Semi collides with fallen debris causing highway crash early Wednesday morning
A semi crash on eastbound I-196 closed the road for hours on Wednesday morning after cargo fell from another truck.
The crash was caused by steel coils that had been dumped earlier by an unknown semi according to the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office. A 56-year-old semi driver from Muskegon hit the coils just before 4 a.m. near exit 55.
No injuries have been reported. The highway has since reopened to traffic after being closed for several hours.
Legal options after an accident
Michigan is a no-fault state, which means that people injured in a motor vehicle crash may qualify for Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits without having to prove who caused the crash first.
PIP benefits can help cover economic losses from the crash, including allowable medical expenses, wage loss, replacement services and attendant care, subject to Michigan’s no-fault rules, coverage limits and priority rules.
Recovering noneconomic losses usually requires a separate claim against an at-fault driver. This would only be an option if the injuries meet the state’s threshold of serious impairment of body function, permanent serious disfigurement or death.
Legal issues in Semi crashes
Semi-truck crashes in Michigan are also included in no-fault system when it comes to determining possible PIP benefits after a crash.
Crashes involving semi-trucks can be more complicated, because as commercial vehicles, they are also subject to federal motor carrier safety regulations. Violating these regulations may support a negligence claim that wouldn’t be relevant in non-commercial crashes.
Liability could also possibly land on the motor carrier itself in cases where there were:
- vicarious liability for the driver’s negligence while working
- negligent hiring, retention, training, or supervision
- pressuring the driver to violate hours-of-service rules
- poor maintenance practices
- failure to inspect or repair known defects
- unsafe scheduling or dispatch
- or failure to preserve safety records after the crash
Crashes involving falling cargo can also raise additional legal issues. The load may have been prepared by a warehouse, loader, shipper, contractor or another company before the truck entered the road. The condition of the vehicle, trailer, cargo records and loading instructions may matter as much as the police report.
That does not mean every company connected to the shipment is legally responsible. The claim should be investigated before cargo is cleared, vehicles are repaired, dashcam footage is overwritten or company records become harder to obtain.
Related background includes Michigan car accident medical bills and PIP priority, Michigan wrongful death deadlines, and Michigan Legal Center's truck accident claims page.
Get help from Michigan Legal Center
Michigan Legal Center is the Law Offices of Christopher J. Trainor & Associates. Our attorneys help injured people and families across Michigan with personal injury, car crashes, no-fault claims, insurance disputes, serious injury claims and wrongful death cases.
If you or a loved one was injured in a Michigan car crash, call Michigan Legal Center at (248) 886-8650 or contact us for a consultation.
There is no attorney fee unless money is recovered for you. Case costs and fee terms are governed by the written fee agreement.
Michigan Legal Center can help you navigate the issues involved in claims such as this with Michigan car accident medical bills and PIP priority and Michigan wrongful death deadlines.