A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh many times more than a passenger car. When one collides with a car, the injuries are often catastrophic: traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, multiple fractures and wrongful death. Truck crash cases are also very different from ordinary car accidents.
Why truck accident cases are different
- Several potentially responsible parties. The driver, the trucking company, the company that loaded the cargo, the truck’s owner, and maintenance or parts companies may all share responsibility.
- Federal safety regulations. Interstate commercial drivers must follow federal hours-of-service rules that limit driving time, plus rules on inspections, maintenance, drug and alcohol testing and driver qualifications. Violations can prove negligence.
- More insurance. Interstate trucking companies must carry much higher liability coverage than ordinary drivers, which can make full compensation possible for serious injuries.
- Aggressive defense. Trucking companies and their insurers often send investigators to the scene quickly.
Evidence that must be preserved fast
Critical evidence can be lost or overwritten if no one acts quickly: electronic logging device data showing driving hours, engine control module (“black box”) data on speed and braking, dash-camera footage, driver logs and qualification files, inspection and maintenance records, and dispatch communications. We send preservation demands immediately.
Michigan no-fault still applies
If you were injured in a car hit by a truck, your no-fault PIP benefits still pay medical bills and wage loss, and you can bring a claim against the at-fault driver and company for pain and suffering and excess losses. Learn about claims against the at-fault party.
Common causes of truck crashes
Driver fatigue, speeding for delivery deadlines, distracted driving, improper lane changes and wide turns, overloaded or poorly secured cargo, brake failure from poor maintenance, and inexperienced or poorly trained drivers.