Ann Arbor Truck Accident Lawyer Near You: Best Semi Truck Attorneys

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Ann Arbor Truck Accident Lawyer Near You: Best Semi Truck Attorneys

One of the most important things you can do if you or a loved one has been injured in a truck crash in Ann Arbor, MI, is to contact an experienced truck accident lawyer who can protect your legal rights and help you win the pain and suffering compensation and money damage that you are legally entitled. 

Not only do truck crash cases often involve serious and catastrophic injuries as well as the loss of life, but they are also more complex than car crashes and other personal injury cases because of the confusing state and federal laws that apply and the fact there are frequently multiple at-fault parties. Our Ann Arbor truck accident lawyers can explain your legal options and guide you through this process. We will fight tirelessly to get you the maximum compensation for injuries, harms and losses.

Why choose an Ann Arbor Truck Accident Lawyer From Michigan Auto Law?

Truck and car crash cases are all we do, which is why our law firm has recovered more multi-million-dollar verdicts in truck crash cases than any other firm, including the largest truck crash settlement of any law firm or lawyer in Michigan. Our experienced Ann Arbor truck accident lawyers have the “know how” and skill to fight for a settlement or trial verdict in your case that reflects the full value of your claim. 

Here Is More Information About How An Experienced Ann Arbor Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help:   

  • Bigger and quicker settlements – Inexperienced attorneys who don’t specialize in truck crash cases will miss the most important factors that impact your settlement. However, a lawyer who understands and specializes in truck accident cases will dot the i’s and cross the t’s and maximize your compensation in your Ann Arbor crash case. In fact, the insurance industry’s own research shows that settlement amounts can be up to four times greater when crash victims are represented by skilled, experienced attorneys who have a track record and a reputation for obtaining favorable settlements and trial verdicts.
  • Preservation of evidence – An experienced attorney will stop the trucking company from destroying key evidence. If they are not specifically asked to preserve the evidence within a certain amount of time once, they can legally destroy it when the retention period expires. An experienced truck accident lawyer handling your Ann Arbor case will serve the necessary “preservation of evidence/spoliation” letters on the trucking company or go to court to file temporary restraining orders to preserve this evidence.
  • Expose violations of federal and state safety regulations – Your attorney’s extensive knowledge with these complex regulations will allow you to identify every violation that led to your crash. Truck crashes are usually the results of broken safety systems that make these crashes not only foreseeable but even sadly predictable.
  • Recruit the nation’s top experts to join your legal team and help build your case – Our truck accident lawyers know the most commonly used experts in truck crash cases in Ann Arbor include: (1) crash reconstruction experts; (2) federal and state safety regulation experts; (3) driver training experts; (4) mechanics; (5) toxicologists who can speak to whether a driver was under the influence of alcohol, drugs, and/or prescription medication; and (6) life care planners who can explain to judges and juries what a crash victim’s life will be like going forward and what his or her medical needs will be.
  • Make sure all negligent parties are held liable – Identifying all of the defendants who are legally responsible for your crash-related injuries is more difficult than it appears, and the failure to do so can mean the loss of millions of additional dollars in applicable insurance coverage that can be used to protect and compensate your family. 
  • Access liability insurance coverage and assets to increase your settlement – Identifying all the financial resources that the negligent parties have available to contribute to a settlement can also mean millions of additional dollars in your settlement. Your Ann Arbor truck accident lawyer is committed to discovering not only the insurance policies that the defendants readily admit, but also the corporate and umbrella policies that they try to hide. Your attorney will also do asset checks on the defendants – many of whom are well-heeled corporations – to verify their ability to contribute to a settlement or trial verdict that exceeds their insurance coverage limits.

State and Federal Trucking Regulations

Truck crashes are generally more complex than car crashes as they involve specific federal and state laws and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rules and regulations that truckers and trucking companies must follow.

These FMCSA rules and regulations, which Michigan has adopted for its own trucking industry, set regulations and driver requirements for aspects of the job, including physical standards, alcohol and drug testing, hours of service, cargo, weight, licensing, inspection, repair and maintenance.

The experienced truck accident lawyers at Michigan Auto Law are well versed in the specific laws that apply to these types of crash cases in Ann Arbor, MI, and we know how to use those laws to build a successful case for our clients. 

What Is Considered Important Evidence?

The types of evidence a truck accident lawyer will likely use to prove your Ann Arbor crash lawsuit include: 

  • Police reports
  • Photos of the crash scene
  • Surveillance video or dash cam video of the crash
  • Witness statements
  • Expert opinions
  • Medical records
  • The truck driver’s electronic logging device (ELD) data which tracks the driver’s “hours-of-service,” i.e., the hours that he or she been driving and the hours that he or she has rested
  • The “black box” or “electronic control modules” (ECMs) data which record data about the truck’s operation such as speed and braking
  • The truck’s vehicle maintenance and inspection records
  • The trucking company’s employee file for the truck driver
  • The results of a post-crash toxicology test to determine if the truck driver was under the influence of alcohol, drugs and/or prescription medication
  • Cell phone records from the truck driver and the trucking company
  • The truck driver’s and trucking company’s records of safety violations

What Are Common Causes Of These Types Of Crashes?

There are many possible causes of truck crashes, but the top 10, according to the FMCSA’s “Large Truck Crash Causation Study,” are:

  • Brake problems
  • Traffic flow interruption (congestion, previous crash)
  • Prescription drug use
  • Traveling too fast for conditions
  • Unfamiliarity with roadway
  • Roadway problems
  • Required to stop before crash (traffic control device, crosswalk)
  • Over-the-counter drug use
  • Inadequate surveillance
  • Fatigue

Who Can Be Held Responsible?

Liability in these types of crash cases is generally more complicated because of the complex laws and the multiple parties involved. An experienced truck accident lawyer will conduct a detailed investigation of your Ann Arbor crash case to determine what happened and how, and hold the responsible parties accountable. Possible at-fault parties include:

  • The truck driver
  • The truck owner or entity in charge of vehicle maintenance and inspections
  • The trucking company
  • The truck part manufacturer
  • The cargo loading company
  • The owner of the property where the crash occurred
  • Other road users

What Damages Can A Lawyer Recover From An Ann Arbor Truck Accident?

In general, compensation a truck accident lawyer can recover for your Ann Arbor crash case may include:

  • Medical expenses (past, present, and future)
  • Loss of current income and potential future earnings
  • Physical pain and suffering
  • Emotional trauma and mental distress
  • Reduced quality of life
  • Permanent and disabling injuries
  • Vehicle repair or replacement costs

A lawyer may also be able to file a wrongful death action if you lost a loved one in a truck accident in Ann Arbor. This type of lawsuit allows you to recover payment for your loved one’s pain and suffering as well as the loss of their companionship, financial support, services, and guidance. You can also recover for economic losses, such as medical bills and funeral and burial expenses.

Trucking Rapid Response Teams and the Importance Of Timely Crash Investigation

When a serious truck crash occurs, the truck driver almost always calls the dispatcher, who then calls the risk manager (sometimes even at home in the middle of the night), who immediately calls in a “rapid response team.” This team usually includes an investigator and a defense attorney where the crash occurred who will begin working right away to claim “work product privilege” for anything that is done.

 

The two of them often head to the crash scene before the debris is cleared, which can cause critical evidence to be “lost” and the police investigation to be impacted. They sometimes delete electronic evidence within a matter of days and fail to retain documents the minute they are no longer required by law. In addition, driver logs may go missing and GPS data downloads may be modified. And police reports are often prepared without the benefit of input from the injured parties, allowing the truck driver and the investigator to tell their one-sided story to the officer. Without eyewitnesses and important physical evidence, many cases are lost before they even get started.

 

When out truck accident lawyers get your call, they will launch a rapid investigation, before important information in your Ann Arbor crash case is deleted or goes missing. We will immediately visit the crash scene, obtain the police report, speak with the responding officer, obtain other reports, witness statements and photographs, and interview all known witnesses. We also have access to the best truck crash experts.

In addition, we are often able to obtain photos from sources other than the police, including firemen, tow truck personnel, EMTs, local media, and other governmental agencies that participate in cleanup of truck crash sites. We also try to quickly track down the vehicles involved in the crash to take photos and gather additional data. And if our truck accident lawyers are on the scene quickly enough, they can observe and document skid marks and gather and preserve debris that will be critical in your Ann Arbor crash case.

What Do I Do If I’ve Been In A Crash Involving A Truck?

After a truck crash, you should do the following:

  • Move to safety (if possible)
  • Contact the police
  • Seek medical attention
  • Refrain from making any statements or signing any releases
  • Retain an experienced attorney quickly

Your truck accident lawyer’s most urgent priority is preserving the evidence of your Ann Arbor truck crash that you will need to prove your negligence case against the truck driver and the trucking company. 

This evidence may include:

  • Event Data Recorder (an EDR is also commonly known as a “black box”) downloads – If liability is being contested or if the truck driver or the attorneys are trying to blame you in part for the crash, this evidence can often reveal critical information on the truck driver’s actions in the moments before the crash.
  • The driver’s cell phone records
  • Electronic recordings
  • All video and audio of the onboard cameras (Video Event Data Recorders)
  • The driver’s “electronic logging device” (ELD) records showing hours-of-service (i.e., driving hours and resting hours)
  • All inspection records
  • The driver’s qualification file
  • Photos of the crash scene
  • Video surveillance of the crash scene
  • Witness names, contact information and statements
  • All law enforcement reports
  • All reports from EMS, fire and other first responders

How Long Do I Have To Sue For A Truck Crash?

If you or a loved one has been in a truck crash, it is important that you file your claim within three years of the crash date. If your claim is not filed within this period – which is known as the statute of limitations – you will be barred from suing the at-fault parties and you will no longer be able to hold them legally accountable for the pain and suffering compensation and money damages that they may owe you for your injuries. 

More Attorney FAQs

Why do I need a lawyer for a truck accident in Ann Arbor?

When a truck is involved, there are often complex state and federal regulations, multiple defendants, layers of hidden insurance coverage, and serious, catastrophic injuries. An experienced attorney who specializes in truck crash cases will have the know and skill to help you fight for the compensation and money damages you are legally entitled to. 

How do I choose the best truck accident lawyer for my Ann Arbor crash case?

To find the best truck accident lawyer for your Ann Arbor crash case, you need to pose the following questions to any attorney that you are considering hiring: 1) Does the attorney specialize in truck crashes? 2) What is the attorney’s track record of success? 3) How many 5-star reviews does the attorney have, and what are people saying? 

It’s also important to meet with the attorney before you make your choice to determine whether you feel comfortable with him or her and to find out how he or she communicates with you – and truly listens and addresses your concerns.

How much does a truck accident lawyer cost in Ann Arbor?

There is no cost to hire a truck accident lawyer for your Ann Arbor truck crash case. If and when we win your case, your attorney would get 33% of the amount you recover. In other words, you pay nothing until we win.

How long does a lawsuit take?

A lawsuit may settle within 6 months to a year if no lawsuit is filed. However, if it becomes necessary to file a lawsuit, then it may take one to two years to reach a settlement – maybe more depending on what the court the lawsuit is filed in and whether the court has a backlog of cases.

Injured In A Truck Accident In Ann Arbor, MI And Need A Lawyer? Call Michigan Auto Law Now For A Free Consultation!

If you were injured in a truck crash in Ann Arbor MI, call now (855) 437-9219 for a free consultation with an experienced truck accident lawyer near you. There is no cost or obligation. You can also visit our contact page or use the chat feature on our website.

Michigan Auto Law is Michigan’s largest and most successful law firm that specializes exclusively in helping people who have been injured in tractor trailer and motor vehicle crashes.

Our secret? Our attorneys deliberately handle fewer cases than other personal injury law firms. This allows us to focus more time and attention on our cases.

Unlike other law firms, our attorneys are never too busy to promptly return phone calls and answer questions.

We have more than 2,500 5-Star reviews that reflect this care and attention to detail.

More importantly, this client-focused approach leads to better and faster settlements for our clients. Michigan Auto Law has recovered more million-dollar settlements and trial verdicts for motor vehicle crashes than any other attorney or law firm in Michigan. We’ve also recovered the highest-ever reported car crash and truck crash settlement in the state.

Call now so we can start making a real difference for you.

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