When truck accidents happen on Michigan highways, the results are often serious and deadly injuries. In fact, although the National Highway Transportation Safety Association reported a decrease in truck-related accidents during 2007, the number of injuries attributed to truck accidents remained the same. The size and weight of a large truck can turn a tractor trailer, also known as an 18 wheeler, a semi truck or a big rig, into a dangerous weapon capable of harming passengers in any vehicles sharing its roadway.
More About Truck Accident Causes
Truck accidents are particularly tragic because so many occur as the direct result of negligence, whether on the part of the driver or the trucking company. Drivers are often compensated according to their ability to deliver goods on time, and they may cut corners in order to make a tight timeline. Trucking companies who are required by federal regulations to keep log books that show driver hours may “lose” the driver logs or falsify them in order to appear to comply with the law.
Common causes of truck accidents include:
- Driver speeding
- Driver fatigue
- Drivers operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs – including “speed” and other aids to keep the driver awake
- Improperly loaded vehicles – drivers may fail to properly secure loads in the rush to meet delivery dates
- Poor truck maintenance – trucking companies or drivers may not meet manufacturer standards for maintenance, resulting in tire blowouts, engine malfunction and other problems
- Defective equipment – including brakes, particularly on highway routes through mountainous areas
- Road hazards
- Dangerous weather – while weather conditions can cause accidents for any driver, large trucks are particularly vulnerable. They are larger and thus more difficult to maneuver, making a sudden stop or icy patch on the road a much bigger danger than to a normal passenger car; and
- Tight delivery deadlines may also cause drivers to take risks and continue on roads that would cause an ordinary driver to stay at home.
With so many potential factors involved, truck accident claims can be complicated. Multiple insurance companies may have interests, including the insurer representing the driver, the truck firm or a freight shipper. Trucking companies have their own legal teams working to minimize the damage to their reputations and bottom lines.
Call Our Truck Accident Attorneys Today
The truck accident lawyers at Michigan Injury Lawyers have extensive experience evaluating truck accidents and identifying all the contributing factors and potential defendants. Our goal is ensure that you and your family obtain fair compensation based on your injuries. If there is no recovery in your case, there is no fee for our services.
If you or someone you love has suffered serious injuries in a truck accident in Michigan caused by the negligence of a driver or trucking company, you have valuable legal rights. Michigan Injury Lawyers represents people whose lives have been impacted by serious truck accident injuries. We have helped many victims in Michigan recover what was rightfully theirs. We can help you too.
The tractor trailer accident lawyers at Michigan Injury Lawyers are committed to each and every client. We are not one of those "burn and churn firms" that treat clients like a number. Our truck injury attorneys provide customized representation and personalized attention. Since we focus on litigation, we thoroughly prepare your case for expert representation at the settlement table or in the courtroom.
Call Michigan Injury Lawyers at (888) 454-0801, or contact us online for an evaluation of your claim. If there is no recovery in your case, there is no fee for our services.