In 2022, 4,764 people died in large truck accidents throughout the country. Although truckers do suffer injuries and fatalities in these collisions, the majority of the losses occur to the occupants of the other vehicles. It’s not difficult to understand why.
Commercial trucks are huge and powerful vehicles that usually carry thousands of pounds of cargo. If one hits a passenger car, the force could crush the smaller vehicle, resulting in catastrophic injuries for its occupants.
Michigan is a no-fault state when dealing with traffic collisions. This system allows you to file a claim with your own insurance company if you’ve been in an accident. One of the best things about it is that you don’t have to worry about proving who was to blame for the crash.
As beneficial as this system can be if you’re in an accident that causes only minor injuries, it can have significant drawbacks if you’ve been in a severe collision. The main issue is the no-fault system only allows you to claim economic losses, including lost wages and medical expenses.
Truck accidents are most commonly the result of driver errors, but there may also be liable third parties.
Any driver who’s operating a vehicle while battling exhaustion will be more distracted than they should be. They are more likely to miss hazards on the road and could even lose control of the truck.
To prevent this issue, there are federal regulations in place that state how many hours truckers can be on duty. Unfortunately, not all drivers or their employers obey these laws, leading to exhausted drivers getting on the road and potentially causing accidents.
A trucker operating a truck while under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a danger on the road. Alcohol and drugs affect coordination and reflexes, making it more difficult for a driver to respond appropriately to hazards. They could even lose control of the truck.
Distracted driving refers to the act of doing anything else while driving. It can include eating, switching radio stations, checking the GPS, or using the phone. One of the biggest issues these days is texting while driving. In 2023, there were 1,588 collisions in Macomb County involving a distracted driver.
Truckers spend a lot of time driving, so boredom can set in, leading them to reach for their phones or read billboard signs lining the road instead of focusing solely on driving. A distracted trucker may not notice hazards in time to avoid collisions.
Sometimes, the driver isn’t to blame for the accident. If there are large potholes or other significant pavement issues, especially on streets like the Earle Memorial Highway, where the speed limit is a bit higher, a truck driver can lose control of the vehicle.
In these kinds of accidents, the liable parties can be the government entities that maintain the roads.
With vehicles as large and heavy as commercial trucks, ensuring they are loaded correctly is vital to prevent issues when making turns or going around curves. Cargo that isn’t secured appropriately can shift during transport, and that affects the vehicle’s center of gravity.
If the truck isn’t balanced, a simple turn could be enough to cause it to topple over. In these accidents, whoever was in charge of the loading can be held responsible.
Trucks can have defective parts installed that cause them to malfunction while on the road. The manufacturer can be responsible, but the trucking company can also be liable. That’s because they have to ensure all of their trucks are safe enough to be on the road.
Filing a personal injury claim requires that you gather a substantial amount of evidence to demonstrate that the other party was negligent in their conduct. While you’re dealing with severe injuries, the last thing you want to do is to handle these legalities. At Atnip & Associates, PLLC, we can do all of this for you.
One of the most challenging aspects of going through the personal injury claim process is negotiating with insurance companies. They are always looking for any excuse not to pay you what you deserve. If you don’t have someone fighting for your rights, you could be bullied into accepting a low offer.
We’ll aggressively negotiate for the best possible settlement, but if we see that negotiations aren’t progressing, we can also take your case to court. The threat of court is often enough to get insurance companies back to the negotiation table.
Having personal injury lawyers by your side also ensures you receive the support you need during this difficult time. You may be battling serious injuries and could be dealing with PTSD and other trauma, so having people who can guide you with compassion is crucial. We will always provide this support.
Going through a collision involving a truck can leave you with significant physical and mental trauma, not to mention straining your finances. To recover losses, one of your options is to file a personal injury claim.
At Atnip & Associates, PLLC, we can assess your claim and fight your corner against insurance companies. We have decades of combined experience helping the people of Michigan recover damages, and we can help you, too.
Don’t go through this traumatic time on your own. Contact Atnip & Associates, PLLC to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Warren truck accident lawyer.
