Escanaba is a relatively safe city, but as a port city with multiple highways running through, it sees its fair share of semi-trucks. This is especially true because Escanaba houses the well-respected Midwest Truck Driving School. Unfortunately, this means it also sees its fair share of truck accidents.
When semi-trucks crash, they can cause massive damage. Most commercial vehicles weigh over 30,000 pounds. A big rig can weigh up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded. With that much mass, truck accidents can cause catastrophic injuries or wrongful death. Your family can end up reeling in the fallout of such a catastrophe. If you or a loved one suffered injuries because of negligence by a truck driver or trucking company, you have the right to receive fair compensation for your losses. A well-funded insurance company, however, stands between you and your rights.
You do not have to go through this fight alone. The truck accident attorneys serving the Escanaba area at Matz Injury Law have years of experience representing accident victims in injury claims and lawsuits. We can help you get the compensation you deserve by calling 866-226-6833 or completing our online contact form.
According to 2012-2022 traffic data from Michigan Traffic Crash Facts, the following intersections are the most common sites for truck accidents in Escanaba:
Under Michigan’s no-fault law, you may recover damages from your own insurance policy’s PIP coverage. This should provide you with damages to cover:
If your damages exceed your PIP policy limits and you meet certain other criteria, you may be able to make a claim against the at-fault motorist.
After a truck crash in Michigan, you may be eligible to receive two types of damages, depending on your case: economic and non-economic damages. These are both types of “compensatory damages,” since their purpose is to compensate you for the losses you have suffered.
Some states also allow accident victims to recover punitive damages in order to punish a defendant for serious wrongdoing. Most truck accident cases involve negligence, however, and Michigan law does not allow punitive damages in negligence cases. It only allows plaintiffs to claim punitive damages for injuries that result from a defendant’s “malicious,” “willful,” or “wanton” conduct.
Economic damages compensate you for your economic losses. You may recover many of these losses from your PIP insurance coverage. If the amount of damages exceeds your insurance policy’s PIP limits, you may be able to recover the rest from a truck driver, trucking company, or other at-fault parties.
Examples of economic damages resulting from a truck accident may include:
You can prove economic damages fairly easily by producing documents like medical bills and wage statements.
Non-economic damages are more subjective than economic damages. They attempt to compensate accident victims for the effects their injuries have had on their quality of life.
“Pain and suffering” is a common type of non-economic damage. It provides compensation for both physical and emotional pain resulting from truck accident injuries. Many forms of physical pain can endure long after your medical care, rehabilitation, physical therapy, and other forms of treatment are complete after an accident. You may experience emotional or psychological pain, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). An accident that caused disfigurement or scarring can cause both physical pain and psychological distress.
This kind of damage is not something you can put on a bill or invoice. Proving non-economic damages often requires the assistance of a skilled personal injury trial lawyer who can tell the jury a story about how a truck driver’s negligence caused you millions of dollars of pain and distress.
You can talk to the trucking company’s insurance adjuster after the accident. That is to say that no law prohibits you from speaking to one another. Remember, though, that the insurance adjuster’s job is to get you to either:
Neither of these options benefits you. There is a better way to handle it.
While you and the insurance company are legally free to speak to one another, you do not have to speak to them. You will eventually have to make a statement as part of the insurance claim process, but you have time to speak to an attorney first.
Insurance companies may use tactics to minimize payouts to accident victims by attributing more fault to them. Under Michigan law, if you’re found more than 50% at fault, they don’t have to pay. Avoid their traps by not speaking to them directly.
If you do speak to the insurance company before you have hired a personal injury attorney, keep your comments to them simple and short. Do not apologize for your part in the accident or speculate about what might have happened. All you need to tell them is that you either have an attorney or you will be retaining one soon.
Your attorney, once you have hired them, can handle communications with the insurance company. They can present the evidence that supports your claim and negotiate with the adjuster to try to reach a settlement agreement. If they cannot come to an agreement, your lawyer will know how to proceed with a personal injury lawsuit.
Hiring an attorney boasts several benefits. They can:
If you have suffered injuries in an 18-wheeler accident, dealing with insurance companies and truck accident claims is probably one of the last things on your mind. Allow a dedicated attorney to assist you with this endeavor.
We have represented Michigan residents for decades. Some of our recent settlements include:
Don’t just take our word for it. Here’s a review from one of our many satisfied clients.
“For anyone looking for an attorney please look no further than Matz Injury Law!! Not only was Jared professional, he helped me beyond what I could have asked for. I’m so thankful for you all!!! To say I’m appreciative and grateful is an understatement. There’s no need to look for any other attorneys for you auto accidents!! They are so wonderful!!! Highly recommended 10/10!!!!!” – Tessa C.
Truck accidents can cause severe and debilitating injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, disfigurement, and more. You need a law firm with extensive experience helping Escanaba truck accident victims recover the maximum compensation owed to them under Michigan law. You need a truck accident lawyer who will fight for you at the negotiating table and, if necessary, in the courtroom. Matz Injury Law is the law firm that you need.
Ready to discuss your case? Talk to our personal injury lawyers by calling 866-226-6833 or complete our online contact form, and we’ll be in touch immediately!
There is no definitive answer on how much compensation you will receive for an Escanaba truck accident. Rather, there are several factors that play into final amounts, including:
Pain and suffering damages after a crash are calculated based on the case specifics, including the extent of injuries, impairments, and impact on one’s daily life, without a monetary cap.
Once you have signed the settlement and release agreement, which outlines the agreed-upon payment terms, you should receive a settlement check in roughly one month. However, this is sometimes delayed, so speak directly with your attorney for exact timelines.
Steven J. Matz is a founding shareholder of Matz Injury Law. The firm’s concentration is on personal injury litigation, with an emphasis on traumatic brain injury.
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The maximum contingency fee permitted by law is actually 331/3%. Michigan court rules require that the attorney fee be computed on the net sum recovered after deducting all disbursements properly chargeable to the enforcement of the claim.
We can charge 22% while virtually all other injury attorneys charge 331/3% because we are very, very, good at obtaining results for our clients.
We do not spend millions of dollars on television ads; instead, we offer a lower fee to all our clients. We do not have dozens of lower paid associates handling our work. All our clients are represented by Steven and Jared Matz. Steven Matz started the firm in 1977 and since then has dedicated his life to representing injury victims. Jared joined the firm in 2016 but grew up listening to stories, discussing theories, and generally learning at the dinner table about how to effectively and compassionately represent injury victims. Jared Matz was literally born to represent individuals involved in motor vehicle crashes.
All of our cases are handled on a contingency fee and all our cases are handled at 22%. Whether the case settles or goes through trial, the fee does not change. While our competitors make excuses as to why they charge so much, we are obtaining results for our clients at a lower fee.
At a typical television advertising law firm, your first call will be handled by a receptionist, who may refer you to an intake person, who will discuss your claim with an intake manager, who then discusses your claim with an associate, who may then report to a partner. You may never speak with the person whose name is at the top of the letterhead. At Matz Injury Law you will always speak with either Steven Matz or Jared Matz.
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