Our Michigan truck accident lawyers often represent victims of truck accidents that involve semi-trucks.  Due to the size and weight of these trucks, it is necessary that the truck drivers are highly trained and fit to operate the vehicle on the roadway.  The injuries from this accidents are often very serious and even catastrophic.

Semi-trucks have large blind spots at the front, back and sides of the truck. When a car is in the blind spot, the driver cannot see it.  If the truck tries to make a right or left turn, it would likely cause serious damage to  any automobiles in its path.

There are many other dangers of Semi-Trucks.  These include:

Squeeze Play - Semi Trucks need to swing wide to the left in order to negotiate a right turn. When truck drivers make wide right turns; they are often unable to see smaller vehicles directly behind or beside them. When a car cuts between the truck and a curb, the car can be caught in a squeeze, and a serious accident can occur.

Stopping Distance - Big rig trucks need a greater stopping distance than other cars and other vehicles. If there is not enough stopping distance between an automobile and a large truck, the car risks being involved in a rear-end collision.

“Off-track” - Occurs when a truck turns at high speed and swings into an adjacent lane unexpectedly. Unlike passenger vehicles, transport trucks require up to 40 percent more space to stop. Following too closely results in inadequate stopping distance between large trucks which then rear-end vehicles in front. It is not difficult to imagine the devastating results that occur when a car, van or SUV is hit from behind with over 10,000 lbs. of moving metal.

The most common causes of Semi Truck accidents are:

Driver Fatigue-sleepy or tired driver; driving too long and too many hours without rest.

Inadequate driver training

Overloaded trucks and improperly loaded trucks

Poorly maintained truck brakes

Speeding

Running off the road

Failure to yield the right of way

Aggressive driving behavior

Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol

Reckless driving

Defective safety systems, reflectors, lights and other warning devices

Victims of Michigan semi-truck accidents do have legal rights to recover for their injuries, medical expenses, and lost wages.  For more information on these rights, request our Michigan car accident book which has been called “the best book ever written for Michigan consumers involved in car accidents.”

You can also call us at (800) 606-1717 to speak with one of our experienced Michigan truck accident lawyers.  We do not charge any legal fees unless we obtain a recovery or settlement for you.

Our Michigan truck accident lawyers perform a thorough and detailed investigation when investigating a lawsuit for a truck accident victim.  To properly do this, we look to all of the potential causes of a truck accident.  This requires a careful anaylysis of the investigation report, witness interviews, photographs, and trucking company records.

One common cause is the improper loading of the truck. An improper truck load is typically one which the load is too heavy for the truck and trailer or one in which the loading is not properly balanced.  These both affect the truck driver’s ability to stop and control the truck, especially when it comes to applying the vehicle braking system.

There are federal and state trucking regulations that specify truck load weights and provide requirements for the proper loading of trucks. A complete and thorough investigation of the vehicle log, cargo weight, and other specifications is necessary to prove the causes for the accident.  Many times, it is the truck load along with driver fatigue and other factors that cause the accident.  Because the injuries caused by truck accident are typically catastrophic, it is important to hire an experienced truck accident attorney as soon as possible after the accident to begin the investigation.

 For more information about Michigan truck accident cases, visit our law firm web site at www.BuckfireLaw.com   If you would like to speak with one of our Michigan truck accident attorneys about your case, feel free to call us anytime at (800) 606-1717.

Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents

The injuries from truck accidents are often catastrophic and devastating.  While trucking companies typically blame the victims for these accidents, the truth is that quite frequently it is the truck driver or trucking company that caused the accident.

Our Michigan truck accident lawyers  have found the most common causes of a Michigan truck accident are the following:

• Fatigue, sleepy or tired drivers driving too many hours without rest;
• Truck drivers drinking alcohol or drug use;
• Running off the road;
• Failure to yield the right of way;
• Unsafe safety systems, reflectors, lights and other warning devices;
• Overloaded Truck;
• Oversized Truck;
• Lack of training on the part of the truck driver;
• Poorly maintained brakes on the Truck;
• Reckless driving;
• Driving in conditions of poor visibility due to smoke, fog, snow or rain;
• Poorly maintained tires;
• Speeding;
• Wide turns;
• Blind spots;

A full investigation into the reasons behind a particular accident is essential to winning a truck accident case.  If you would like to speak with one of our Michigan truck accident attorneys about your case, feel free to call us anytime at (800) 606-1717 or simply submit this contact form and we will get back to you quickly.

If you would like more information about your rights after a Michigan truck accident, you can order our FREE book, “The Ultimate Michigan Car Accident Handbook” by clicking on the book link. We will send it out immediately along with other important information.

For more information about Michigan truck accident cases, visit our law firm web site at www.BuckfireLaw.com. If you would like to speak with one of our Michigan truck accident attorneys about your case, feel free to call us anytime at (800) 606-1717 or simply submit this contact form and we will get back to you quickly.

One of the biggest contributing factors to large truck accidents is truck driver fatigue.  This is often due to excessive hours on the road, lack of sleep, and other medical conditions that cause fatigue  The results of this fatigue are often catastrophic.

In a Mississipi truck accident, a truck driver reportedly dozed off while driving an 18 wheeler and rear-ended a van, killing a family of four in the van.  It occurred while the van was waiting at a red light and the truck plowed into the back of it.  The truck was owned by JNJ Express.  Police are still investigating the truck accident.

My condolences go out to surviving family members of these victims.  This is a terrible tragedy that should have never happened.

The surviving family members do have legal rights and can file a Wrongful Death Lawsuit.  I do not practice law in Mississipi but I suggest that the family hire the best possible truck accident lawyer.  It is essential to choose an attorney that specializes in truck accident cases so that all necessary evidence can be preserved and all possible avenues of settlement be explored.