More than 1,500 people in Michigan who sustained life-changing injuries in car crashes are losing home care services because of no-fault auto insurance reforms. On today's episode, we're going to hear about how the effort to lower auto insurance costs in Michigan has had devastating consequences for crash survivors.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer and state legislators were warned three years ago that changes to the state's auto no-fault law would cause massive suffering and death. Now, it's happening.
Brian Woodward is the kind of success story Michigan’s former no fault law was designed for. After a car crash left him a quadriplegic at age 24, he didn’t have to sue to get his care paid for or spend the rest of his life in a nursing home.
Tracy Samilton covers the auto beat for Michigan Radio. She has worked for the station for 12 years, and started out as an intern before becoming a part-time and, later, a full-time reporter. Tracy's reports on the auto industry can frequently be heard on Morning Edition and All Things Considered, as well as on Michigan Radio. She considers her coverage of the landmark lawsuit against the University of Michigan for its use of affirmative action a highlight of her reporting career.
A new law allows insurance companies to pay caregiver agencies about half of what they used to get, and many are going broke. That means thousands are losing the care that they rely on to survive.