"Michigan Court Upholds Vital Compensation for Severe Car Crash Victims"
The Michigan Supreme Court has ruled that major changes in the state's car insurance system do not apply to individuals who were catastrophically injured before a 2019 law took effect. The decision provides critical relief to thousands of people who were counting on long-term benefits. The court stated that a "vested contractual right" to ongoing benefits cannot be taken away or diminished, especially when lawmakers did not express an intent to do so when they changed the law. The ruling comes too late for Brian Woodward, who was paralyzed in the 1980s and frequently spoke about the law's impact on his care. Woodward passed away at the age of 64. The decision has been hailed as a victory for crash survivors, while critics argue that it may lead to overcharging for medical care.