When you have been hurt in a serious truck collision, you need an advocate committed to both your victory and well-being. The Michigan personal injury attorneys of White Law PLLC understand the complex factors that can lead to these devastating crashes.
Semi-truck crash cases differ vastly from smaller car accidents. Factors like weight, rigging, speed, road conditions, and logbook compliance all require specialized knowledge to dissect. Our Michigan semi-truck accident attorneys have successfully handled hundreds of trucking matters statewide, skillfully navigating the unique liability and compensation issues at play.
Just as importantly, we recognize that post-accident recovery involves far more than legalities. It demands compassionate guidance and focus on each client’s long-term care. From arranging optimal medical treatment to easing practical and emotional burdens, our priority is supporting injured individuals every step of the way.
We Understand the Unique Factors in Large Trucking Accidents
Collisions involving large commercial vehicles like semi-trucks and buses present investigation challenges distinct from smaller vehicle crashes. A few key reasons for this include the immense weight differentials, complex vehicle operations, and heightened safety regulations for commercial drivers.
Pinpointing the causes of your accident will help to determine liability. Our Michigan semi-truck accident lawyers have deep experience analyzing each of these critical areas.
Weight and Force of Impact
The sheer mass of a fully loaded tractor-trailer can easily exceed 80,000 pounds. When one of these vehicles collides with a standard passenger car weighing less than 5,000 pounds, the force of impact is exponentially more destructive.
Our accident reconstruction specialists can estimate collision forces and assess how vehicle weight imbalances due to improper cargo loading likely influenced crash dynamics. This analysis is important for establishing liability and the nature of resulting injuries.
Intricate Vehicle and Cargo Operations
Operating a commercial rig involves the coordination of the tractor, trailer, and any freight or containers. Factors like hitch connections, load securing, braking systems, and component wear must be thoroughly evaluated.
Drivers also must manage electronic logbooks, respect hours-of-service limits, and safely navigate between shipping facilities while accounting for the vehicle’s large tail swing and stopping distances.
If any aspect of the vehicle, cargo, or driver operation was deficient and possibly contributed to an accident, we will uncover it and hold the responsible parties accountable.
Safety Rules and Regulations for Commercial Drivers
Truck and bus drivers must adhere to stricter qualification, training, medical certification, and hours-of-service rules than normal drivers. Our Michigan commercial truck accident lawyers are well-versed in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations and can identify regulatory noncompliance contributing to a crash.
For example, we may find a driver was fatigued or driving while ill if their logbook has been falsified. Establishing a commercially licensed driver violated their safety duties lends significant weight to proving negligence on their employer’s part.
Your Fight Is Our Fight
Liability in Truck Crash Claims
A Michigan truck accident lawyer will work to determine all liable parties in your crash to ensure you pursue all avenues of compensation. Here are some situations that are common in commercial trucking claims:
- The commercial truck driver can be held liable for unsafe driving actions like speeding, distracted driving, failure to obey traffic laws, etc. that cause an accident.
- The trucking company may be liable if the driver was fatigued from excessive hours on the job or if they are in violation of federal trucking regulations. Trucking companies are also responsible for properly training, supervising and overseeing their drivers. If inadequate training or oversight played a role in an accident, it increases potential liability for the company.
- Mechanical defects or poor maintenance of the commercial vehicle can open up the trucking company or maintenance providers to liability claims if those issues contributed to an accident.
- Cargo loaders and freight handling companies may be liable if the cargo was improperly secured and became a hazard to other vehicles due to shifting during transport.
- Manufacturers of defective truck parts such as faulty tires or brakes can also be responsible for paying for injuries if manufacturing defects caused the accident.
Injured parties usually pursue both the driver and trucking company through joint liability claims to maximize the chances of recovery if damages are owed. It increases the insurance and assets available to compensate victims.
We know how to get our clients the results they need in the toughest legal arenas.
Damages You May Collect in a Michigan Truck Accident Claim
Some common types of damages that may be available in a Michigan trucking accident claim include:
- Medical expenses: This includes all past and future costs for medical treatment, surgeries, rehabilitation, medications, caregiving, assistive devices, etc.
- Lost wages: If the injured party missed time from work or lost earning capacity due to injuries, this covers income loss.
- Pain and suffering: Compensation for physical and emotional pain, as well as loss of enjoyment of life.
- Property damage: Repairs or replacement costs for a damaged vehicle or other personal property.
- Disability/impairment: Additional compensation for permanent injuries that cause disability or impair functioning.
- Wrongful death: Financial support lost by dependents if the accident resulted in a fatality. This covers loss of companionship, mental anguish, and future earnings.
- Punitive damages: Potentially available in Michigan if the defendant’s actions showed willful or wanton misconduct above negligent behavior.
Establishing the type and amount of damages requires medical records, wage and income documentation, expert witness testimony and other evidence. Michigan does not cap pain and suffering awards.
We understand that you may be going through a difficult situation and we are ready to help however we can.
Contact a Michigan Truck Accident Law Firm to Learn How We Can Help Guide You Through Recovery
Even when liability is clear, accident recovery presents ongoing physical, financial, and emotional hurdles. We strive to support clients’ well-being at each step. If injuries require long-term care, we can assist with specialists, facilities, and covered therapies.
Lost wages hindering daily life or mounting bills are other stressors we help resolve through settlement negotiations. And sometimes people just need reassurance that their concerns are heard as they process trauma. Our compassionate team provides whatever guidance or listening ear a situation necessitates.
Specialized insight and dedicated advocacy are paramount when injuries stem from heavy commercial vehicles. The experienced attorneys at White Law PLLC have proven success in handling the complex factors to fully serve clients’ legal rights and recovery needs. Contact us today for a free consultation.
We’re Experienced. We Care.
We Exceed Client Expectations.
