Thanksgiving 2022
On Thanksgiving Day in 2022, Mike was working from a scaffolding tower at an event in Detroit when a moving truck struck part of the temporary event structure supporting the tower.
The impact caused the tower to collapse, sending Mike approximately 15 feet to the pavement before much of the steel structure came down on top of him.
Mike remembers picking up a wrench and getting into the tower. His next clear memory is being on the ground, seeing blood around him, and hearing people scream. He knew something terrible had happened, but he did not understand why he was bleeding or how badly he had been hurt.
“I remember picking up a wrench and getting into my tower, and then the next thing I know, I’m on the ground, and there’s blood everywhere.”
Injuries That Changed Everything
Mike spent three days in the hospital and began what would become a long recovery. He suffered seven hairline fractures in his skull, a traumatic brain injury, a separated shoulder, and a tendon tear in his right shoulder.
He also developed severe post-traumatic stress and continues to experience gustatory seizures that can arrive without warning and leave him vomiting for three to five days at a time. Those episodes are one reason he has not returned to his previous work.
The accident affected nearly every part of his life. Mike said he knew something was wrong after the brain injury, but at first, he could not fully understand what was happening to him.
“My world was turned completely upside down.”
Waking Up Without Answers
Mike realized he needed legal help while he was still in the hospital. He had little memory of the accident, so his employer had to explain what had happened.
At the same time, Mike did not have health insurance. He was facing substantial injuries, mounting medical costs, and uncertainty about whether he could work again.
He had never considered himself someone who would sue. But with his health, financial security, and future at risk, he felt he had no realistic way to manage the situation alone.
“My injuries were substantial, and I couldn’t afford $250,000 on my own just for getting smacked in the head like that.”
A Recommendation From Someone He Trusted
During Mike’s second or third day in the hospital, his employer told him about Larry. He explained that Larry had helped him before and that Mike should speak with him.
Mike initially worried about working with his employer’s attorney and whether that relationship could create a conflict. After speaking with Larry and getting to know him, those concerns eased.
Mike later spoke with two other lawyers about his case. Their reactions gave him even more confidence: both told him that if Larry was representing him, he had nothing to worry about.
“The two other lawyers I had spoken to about my case told me that if Larry was my lawyer, I had nothing to worry about.”
A First Conversation That Brought Clarity
Mike’s first detailed phone conversation with Larry took place about a month after the accident. Mike was alone at home, his life had been completely disrupted, and he had no idea what to expect from a serious legal case.
He said Larry responded with facts, logic, and clear explanations. Whenever Mike had doubts, Larry made the situation feel simpler and helped him understand what needed to happen next.
The contingency fee arrangement was also essential. Mike said he would not have had the money to hire a lawyer up front, so knowing the firm would only be paid if the case was successful made representation possible.
“Every time that I ever had any doubt about anything, Larry was able to give me facts, logic, and reason. He made everything really simple.”
Told to Focus on Healing
Mike said he had very little involvement in whatever was happening behind the scenes. His responsibility was to attend medical appointments and focus on getting better. When Larry needed something, he called or asked Mike to come in.
That support extended beyond the legal case. Mike said Larry helped him reach doctors and connected him with a nurse case manager who became an essential part of his recovery.
Mike did not know how to navigate either the legal system or the medical system. Having a team coordinate those pieces allowed him to focus on his health rather than trying to manage everything himself.
Communication He Could Rely On
The case took approximately two years to resolve, which Mike described as fast considering its complexity. Throughout that time, he relied on Larry for reassurance and direction.
Mike said that whenever he called or texted, he received a response within an hour. Larry also worked to ensure insurance payments arrived when they were supposed to, that medical providers were paid, and that Mike reached the professionals he needed.
For someone with no previous experience handling a major legal or medical matter, that communication made the process manageable.
“The communication was top-notch.”
From Destitute to Secure
Before the case was resolved, Mike described himself as destitute. He had moved back in with his grandparents because he had nowhere else to go, and he was also helping care for them.
A settlement was reached four days before his birthday. Mike called it the best birthday present he had ever received.
He said the result gave him financial security and helped make a normal life possible, even though he still lives with the effects of the accident and remains unable to hold a conventional job.
“The outcome of my case was outstanding and, for lack of a better term, absolutely saved my life.”
Looking Back
Mike described his experience with Buckfire as comforting, reliable, and professional. He valued Larry’s experience, calm approach, and ability to navigate a process that felt impossible to handle alone.
He has since recommended the firm to friends who were injured at work or were considering seeking compensation for earlier injuries.
For Mike, the stakes went far beyond a legal claim. His financial well-being, ability to provide for himself, access to treatment, and chance to rebuild his life were all uncertain before he received help.
“I wouldn’t be sitting here safe and secure in a happy home if I had tried to do this on my own.”
