Warren Truck Accident Lawyer

Although people assume most truck accidents occur on the highway, 63 percent of crashes in Macomb County involving a truck occurred on local roads. Truck accidents can occur at any moment, so it is important to prepare. If you find yourself involved in a truck accident in Warren, you should consult with a personal injury lawyer to be sure you can obtain just compensation. At Matz Injury Law, our Michigan lawyers have deep experience navigating the complexities of a truck accident case. We can negotiate with insurance companies and other liable parties so you can focus on your recovery.

What Do I Need to Know About Truck Accidents in Warren and Macomb County?

A 2019 study named I-94 the deadliest road in Macomb County. Ten fatal accidents occurred on I-94 from 2017–2019. The highway was responsible for 2% of Michigan’s fatal traffic accidents during that time.

Reporting from the Michigan State Police combines truck and bus accidents. Macomb County saw 1,243 bus and truck accidents in 2021, causing 276 injuries and five fatalities. Statewide, the total number of bus and truck accident fatalities increased by 32% from 2020 to 2021.

How Do Car Crashes and Truck Crashes Differ in Warren, Michigan?

Car accidents and truck accidents differ in several important ways. Truck crashes can cause far more significant damage and severe injuries. The causes of truck accidents may also be different from those of auto accidents. Both can result from driver errors, such as speeding or distracted driving. Many truck accidents result because of the size of the vehicles. Truck drivers may not be able to stop in time to avoid a collision with a careless motorist, or they may be unable to make a turn correctly.

What Are the Different Truck Accidents That Can Happen in Warren, Michigan?

As mentioned above, some semi-truck accidents result from unsafe driving by others on the road, not the truckers involved in the crashes. Truck drivers and trucking companies can also be responsible for collisions for a variety of reasons.

Reckless Driving

Michigan law defines reckless driving as the operation of a motor vehicle “in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.” In truck accident cases, reckless driving includes a wide range of unsafe acts like speeding, running red lights or stop signs, and trying to pass another vehicle unlawfully.

Distracted Driving

Truck drivers can be distracted just like other drivers on Michigan roads. They can take their eyes or minds off the road to do things like look at a smartphone or tune a CB radio.

Road Conditions

Poor road conditions can cause all kinds of motor vehicle accidents. Debris on the road could cause one vehicle to swerve into another. Inadequate road maintenance could create potholes and other hazards.

Weather

Michigan is no stranger to bad weather. Rain, snow, sleet, and other bad weather can cause visibility problems and make the road extra dangerous. Tractor-trailer wheels can throw water and ice onto vehicles behind them, creating further hazards.

Poor Cargo Loading

Many 18-wheeler accidents are the result of improper cargo loading:

• Inadequately secured cargo can come loose on the road.
• Improperly balanced cargo can cause an entire truck to tip over.

Either situation can cause severe auto accidents.

Unrealistic Time Constraints

Trucking companies expect truckers to keep tight schedules, often resulting in long hours on the road. Driver fatigue can be a serious danger to others. The ​​Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has enacted hours-of-service regulations for commercial truck drivers that limit the total amount of time they may drive before they must rest. Unfortunately, many trucking companies and drivers ignore these rules, leading to commercial truck accidents.

How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in Warren, Michigan?

You have one year from the date of the accident to file a claim under Michigan’s no-fault law, which allows you to recover compensation from your own insurance company, no matter who was at fault in the accident. You can receive no-fault insurance benefits from your personal injury protection (PIP) coverage.

The damages you can receive from your own PIP coverage are limited. If you want to recover additional damages, you must make a claim against the at-fault driver. Michigan law gives you three years from the accident date to file a lawsuit. If you do not file by this deadline, the court will dismiss your case and you may have no other options.

What Damages Am I Eligible to Receive After a Truck Accident in Warren, Michigan?

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.

Economic Damages

These are your out-of-pocket financial losses, such as medical expenses, lost wages, and permanent disability. They compensate you for the money you have directly lost because of the truck accident. Examples of economic damages resulting from a truck accident may include:

• Medical expenses
• Future medical care
• Lost wages
• Loss of earning capacity
• Rehabilitation and other expenses related to your injuries and
• Funeral expenses in wrongful death cases.

You can prove economic damages by providing medical bills, medical records, wage statements, and other documents.

Non-Economic Damages

These are the more subjective losses that you have suffered as a result of a truck accident. Non-economic damages compensate you for the negative impact that the accident and your injuries have had on your quality of life. One common type of non-economic damage, pain and suffering, covers both the physical pain you have suffered and the emotional distress the accident has caused you.

You cannot produce a bill that shows how a truck accident has diminished your life, so your truck accident attorney will have to prove that you have suffered non-economic damages in other ways. They may, for example, show evidence that compares your quality of life before the accident to your condition afterward.

Should I Call My Insurance Provider After a Truck Accident?

You can talk to the trucking company’s insurance adjuster after the accident, but that does not mean you should. 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. Remember that the insurance adjuster’s job is to get you to either:

• Admit that the accident was your fault, meaning that the insurance company owes you nothing; or
• Accept a meager settlement that does not come close to compensating you for your injuries and other damages.

Neither of these options benefits you.

Insurance companies know many ways to avoid paying the maximum compensation owed to accident victims. Given the chance, they will try to trick you into saying something that sounds incriminating. The more you appear to be at fault, the less the insurance company has to pay.

If you do speak to the insurance company before you have hired a personal injury attorney, keep your comments simple and short. All you need to tell them is that you either have an attorney or you will be retaining one soon.

Are There Any Benefits to Hiring a Warren Truck Accident Lawyer?

If you have suffered serious injuries in an 18-wheeler accident, dealing with insurance companies and truck accident claims is probably one of the last things on your mind. You might have been too injured after the accident to gather evidence at the scene, collect contact information from witnesses, and take other steps to prepare for a personal injury claim. Even if you are feeling better now, you might not know how to start collecting evidence.

An experienced truck accident lawyer knows how to obtain evidence like police reports, witness statements, and medical bills. They can act as the go-between for you and the insurance companies to protect your legal rights while you focus on recovering from your injuries and getting back to your life.

Helping Clients Receive Six- and Seven-Figure Settlements Since 1977

From Southfield to Grand Rapids to Troy, our personal injury law firm has helped thousands of clients receive large settlements after their truck accidents. We care about our clients and want them to walk away with more. That is why we offer a low contingency fee of 22%.

Need committed legal representation? Talk to our truck accident lawyers by calling 866-226-6833, or complete our online contact form, and we will contact you right away!