Insurance for Michigan Truck Drivers Injured in Truck Accidents

As Michigan residents, commercial truck drivers are always entitled to Michigan no-fault insurance coverage in the event of a truck accident -- even if the truck accident occurs out of state. But whether a truck driver is employed by a trucking company or works as an independent contractor can make a difference as to what kind of no-fault insurance applies if a truck driver is injured or killed in an accident. The expert truck accident lawyers of Michigan Auto Law can determine who is responsible for your care and help obtain all of the benefits needed for the best possible medical and legal recovery.

For truck drivers employed by a trucking company:
If you are a trucker who is employed by a trucking company and you are injured while on the job, the primary payer will be workers compensation insurance. The trucking company will also have no-fault insurance coverage on the tractor, if it is registered in Michigan.

Michigan no-fault insurance acts to supplement what is not covered by workers compensation insurance. But no-fault insurance also covers more than the gaps in workers compensation insurance. Michigan truck drivers should ask their employer exactly what kind of coverage they have. An attorney who understands both areas of the law can get you all of the benefits you are afforded under the two policies.

For truck drivers who are independent contractors:
Many truck drivers are independent contractors who own a tractor-trailer and work for several companies on an as-needed basis. At times, they operate in bobtail mode, which means they have no trailer attached to the tractor, but may or may not be under dispatch to a trucking company. 

The independent contract truck drivers often have their trucks registered in the home states they are leased with. Some bring the tractor cab to their homes or storage lots in Michigan. Whatever the scenario, there is often a significant amount of confusion with regard to who is responsible for insurance coverage if the truck driver is injured or killed in a truck accident on Michigan highways.

The safest way to ensure proper coverage for the independent contract truck driver in the event of a crash is for the truck driver to simultaneously register the commercial truck in Michigan, especially if the owner-operator is the title owner. That's because Michigan residents are required to have all of their owned vehicles registered in Michigan. If a Michigan resident does not register his vehicle, he can be charged with a misdemeanor.
If the independent contractor is not a Michigan resident, but his semi-truck is in the state for a cumulative period of 30 days or more, he is also supposed to register the truck in Michigan. If a vehicle is registered in Michigan, it also must be covered by Michigan no-fault insurance.

With that, the independent contractor should contact the temporary trucking company's insurer, the bob tail insurer and any other relevant insurer to make sure the required Michigan coverages are added to their policies. Otherwise, the truck driver could be denied important benefits and the right to sue for injuries in the event of a Michigan truck accident. 

If you are a truck driver who has been involved in a truck accident in Michigan, please call Michigan Auto Law at (800) 777-0028 for help navigating through complicated no-fault and workers compensation insurance plans. Or to request a case evaluation with one of our truck accident attorneys, please fill out our contact form and we will respond to your inquiry within one business day. There is absolutely no fee or obligation.

With more than 50 years exclusively specializing in Michigan automobile and truck accident cases, we can help identify the correct insurer and help you obtain all of your personal injury protection (PIP) benefits. No other law firm in Michigan has received more jury verdicts or consistently higher settlements for truck accident cases. In fact, the vast majority of our wrongful death and personal injury cases from truck accidents are referred to us by local attorneys, based upon our record of experience and success.