Truck Accidents
We only charge a 22% contingency fee of the final settlement. Other Michigan attorneys charge 331/3%.
semi truck driving on Michigan roads

Truck Accident Attorney in Saginaw MI

Semi-trucks and tractor-trailers are on the road constantly to make their deliveries on time. This means they might speed or pay less attention to their surroundings, and end up hitting a car. Sadly, if a collision occurs, this can cause massive injury or wrongful death. Due to the sheer size of trucks, they can cause serious damage to anything in their path. Truck accidents are usually catastrophic, leaving cars crumpled in their wake. 

If you or a loved one have been in a truck accident, it is imperative to call a Michigan personal injury lawyer. The compassionate and caring truck accident attorneys at Matz Injury Law promise to stand with you every step of the way. Call our law office at 866-226-6833 to speak with a member of our legal team about getting compensation to cover your losses.

What Is the Difference Between a Car Wreck and a Truck Wreck?

Car accidents can be tragic, but when truck wrecks are involved, heartbreak usually results. Aside from the severity of injuries involved, truck crashes are usually caused by a different set of circumstances.

Collisions involving cars often occur due to human error, such as DUI, distracted driving, speeding, and other reckless behaviors. With trucks, their size is a huge contributor because it is difficult for them to quickly stop, make proper turns, and smaller vehicles are hidden in their blind spots. Furthermore, equipment failure is common and if the truck owner or driver has not properly maintained their vehicles, it increases the probability that malfunctions will occur and equipment defects are missed.

Due to these factors, truck collisions are usually far more complex than car crashes because numerous at-fault parties can be involved, such as owners, drivers, and manufacturers.

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What Are Some Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Michigan?

While any car collision has the potential to lead to devastating results, truck accidents often have the most tragic endings. Sadly, many accidents can be prevented. Common causes of truck accidents in Michigan include:

Reckless Driving

Reckless driving can occur in many ways, such as driving while intoxicated, speeding, tailgating, improper passing, and ignoring traffic signals, to name a few.

Distracted Driving

A persistent problem, distracted driving is unfortunately common with collision truck drivers with rates ranging from 15% to 90% more than non-collision drivers. Top distractions include talking on a mobile device, texting/dialing, grooming, eating, drinking, and smoking, to name a few.

Unrealistic Time Constraints and Fatigue

With the ongoing truck driver shortage, rig operators are under increased pressure to work more hours or drive faster to complete more routes. Federal law requires drivers to follow specific guidelines when it comes to the hours driven, but not all drivers adhere to them or their employers pressure them to ignore the rules, leading to higher levels of unrealistic demands and/or fatigue.

Road Conditions

Poor road maintenance can lead to a truck wreck, especially if construction, potholes, confusing traffic signals, or unexpected detours exist on roads.

Weather

As you know, Saginaw weather, especially in the winter months, can be hazardous, especially if roads are not maintained as well as they should be. Delays in plowing or salting roads can lead to truck accidents since trucks cannot stop quickly.

Poor Cargo Loading

When cargo is improperly loaded, it can spill onto Saginaw roads at high speeds. The result can be trucks tipping over, cargo smashing into traffic behind them, or heavy debris causing unavoidable obstacles on the road that puts all drivers at risk.

Bottom line is many of these types of accidents are entirely avoidable if drivers and owners acted within the letter of the law, complied with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Regulations, or avoided committing violations of trucking laws.

What Is the Statute of Limitations for Truck Accidents in Saginaw?

The State of Michigan outlines a statute of limitations of three years from the date an accident occurs. Drivers are required to first file a no-fault claim with their own insurance company within a year of the accident before pursuing a personal injury claim.

What Type of Damages Are Payable in Saginaw, Michigan Truck Accidents?

In Michigan, you are eligible to pursue two types of damages in a truck accident personal injury claim. What types of damages you may be entitled to will entirely depend upon the specifics of your case and extent of your injuries.

Economic Damages

These damages refer to your actual financial losses that can be easily calculated. Economic damages include medical bills, rehabilitation, lost wages, permanent disabilities, and damage to your car. If the costs exceed your personal insurance coverage, you can pursue a claim against the trucker, trucking company, manufacturer, or other responsible parties.

Non-economic Damages

In Michigan, you can sue for non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering (both physical and mental) in personal injury cases. State law does not place a cap on the amount you can pursue, but you will have to convince a jury what your suffering is worth.

Working with an experienced truck accident lawyer serving Saginaw, Michigan can help you to obtain the compensation you deserve. Since Michigan does not permit punitive damages in truck accidents, having a good personal injury attorney by your side can make a huge difference in the financial amounts you are awarded.

Should You Talk to the Defendant’s Insurance Adjuster?

You are not obligated and it is never to your advantage to speak to the defendant’s insurance adjuster. Their job is to get you to admit fault or convince you to accept a lowball settlement. Talking to an attorney as soon as possible is more beneficial since you can obtain sound legal advice before being convinced to accept what the insurance company plans to offer.

Keep in mind that many injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries or other types of wounds, are not as readily apparent as broken bones or lacerations. It may take time for the true extent of certain injuries to surface and an attorney will take this into consideration.

What Are the Benefits of Hiring an Attorney in a Truck Accident Case in Saginaw County?

In the aftermath of a Saginaw car accident, it is critical to obtain evidence and document the events surrounding the crash. If you were too injured to gather evidence, an attorney can do this for you. It is important not to delay, since details vital to a personal injury claim could be lost with time. Your attorney can also be the go-to person between you and the auto insurance companies, so you do not have to deal with this stress or be tricked into losing your right to compensation.

Truck Accidents Can Be Catastrophic. Do Not Wait to Call an Attorney.

Matz Injury Law has been proactively helping truck and auto accident victims in Michigan for decades. As a premier law office, the Matz team has helped numerous Saginaw County victims obtain compensation. A caring client relationship is very important to us, and we will do the work necessary to ensure you get the compensation you need to pay for your injuries and other losses.

Our fee is 22%, not 33%, of any recovery or settlement we obtain for you. The attorneys at our law firm are experienced at winning cases, having earned over $300 million for our clients. To learn more about how we can help you or your family member obtain compensation for your motor vehicle accident in Saginaw or to learn more about our practice areas, contact us at 866-226-6833 or fill out our online contact form for a free consultation today.

Visit Our Office

Address:
Matz Injury Law
25800 Northwestern Hwy # 575
Southfield, MI 48075
Phone:
+1 (866) 226-6833
Our location:
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Written By Steven Matz

Founding Shareholder

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.

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.

What does 22not33 mean, exactly?

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.