Flint Truck Accident Lawyer: Best Truck Injury Attorney

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If you were seriously injured or lost a family member in a commercial truck crash in Flint, MI you need an experienced truck accident lawyer who will protect your legal rights and get you and your family the compensation you deserve, including payment for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Over 2,500 5-Star Reviews

The attorneys at Michigan Auto Law always provide personalized, caring attention to our clients. We have received over 2,500 five-star reviews because we are willing to work harder to keep our clients informed throughout the case process, answering every question promptly and doing everything we can to make the challenging time surrounding an injury after an automobile crash easier for the victim and their loved ones. If you are injured in a commercial truck crash in Flint, MI call our truck accident lawyers now for a free consultation. We are here to help.

The Best Flint Truck Accident Lawyer Near You is at Michigan Auto Law

The lawyers at Michigan Auto Law have been helping Flint truck accident victims like you and your family for more than 50 years.

 

We have litigated more commercial truck crash cases throughout the state than any other personal injury law firm.

 

Our attorneys specialize exclusively in helping crash victims recover the full compensation and money damages they are legally entitled to.

 

As a result of our experience and specialized knowledge and skill, we have helped our clients win noteworthy victories: 

 

 

  • We have more million-dollar results, including recovering the top-reported commercial truck crash settlement and verdict of the year more times, than any other law firm in the state.
  • We have won the commercial truck crash settlement of any attorney or law firm in Michigan history.
  • We have recovered the top reported commercial truck jury verdict and settlement for our clients for more years than any other attorney or law firm in the state. 

 

Michigan Auto Law is the only law firm in the state with a board certification in commercial truck crash law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. No other law firm in the state has earned this distinguished certification. 

 

The head of our law firm – attorney Steven Gursten – is one of only three attorneys in the entire country to receive a Hall of Fame Award for semi crash litigation.

 

The attorneys at Michigan Auto Law are in-demand speakers on trucking litigation issues. They have been featured speakers at over 300 legal seminars in 26 states, teaching attorneys throughout the country how to handle commercial truck cases.

What’s the difference between a car crash and a commercial truck crash?

Our lawyers know that commercial truck crash cases in Flint, MI are far more complicated than other types of automobile crash cases. They involve strict federal and state safety laws about hours of service, weight limits, hiring and training of drivers, and maintenance of vehicles. These rules and regulations, which do not come into play in car crash cases, will help identify the negligent conduct that caused your crash. Commercial truck crash cases involve many potentially responsible parties, whereas car crash cases typically involve only the negligent driver.

 

With multiple responsible parties in truck accident of cases, our lawyers know that there are also multiple liability insurance policies that may apply in your Flint, MI case – not to mention the multiple layers of coverage that motor carrier companies frequently carry.

 

Finally, unlike car crash cases, evidence in your Flint, MI truck accident case can be lawfully destroyed within a very short period of time after the crash if the victim does not have an experienced lawyer who can take the steps necessary to ensure the evidence is preserved.

 

Because there is so much at stake for you and your family, you should only entrust your Flint, MI truck accident case to an experienced lawyer who specializes in this area of the law. It could mean the difference between winning a settlement that reflects the full and true value of your case and getting pressured into accepting a low-ball settlement that is significantly below what your case is actually worth.

What should I do after a crash with a commercial truck?

If you’re injured in a commercial truck accident case in Flint, MI our lawyers recommend you should do the following:

 

 

    • Seek medical attention immediately for yourself
    • Seek medical attention immediately for others
    • Report and document all of your injuries
    • Contact police
    • Move to a safe area if possible
    • Refrain from making any statements or signing any releases, waivers or settlement offers
    • File an application for No-Fault benefits
    • Comply with notification requirements in your auto insurance policy
    • Retain an experienced truck accident lawyer for your Flint semi crash case as soon as you are able
    • Obtain a copy of your police report
    • Attend all medical appointments
    • Keep detailed records

Who Can Be Held Responsible For My Commercial Truck Crash?

Our lawyers know the multiple parties who may be legally responsible for your truck accident in Flint, MI may include:

  • The truck driver – The commercial truck driver almost always plays some role in the crash, and it’s usually because of irresponsible behavior behind the wheel, such as speeding, reckless driving, impaired driving, fatigued driving, etc.
  • The truck and/or trailer owner – Commerical trucks like semis have both a truck and a trailer (sometimes called a tractor). The owner of the truck and/or trailer (which is sometimes the same entity) can be held liable based on a state’s “owner liability” law, or the owner’s failure to inspect, repair and maintain the commercial truck in a safe condition.
  • The trucking company – The commercial trucking company might be held liable because it owns the truck and/or trailer involved in the crash (it is required to properly inspect and/or maintain the truck or trailer). A commercial trucking company may also be liable because it is responsible for the actions of its employee (the semi driver). Motor carrier companies are required to ensure their drivers have good driving records and are properly trained. They’re also required to supervise their drivers.
  • The manufacturer of the truck, trailer, or equipment –A lawyer may be able to hold the manufacturer liable for your truck accident in Flint, MI (depending on the state where the crash occurred) if its defective truck, trailer, product, part, or equipment was a factor in the crash. Defective equipment can result in truck tire blowouts, brake failures, steering malfunctions, etc.
  • The maintenance company – The company responsible for keeping the commercial truck in good working condition can be held liable if it was negligent in inspecting, servicing, or repairing the vehicle.
  • The shipping company – This company (sometimes known as the “shipper”) is responsible for hiring a qualified semi driver and motor carrier company to haul its cargo.
  • The load broker – Sometimes known as a “middleman,” this company is hired by the shipper or some other company that wants to ship its goods and products, and is responsible for hiring qualified commercial truck drivers and trucking companies that will transport the cargo to the specified destination.
  • The loading company – The loading company is responsible for loading cargo onto a truck in a safe way. Overloading and improperly loading car  is often a factor in a truck crash.
  • The leasing agent – The leasing agent leases its commercial truck and trailer to a driver, motor carrier company, or shipping company so that it can transport cargo.

How can an experienced commercial truck accident lawyer help after a crash in Flint, MI?

An experienced lawyer who specializes in commercial truck accident litigation can help you after being injured in a crash in Flint, MI by: 

 

  • Winning bigger settlements in less time – An inexperienced personal injury attorney who doesn’t specialize in commercial truck crash law will make costly mistakes that you will pay for with a low-ball settlement that is much less than what your case is truly worth. But an experienced and specialized lawyer who understands the nature of commercial truck accident litigation can maximize settlement results – and get them for you faster for your Flint, MI crash case. The insurance industry’s own research shows that settlement amounts can be up to 4x 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.
  • Stopping the trucking company from destroying key evidence that proves the company’s negligence – As early as 90 to 120 days after your commercial truck crash, motor carriers can and will legally destroy evidence that you will need to prove your case if they are not specifically asked to preserve the evidence. If you fail to act in time, the evidence will be lost forever. And it very well could kill your case – or at least reduce the dollar amount of your settlement to much, much less than it should have been. However, an experienced attorney will not let that happen. He or she can help you preserve that evidence by serving the necessary “preservation of evidence/spoliation” letters on the commercial trucking company or going to court to file temporary restraining orders to preserve the evidence you will need to prove your case.
  • Identifying and highlighting the federal and state safety regulations that the at-fault commercial truck driver and trucking company violated which caused your crash – Only an experienced attorney who has litigated hundreds of these types of cases will have the “know how” and detailed knowledge of the federal and state safety regulations for commercial trucks to be able to pinpoint each and every violation that led to the crash that injured you or took the life of your loved one.
  • Bringing in the nation’s top experts to help prove your case – Our Flint truck accident lawyers know that the most commonly used experts in commercial truck crash cases 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.
  • Holding all of the responsible, negligent parties accountable and legally liable – Commercial trucking companies and corporations involved in the transportation industry create complex corporate entities that allow them to conceal their involvement in serious and deadly truck crashes, thus enabling them to escape being held liable and being forced to use their vast layers of insurance coverage and assets to pay into the victim’s settlement. An experienced and specialized commercial truck accident lawyer will have the “know how” to do the detective work to follow every clue in your Flint, MI semi crash case and, ultimately, “crack the case.” Failure to identify and name a proper party as a defendant can mean the loss of millions of additional dollars in applicable insurance coverage that can be used to protect you and your family when tragedy strikes.
  • Increasing your settlement based on the responsible parties’ liability insurance coverage and assets – It is essential that you identify all of the financial resources that the responsible parties have available to contribute to a settlement amount that reflects the true value of your case. Only an experienced commercial truck accident lawyer will have the experience and skills to discover not only the insurance policies that the defendants readily admit in you Flint, MI case, but also the corporate and umbrella policies that they try to hide. Importantly, your attorney will also do asset checks on the responsible parties – many of whom are deep-pocketed corporations – to determine their ability to pay into a settlement or trial verdict that exceeds what is covered by their insurance.
  • Making sure the jury hears all of the evidence about the responsible parties’ negligence – One of the ways that commercial trucking companies and their attorneys try to keep damning evidence from both the jury and the court is to admit their negligence at the 11th hour before trial in the hopes that it will prevent a crash victim from offering evidence of their negligence. They want to avoid the jury and the court hearing about the negligent and reckless conduct of the truck driver and the trucking company and about the responsible parties’ disregard for the safety regulations and for the safety of other drivers with whom they share the road. An experienced lawyer who specializes in litigating these commercial truck accident cases knows how to stop this game of deception and how to ensure that all of the evidence that is necessary to accurately and thoughtfully judge your Flint, MI case is brought to light. Through depositions and discovery, your attorney will get the commercial trucking company to commit to its initial position that it did nothing wrong to cause the crash – this sets up a situation where the trucking company will be contradicting itself if it later admits it was negligent. At trial, your commercial truck accident lawyer will argue that despite the trucking company’s admission of negligence he or she is still entitled to prove the essential facts of how the trucking company’s acts or omissions caused your crash in Flint, MI. Depending on the facts of the case, evidence of negligence may be relevant to a claim for exemplary damages where the trucking company’s actions are particularly malicious or wilful and wanton. 

What Compensation and Damages Can A Truck Accident Lawyer Recover For a Crash in Flint, MI?

Compensation and money damages that a lawyer may be able to recover for your commercial truck accident in Flint, MI include:

 

  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional trauma
  • Mental distress
  • Reduced quality of life
  • Permanent and disabling injuries
  • Medical expenses (past, present and future)
  • Loss of current income
  • Loss of potential future earnings
  • Vehicle repair or replacement costs
  • Wrongful death damages – If a commercial truck accident in Flint, MI took the life of your loved one, an experienced lawyer can help you file a wrongful death claim against the at-fault party or parties. In this type of action, you and your family can recover compensation for your loved one’s pain and suffering, as well as the loss of his or her companionship, support, services, and guidance. Wrongful death compensation also includes economic losses, such as medical bills and funeral and burial expenses.

What Evidence Will Be Need to Prove Commercial Truck Crash Case?

An experienced attorney will preserve the evidence you will need to prove your crash case against the truck driver, the trucking company and other negligent parties. This is one of the most important reasons why you need to hire an experienced commercial truck accident lawyer for your Flint, MI crash.

 

The evidence your lawyer will need to preserve for your commercial truck accident case in Flint, MI includes:

 

 

  1. Event Data Recorder (an EDR is also commonly known as a “black box”) downloads – If liability is being contested or if the commercial truck driver or the attorneys are trying to blame you in part for the crash, this evidence can often reveal critical information on the commercial truck driver’s actions in the moments before the crash.
  2. The driver’s cell phone records
  3. Electronic recordings
  4. All video and audio of the onboard cameras (Video Event Data Recorders)
  5. The driver’s “electronic logging device” (ELD) records showing hours-of-service (i.e., driving hours and resting hours)
  6. All inspection records
  7. All maintenance records
  8. The driver’s qualification file 
  9. Photos of the crash scene
  10. Video surveillance of the crash scene
  11. Witness names, contact information and statements
  12. All law enforcement reports
  13. All reports from EMS, fire and other first responders
  14. The commercial truck driver’s and trucking company’s safety record
  15. The results of the driver’s post-crash toxicology test (to determine if he or she was under the influence at the time of the crash)

What Are The Most Common Causes Of Commercial Truck Crashes?

According to our experienced truck accident lawyers, the most common causes of commercial truck crashes in Flint, MI are: 

 

 

  • Drunk or drugged driving
  • Distracted driving (talking, texting, etc.)
  • Fatigued driving (usually because hours-of-service limits have been exceeded)
  • Bad driving (reckless driving, careless driving, aggressive driving, speeding, etc.)
  • Failure to adjust to dangerous road conditions (ice, snow, rain, etc.)
  • Driver error (failing to navigate blind spots, etc.)
  • Improper loading or overloading of cargo
  • Vehicle malfunctions (caused by improper or inadequate inspection, maintenance and repair)
  • The motor carrier company’s use of unsafe semis that should be kept out-of-service
  • The motor carrier company’s negligent hiring, training and retention of unsafe drivers

Injured in a commercial truck accident in Flint, MI and need a lawyer? Call Michigan Auto Law now for a free consultation!

If you are injured in a truck accident in Flint, MI call now for a free consultation with an experienced 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 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 semi crash settlement and car crash settlement in the state.

 

 

Call our commercial truck accident lawyers for your Flint, MI crash now so they can start making a real difference for you.

Let us start working for you and your family today!

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Insurance companies always try to settle auto accident claims as cheaply as possible. Find out what your case is really worth. Request your free consultation today.