Truck accidents are some of the most complicated personal injury cases due to the number of parties that can be involved, in addition to the often serious and devastating injuries that these accidents can cause. Even though semi-trucks account for less than 5 percent of all vehicles on the road, they are involved in more than 25 percent of fatal accidents on American highways, and in an even higher number of non-fatal accidents that result in serious injuries.

Unfortunately, many of these accidents are entirely preventable because they occur due to negligence. In most car accident cases, negligence is easy to pinpoint on the other driver. But in truck accident cases, assigning fault is not as easy, because there are many more parties involved in the operation of a trucking haul, some of which you may not even know about.

At Fieger Law, our personal injury attorneys have represented countless Michigan truck accident victims. We’re not afraid to take on trucking companies and their insurance companies, who will often try to pay off injury victims with the smallest amounts possible. Our fearless approach to representing our clients leads us to advocate for our clients’ interests to the fullest extent possible, and we’re ready to assist you and your family today.

How Fault Is Assigned in Michigan Truck Accidents

When an accident occurs, a court or a jury will look at the facts of a case and determine who is at fault, and to what percentage. In some cases, fault may be shared by multiple parties. For example, consider the following: a truck hauling boxes for a shipping company was loaded improperly, resulting in the boxes being on one side of the trailer.

During the haul, the truck driver takes a turn too fast. The speed combined with the uneven weight distribution in the trailer causes the truck to turn over, leading to a multi-vehicle accident.

Who would be at fault in such a case? The truck driver, for speeding, but also the loading agency for loading the boxes in an uneven manner. Experienced truck accident lawyers in Michigan would be able to assist an accident victim in determining where compensation should be sought in that accident.

Common Causes of Trucking Accidents in Michigan

In 2021 alone, the Michigan State Police recorded almost 15,000 accidents involving large trucks or buses. While there are many causes of truck accidents in Michigan, some of the most common causes include the following:

  • Driver fatigue or inattention
  • Improperly loaded or secured cargo
  • Oversized cargo loads
  • Poorly maintained truck equipment
  • Improperly manufactured equipment
  • Driver speeding or unsafe driving
  • Driver substance use
  • Inadequate training of drivers and loaders

Potentially Liable Parties in Truck Accidents

Along with the common causes of trucking accidents, there are many opportunities for negligence to cause serious problems, too. After consulting with a truck accident lawyer, Michigan accident victims may be shocked to learn how many parties are potentially liable in truck accident cases. Among the parties that may be liable for truck accidents include:

  • The truck driver
  • The trucking company
  • A staffing agency who hired the driver
  • The company which loaded the cargo
  • The company which owns the cargo
  • The owner of the trailer, if leased
  • The manufacturer of the truck and trailer
  • Maintenance workers

Because there are so many more parties that could potentially be involved in a trucking accident, these cases are often very complicated and should accordingly be handled by an experienced and knowledgeable personal injury lawyer.

Schedule a Free Consultation with a Truck Accident Lawyer in Michigan Today

Our team of attorneys at Fieger Law are known across the country for our work in car accident and truck accident cases. We’ve secured millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements in the more than 70 years that we’ve been in business, and we’ll do everything in our power to ensure that you and your family access any compensation you may be entitled to receive.

To set up an appointment with an attorney in our office, contact us today.

This content has been reviewed and approved by lawyers in the offices of Fieger Law.