Why are truck accidents in Michigan different?

Truck accident lawyer takes issue with recent blog comment

I recently wrote about a young mother who was killed in a truck accident when a trucker watching streaming porn (while driving his semi truck!) crashed into her vehicle. It’s incredibly tragic, but truck accidents where truck drivers are either too exhausted to drive, distracted, or legally impaired by alcohol, drugs or medication – are very common

Then I received a comment from “Brad.” I’ve included Brad’s comment in it’s entirety below. As you can see, Brad says no one is talking about other types of accidents because truck accident lawyers are blaming the trucking industry. He writes:

“I think it’s funny how you all complain about trucks. What about people driving cars 18 hours a day. Why is that ok there are way more car accidents then there are trucks? So sit there and think before you talk how many people die with car accidents because of watching porn. You don’t know – ha – that’s because no one talks about it. Only when a semi-truck has an accident and kills someone it’s a big deal. So before you talk, think about what you are saying. Put a driving limit on cars and see how many people complain.” – Brad

This was my response to Brad, trying to explain why truck accidents are very different from car accidents:

“Brad, there is a huge difference between truck accidents and car accidents. A truck weighs 80,000 pounds and is considered, in and of itself, to be a dangerous instrumentality. That is why there are special federal and state motor carrier rules that apply to trucks and truck drivers that do not apply to other types of motor vehicles. It is why people who drive trucks have to be professional drivers, and why they have to pass a special test, and why they have to receive a commercial drivers license (CDL) before they can drive on Michigan roads.

It’s also why there are special requirements as to the amount of sleep, hours that can be worked, etc that do not apply to car drivers. If a car was capable of causing the same amounts of carnage and devastation as an out-of-service (unmaintained) truck or an unfit trucker under the influence of drugs and alcohol, or yes, even watching porn, then there would be similar protections for cars and car drivers.

Also, I am not anti-trucker. I actually represent a number of truck drivers who are injured in accidents. I’ve found from personal experience that the majority of truckers I meet are very good people and they follow the rules.

My problem usually lies with some of the trucking companies out there that force drivers to break hours of service, or drive unfit trucks if they want to keep their jobs. And sadly, there are a lot of very bad companies out there.

As long as many trucking companies regard their safety manager as someone who can get them around mandatory safety rules – instead of someone to make sure they are putting safe trucks and good drivers on the road – I’m going to keep writing, testifying and lobbying for truck safety.”

– Steven M. Gursten is a partner of Michigan Auto Law and one of the most renowned truck accident lawyers in the country. He is past president of the American Association for Justice Truck Litigation Group, and has received the top-reported trial verdict in Michigan for truck accidents. Steve was named a Michigan Lawyers Weekly Leader in the Law for his efforts in promoting truck safety.

Related information:

Truck driver kills young mother while watching porn and driving his tractor-trailer

Michigan truck rules and regulations

FAQs about truck accidents in Michigan

Michigan Auto Law exclusively handles car accident, truck accident and motorcycle accident cases throughout the entire state of Michigan. We have offices in Farmington Hills, Sterling Heights, Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids and Detroit to better serve you. Call (248) 353-7575 for a free consultation from one of our truck accident lawyers, anytime.