Detroit Truck Accident Lawyers

Why Choose LegalGenius As Your Detroit Truck Accident Lawyers?

When you’ve been seriously injured in a trucking accident, you have a lot of Detroit personal injury law firms to choose from. When you hire LegalGenius, however, you benefit from decades of experience in high-stakes cases just like yours. Here are some of the many reasons why our clients hire us for their truck accident claims.

• Focused on Client Service: We built this firm around one principle: clients come first. That means calls get answered, updates are timely, and legal strategies are built with your goals in mind. We take the time to understand your situation, your injuries, and what success looks like to you.
• Legal Strategy That Wins: Truck accident cases are nothing like a typical fender bender. There are multiple parties involved, layers of insurance coverage, and strict federal safety regulations at play. We know how to analyze accident reports, locate black box data, and challenge the defense’s version of events. Our approach is backed by decades of courtroom experience.
• Proven Results in Serious Injury Cases: At LegalGenius, we measure success by what we recover for our clients. We have secured significant compensation in high-value cases by preparing every file like it’s going to trial. Insurance companies know which truck accident lawyers are willing to settle and which are ready to fight. We’ve built a reputation for being the latter.
• Direct Access to Your Attorney: When you work with LegalGenius, you won’t be passed off to a case manager or junior associate. You’ll have direct communication with the attorney handling your case. That means clearer updates, better strategy, and the peace of mind that comes from knowing your case is in the right hands
• Fast, Thorough Investigations: We act quickly to preserve evidence and build your case. Trucking companies move fast to protect themselves. So do we. From securing black box data to interviewing witnesses, we move with speed and focus to make sure no advantage is lost.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Metro Detroit

Knowing what caused your crash is the first step in building a strong case. Here is an overview of the leading causes we see across truck accident claims:

• Driver Fatigue: Federal rules limit how many hours a truck driver can be on the road without rest, but many companies push drivers to violate these hours to meet delivery deadlines. Drowsy driving reduces reaction time, decision-making, and awareness.
• Distracted Driving: Texting, eating, or checking a GPS while behind the wheel of a big rig is dangerous. One second of inattention can result in a multi-vehicle crash, especially on high-speed highways.
• Speeding or Driving Too Fast for Conditions: A fully loaded tractor-trailer can take over 500 feet to come to a complete stop. When truck drivers speed or fail to adjust for weather or traffic, they can’t stop in time to avoid a collision.
• Equipment Failure and Poor Maintenance: Worn brake pads, tire blowouts, and steering malfunctions are often the result of skipped inspections or cheap repairs. Federal law requires regular maintenance, but some carriers cut corners to save money.
• Unsecured Cargo or Overloading: Improperly loaded cargo can shift during transport, causing the truck to become unbalanced or jackknife. Overloaded trailers also strain braking systems and increase stopping distances.
• Inexperienced or Poorly Trained Drivers: Operating an 80,000-pound truck safely takes skill and training. When companies hire inexperienced drivers or fail to train them properly, they put everyone at risk.

Common Injuries in Detroit Truck Accident Cases

The sheer size difference between a passenger car and a commercial truck means victims often suffer life-altering injuries. We regularly handle cases involving:

• Traumatic Brain Injuries: These injuries result from a forceful impact to the head and can cause concussions, memory loss, and long-term cognitive problems.
• Spinal Cord Damage: This type of injury can lead to partial or complete paralysis, herniated discs, and chronic nerve pain that affects daily function.
• Fractures: Broken bones may require surgery, physical therapy, and often result in lasting physical limitations or disability.
• Internal Injuries: Trauma to organs like the liver, spleen, kidneys, or lungs can be life-threatening and may not produce symptoms immediately.
• Burn Injuries: Severe burns often occur in crashes involving fuel or chemicals and can lead to permanent scarring, infection, and prolonged medical treatment.
• Amputations: These injuries may involve the traumatic loss of a limb at the scene or surgical removal later due to extensive damage.
• Wrongful Death: This occurs when a victim loses their life because of negligent or reckless actions by a truck driver or another liable party.

We work with top medical experts to build a complete picture of how your injuries affect your ability to work, function, and live your life.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Truck Accident?

Truck accidents often involve more than just the driver. LegalGenius investigates every possible party who may be responsible, including:

• The Truck Driver: If the driver was distracted, fatigued, under the influence, or breaking traffic laws, they can be held personally liable for your injuries.
• The Trucking Company: Carriers are responsible for hiring qualified drivers, maintaining vehicles, and enforcing safety rules. If they failed in these duties, they share legal responsibility.
• The Maintenance Provider: Outsourced repair shops or in-house mechanics who skipped inspections or failed to fix critical components may be brought into the case.
• The Cargo Loader: Some trucks are loaded by third-party logistics companies. If shifting cargo caused the crash, those companies may be liable for damages.
• Manufacturers: If a defective part, such as brakes or tires, played a role in the collision, the manufacturer or distributor may be sued under product liability laws.

Every party in the chain has a legal duty to keep the public safe. When they fail, LegalGenius holds them accountable.

What to Do After a Truck Accident in Detroit

The minutes after a truck accident are overwhelming. Injuries, confusion, and stress can cloud your judgment, but your actions at the scene and shortly afterward can significantly impact your ability to recover compensation. Here’s exactly what to do:

• Call 911 Immediately: Your first priority is safety, so contact emergency services and report the accident right away. Even if you think your injuries are minor, request medical assistance for yourself and anyone else involved. A police report is a key piece of evidence, and medical documentation helps establish a clear link between the crash and your injuries.
• Document the Scene: If you’re physically able, use your phone to take as many photos and videos as possible. Capture the position of all vehicles, damage to both the truck and your car, any visible injuries, debris on the road, skid marks, traffic lights or signs, and surrounding conditions like weather or construction zones. These images can help reconstruct the accident and show exactly what happened.
• Get Information From the Truck Driver: Ask the truck driver for their name, driver’s license number, license plate, employer’s name, and insurance policy details. Commercial truck drivers are required to carry more documentation than standard motorists, including their Department of Transportation (DOT) number and vehicle registration. Take clear photos of these documents if possible.
• Speak to Witnesses: Bystanders who saw the crash can provide key details about how the accident happened. Get names, phone numbers, and email addresses from any witnesses before they leave the scene. Their statements could support your version of events and help challenge any false claims made by the trucking company or its insurers.
• Avoid Discussing Fault at the Scene: Do not apologize or make any comments that could be interpreted as admitting blame. Even saying “I didn’t see the truck” or “I might have been speeding” can be used against you later. Speak clearly and calmly to officers, stick to the facts, and don’t speculate about who was at fault.
• Contact LegalGenius as Soon as Possible: The sooner we get involved, the stronger your case will be. We’ll secure black box data, send preservation letters, interview witnesses, and protect your claim from the start. Early legal action helps prevent evidence loss and ensures your rights are protected throughout the claims process.

How LegalGenius Builds Your Case

Trucking companies have investigators and lawyers working immediately after a crash. You need a legal team that acts with the same speed and focus. Here’s how we build a winning case:

• Secure black box data from the truck’s onboard system that tracks speed, braking, and driver behavior before the crash
• Analyze driver logs to check for hours-of-service violations
• Review maintenance records to identify skipped inspections or known defects
• Interview witnesses and get sworn statements
• Work with accident reconstructionists to create a detailed report and visual breakdown of the crash
• Subpoena dispatch audio and internal communications from the trucking company
• Challenge false claims made by insurers trying to shift blame

We prepare each file as if it’s going to trial. That pressure alone leads to higher settlements and better results.

Compensation in Truck Accident Cases

Truck accidents often result in serious injuries and long-term disruption to every part of your life. When you’re hurt due to someone else’s negligence, you have the legal right to pursue full financial compensation, not just for what you’ve already lost, but for what the crash will continue to cost you. Here’s a closer look at what compensation may include:

• Medical Expenses: This includes all healthcare-related costs tied to the accident. Emergency room treatment, ambulance rides, hospital stays, diagnostic imaging, surgeries, rehabilitation, chiropractic care, and prescription medications are just the beginning. We also pursue compensation for projected future expenses, including ongoing therapy, in-home nursing care, medical devices, and follow-up procedures.
• Lost Wages: If your injuries caused you to miss work, you are entitled to recover those lost earnings. This includes not only hourly or salaried income but also lost bonuses, overtime, commissions, and any employer-provided benefits. If you’re unable to return to your job or must take a lower-paying position, we’ll pursue compensation for your reduced future earning capacity.
• Pain and Suffering: Physical pain from broken bones, surgeries, or long-term injuries doesn’t come with a receipt, but it still matters. You may also be dealing with anxiety, depression, PTSD, or emotional distress from the trauma of the crash. We document these damages carefully through medical records, personal statements, and expert evaluations.
• Loss of Enjoyment of Life: Injuries often force people to give up activities that once brought joy and purpose, such as sports, hobbies, travel, social events, or simply being active with friends and family. When your ability to engage in everyday life is affected by a truck accident, that loss can be included in your compensation demand.
• Permanent Disability: Truck crashes frequently result in long-term impairments, such as limited mobility, loss of function in a limb, chronic pain, or cognitive damage. If you’ve been left with a permanent disability, we pursue damages based on how that condition will affect your quality of life, independence, and ability to earn a living going forward.
• Wrongful Death Damages: If you lost a loved one in a fatal truck accident, Michigan law allows the family to file a wrongful death claim. Compensation may include funeral and burial costs, the deceased’s medical bills, lost future earnings, and loss of the relationship, care, and support the deceased provided.

Our firm partners with financial professionals to create detailed life-care plans, economic loss reports, and future cost projections. This level of preparation helps us negotiate from a position of strength and secure the full amount you’re owed, nothing less.

Legal Deadlines in Michigan Truck Accident Claims

Michigan gives you three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. In wrongful death cases, the clock also starts on the date of death. Waiting too long can lead to losing your right to file entirely.