Michigan Truck Accident Lawyer

We offer experienced and aggressive legal representation to help you get the justice you deserve. Contact the Law Offices of Christopher Trainor & Associates to see how we can help you. 

Semi-trucks and large commercial vehicles are a critical part of the economy in the state of Michigan, as well as across the entire country. Although these vehicles are reliable for moving products from location to location, we continue to see them involved in motor vehicle collisions.

Truck accidents account for around 6.5% of auto accidents every year in the United States. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reports more than 500,000 truck crashes annually, of which more than 5,000 accidents result in fatal injuries. Here in Michigan, we see people affected by truck accidents nearly every day.

When a commercial truck hits you and leaves you with considerable injuries, the company will fight tooth and nail to reduce or eliminate their responsibility for the accident. These companies often have large law firms to protect them, which is why you need an experienced team of your own to fight for you.

The Law Offices of Christopher Trainor & Associates serves injured victims and their families throughout Michigan who are in need of someone to help them through the hard times they face after being involved in a serious truck accident.

Most Common Types of Vehicles Involved in Truck Accidents in Michigan

Truck accidents often include 18-wheelers. However, there are various types of commercial vehicles that are also considered to be involved in these types of accidents. In general, commercial vehicles are used for business or commercial purposes.

These vehicles often transport goods or several passengers at once. Some of the most common vehicles we see in truck accidents include:

• Semi-trucks: These vehicles are a combination of a trailer and a tractor unit. Semi-trucks are often referred to as tractor-trailers, big rigs, and 18-wheelers. These vehicles can also include reefers, dry vans, double trailers, triple trailers, or even flatbeds. Semi-trucks are used by companies across the country to transport cargo between distribution centers and fulfillment hubs. We see tens of thousands of semi-trucks enter Michigan each year to transport goods to businesses and homes.
• Box trucks: Box trucks look like semi-trucks, but they are small tractors directly attached to the trailer. These vehicles do not have fifth-wheel connectors like large semi-trucks. Box trucks hold cargo in an area that is separated from the vehicle’s cab. Box trucks are used across our state for local deliveries, hauling furniture, appliances, and other large items, as well as moving.
• Buses: Buses are used by schools and various transportation companies across the state of Michigan. Buses can carry a significant number of people at the same time. This type of transportation is utilized not only in Michigan but across the nation due to its efficient, affordable, and reliable services.
• Tow trucks: There are several types of tow trucks that we see in Michigan. We see many flatbed tow trucks, hook and chain tow trucks, and even wheel lift tow trucks. These solid vehicles are used to move disabled vehicles.
• Concrete trucks: Concrete trucks are equipped with a large chute that quickly delivers concrete from the mixing barrel to a target location. These vehicles commonly travel in our state to assist on construction sites.
• Trash trucks: Refuse trucks are used in communities across our state to remove waste from homes and deliver it to landfills. Waste trucks can be equipped with a front, rear, or side loaders, which help remove dumpers and other objects more easily.
• Dump trucks: Dump trucks are large trucks that are used to transport various loose materials for construction. These trucks can contain several tons of demolition waste, gravel, or even sand.
• Fuel tankers: These trucks are used to carry fuel and various other chemicals and substances. These trucks can weigh more than 37,000 pounds when fully loaded.
• Cargo vans: These vehicles, also referred to as sprinters, are one-piece vehicles that have cargo areas connected to the cab. Large cargo vans are equipped with roll-up rear doors that function in the same manner as box trucks.
• Step vans: These vehicles are often referred to as bakery trucks or bread trucks. Step vans are typically taller than full-sized vans, which makes them more likely to roll over and become involved in serious accidents.
• Heavy equipment: This term is used to describe heavy vehicles including those used for construction, farming, and mining.

No matter what type of truck was involved in your crash, chances are, you needed emergency medical care. Seeking the assistance of a truck accident lawyer in Michigan as soon as possible can help you protect your legal rights.

Types of Truck Accidents

Truck accidents impact the lives of thousands of people across our state every year. These massive vehicles are likely to cause significant damage during collisions. Like other types of crashes, there are several types of truck accidents that we see take place in our state. Some of the most common include:

• Blindspot crashes: Trucks have much larger blind spots than other vehicles. Trying to change lanes without double-checking can result in a serious injury accident. These accidents often involve large vehicles running smaller sedans and other passenger vehicles off the road.
• Lost load incidents: Lost load accidents take place due to cargo not being properly loaded or secured onto a trailer. When cargo shifts or falls off, it can cause accidents to take place. We see many accidents with lost loads turn into closures that last for several hours.
• Rear-end collisions: These accidents occur when the front of a semi-truck crashes into the rear of a second vehicle. These accidents often cause severe damage to smaller vehicles and can result in death or serious injuries.
• Head-on crashes: This type of collision occurs when the front of a semi-truck crashes into the front of a second vehicle. Head-on crashes often have tragic endings for those involved. Many head-on collisions result in fatal injuries or permanently disabling injuries.
• Jackknifes: Jackknife accidents occur when truck drivers have to apply the brakes suddenly. The massive vehicle then skids, causing the trailer to bend at an acute angle with the cab taking out everything in its pathway. These incidents are often deadly and can result in severe traffic delays for investigations to take place. Jackknife accidents greatly increase the chances of subsequent collisions taking place.
• Under-ride accidents: Under-ride accidents take place when semi-trucks stop abruptly. Other vehicles then slide under their trailers. Drivers and passengers inside smaller vehicles involved in under-ride accidents often become pinned inside the vehicles and have to be extricated. This severely delays the amount of time it takes for victims to receive medical care.
• T-Bone/broadside crashes: Broadside collisions occur when truck drivers fail to yield to other vehicles while passing through intersections. These accidents can be extremely dangerous and result in severe injuries to those involved.
• Wide turn accidents: These accidents occur when trucks swing into the right lanes of traffic while making a turn. When trucks enter other lanes of travel, they place the lives of other motorists at risk. In many instances, vehicles become pinned between the trailers and sidewalks. There are also instances where impacted vehicles rollover.
• Rollover accidents: Rollover crashes involving semi-trucks that roll over. In some instances, trucks can land on top of other vehicles. Rollover accidents historically cause more fatal injuries than other types of truck accidents we see. Rollover accidents can take place due to drivers swerving abruptly to avoid striking other vehicles or objects on the road.

If you have been injured in a serious truck accident, or your loved one has lost their life, it is important that you contact a truck accident lawyer in Michigan right away. Our lawyers at the Law Offices of Christopher Trainor & Associates have decades of experience helping victims of truck accidents pursue legal options available to help them get justice. Contact our law firm today to see how we can help you.

Who is Liable for a Truck Accident?

Commercial vehicle accidents are different from other types of accidents due to the fact that there are several parties who can be held liable. A thorough investigation will determine who is liable for the injuries and damages you have suffered from your accident.

In general, some of the parties who can be held liable for truck accidents include:

• The owner of the truck
• The driver of the truck
• The owner of the cargo
• Vendors that provide services to the cargo
• The manufacturer of the truck
• The parts manufacturer
• The truck company
• Local governments or contractors who are responsible for designing and maintaining the roads

Our lawyers at the Law Offices of Christopher Trainor & Associates will meet with you at your earliest convenience to discuss your accident. Our team will investigate your crash and identify all liable parties. We will then help you take action to hold them accountable so you can get justice.

Damages Available for Truck Accident Victims in Michigan

Victims who are harmed in Michigan truck accidents are able to pursue legal action against wrongdoers. Our lawyers at the Law Offices of Christopher Trainor & Associates are committed to helping each person we work with collect the maximum amount of compensation available for their legal claims.

Suffering injuries in a truck accident means you will deal with towering financial consequences. For this reason, it is in your best interest to seek the assistance of our Michigan personal injury lawyers right away. Our team at the Law Offices of Christopher Trainor & Associates can help you maximize the amount of compensation you receive for various economic damages, including:

• Lost wages from taking time off work to recover
• Lost earning capacity if you are left permanently disabled
• Medical expenses for hospitalization, doctor appointments, and surgery
• Long-term care costs for therapy, rehabilitation, and care facilities
• Vehicle repair expenses or the costs to replace your vehicle

Additionally, we will provide aggressive representation to ensure you collect the maximum amount of compensation for non-economic damages as well. This includes compensation for:

• Pain and suffering which is determined by the extent that your injuries have impacted your quality of life
• Mental anguish and any costs related to your mental health
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Common Injuries in Truck Accidents

Victims who are involved in truck accidents often suffer severe and life-changing injuries. We see many victims rushed from the scene of their accidents and admitted into local hospitals where they undergo emergency medical care.

Some common injuries victims of truck accidents are left with include:

• Spinal Cord Injuries: Motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of spinal cord injuries across the state of Michigan. Being involved in an accident with an 18-wheeler significantly increases the risk of suffering paralysis to some degree.
• Head Injuries: Being involved in a truck accident increases the risk of you suffering some type of head injury. Whether you suffer from a concussion, a traumatic brain injury, or a severe laceration to the skull, you will require some extent of medical care.
• Broken Bones: Broken bones are extremely common among victims of truck accidents. Although some victims suffer simple brakes that require casting, there are many instances where victims incur compound fractures that require surgery and a lengthy recovery process. There are also instances where people have to have their arms, legs, feet, or hands amputated.
• Burn Injuries: When drivers get trapped inside vehicles that catch on fire, they often suffer severe burn injuries. These injuries can result in muscle and nerve damage as well.
• Lacerations: Many victims of truck accidents suffer severe cuts, scrapes, and lacerations. These injuries can result in permanent scarring.
• Internal Organ Injuries: There are many instances where truck accident victims suffer internal organ damage. Lung punctures, spleen ruptures, and other injuries can be life-threatening if they are not treated immediately.

Although many crash injuries do have several treatment options available to help victims, there is no guarantee that they will fully recover. We see thousands of people left permanently disabled from crash injuries every year in our state. Additionally, the cost of medical treatment, both immediate and long-term, is significant. Depending on the type of injury, victims can end up spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to care for their injuries.

If you are harmed in a truck accident, you must seek legal guidance right away. Our Michigan truck accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Christopher Trainor & Associates have more than one hundred years of combined experience helping victims in Michigan get the justice they deserve after being injured in truck accidents.

Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents

After an accident, the trucking companies and insurance companies will call into question the condition of the road, extreme circumstances surrounding the accident, the accident victim, and pursue any other excuses to defend themselves from paying for injury compensation. As your attorneys, it is our job to investigate the accident to determine any possible causes that make the driver or the company liable, such as:

• Insufficient driver education
• Reckless driving
• Lack of vehicle maintenance
• Driver exhaustion
• Bad road conditions
• Driver distractions (cell phones, radios, etc.)
• Shifting cargo
• Following too closely
• Tire blowouts
• Brake failures
• Rollover crashes
• Speeding
• Drifting lanes
• Improper maneuvering of the truck
• Driving while impaired by drugs
• Driving while intoxicated

Truck accidents commonly result in much more severe injuries than a typical passenger vehicle accident. When the consequences of these accidents are more severe, the legal representation needs to be just as strong. Our swift investigation and thorough planning are both invaluable resources in securing the best possible outcome for your motor vehicle accident.

A Team You Can Trust

Every day, truck accidents take place in Michigan that result in serious injuries and sometimes even death. Dealing with the aftermath of a truck accident is not something that we can prepare for. For this reason, it is crucial that you seek the assistance of a skilled legal team immediately to ensure your legal rights and best interests are protected. Juggling the responsibilities of a personal injury claim while also attempting to take care of your own health can be nearly impossible.

Our committed team takes care of your injury claim as we handle as much of your claim as possible while you focus on your health. Our lawyers will conduct a thorough investigation to determine what took place during your crash. We will build the strongest case possible and fight to get you full and timely compensation to help cover your injuries and damages.

Our lawyers at the Law Offices of Christopher Trainor & Associates can help you get the justice you deserve after being harmed in a truck accident. We make the first step even easier by offering free initial consultations, so schedule your own today by calling (248) 886-8650. We serve clients throughout Michigan, including those in White Lake, Flint, Kalamazoo, Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, Southfield, Lansing, and Bay City. Contact our Michigan truck accident law firm today to schedule a free, no-obligation case evaluation so we can discuss the legal options available for you.

Experienced And Aggressive Legal Representation

When a commercial truck hits you and leaves you with considerable injuries, the company will fight tooth and nail to reduce or eliminate their responsibility for the accident. These companies often have large law firms to protect them, which is why you need an experienced team of your own to fight for you.

Here at Law Offices of Christopher Trainor & Associates in White Lake, we do not stand for the excuses trucking companies may try and give, and we know how to secure the best possible outcome for our clients. We serve individuals and families throughout Michigan who need someone to help them through hard times after a serious truck accident.

We Do Not Settle For Less

After an accident, the trucking companies and insurance companies will call into question the condition of the road, extreme circumstances surrounding the accident, the accident victim, and pursue any other excuses to defend themselves from paying for injury compensation. As your attorneys, it is our job to investigate the accident to determine any possible causes that make the driver or the company liable, such as:

• Insufficient driver education
• Reckless driving
• Lack of vehicle maintenance
• Driver exhaustion
• Driving while intoxicated

Truck accidents commonly result in much more severe injuries than a typical passenger vehicle accident. When the consequences of these accidents are more severe, the legal representation needs to be just as strong. Our swift investigation and thorough planning are both invaluable resources in securing the best possible outcome for your motor vehicle accident.

A Team You Can Trust

Juggling the responsibilities of a personal injury claim while also attempting to take care of your own health can be nearly impossible. Our committed team takes care of your injury claim as we handle as much of your claim as possible while you focus on your health.