When you get into an accident with a commercial truck, it’s easy to feel like you are outmatched. You may be in a lot of physical and emotional pain, and your bills may be overwhelming. Big companies count on people like you feeling too intimidated to fight back, but our Wyoming, Michigan truck accident lawyers are there to even the playing field.
Here at Christensen Law, we have dedicated our practice to helping people get the money they are owed when someone’s negligence causes harm. Your story is important, and we’re here to listen to you and protect your rights to compensation. We’re right to put up a fight and help you win the settlement or verdict you need to recover. Call our personal injury lawyers now for a free consultation.
Causes of Wyoming, MI Truck Accidents
Negligent or reckless behavior typically plays a major role in any type of vehicle collision. When negligent behaviors and actions contribute to a truck accident, this can leave victims with catastrophic injuries, or it can even result in the death of others.
Our truck collision lawyers have helped many truck accident victims, and here are some of the common causes we’ve seen:
- Drunk driving or drugged driving: If a truck driver is intoxicated behind the wheel, they often fail to react in time, causing a crash. Driving under the influence of drugs is illegal per state law and federal trucking regulations, and we could hold the driver or their employer liable.
- Speeding: When drivers exceed the speed limit, they may not have enough time to slow down, thus causing an accident. This is especially dangerous in large commercial vehicles that need more stopping time.
- Distracted driving: When drivers take their eyes off the road, they increase the risk of accidents.
- Driver fatigue: Truck drivers have strict schedules, but tight schedules and demanding employers can mean they push themselves to drive long hours. Like distracted or intoxicated driving, drowsy driving can mean slow reaction times and other hazardous behaviors that result in a collision.
- Poor weather or road conditions: Drivers must adjust their behaviors for poor weather, such as slowing down in heavy rains or snow, and failing to do so could mean causing an accident. Bad road conditions can cause complications for even the most cautious and alert drivers, and we may be able to hold government or private entities liable for a failure to create safe driving conditions.
- Poor driver training: Trucking companies must make sure their employees are qualified to operate commercial vehicles. A failure to train the driver properly can end in catastrophic and fatal accidents, and companies could potentially be liable for the harm.
- Improper cargo loading: Trucks can haul large, oversized, and even toxic loads. Securing this cargo properly is of the utmost importance, and the company responsible for loading the truck may be liable if improper loading caused the accident,
- Mechanical failures: Faulty truck parts, poor maintenance, and other mechanical issues may be the cause of a Wyoming truck accident. The companies responsible for parts manufacturing or maintenance could potentially be held responsible for the truck accident you were involved in.
Our commercial vehicle crash lawyers can help investigate all potential causes of your crash and determine liability so you don’t have to.
Liability in a Wyoming Truck Accident
Determining liability for an accident without a lawyer can already be too much to handle alone, but throw in truck drivers, employers, and other companies and their insurers, and things get downright confusing. Which party is responsible? What party owes you money?
Sometimes, the truck driver is liable for their actions. However, there are times when an employer is vicariously liable for their employee’s actions. There may be multiple contributing factors, and we have to hold one or more parties liable for your harm. No matter what, we will make sure we identify the liable party (or parties) to get you the damages you need to recover. As your lawyers, we must prove liability by:
- Showing that one or more parties owed you a duty of care on the road, and that these parties failed to uphold it somehow.
- Tying the actions of the party directly to your accident, demonstrating that without this party’s negligence you would not have gotten hurt and suffered all of your losses.
- Demonstrating the extent of your losses to demand rightful compensation.
Don’t try to navigate these complex legal concepts alone; call Christensen Law for help today.
Multiple Forms of Compensation Are Available to You After a Truck Accident
Truck accidents can cause severe, catastrophic harm, leaving victims with costly bills and ongoing medical needs. Damages are often divided into two main categories: economic damages and non-economic damages.
Economic Losses
Some of your damages and losses have a direct financial value. If you have receipts, invoices, and bills, the damage is economic. Medical expenses are often the most common form of economic damages that we seek, as victims may have bills for ambulance and emergency services, surgeries, physical therapy and rehab, and medications. If you have long-term medical needs, we will make sure we also seek enough compensation to pay for the associated expenses.
Some injuries may prevent you from working and earning an income, so we will seek compensation for any lost forms of income. Some injuries may hurt your ability to go back to work or at least impact your ability to do the work you used to. Your future is at risk because you can no longer earn an income and any benefits or advancements that you might have been able to get had you continued in your line of work. We will seek damages for any lost earning potential to help set you up for the future.
You may have other expenses after being injured in a truck accident. For example, you may need to make renovations or purchases to make your home more accessible, or you may need to pay for caregivers or other forms of assistance to keep your household running. We will review all of your expenses to see what we can try to claim in a Wyoming, MI truck accident.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are losses that you suffered that do not have a direct monetary value. There are many intangible losses associated with something as devastating as a truck accident, and accident victims may not realize they can be reimbursed for this emotional harm.
Pain and suffering damages acknowledge the difficulties associated with your physical pain and emotional anguish. Even if your pain and suffering went away, you deserve compensation for it. You may have general emotional distress that can include post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, trouble sleeping, and depression. If you no longer feel any joy because of the accident and subsequent harm you suffered, we can seek that, too. These and other intangible losses are just as valued as your quantifiable expenses, so let us make sure you get everything you are owed.
Wrongful Death Damages
Unfortunately, truck accidents can be fatal. Please accept our sincerest condolences if you have lost a loved one after a collision with a commercial vehicle but know that we can help you seek justice.
While a lawsuit may be the last thing on your mind, you are entitled to seek damages if negligence contributed to a loved one’s death. We can make sure to seek any non-economic and economic damages associated with your loved one’s passing, whether that’s funeral expenses, the pain and suffering your loved one dealt with before their passing, or the loss of support and income your household is suffering.
Let us help you get these and other expenses and hold negligent truckers or trucking companies responsible for their actions.
Time Is Limited for Michigan Truck Accident Lawsuits
We know that truck accidents are a lot to handle, but we urge you to act as soon as you can. Per Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 600.5805, you only have three years to file a lawsuit for injuries or wrongful death. This may seem like plenty of time, but three years will go by very quickly.
If you do not file your suit in this timeframe, you could lose your right to seek damages, and you must pay for all of your expenses out of pocket. Our lawyers recommend calling our firm as soon as you can after the accident, as the clock starts ticking immediately. Our auto accident attorneys will make sure to file your lawsuit before this deadline, and we can let you know of any extensions or exceptions to the statute of limitations, when applicable.
What Can a Truck Accident Lawyer Do for My Wyoming, MI Case?
Our lawyers have been helping truck accident victims seek fair compensation since 1991, and we know what it takes to build a successful case. We will investigate every aspect of the accident and draw on our pool of experts and professionals to support your claim for damages.
We can gather and analyze evidence to help demonstrate liability, and we’ll handle all negotiations with insurers. Our lawyers will accurately calculate the full extent of your losses and will negotiate with the other party for a fair settlement. Should the insurance company refuse to negotiate a satisfactory settlement, we are prepared to take your case to court and argue for the maximum verdict possible.
You do not need to do all of this alone. Please call Christensen Law to see how our Wyoming, Michigan truck accident lawyers can help. We offer free consultations, 24/7. You have nothing to lose when you work with us.
