Commercial & Semi-Truck Accidents

Most companies are required by law to have workers compensation insurance, which will cover medical expenses in the event of an accident. Typically, workers compensation will cover medical bills regardless of who is at fault. If your workers compensation claim was denied, please contact us today for further assistance.

Workers’ compensation will cover any expenses related to medical care, wage loss, and rehabilitation. Please view our workers’ compensation page for more information. 

The timeline will vary depending on many factors, including your employer’s insurance company, the details of your accident, determining who the at-fault party is, and whether or not a settlement is even possible. When you request a free case evaluation, our semi-truck accident attorneys may be able to provide a timeline estimate.

Proving negligence in any personal injury case requires establishing three factors: (1) a standard of care, (2) that one or more persons or entities breached that standard of care, and (3) the injuries and damages you sustained were a direct result of that breach of the standard of care. 
For accidents involving semi-truck accidents and commercial vehicles, the standard of care could be as simple as following traffic rules.

If a truck driver violated these traffic rules, then they have breached that standard of care. However, all semi-truck accident cases are different. To prove negligence, it’s recommended that you seek assistance from an experienced attorney. 

No. Although Michigan’s No-Fault laws apply to both truck and car accidents, these accidents are still different. First, a semi-truck or commercial vehicle is heavier and more dangerous to operate compared to a standard passenger vehicle. Often, the injuries sustained from a semi-truck accident are more severe. 

Second, truck drivers typically have more blind spots than the average driver and due to the sheer weight of a truck, it can be difficult for drivers to suddenly maneuver or stop. 

Lastly, there are a number of federal trucking regulations that drivers and trucking companies must follow—these regulations can also affect how semi-truck accident cases are investigated and litigated.

When compared to an accident involving passenger vehicles only, commercial vehicle accidents can be complicated because there are so many parties involved. Some of these parties include the truck driver, the driver of the passenger vehicle (or other vehicle), maintenance companies, the manufacturer of the truck, the trucking company, and more.

To determine who is at-fault requires a deeper analysis of the case. As previously mentioned, every semi-truck accident case is different. For example, if the trucking company hired an inexperienced driver, and it can be proved that the driver’s lack of experience caused the accident, then the trucking company may be at fault. On the other hand, if the accident was caused by a malfunction in the commercial vehicle, the at-fault party could be the maintenance company (if it can be proven that maintenance work was performed negligently) or the trucking company (if it can be proved that there was no maintenance work done when it was supposed to have been done).

Every case is unique. You can request a free case evaluation with our team to learn more about who may have been at-fault in your specific situation.

The standard statute of limitations for personal injury causes of action in Michigan is three years, although the statute of limitations for medical malpractice and other specific causes of action vary. 

As with most personal injury cases, you may be able to recover three types of compensation: economic, non-economic, and exemplary/punitive. 

Economic damages refer to any actual expenses incurred after the accident, which could be medical care, prescription medication, rehabilitation, wage loss, vehicle damage, and more.

Non-economic damage refers to damage that isn’t connected to any specific monetary value, such as mental, physical, or emotional pain and suffering.

Lastly, punitive damages are not recoverable in Michigan, exemplary damages are similar and allowed, but are rare in semi-truck accident cases. Exemplary damages can potentially be rewarded to the plaintiff if it’s proven that the defendant exhibited malice or willful misconduct. 

This depends on multiple factors, including the truck driver and/or trucking company’s degree of fault, how serious the resulting injuries were, what treatments or surgeries were required, and what the long-term injury prognosis is. Some trucking accident injuries result in irreparable injuries or disability. This can limit a person’s ability to work and earn money in the future, which can amount to significant damages.

There are also those cases that involve a fatality. Such a death is the worst thing imaginable for the surviving family. It can also mean a loss of household income, which can likewise amount to significant damages. There is no maximum limit as to what a truck accident settlement may be.

The timeline will vary depending on many factors, including your employer’s insurance company, the details of your accident, determining who the at-fault party is, and whether or not a settlement is even possible. 

In most cases, these types of lawsuits take more than a year and sometimes several years to conclude. The biggest factor as to how long a truck accident lawsuit may takes is whether or not the parties are able to reach a settlement, or whether it instead requires a trial.

For this reason, it is imperative that those injured in Michigan truck accidents seek legal representation as soon as possible.

In some cases, trucking accidents are not “clear cut” in that the plaintiff who is filing the claim against the truck driver or trucking company may have also been at fault for the accident. This doesn’t mean that the plaintiff can’t receive compensation, however. 

In the State of Michigan, a plaintiff may be up to 50 percent at fault for a serious accident and still receive compensation for their injuries and pain and suffering.

In these cases, however, the amount of compensation received on a trial judgement will be reduced by the plaintiff’s percentage of fault.

Because of their size and weight, trucks are the most lethal vehicles on the road, and as such, accidents with them are often severe and sometimes fatal.

These are the most common serious injuries that occur from trucking accidents:
Fractures
Broken bones
Injuries to the knees and shoulders (rotator cuff tears or a torn meniscus, for example)
Face and body burns
Nerve damage (typically in the legs, hands, and arms)
Neck and back injuries (bulging or herniated discs, for example)
Injuries to the spinal cord (including paraplegia and quadriplegia)
Permanent scars
Disfigurement
Emotional and psychological trauma
Traumatic brain injuries (concussions, closed head injuries)
Death

First, it is important to ensure the safety of everyone on the scene. If it is suspected that anyone requires immediate medical assistance, call 9-1-1 right away. EMS will generally arrive quickly to treat those with injuries. Wait for their arrival and stay on the scene while being treated and for as long as possible thereafter — as long as it does not compromise anyone’s health.

Second, it’s critical to disclose any and all pain points and injuries to EMS personnel. It is required that all serious road accidents be reported to the police as well. Provide as many details as possible to the officers who arrive on the scene. Everyone should explain their version of the event in their entirety.

Finally, it’s a good idea to write down everything possible about the event and to do so right away. Those involved can use their phones to take pictures and videos of injuries, vehicle damage, and other driver’s information. Snap photos of their driver’s license, license plate, and insurance card. Ask any eyewitnesses what they saw. Jot down what they say, and note their contact information as well.

Contact a Michigan truck accident lawyer to begin legal proceedings.