Michigan Truck Accident Lawyers Discuss Dangers of Larger Semis
Legally Reviewed and Edited by: Terry Cochran
Although all car accidents can have devastating results, accidents involving larger semi-trucks are especially life-altering. Not only does the size of a semi-truck cause more serious damage than smaller vehicles, but the complex legal landscape involving multiple parties and insurance companies also makes these cases hard to navigate.
If you or a loved one is struggling with the fallout of an accident with a commercial truck, you may be wondering what your next step is. Learn about the dangers of larger semi-trucks and how a truck accident attorney can help you pursue compensation from the responsible parties.
Facts About Semi-Truck Collisions
The following are important statistics and facts illuminating the problem of large truck collisions and factors that lead to crashes in the United States.
- 59,933 large trucks were involved in injury collisions in 2018
- 82% of fatalities in large truck collisions are drivers or passengers in the smaller vehicle
- Most truck crashes occur during the week, that is, Monday through Friday
- 21% of all fatal crashes involve a pedestrian or bicyclist
- 62% of fatal collisions involved more than one vehicle
- Rural areas and interstate highways are the most likely roadways for collisions to occur
- Speeding, distracted driving, and driving under the influence are the most common reasons vehicle accidents with trucks occur
- Overworked drivers and fatigue are significant factors that influence semi-truck crashes
Catastrophic Injuries
The sheer size of semi-trucks and tractor-trailers makes them capable of causing severe injuries to the drivers and passengers in smaller motor vehicles and pedestrians or bikers. The most common injuries include:
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries are especially severe because they can cause paralysis. This condition limits a person’s mobility and can be permanent or take years of ongoing therapy and medical visits to treat or maintain their body function.
Back or Neck Injuries
These types of injuries harm the bones, muscles, ligaments, discs, or nerves in your neck or back and cause long-lasting and chronic pain.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Brain injuries are a sign of internal trauma. They can manifest as long-term consequences like mood changes, loss of speech, and loss of cognitive function. These injuries often require life-long therapy and rehabilitation to manage.
Disfigurement or Amputation
You may suffer disfigurement due to burns or other injuries. Amputation and loss of limbs are common in semi-truck accidents because cars are often pinned or crushed beneath the semi. These injuries limit mobility and cause pain and suffering.
Fatality
Fatalities involving semi-trucks are common. Any of the above injuries can cause death in many situations. It’s also common for semi-truck collisions to result in death on impact for pedestrians, cyclists, or individuals in smaller vehicles.
Complicated Legal Landscape
The legal landscape surrounding semi-truck is extremely complicated. Many factors contribute to this complex legal terrain that are helpful to understand. It is also a good idea to speak to an experienced truck accident lawyer as soon as possible to make sure you take the proper steps after your accident.
Federal and State Laws
Both federal and state laws affect the filing of a claim in a commercial truck accident. Insurance and record-keeping are regulated by federal law, as is the amount of time trucking companies must retain their records. In Michigan, this is complicated by the state’s no-fault laws that detail insurance benefit requirements.
Catastrophic Injuries
The size and weight of commercial trucks cause life-altering injuries to victims in passenger vehicles involved in a collision. These injuries are often fatal or so severe that they require long-term rehabilitation and lifelong medical care.
Multiple Parties
There are several parties involved in the litigation process: the trucking company, their lawyers, and their insurance company, the truck driver, their mechanics, any drivers and passengers in the car or cars that were involved, and their insurance companies. Manufacturers of truck parts that may have contributed to the crash may also become involved.
Insurance Companies
There are multiple insurance companies involved in commercial truck cases. The trucking company, individual PIP insurance of the people involved, and property damage insurance entities must be included in each step of the legal process.
Working With a Truck Accident Attorney
It is vitally important that you reach out to a Michigan truck accident lawyer soon after your semi-truck collision. The statute of limitations on truck accident claims is three years, so you want to contact a personal injury attorney as quickly as possible.
A knowledgeable lawyer can protect your rights and handle all the communication between the multiple parties involved in your crash. They can also help you navigate the complex no-fault laws that affect drivers in Michigan. Working with an attorney for your truck accident case greatly increases your chances of winning compensation for you or your loved one’s injuries. The damages you can potentially be awarded include medical expenses and pain and suffering.
Contact Our Legal Team Today
If your or a loved one has been involved in a semi-truck or large commercial vehicle accident in Michigan, reach out to the law firm of Cochran, Kroll, & Associates, P.C. Our knowledgeable team of truck accident lawyers specialize in helping families and individuals recover damages incurred due to negligence on the part of the trucking company and their driver. Call us at 1-866-MICH-LAW to set up a free consultation to evaluate your case.
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.
