Michigan Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawyer
Top Commercial Truck Accident Lawyers in Michigan
Car accidents are unsettling, but collisions involving commercial vehicles can be especially severe due to their size and weight. If you’re injured in a commercial truck accident in Michigan, contact Lipton Law for experienced legal assistance. Our team handles a wide range of commercial vehicle accidents, including semi-truck or tractor-trailer accidents and more.
If you’ve been hurt due to someone else’s negligence, our Michigan truck accident lawyers will help you seek fair compensation. Call (248) 557-1688 for a free consultation today.
What is a Commercial Vehicle?
A commercial vehicle is a motor vehicle used for transporting goods or passengers for business purposes. This includes trucks, buses, and other vehicles used in interstate commerce, especially those that are large or heavy, like tractor-trailers or buses. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, vehicles qualify as commercial vehicles when they serve the above-mentioned purpose and meet the following requirements.
- It has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or gross combination weight rating of 10,001 lbs or more.
- Is a single or combination vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 lbs or more
- Is used or designed to transport over 8 passengers for compensation or over 15 passengers without compensation. Passenger count includes the driver.
- It is used to transport hazardous materials in such quantities as to require federal placarding, regardless of vehicle size.
Types of Commercial Vehicle Accidents
Commercial motor vehicles come in many different shapes and sizes. The three basic categories of commercial vehicles include commercial trucks, commercial vans, and buses. Within these categories, these vehicles are divided into subcategories. More specific types of commercial vehicles include the following.
- Pickup trucks
- Box trucks
- Semi-trucks
- Transit buses
- Delivery trucks
- Motor coaches
- Minibusses
- Step vans
- Passenger vans
- Cargo vans
- Commercial cars
A commercial vehicle crash can happen between any of the above vehicles and another vehicle. But what are the most common types of car accidents involving commercial vehicles? We outline these below.
- Rollover car accident
- Rear-end accidents
- T-bone car accident
- Head-on collision
- Jackknife truck accident
- Sideswipe accidents
- DUI accidents
- Distracted driving accident
- Dangerous road accidents
- Amazon truck accidents
If you have suffered serious injuries from the negligence of another person, you deserve compensation for those injuries. Contact an experienced truck accident lawyer with Lipton Law as soon as possible for qualified representation.
How Are Commercial Vehicle Accidents Different from Car Accidents?
Commercial vehicle and truck accidents have the potential to be far more devastating than the typical car accident. Although this sounds like common knowledge, few people understand all the reasons why this is the case. Below, we outline several distinctions between commercial truck accidents and regular car accidents.
Size and Weight Differences
A commercial truck, bus, or other vehicle is usually much larger and heavier than a regular passenger vehicle. They’re also much more difficult to operate, which is why many of them require special licenses. A commercial truck driver must constantly watch their blind spots and accommodate the size and weight of their vehicle. Failure to do so could result in serious truck crashes and injuries. Furthermore, when large truck crashes occur, there is a higher potential for multiple other vehicles to get caught up in the accident due to the commercial vehicle’s size.
Maintenance Requirements
Any large commercial truck or vehicle must receive extensive routine maintenance to ensure the vehicle is safe for the road. Spending so much time on the road contributes significant wear and tear. Poor truck maintenance could result in multiple parties being held accountable in the event of an accident.
More Damage and Worse Injuries
In a commercial truck crash, the higher momentum leads to worse crashes and more serious injuries. If a large truck strikes a smaller vehicle, the occupants may suffer catastrophic injuries. Additionally, the insurance company for the commercial vehicle is likely to fight claimants on their cases.
Multiple Liable Parties
In a standard auto accident case, only the parties involved in the crash could typically be held liable. In commercial truck accidents, however, many parties could be liable. Truck drivers, truck companies, manufacturers, maintenance crews, etc., may share liability for commercial vehicle accidents.
Different Forms of Evidence
Car crashes can be more limited in the types of evidence you can gather. Although some cars have black boxes now, not all do. Without a black box, you’ll need to rely more on evidence at the accident scene. In a commercial trucking accident, evidence can include black box data, maintenance logs, cargo manifests, and many other pieces of evidence.
Who Is Liable for a Commercial Vehicle Accident in Michigan?
Michigan no-fault insurance laws require accident victims to file a claim with their no-fault insurance, regardless of who caused the accident. However, you can still pursue a claim against the responsible party in a truck accident. To do so, it’s important to work with an experienced truck accident attorney who can gather evidence and navigate the complexities of Michigan trucking laws. The following parties may be held accountable in a truck accident case.
- Truck drivers
- Trucking companies
- Maintenance crews
- Truck and truck parts manufacturers
- Vendors who service the carrier
- Cargo loaders
For a better understanding of how to proceed in your case, we recommend contacting an experienced truck accident lawyer as soon as possible.
What Is a Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawyer?
A commercial vehicle accident lawyer handles cases involving various commercial vehicles, such as trucks, vans, and buses. Lipton Law’s personal injury attorneys in Michigan are prepared to help victims file lawsuits against large trucking companies. We offer the resources of a large firm with the personalized attention of a boutique law firm, allowing you to focus on recovery while we manage the legal complexities.
What Does a Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawyer Do?
To put it simply, a commercial truck or bus accident lawyer in Michigan will handle every step of your truck accident claim so you can focus on your health and recovery. Backed by broad knowledge in Michigan trucking laws and trucking industry standards, Lipton Law provides effective legal representation and achieves favorable outcomes for our clients. Below, we outline just a few of the ways we help our clients with their truck accident cases.
Identifying Liable Parties
Commercial truck accidents are much more complicated than the average car accident. Many people assume that the truck driver is completely to blame, but it often isn’t that simple. There may be multiple defendants involved in a commercial truck accident case. Examples of potential defendants include truck drivers, trucking companies, shipping companies, truck manufacturers, and even government agencies. Our legal team conducts thorough Michigan truck accident investigations to identify liable parties.
Other issues can arise if the truck driver is an independent contractor for the trucking company. Without the help of an experienced truck accident lawyer, it is very difficult to identify all liable parties on your own. Our Michigan truck accident attorneys have what it takes to hold all responsible parties accountable for your losses after an accident.
Building a Strong Case
In a commercial vehicle accident case, you will likely face two large entities with teams of lawyers on their side. Both trucking companies and their insurers will do anything they can to avoid expensive accident payouts. Lipton Law’s truck crash attorneys carefully build strong personal injury lawsuit cases. We’re prepared to represent you in court and fight for your rights. Our team can help with all of the following.
- Identifying the responsible parties and their insurance companies
- Investigating your case and collecting evidence to support it, including evidence from the scene, police accident reports, the truck’s electronic control module, black box data, eyewitness testimony, and much more
- Compiling all of your losses and expenses from the accident to negotiate a fair commercial truck accident settlement
- Taking your case to court and litigating on your behalf for fair compensation
You deserve full and fair compensation for the injuries that another negligent party caused you. When an insurance or truck company refuses to reach a fair settlement, we will help you file a personal injury claim in court.
Proving a Legitimate Claim on Your Behalf
If your case goes to court, you must be able to prove that you have a legitimate claim against the responsible parties. To do this, you must be able to show all the elements of negligence in personal injury truck accident claims.
- You were owed a duty of care by the truck driver or other liable parties.
- The liable parties breached that duty of care with their actions or negligence.
- The breach caused your injuries and losses.
- You suffered actual damages or losses because of the accident.
If you can prove these elements and support your claim with substantial evidence, you’ll have a higher chance of a successful commercial truck accident claim.
What Causes Commercial Vehicle Accidents in Michigan?
Commercial truck accidents can happen for several reasons, both driver-related and otherwise. Below, we list some of the most common truck accident causes in Michigan.
- Driver fatigue from working long hours with little sleep
- Driving drunk or under the influence of drugs
- Distracted driving or texting while driving
- Reckless driving or speeding
- Poor vehicle maintenance practices
- Bad weather or dangerous road conditions
- Inadequate driver training
- Pressure from the trucking company to meet strict deadlines
- Improperly loaded cargo
Any of the parties involved in getting commercial vehicles from point A to point B could make mistakes that result in an accident. Securing compensation for a commercial trucking accident often requires a lot of evidence. A personal injury attorney with Lipton Law will be here to help answer all your truck accident questions and to give you the support you need during this tough time.
What Are the Most Common Injuries in Commercial Vehicle Accidents?
Commercial truck crashes are very serious and can result in severe injuries. In some cases, these accidents may even result in wrongful death. Some of the most common injuries sustained in commercial truck accidents include the following.
- Orthopedic injuries, such as broken bones
- Head trauma
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Back and spinal cord injuries
- Burn injuries
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Whiplash
- Neck injuries
- Cuts, bruises, and lacerations
- Internal injuries
- Disfigurement
If you suffer injuries from a truck crash, you deserve compensation for those injuries. The Lipton legal team is here to fight for the rights of commercial truck accident victims. Our Michigan catastrophic injury lawyers help clients recover damages for life-changing injuries.
What to Do After a Commercial Vehicle Accident in Michigan
Knowing what to do after a car accident in Michigan is crucial to your recovery and obtaining compensation for your losses. After a commercial vehicle accident, proceed with caution due to potential dangers at the accident scene. Call 911 immediately and check for injuries. Once the police arrive, obtain a copy of the report. Seek medical attention, even if you feel uninjured, to link any injuries to the accident. If you can, gather evidence and witness information.
Avoid repairing your car before getting a repair estimate, and never admit fault. Finally, contact a personal injury lawyer to handle negotiations and legal matters while you focus on recovery.
How to File a Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawsuit
In Michigan, you’ll need to begin your claim by filing with your no-fault insurance company. Your attorney can help you file this claim, as even no-fault insurance companies are often difficult to work with. After you have filed your claim, you may still have a considerable amount of damages remaining. In this case, you and your attorney can file a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible parties.
Your attorney will gather and prepare all the necessary documents to file the claim in court. The Michigan personal injury statute of limitations is three years after the injury or death of the victim. Filing your claim sooner rather than later is always preferable, as the longer you wait, the more your credibility may be questioned.
Your lawyer will serve the defendant with the claim and wait for a response. The defendant will then answer the complaint with legal defenses.
You will then proceed to the discovery phase, which can include depositions, subpoenas, interrogatories, requests for production, and requests for admissions. The case then moves to pre-trial motions and settlement negotiations. If the parties involved cannot reach a settlement agreement, the case proceeds to trial.
How Much Is a Commercial Vehicle Accident Case Worth?
Depending on the severity of the accident, the estimated worth of a commercial truck accident case can vary greatly. Some cases may be worth over ten thousand dollars, while others may be worth hundreds of thousands or even millions. To determine the worth of your case, your attorney will add up your losses and expenses. You may receive compensation for the following losses.
- Lost wages
- Medical expenses
- Property damage
- Wrongful death
- Loss of consortium
- Lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Disability or disfigurement
The worth of your case may also be affected by your liability. Can you get compensation if the accident was your fault? Generally speaking, yes. However, due to Michigan’s comparative fault laws, the amount of economic damages you can recover will decrease proportionately with your liability. If you are more than 50% liable, you will be unable to recover non-economic damages.
Our commercial truck accident lawyers will help evaluate the worth of your case so that you can fight for the compensation you deserve. Don’t wait to contact an attorney. Call us today for a free consultation.
Do I Need a Commercial Vehicle Accident Attorney?
While you are not required to hire an attorney for your case, we strongly recommend doing so. These cases are often exceedingly complex, which means you need a seasoned attorney to ensure that you don’t lose your right to recover compensation. Your lawyer will help you navigate your claim and give you the space you need to recover from your injuries fully. Additionally, they will ensure that you meet all filing requirements, including filing before the statute of limitations has passed. Failure to file on time could result in losing your right to compensation completely.
Additionally, many commercial vehicles are driven for large companies, such as Amazon. If you are involved in an Amazon truck accident, you may be up against teams of lawyers when you file a claim. Working with an experienced commercial accident lawyer is crucial for building the strongest truck accident lawsuit possible. If you need representation from an Amazon truck accident lawyer in Michigan, contact Lipton Law.
Why Choose Lipton Law for Your Commercial Accident Claim?
Lipton Law has considerable experience handling Michigan truck accident claims, as well as claims involving other types of commercial vehicles. Our knowledge and passion for our craft will work in your favor from the very beginning of your case to the very end. Don’t let insurance and trucking companies push you around after your accident. Contact Lipton Law for compassionate and aggressive representation from the best truck accident lawyer in Michigan.
Contact a Michigan Commercial Vehicle Accident Attorney with Lipton Law
If you have been seriously injured in a commercial truck accident, it is crucial that you contact an experienced truck accident attorney as soon as possible. The Michigan car accident attorneys at Lipton Law are aggressive when fighting for our clients’ rights. We are also compassionate about what you’re going through. While you focus on recovering from your injuries, our truck accident law firm will fight for your right to just compensation. To schedule your free consultation with our experienced truck accident lawyers, please call our office at (248) 557-1688 or contact us online today.
