If you or a loved one have been seriously injured in a commercial truck accident, contact the Buchanan Firm today. Seek help from experienced truck accident attorneys in Grand Rapids who know the safety rules for commercial trucking to ensure the injured receive fair and just reimbursement for harms and losses.
We read in newspapers or see on local or national television news stories of catastrophic crashes involving large trucks. The crashes are unfortunate, exposing the danger of large trucks on our roads and the importance of enforcement of safety restrictions and regulations on trucking companies. Accidents involving large trucks cause serious injuries and death on our roadways every year. These crashes are serious and the resulting injuries are often devastating.
Rob Buchanan and John C. Buchanan have dedicated their lives to the pursuit of justice for accident victims. They seek fair and just reimbursement for the wrongly injured and have both been recognized nationally for successfully helping the catastrophically injured. Together, they make Buchanan Firm a personal injury law firm and sanctuary for truck accident victims in Grand Rapids and the greater Michigan area.
From gasoline to groceries to garage doors, pretty much everything for sale in Michigan spent some time on a semi-truck. To meet strict delivery times, these operators often stay on the road for long hours. Since even experienced drivers have a hard time controlling these massive vehicles, they often cause serious car collisions.
Truck crashes are on the rise, not only in Michigan but throughout the United States. The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) reports:
There are state and federal safety rules for commercial trucks. Safety rules include:
Trucking is a highly regulated industry. Therefore, there is often additional evidence available (and necessary) when a commercial truck crashes. This include:
Evidence is not only important to meet the burden of proof. Generally, there is a direct relationship between the amount of evidence the victim/plaintiff presents and the amount of damages jurors award. To learn more about your unique case, speak to a Grand Rapids personal injury lawyer during a free consultation.
If you, a family member, or a friend is injured in a trucking crash, the question of what actually caused the crash is complex and more challenging than an automobile traffic accident. There are complex relationships between truck drivers, trucking companies, and owners of trucks requiring careful research and investigation. Determining the cause of a trucking accident, and the relationships among the persons and entities related to the truck are critical for pursuing a claim.
Common causes of trucking accidents include:
Unlike an automobile accident, several parties may be held liable in a trucking crash. They may include:
In Michigan, we operate under the no-fault insurance system. The no-fault system means drivers involved in an accident, whether at fault or not, can collect insurance benefits (PIP benefits) from their own insurance company. No-fault applies in accidents involving trucks, but many other issues are involved and seek professional advice regarding additional issues such as different insurance policies, the independent status of truck drivers, and the location of trucking companies or entities with ownership interests in the truck.
Individuals involved in a trucking crash in Michigan with the proper automobile insurance may file a first-party claim against their own insurance company. A first-party claim is to recover expenses (also known as no-fault personal injury protection (PIP) benefits) which include:
Besides first-party benefits, those involved in a trucking accident may file a third-party claim against the at-fault driver or other parties involved in the crash, alleging negligence. A third party claim may recover damages for pain and suffering. In Michigan, one can pursue pain and suffering damages if injuries of the person meet the statutory injury-minimum thresholds of:
An experienced truck crash attorney can help you determine if the injuries of you or a loved one are severe enough under Michigan law, and our wrongful death lawyers in Grand Rapids will be by your side in the event of a death.
Federal regulations dictate that trucking companies have accident insurance of $750,000 or more. To limit liability and reduce the settlements and verdicts, trucking companies and insurance companies often employ large defense law firms with rapid response teams to arrive on the scene of a trucking crash. These defense teams often arrive less than an hour after a crash, and with one goal: to minimize damaging evidence by hampering the investigation.
For an injured person, retaining the right truck accident attorney quickly can help you overcome the dishonest defense tactics employed by rapid response teams and defense lawyers for trucking companies.
After a truck crash, there are important steps immediately and in the weeks after the crash. A Grand Rapids accident attorney protects you and ensures critical information is gathered and evidence preserved.
Immediately after a crash, you should:
If you or anyone you know was injured in a trucking crash, contact the Buchanan Firm for the advice of its experienced Grand Rapids trucking crash attorneys. We understand your frustration. We will start a full investigation to determine the cause of the crash and who is responsible to reimburse you for the injuries. The Buchanan Firm offers a free and confidential case evaluation as well as an exclusive no-fee promise. If we don’t win, then you don’t pay. Call today.