Semi overturns in Allegan County, spilling crushed asphalt along road
Semi-truck overturns in Allegan crash, spilling asphalt and pinning the driver in the wreckage.
According to Allegan County Sheriff’s Office, the crash took place at around 3 p.m. on Monday, June 8 on 106th Avenue and 11th Street. A preliminary investigation found that a vehicle driving southbound on 11th Street failed to yield to a westbound semi-truck.
The truck lost control and overturned on 106th Avenue spilling its content on the road, it was hauling crushed asphalt at the time.
The sheriff's office says that the driver of the semi-truck was pinned in the truck for an undisclosed amount of time before they were able to be removed.
Both the driver of the semi-truck and the driver of the other vehicle were taken to local hospitals with serious injuries.
The Allegan County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Michigan State Police, Otsego PD, Plainwell DPS, Plainwell EMS, Gun Plain Fire, Martin Fire, Otsego Fire, EOC, Allegan County Dispatch, Allegan County Road Commission and the Allegan County Sheriff reconstruction team.
The intersection at 106th and 11th was closed for a time following the crash but has since reopened.
Legal options after an accident
Michigan is a no-fault state, which means that people injured in a crash may qualify for Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits regardless of who caused the crash.
These benefits can help cover economic losses from the crash such as allowable medical expenses, wage loss, replacement services and attendant care, subject to the injured person’s coverage.
Recovering noneconomic losses usually requires a separate claim, such as pain and suffering, against an at-fault driver or other responsible party. 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.
Semi crashes legal issues
Crashes involving semi-trucks in Michigan are subject to the no-fault system like most other motor vehicle crashes.
This means that people injured in semi accidents may qualify for Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits, regardless of fault. Injured people may also be able to pursue third-party claims for pain and suffering and other noneconomic damages if Michigan’s injury threshold is met.
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 involving:
- 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
Get Help From Michigan Legal Center
Michigan Legal Center is the Law Offices of Christopher J. Trainor & Associates. Our attorneys help injured people and grieving families across Michigan with car accidents, no-fault claims, wrongful death cases, third-party lawsuits, insurance disputes and serious injury claims.
If you or a loved one was injured in a Michigan work-zone crash or another serious 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.