What to Do After a Truck Accident in Michigan: Step-by-Step Legal Guide
Legally Reviewed and Edited by:
Terry L. Cochran
Published on: November 14, 2025
Introduction: Why Truck Accidents Require Immediate Legal Action
The average commercial truck weighs 80,000 pounds when fully loaded, so truck accidents are often catastrophic. If you’ve been involved in a crash with a truck, you’ve got to act fast, because evidence disappears, and insurance companies start building their defense right away.
What you do after a truck accident makes a huge difference in your legal case. Even the first few hours are crucial to getting fair compensation.
First Steps After a Truck Accident in Michigan
Ensure Safety and Report the Incident
Safety first. If you can move, get out of traffic and turn on your hazards. Check yourself and passengers for injuries and call 911, no matter what. Michigan law requires you to report any accident involving injury, death, or property damage over $1,000, so that’s nearly every truck accident in Michigan. You’re going to need that police report as evidence later.
Gather Evidence and Witness Statements
Pull out your phone and start documenting everything. Take pictures of vehicle damage from multiple angles, road conditions, weather conditions, skid marks, etc. Make sure you get pictures of the truck’s company name, DOT number, and license plate, too.
Take down the truck driver’s information, including their name, license number, insurance details, and employer. Most commercial drivers work for trucking companies, which matters when you file a claim. If there are any witnesses, get their names and contact information before they leave.
Seek Medical Help and Preserve Records
Go to the hospital or your doctor within 24 hours, no matter how you feel. Some injuries, like whiplash or traumatic brain injuries, don’t show symptoms right away, and if you skip seeing a doctor, insurance companies will say you weren’t actually hurt.
Keep every medical record, prescription, bill, and receipt. Michigan’s no-fault insurance system covers your medical bills through Personal Injury Protection, but you need documentation to get those benefits.
Understanding Truck Accident Claims in Michigan
Who Is Liable in a Truck Accident?
Truck accident claims are more complicated than regular car crashes because there might be multiple responsible parties: The truck driver, trucking company, cargo loader, maintenance contractor, or even the truck manufacturer may all be liable.
Trucking companies often try to shift the blame by classifying drivers as independent contractors, but Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. digs into employment records to prove the real relationship.
Federal regulations require trucking companies to maintain specific insurance minimums. Interstate carriers have to carry at least $750,000 in liability coverage.
Dealing with Trucking Companies and Insurers
Within hours of your accident, the trucking company’s insurers will send investigators to the scene to gather any evidence they can to minimize what they pay you. They’ll get recorded statements and talk to witnesses before you even leave the hospital.
They’ve got legal teams on retainer that use every tactic in the book to reduce their payout: They’ll blame you for the crash, downplay your injuries, and say you didn’t follow your doctor’s treatment plan.
Never ever give a recorded statement to the trucking company’s insurer without a Michigan truck accident attorney present. Anything you say can be turned around and used against you later.
Michigan Truck Safety Rules You Should Know
Michigan truck safety regulations follow federal standards set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. That includes a maximum of 11 hours of driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty.
Trucking companies have to maintain logs, inspect vehicles regularly, and keep their drivers properly licensed. If they violate these rules and accidents happen, they face serious liability. We subpoena logbooks and maintenance records to prove these violations.
The FMCSA enforces safety standards that regulate everything from brake maintenance to cargo securement, and because Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. understands these requirements, we can build stronger cases.
How a Truck Accident Lawyer Helps You File a Claim
A skilled truck accident attorney handles the investigation, negotiation, and litigation, starting with getting the truck’s black box data before it gets erased. These are electronic logging devices that record speed, braking, and other critical details.
We work with accident reconstruction experts who analyze the crash scene and vehicle damage, and medical experts review your injuries and project future treatment costs.
Our team at Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. has recovered millions for Michigan families who’ve been hurt in commercial vehicle accidents. Our experienced Michigan auto accident lawyers know how to prove negligence and fight for maximum compensation.
Insurance companies take us seriously because they know we’ll take cases to trial. We work on contingency, meaning you pay nothing unless we win your case.
The truck accident claim process includes filing your no-fault benefits claim, pursuing third-party liability claims, and possibly bringing product liability claims if equipment failure caused the crash. You’ve got three years from the accident date to file most injury claims in Michigan.
How Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. Protects Your Rights After a Truck Crash
What to do after a truck accident starts with protecting yourself physically and legally. Document everything, seek medical care, and don’t talk to insurance companies without a lawyer.
Large commercial vehicle crashes involve complex federal regulations, multiple liable parties, and aggressive insurance defense teams. The Michigan State Police investigates serious crashes, but their reports don’t always capture every detail you need for a strong civil claim.
If you’ve been in a truck collision, contact Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. ASAP for a free consultation. Our truck accident attorneys in Michigan have the resources to fight trucking companies and get you the compensation you deserve.
Call Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. anytime, 24/7, at 1-866-MICH-LAW or contact us online to schedule your free case evaluation. We work on contingency, so you pay nothing unless we win.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the first legal steps to take after a truck accident?
Call 911 and get medical attention right away. Document the scene with pictures and gather witness information. Don’t give statements to the trucking company’s insurer. Contact an attorney as soon as possible to protect your rights.
How long do I have to file a claim in Michigan?
Michigan gives you three years from the accident date to file most personal injury lawsuits, but you need to report the crash to police immediately and file your no-fault insurance claim within one year for medical benefits.
Who is responsible in a truck crash?
There might be multiple liable parties: The truck driver, the trucking company, the cargo loading company, the maintenance contractors, the vehicle manufacturers, etc. An experienced attorney investigates all potentially liable parties to maximize your recovery.
What makes truck accident claims more complex?
Truck accidents involve federal regulations, commercial insurance policies, multiple defendants, and more severe injuries. Trucking companies have legal teams defending them from day one, so you need an attorney who understands FMCSA rules and black box data.
How can a truck accident attorney help me?
We secure evidence before it disappears, handle all communication with insurers, calculate your full damages, and negotiate aggressively for maximum compensation. Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. brings resources and trial experience that insurance companies take seriously.
What should I avoid doing after an accident?
Don’t leave the accident scene before the police get there, and never admit fault or apologize. Avoid giving recorded statements to the trucking company’s insurer. Don’t post about the accident on social media. Don’t accept early settlement offers without talking to an attorney.
Disclaimer : The information provided is general and not for legal
advice. The blogs are not intended to provide legal counsel and no attorney-client relationship
is created nor intended.
