And it did. Mylun, a three-year old boy from northern Wisconsin got caught under his family's vehicle that was off and in park; his head and chest were crushed by the vehicle as he fell out of the vehicle. I called the family after reading an article about their story in a small farmers' magazine and cried, asking for forgiveness for not doing enough to educate people of this danger.
Won't you please help me in my mission in the name of all those who have died and who have suffered lifelong disabilities from Ford-Mercury's "built-in feature" of educating the public of our stories? Perhaps we can save the lives of someone before it is too late.
Thank you,

Elizabeth Anne Sarkissian
262-549-4289

1709 Indianwood Ln
Waukesha, Wisconsin 53186