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Lansing Truck Accident Lawyer
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Few crashes change a life the way a collision with a commercial vehicle does. The hours after a truck accident on I-96, US-127, or any Lansing road blur into medical decisions and mounting bills.
Trucking companies know the cost of these cases. Their insurers quickly begin building a defense. Michigan’s no-fault deadlines start running just as fast, and serious truck injuries can change your career and your family for years.
After a Lansing truck accident, you do not have to figure things out alone. Our truck accident lawyers represent Lansing truck accident victims in injury claims and lawsuits throughout the state of Michigan. We handle commercial truck cases, including multi-party claims involving cargo loaders, maintenance contractors, rideshare services and trucking companies. Contact our personal injury law firm to begin your path to recovery.
Why Choose Matz Injury Law for Your Lansing Truck Accident Case
Legal help should not cost more than what it returns. Our contingency fee is 22%, not the standard 33⅓% most Michigan injury attorneys charge. That lowered rate holds at every stage of the case, including during a trial.
Steven J. Matz has spent nearly five decades taking on the insurance companies and trucking carriers that injured families face in Michigan. Jared Matz brings hands-on experience handling the kinds of complex, high-stakes cases that truck accident victims bring to us.
We help clients all across Michigan and have recovered more than $300 million for injured people throughout our practice areas. Every truck accident case is different, and every injured person deserves guidance that reflects the facts of their case.
Client Testimonials
“Absolutely the most amazing lawyer we could have asked for . I couldn’t thank you enough for sticking with us and helping us with everything! Jared is the guy for you ! 10/10” — Victoria T.
“I was involved in a fatal trucking accident. I reached out to Matz Injury Law and Jared was extremely helpful in explaining to me how I needed to proceed going forward. I highly recommend giving them a call if you’re in need of a personal attorney as they will answer all your questions and help you get proper compensation for your losses.” — Christian H.
“Following a near head on collision that left my wife with serious injuries to her leg and a head injury from the air bag that caused “instant onset dementia”, she has been deteriorating and needs constant supervision. Hats off to Steve Matz and all the work he and his firm have done to secure the compensation needed from the insurance company to facilitate her care. Without his tireless help I don’t know where we would be today. I highly recommend Matz Injury Law and if needed would definitely utilize them again.” — Thomas C.
Lansing Truck Accident Attorneys
What Types of Truck Accident Cases Do We Handle
Commercial vehicle crashes vary widely in how they happen and who can be held responsible. We represent Lansing-area victims across a broad range of truck accident cases throughout Michigan, including:
- Rear-end and underride collisions
- Jackknife accidents
- Wide-turn crashes
- Truck rollover accidents
- Cargo-related collisions
- Hazardous materials crashes
- Fatigued and distracted driving cases
If you were hurt in an accident with a commercial vehicle in or around Lansing, we can review what happened and explain what your case may involve. Contact us for a free consultation.
Why Truck Accident Cases in Lansing Are More Complex than Car Crashes
A truck crash is not a bigger version of a car crash. For a Lansing-area driver, that difference can mean more parties pointing at each other, more evidence to track down, and a much bigger insurance team on the other side from day one.
Commercial truck cases often involve several potentially liable parties. The driver may have made a mistake, but the trucking company, the cargo loader, the maintenance contractor, or the manufacturer of a defective brake or tire can also share fault depending on what caused the crash.
Federal rules add another layer. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets hours-of-service rules, cargo securement standards, and maintenance requirements for interstate trucking. When a violation contributed to a crash, it can support liability against the trucking company itself, not only the driver’s.
What to Do After a Truck Accident in Lansing
In the hour after a truck crash, things move faster than they should. You may be hurt and disoriented while the trucking company’s insurer is already calling, and the decisions in front of you will shape your case for months. A few steps can protect your health and your claim:
- Call 911 and accept emergency medical care, even if injuries feel minor. Some truck-accident injuries do not surface for hours.
- Document the scene if you are able. Photograph the vehicles, the road, the weather conditions, and visible injuries.
- Collect the names and contact information of any witnesses before they leave.
- Notify your own auto insurer to begin the personal injury protection (PIP) claim that pays medical bills and lost wages under Michigan no-fault.
- Try to avoid giving recorded statements to the trucking company’s insurance representative without first talking to a lawyer.
- Save records of every medical visit, mileage to and from appointments, and pay stubs for time missed from work.
As soon as possible, consider contacting a personal injury lawyer. Trucking electronic logging device (ELD) data and dispatch records can be overwritten within days or weeks, and waiting can mean losing evidence that shows what really happened.
How Michigan’s No-Fault Law Applies to Lansing Truck Accidents
Under Michigan’s no-fault law, your own auto insurer pays your personal injury protection benefits regardless of fault. These may include:
- Reasonably necessary medical bills related to the crash
- Lost wages at 85% of your gross pay for up to three years (and that money is not taxable)
- Household help up to $20 per day for household tasks that the injured person cannot perform
- Mileage to and from medical appointments
- Survivor’s loss benefits and funeral expense reimbursement (if a crash is fatal)
Recovering for pain, suffering, and other non-economic losses is a separate, third-party claim against the at-fault truck driver and the trucking company. Bringing one requires meeting one of three thresholds under Michigan law (MCL 500.3135):
- Death
- Serious permanent disfigurement
- Serious impairment of a body function
A Lansing truck accident lawyer who works inside the no-fault act every day can read your policy, identify which carriers are responsible, and tell you what is actually recoverable.
How Long Do You Have to File a Truck Accident Claim in Lansing?
Michigan gives you three years from the date of the crash to file a third-party personal injury lawsuit under MCL 600.5805.
However, PIP benefits run on a different timeline. You have one year from the crash to apply for benefits with the responsible no-fault carrier under MCL 500.3145.
Even if it seems like you have time, do not wait to contact a lawyer. Trucking records and dispatch communications can be overwritten or destroyed long before any of those deadlines arrive. If you miss the statute of limitations, you may lose your right to recover any damages.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lansing Truck Accidents
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Truck Accident in Michigan?
Multiple parties may be liable in a Michigan truck accident claim, including the truck driver, trucking company, cargo loaders, maintenance providers, or vehicle manufacturers. Determining liability depends on what caused the crash and whether multiple insurance policies may apply.
How Do I Choose a Lansing Truck Accident Lawyer?
Look for a lawyer with experience handling Michigan truck accident and no-fault claims. Truck cases often involve severe injuries, commercial insurance policies, and federal regulations, so choose an attorney familiar with complex trucking litigation.
What Does a Lansing Truck Accident Lawyer Cost?
Most personal injury attorneys work on contingency, meaning you only pay if your case recovers compensation. If it does not, you pay nothing. At Matz Injury Law, our fee is 22%, compared to the usual 33⅓%, so you keep a larger share of whatever your case recovers.
What Evidence Matters Most in a Michigan Truck Accident Claim?
Important evidence may include black box data, driver logs, maintenance records, dashcam footage, inspection reports, witness statements, and accident scene photos. Preserving this evidence quickly can help prove fault.
What Happens If the Truck Driver Was an Independent Contractor?
A trucking company may still be liable even if the driver was classified as an independent contractor. Courts often look at how much control the company had over the driver’s schedule, routes, and daily work activities.
Injured in an Accident? Contact our Lansing Truck Accident Lawyers Today.
A truck crash can cause catastrophic injuries, and the insurance companies on the other side have significant resources behind them. You do not have to face their calls and demands alone. At Matz Injury Law, our experienced lawyers can help you understand your rights, deal with the insurance companies, and pursue compensation under Michigan law.
We offer FREE consultations and charge no fee unless your case recovers compensation. Call 866-226-6833 or fill out our contact form to talk through your case today.
Written By Steven Matz
Steven J. Matz is the founder of Matz Injury Law, specializing in personal injury litigation with a focus on car accident victims. With over 40 years of legal experience, Mr. Matz has achieved numerous million-dollar settlements. He holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has been recognized among Michigan’s Top Attorneys. Steven J. Matz is a frequent lecturer on legal ethics and personal injury law, and serves on the Michigan Attorney Discipline Board.
