In order for victims to recover compensation after a Michigan truck accident, they need to be able to establish the cause of their crash. While there may be some cases in which the cause of an accident is obvious to everyone involved, this is not always the case, and determining the cause may require a significant amount of investigation. Fortunately for victims who are not familiar with investigating commercial truck accidents, an attorney can be of assistance.
Here are some of the ways a lawyer can help determine the cause of a truck accident so that you can recover compensation.
Determine Whether any Regulations Were Violated
Trucks pose an inherent risk of injury to other motorists due to their size and weight. As a result, they are highly regulated by both the state and federal government1 – for example, there are regulations regarding how many hours a trucker may drive each day, the amount and placement of reflective material or lights on truck trailers, vehicle inspection procedures, and even the physical condition of truck drivers.
If a violation of these rules leads to a truck accident in Michigan, it is often sufficient to establish legal liability. In order to find them, however, you must be familiar with them in the first place. For this reason, truck accident victims should always have their case reviewed by an attorney familiar with truck accident litigation.
Collect Documents or other Evidence
In contested truck accident cases, it may be necessary to obtain evidence that the accident was caused by truck driver negligence. Examples of the kinds of evidence that may be relevant to a truck accident case include the following:
- Eyewitness statements
- Truck driver log books
- Vehicle maintenance records
- Onboard computer data
Of course, it may be the case that a negligent party may not want to hand over evidence indicating liability. When this occurs, an attorney can often compel the production of evidence through a variety of legal means like subpoenas, depositions,2 interrogatories, and requests for production.
Call a Michigan Truck Accident Attorney Today to Discuss Your Legal Options
If you have been seriously injured in a truck accident, you should contact an attorney as soon as you can. A lawyer will thoroughly evaluate the way your accident occurred, let you know if you have a legal claim, and, if you do, help you obtain compensation. To schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys, call Michigan Injury Lawyers today at 313-GET-HELP or send us an email through our online contact form.
References:
1 https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations
2 https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/deposition
Thomas L. Stroble
FOUNDER
Mr. Stroble is a highly accomplished graduate of Michigan State University, with degrees in both science and law. He specializes in commercial lawsuits and personal injury cases. Licensed to practice law in Michigan and even the U.S. Supreme Court, he’s a well-qualified legal expert. Besides his career in law, he loves outdoor activities and volunteers as a part-time police officer in Birmingham.
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