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Michigan Truck Accident Lawyer
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One moment you were driving. The next moment, an 80,000-pound truck accident changed your life. Now you are lying in a hospital bed or sitting at home unable to work, watching medical bills pile up while the income that paid them has stopped.
What makes it worse is that the trucking company already has a team working against you. Their insurer may contact you within hours of the crash, pushing for a settlement before you understand the full extent of your injuries. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations, multiple liable parties, electronic data and maintenance records that may be lost, altered, or overwritten if they are not preserved quickly, and Michigan’s no-fault system make truck accident cases a different kind of fight entirely.
At Harris Altman, PC, our Michigan truck accident lawyers handle both your no-fault personal injury protection (PIP) benefits and the third-party pain-and-suffering claim under one roof, and we file lawsuits when negotiations fail to produce a fair result. If a semi-truck, tractor-trailer, or commercial vehicle caused your injuries, call us at 248-540-3100 for a free consultation. You pay nothing unless we win.
Why Choose Harris Altman, PC for Your Michigan Truck Accident Case
Handling a truck accident claim in Michigan requires an attorney with experience across FMCSA regulations, the state no-fault system, and multi-party liability. At Harris Altman, PC, we bring years of personal injury experience and a willingness to take cases to court when negotiations fail.
Proven Results in Serious Michigan Truck Accident Cases
Our Michigan truck accident case results include a $975,000 recovery in a trucking case. Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes in future cases. Every case is different, but our track record reflects a commitment to pursuing full and fair compensation for every client we represent.
Michigan Trial Lawyers Who Take Truck Accident Cases to Court
Some cases require trial, and we are prepared to take yours to court if negotiations do not produce a fair result. When an insurance company refuses to settle a claim for what it is worth, we file the lawsuit and pursue it through trial.
Bradley B. Harris has been recognized as one of Michigan’s Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers every year since 2012. Brett D. Altman has been recognized among Michigan’s Top Lawyers in Personal Injury every year since 2015 and holds a Top 40 Under 40 designation from the American Society of Legal Advocates. When the insurance company knows your lawyer will go to trial, they negotiate differently.
We Handle Both Sides of Your Michigan Insurance Claim
Michigan truck accident claims involve two separate legal tracks: the no-fault PIP claim with your own insurer and the third-party liability claim against the at-fault trucker or trucking company. At Harris Altman, PC, we manage both under one roof, so you have one team, one point of contact, and no gaps in your coverage.
We file your no-fault PIP claim to cover medical bills and wage loss, and we build the third-party claim for pain and suffering simultaneously. You do not need to coordinate between separate firms or repeat yourself to different attorneys.
Client Testimonials
“I was in a truck accident and I was referred to Bradley B. Harris. Whenever I had a problem with a doctor or paperwork him and his team help me through each step. They return any and every call I made to their office and help me to stay confident that everything is in control. I appreciate then more than I can ever say, I don’t trust people very easily, but I trusted Brad and I knew he had my best interest at heart. Him and his team always stressed tell the truth and I appreciated that. Thank you so much Brad and your great team, I will recommend you to everyone I know. Thank you for being there for me even when I was in tears and didn’t feel like I didn’t want to go to another appointment. We’re praying that God will give you and your team more business than you would ever imagine.” — Mary H.
“My experience with the Harris Altman law firm was nothing short of exceptional. Brad Harris and his team were the only law firm out of several that i called that would take my personal injury case, and I was not disappointed. Everyone was kind, knowledgeable & answered every question openly in a timely matter. If you want a law firm that will do everything to ensure you receive what you’re entitled to don’t hesitate to reach out to this wonderful law firm. I can’t thank Brad Harris enough.” — Amber M.
“Very satisfied with the way my case was handled. Thank you for being persistent, kind and understanding in this matter. I will definitely pass your card to others that need you. I can’t thank you enough for the results it made a great positive change in my life.” — Vincenta D.
Meet Your Michigan Truck Accident Lawyers
Why Truck Accident Cases Are More Complex than Car Accidents
Commercial truck accident claims in Michigan involve FMCSA regulations, multiple potentially liable parties, and insurance policies with limits far exceeding those in standard auto accidents. The truck driver may be at fault, but so might the trucking company that hired them, the company that loaded the cargo, or the manufacturer that made the defective brake system.
FMCSA regulations govern how long a driver can stay on the road, how the truck must be maintained, and how cargo must be loaded. Electronic logging device data, onboard recording information, and maintenance records may be lost, altered, or overwritten if steps are not taken quickly to preserve them.
Commercial trucking cases often involve insurance policies with limits far higher than those in ordinary car accident cases. Federal minimum financial responsibility requirements can start at $750,000, with higher limits required in some situations, including certain hazardous-material operations. An attorney who understands both FMCSA regulations and Michigan’s no-fault system needs to be working on your case from the beginning.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Michigan
Each cause of a truck crash points to a specific liable party and determines what evidence must be preserved. The most common causes include:
- Driver fatigue and hours-of-service (HOS) violations. FMCSA limits truck drivers to 11 hours of driving within a 14-hour on-duty window. Fatigue-related crashes are among the most preventable and the most deadly.
- Distracted driving, including cell phone use, eating behind the wheel, and substance impairment.
- Equipment failure and improper maintenance, such as brake failures and tire blowouts that the trucking company should have caught during required inspections.
- Overloaded or improperly loaded cargo. On the Interstate System, federal law generally sets an 80,000-pound maximum gross vehicle weight, subject to bridge-formula and other route-specific limits. Loads that exceed that limit or shift during transit cause rollovers and loss-of-control crashes.
- Speeding and aggressive driving, particularly on Michigan highways where speed differentials between trucks and passenger vehicles are already dangerous.
- Inadequate training or negligent hiring by the trucking company, including placing drivers with poor safety records behind the wheel of an 80,000-pound vehicle.
The truck driver who causes a crash due to fatigue is not the only party bearing accountability. The company that pressured them to keep driving may share liability.
Injuries Caused by Michigan Truck Accidents
The size and weight difference between a commercial truck and a passenger vehicle produces injuries that are often severe, long-term, and economically devastating. You may face a recovery that takes months or years or that changes your life permanently.
Common truck accident injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Internal organ damage
- Crush injuries and severe burns
- Amputations
- Broken bones and fractures
- Wrongful death
Medical treatment for a TBI or spinal cord injury can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars over a lifetime. Lost earning capacity, ongoing care costs, and non-economic damages combine to make the total claim value in these cases substantially higher than in standard auto accident claims.
What to Do After a Truck Accident in Michigan
Truck accident claims in Michigan carry strict deadlines and require evidence that can disappear within days. These steps protect your rights from the moment the crash happens.
- Seek immediate medical attention and make sure every injury is documented. Medical records created close to the accident carry more weight than records created weeks later.
- Call the police and request a crash report. This report becomes a key piece of evidence in your claim.
- If you are able to, photograph the scene, the truck, license plates, and any visible damage or injuries.
- Avoid giving a recorded statement to the trucking company’s insurance adjuster. Adjusters may use your own words to reduce what you recover.
- Preserve evidence. Save dashcam footage, collect witness contact information, and keep all medical records organized.
- Contact a Michigan truck accident lawyer before the trucking company’s investigation team locks down the evidence. The sooner an attorney gets involved, the better the chance of preserving electronic logging device data, black box records, and maintenance logs.
Who Can Be Held Liable in a Michigan Truck Accident
Michigan law recognizes multiple potentially liable parties in a commercial truck accident claim. Identifying all of them matters because each may carry separate insurance coverage. Potentially liable parties include:
- The truck driver, for negligence, traffic violations, distracted driving, or driving under the influence
- The trucking company, under respondeat superior (employer liability), or for negligent hiring, pressuring drivers to violate HOS rules, or maintaining falsified logs
- Cargo loaders and shippers, when improper loading causes a rollover or shifting load
- Vehicle and parts manufacturers, when defective brakes, tires, or coupling systems fail
- Maintenance companies, for negligent repairs or missed inspections
- Government entities, when dangerous road conditions or poor signage contributed to the crash
Some interstate trucking cases involve federally required proof of financial responsibility, including the MCS-90 endorsement, along with additional liability policies that may affect coverage. Identifying every liable party and every available insurance source is how we maximize what you can recover.
Wrongful Death in Michigan Truck Accident Cases
Michigan’s Wrongful Death Act, codified at MCL 600.2922, provides surviving family members a path to seek financial recovery after losing someone in a truck accident. No legal claim replaces the person you lost, but the law recognizes your right to seek accountability.
Under MCL 600.2922, the personal representative of the deceased person’s estate files the claim on behalf of surviving family members. Recoverable damages include loss of financial support, loss of companionship and society, funeral and burial costs, and pain and suffering the deceased experienced before death.
In many Michigan wrongful death cases, the filing deadline is generally three years from the date of death, though timing issues can depend on the facts and should be reviewed promptly. Commercial truck insurance limits, which start at $750,000 and often reach $5,000,000, mean wrongful death claims against trucking companies frequently involve greater recovery potential than claims against individual drivers. If you need guidance on whether you have a wrongful death claim, we can help you understand your options.
Compensation You Can Recover in a Michigan Truck Accident Case
Michigan truck accident claims can involve substantial compensation because commercial truck insurance policies carry limits far higher than personal auto policies. Your biggest concern right now may be whether you can cover your medical bills and support your family while you recover.
Damages you may be able to recover include:
- Medical expenses, both past and future, including surgeries, rehabilitation, and ongoing care
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous work
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Wrongful death damages for surviving family members
The value of your case depends on the severity of your injuries, the available insurance coverage, and the strength of the evidence. We do not promise specific dollar amounts, but we fight for every dollar our clients are entitled to recover.
How a Michigan Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help Your Case
A truck accident claim requires investigation, coordination, and strategy from the very beginning. Here is what our team does for you:
- We investigate the crash and move to preserve evidence before the trucking company’s team can destroy or alter electronic logging device data, black box records, and maintenance logs.
- We identify all liable parties and all available insurance sources so nothing is left on the table.
- We handle all communication with insurance companies so you do not have to deal with adjusters who are trained to minimize your claim.
- We move quickly to protect your no-fault rights under MCL 500.3145 by helping open the claim, preserve notice, and position your case for benefits as early as possible.
- We build the third-party case for full compensation, including pain and suffering, lost wages, and future medical costs.
- When settlement negotiations do not produce a fair result, we take the case to court.
Every step is designed to put you in the strongest position possible. If you want to understand what your case may be worth, we can walk you through that during a free consultation.
Types of Truck Accident Cases We Handle in Michigan
Our firm represents clients across a wide range of commercial truck accident scenarios, including:
- Semi-truck and tractor-trailer collisions
- 18-wheeler accidents
- Commercial delivery truck accidents
- Tanker truck and hazmat incidents
- Garbage truck and utility vehicle crashes
- Wide-turn and blind-spot accidents
- Jackknife and rollover accidents
- Rear-end collisions involving commercial trucks
- Head-on truck collisions
Each type of truck accident presents distinct challenges. A jackknife accident may involve HOS violations and brake failure, while a tanker truck crash may require hazmat documentation and environmental assessment. We tailor our approach to the facts of your case.
Michigan Truck Accident Claim: No-Fault Benefits, Lawsuits, and Critical Deadlines
Michigan’s no-fault insurance system creates two separate tracks for every truck accident claim. Understanding both tracks and their deadlines is critical to protecting your full recovery.
First-Party PIP Benefits
Michigan no-fault claims involve strict notice and filing rules, and delays can seriously affect your right to recover benefits. Acting quickly is important because these deadlines are often shorter and more complicated than people realize.
Michigan’s 2019 no-fault reform also changed PIP coverage levels, which may affect what benefits are available to you. If you are unsure about your no-fault insurance coverage, we can help you sort through it.
Third-Party Pain and Suffering Claims
To recover pain-and-suffering damages from the at-fault truck driver or trucking company, Michigan law requires that your injuries meet the threshold under MCL 500.3135, which is serious impairment of body function, permanent serious disfigurement, or death. Many serious truck accident injuries may satisfy Michigan’s threshold for a third-party pain-and-suffering claim, but that depends on the facts, the medical evidence, and how the injury affects your life.
The statute of limitations for a third-party lawsuit is three years from the date of the accident under MCL 600.5805. Trucking company policies carry $750,000 to $5,000,000 in coverage, which often means greater recovery potential than a standard personal injury claim against an individual driver. Getting your insurance benefits started early protects you financially while the third-party case builds.
Schedule a Free Consultation with a Michigan Truck Accident Attorney Today
If you or a family member was seriously injured in a truck accident in Michigan, we are ready to fight for the compensation you deserve. We handle both your PIP benefits and the third-party liability claim, and we file lawsuits when negotiations fail to produce a fair result.
Your consultation is free, and you pay nothing unless we win. Call 248-540-3100 or reach us through our contact form today. The sooner you call, the sooner we can protect your evidence and your deadlines.
