Portage Truck Accident Lawyer

A truck crash on I-94 or U.S. 131 rarely leaves your life where it found it. One minute you are driving through Portage, and the next you are dealing with an injury, a damaged vehicle, and questions no one prepared you to answer.

The medical bills often start before you are back on your feet. The trucking company’s insurer may already be working to limit what it pays, and the evidence that proves what happened can disappear within weeks of the crash.

Matz Injury Law has handled Michigan truck accident cases for decades. We understand the state’s no-fault system, federal trucking regulations, and the importance of evidence in a commercial crash. Contact us for a free consultation, and we can explain what legal options and potential compensation are available to you.

Why Choose Matz Injury Law for Your Portage Truck Accident Case

Steven J. Matz has been handling personal injury cases in Michigan since 1977. For decades, he has seen the tactics insurers and trucking companies use to minimize claims, and he knows how to respond. Jared Matz joined as managing partner and brings particular depth in cases involving serious injuries.

Together, they run a firm where your case is handled by an attorney at every stage, not passed off to a case coordinator once you sign.

Results for Michigan Families

Michigan Lawyers Weekly named us “Best Michigan Family-Led Law Firm.” We have recovered more than $300 million for our clients:

• A $3.45 million settlement against a cement company whose truck crossed the center line in Genesee County, causing three deaths and severely injuring a 4-year-old boy. The recovery exceeded available insurance by $450,000.
• A $1 million settlement for a 52-year-old woman in a rural county who broke both ankles and suffered a serious eye injury after a gravel truck struck her vehicle.
• A $750,000 settlement for a Lapeer County family after a semi struck their young driver’s car from behind.
• An $825,000 settlement for a 25-year-old man in Jackson County who suffered a peroneal nerve injury after a car and truck collided on a rural road.

Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome, but they reflect the preparation and commitment we bring to every case.

A Fee Structure That Works in Your Favor

The standard contingency fee in Michigan personal injury cases is 33⅓%. We charge 22% at every stage, including trial. On a $500,000 recovery, that difference is more than $55,000 that stays with you instead of going to your attorney. There are no upfront costs, no out-of-pocket fees, and no charge at all unless we win your case.

Client Testimonials

“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.

“5 star is not enough for the service we received from Steven Matz and team for my daughter. What a great crew at Matz Injury Law! they are very professionals and awesome individuals as well. Steven always answered our phone calls even on weekends. I had an amazing experience working with steven. His dedication and professionalism makes the process simple, fast and stress free.” — Ajay G.

“I had an amazing experience working with Steve and his practice. Whenever I needed any help, he was right there to help. He even came to my house to discuss my case with me when I was bedridden! His dedication and professionalism truly made a difference. One of the best parts is he takes 22% not 33%!! I would highly recommend Matz Injury Law to anyone in need of legal assistance. Thanks again to Steve and his practice. You truly made this process simple and stress free for me!” — Grant B.

Portage, MI Truck Accident Attorneys

Jared Matz

Partner & Personal Injury Lawyer

Once he graduated from Michigan, Jared pursued a career in real estate sales and development with a company in Lansing. After gaining valuable knowledge and business experience, Jared returned to…

View Attorney

Steven Matz

Founding Partner & Personal Injury Lawyer

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.…

View Attorney

Types of Truck Accidents We Handle in Portage, Michigan

Commercial truck cases vary based on the cargo, the driver, and the circumstances of the crash. The cases we handle for Portage clients include:

• Semi-truck and tractor-trailer crashes
• Delivery and box truck crashes
• Tanker truck crashes
• Construction and dump truck crashes
• Garbage and utility truck crashes
• Logging and flatbed crashes
• Jackknife, rollover, and underride crashes
• Hit-and-run commercial truck crashes

Each type of truck accident presents unique challenges, from identifying the responsible parties to preserving critical evidence before it disappears. Our attorneys investigate the facts, determine who may be liable, and help injured Portage residents pursue the compensation available under Michigan law.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Portage, Michigan

Portage sits where I-94 and U.S. 131 meet, and the cloverleaf between them funnels commercial truck traffic across Michigan and toward Indiana and Illinois at all hours. That constant flow of heavy trucks through interchanges, merges, and construction zones is what puts local drivers at risk.

Most truck crashes here trace back to a handful of recurring causes:

• Reckless driving: Speeding, tailgating, and improper lane changes look like impatience in a passenger car. In a tractor-trailer with stopping distances of 200 yards or more, the same behavior turns into a serious crash.
• Distracted driving: A driver checking a dispatch tablet or eating behind the wheel can cover the length of a football field in the time the average commercial truck takes to react.
• Road conditions: Construction zones along I-94 and the U.S. 131 cloverleaf create lane shifts and tight merges that commercial trucks cannot handle the same way as passenger cars can.
• Weather: Lake-effect snow off Lake Michigan and the black ice that forms on overpasses around Portage are familiar to local drivers, but not always to long-haul drivers passing through.
• Poor cargo loading: Unbalanced or unsecured cargo can shift in a curve, raise a trailer’s center of gravity, or come loose from the truck. Federal regulations make cargo loaders potentially liable when that happens.
• Unrealistic time constraints: Federal hours-of-service rules cap how long a commercial driver can be behind the wheel, but freight schedules push against those limits. When dispatcher expectations and driver clocks collide, fatigue is often the result.

Identifying the cause of a truck accident is often the first step in determining who is responsible. Whether the crash stemmed from driver error, fatigue, poor maintenance, or improperly loaded cargo, the answer can affect both liability and the compensation available to an injured victim.

What Makes a Truck Accident Case Different in Michigan

Commercial truck cases are often more complex than passenger-car accidents because they involve different rules, evidence, and responsible parties. In a Portage truck accident case, three issues often matter most.

• Federal trucking regulations may apply. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets rules for commercial drivers and trucking companies, including hours-of-service limits, drug and alcohol testing, vehicle maintenance, and electronic logging devices. When a driver or company violates those rules, that violation may help support a negligence claim.
• More than one party may share responsibility. Depending on how the crash happened, the truck driver, motor carrier, cargo loader, freight broker, maintenance company, or vehicle manufacturer may all need to be investigated. Each party may have its own insurance coverage and its own version of what happened.
• Key evidence can disappear quickly. Driver logs, event data recorder information, dashcam footage, inspection records, and drug testing records may not stay available for long. A preservation letter can help prevent that evidence from being destroyed or lost before the case is fully investigated.

Because truck accident claims involve moving parts that ordinary car accident cases often do not, early investigation can make a major difference. The sooner an attorney begins preserving evidence and identifying responsible parties, the stronger the claim may become.

How to Know If You Have a Portage Truck Accident Case

Most truck accident claims come down to three questions:

• Who caused the crash?
• How serious are the injuries?
• What losses resulted from the collision?

You may have a claim if the truck driver, trucking company, or another party acted negligently and your injuries required medical treatment, caused you to miss work, or affected your daily life. Many truck accident victims also discover they have a case when their no-fault insurer delays, denies, or questions benefits they expected to receive.

Signs you should speak with a truck accident lawyer include:

• A trucking company or insurer requests a recorded statement
• Your no-fault carrier questions medical treatment or bills
• Your injuries interfere with work, hobbies, or daily activities
• You are unsure whether your insurance coverage is enough to pay for your losses
• A truck driver, trucking company, cargo loader, or another party may share responsibility for the crash

A consultation can help identify potential claims, available insurance coverage, and the steps needed to protect your rights.

How Michigan No-Fault Insurance Applies to Your Portage Truck Accident

Truck accidents often cause severe injuries long before a lawsuit against the trucking company reaches a settlement or verdict. That is where Michigan’s no-fault system comes in.

Regardless of who caused the crash, personal injury protection (PIP) benefits generally pay for accident-related expenses through the applicable no-fault insurer. Depending on your coverage election, PIP may pay for:

• Medical treatment and rehabilitation
• Wage-loss benefits for up to three years
• Replacement services, such as help with household tasks
• Mileage to and from medical appointments
• Survivor’s loss benefits and funeral expenses in fatal crashes

Michigan’s no-fault system follows an order of priority. In most cases, injured people first look to their own auto insurance for PIP benefits. If no coverage is available there, other insurers or the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan may become responsible.

Because truck-crash injuries often require extensive medical care, understanding your PIP coverage is critical. If your insurer delays, denies, or terminates benefits, or if your injuries exceed your elected PIP limit, additional legal options may be available through a no-fault or third-party claim.

Damages You Can Recover After a Portage Truck Accident

Michigan’s no-fault system pays many accident-related expenses through PIP benefits, but it does not compensate for every loss. When a truck driver or trucking company caused the crash, a third-party claim may allow you to recover damages beyond what no-fault insurance provides.

Michigan’s Third-Party Threshold

Before you can recover pain and suffering damages, your injuries must meet Michigan’s legal threshold. That means the crash must have caused:

• Death
• Serious permanent disfigurement
• A serious impairment of an important body function that affects your ability to live your normal life

Many truck accident victims meet this standard because commercial vehicle collisions often result in severe injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, fractures, and other long-term impairments.

Economic damages compensate you for financial losses that result from the crash. Depending on the circumstances, a third-party claim may allow recovery for:

• Medical expenses that exceed your PIP coverage
• Lost earning capacity beyond the three-year PIP wage-loss benefit
• Out-of-pocket expenses that PIP does not reimburse
• Vehicle damage through Michigan’s mini-tort law, subject to statutory limits

If your injuries meet Michigan’s threshold, you may also recover non-economic damages for losses that do not have a fixed dollar value, including:

• Physical pain and suffering
• Mental anguish and emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of companionship and consortium for a spouse

Together, these damages are intended to compensate truck accident victims for both the financial and personal impact of a serious injury.

How Long Do You Have to File a Truck Accident Claim in Michigan?

Several deadlines may apply after a Michigan truck accident.

For a third-party negligence claim against the truck driver, trucking company, or another responsible party, you generally have three years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit under MCL 600.5805.

No-fault PIP claims follow different rules. Michigan law requires timely notice to the responsible insurer and imposes strict deadlines on claims for unpaid benefits. The state’s one-year-back rule can also limit recovery for older medical bills, wage loss, and other expenses, even when a claim remains otherwise valid.

Because truck accident cases often involve serious injuries, large medical expenses, and multiple insurance carriers, waiting too long can affect both the evidence available and the compensation you may recover. Speak with a lawyer early to help protect your rights under each deadline.

How to Choose a Portage Truck Accident Lawyer

When evaluating a Portage truck accident lawyer, look for:

• Experience with Michigan no-fault insurance claims
• Knowledge of federal trucking regulations
• A track record of handling serious truck accident cases
• The ability to preserve evidence quickly
• Clear communication and responsiveness

Truck accident cases often involve multiple parties, complex insurance issues, and evidence that can disappear within days or weeks. Choosing a lawyer with experience handling these challenges can make a significant difference in the strength and outcome of your claim.

Frequently Asked Questions About Portage Truck Accident Claims

What Should I Do Immediately After a Truck Accident in Portage, Michigan?

Get medical attention right away, even if you feel fine, and call the police so a report is on record. If you are able, photograph the scene and collect the truck driver’s name, employer, and insurance information. Notify the appropriate no-fault insurer as soon as possible and comply with all applicable notice requirements. Also, try to avoid giving a recorded statement to any insurer before you have spoken with a lawyer.

Who Can I Sue After a Portage Truck Crash Besides the Driver?

Beyond the driver, the motor carrier, cargo loader, freight broker, truck manufacturer, and maintenance company can all be defendants depending on what caused the crash. Trucking cases often involve more than one responsible party.

Will Michigan No-Fault PIP Cover All My Medical Bills After a Truck Accident?

Not necessarily. Michigan drivers can choose different PIP coverage levels, and lower limits may not cover all accident-related care after a serious truck crash. Even with unlimited PIP, insurers may dispute certain expenses or treatment. An attorney can help protect your right to benefits when those disputes arise.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Portage Truck Accident Lawyer?

Most truck accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. That means you do not pay attorney fees upfront. At Matz Injury Law, our contingency fee is 22%, compared to the 33⅓% fee many personal injury firms charge. There are no upfront costs, and you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

What If the Trucking Company’s Insurance Adjuster Is Already Calling Me?

It is common for trucking company insurers to reach out within hours of a crash. Their goal is a recorded statement and a quick settlement before you have a clear picture of your injuries or what your case is worth. Try to avoid recorded statements, do not sign anything, and let the lawyer you contact take over communication with the adjuster.

Schedule a Free Consultation With a Portage Truck Accident Lawyer Today

A serious truck crash in Portage leaves you with injuries to treat, a no-fault carrier to deal with, and a limited window to act before deadlines and missing evidence start working against you.

At Matz Injury Law, we help Portage truck accident victims navigate Michigan’s no-fault system, investigate liability, and pursue the compensation available under state law. We offer free consultations, charge a 22% contingency fee, and collect no fee unless we recover for you. Call 866-226-6833 or use our contact form to get started.