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.

Black Box Providing Evidence in Truck Accidents

Many late model automobiles and trucks are installed with a computer called an Event Data Recorder (EDR), also often referred to as a “Black Box.”   When triggered by an impact, accident or similar event, the EDR records certain information about the accident. The information recorded can include various events in the few seconds preceding a crash, including speed, airbag deployment, braking, RPMs, and even whether the driver’s seatbelt was fastened. Thus, the information from these devices can be collected after a crash and analyzed by an expert to help determine what the vehicles and drivers were doing before, during, and after the accident. 

In a lawsuit involving claims for injuries sustained in an automobile accident, the data obtained from the EDR can be helpful in establishing whether or not the negligent party was speeding, attempted to avoid the collision, attempted to brake, etc.  (See e.g. Harris v. Weaver,  unpublished opinion per curiam of the Court of Appeals, decided August 17, 2006 [Docket No.  No. 265617, No. 265618] [http://courtofappeals.mijud.net/documents/OPINIONS/FINAL/COA/20060817_C265617_38_265617.OPN.PDF]  In civil lawsuits, EDR data has been admissible and deemed reliable under universally accepted evidentiary standards.  (See Bachman v. General Motors Corporation, 332 Ill. App. 3rd 760 (4th Dist 2003).

            In order to use the information from the EDR as evidence in a personal injury lawsuit, a qualified expert first must download the information from the EDR.  It will also be necessary to assess factors that could affect the reliability of the data (e.g tire size). This type of evidence can be very helpful to establish that a particular Defendant acted negligently.  Thus it can serve as a powerful tool in maximizing damages in a settlement where injuries are established but liability is strongly contested.  Our law firm has been successful in using EDR data to obtain significant settlements in several automobile accident lawsuits in Michigan.

I read a tragic story  in the paper yesterday about an Allegan County Tractor-Trailer Accident on I-94 in Casco Township. According to the State Police, a tractor-trailer allegedly slammed into three vehicles that were merging to one lane before a construction zone killing at least one of passengers in a minivan and seriously injuring the other. Additionally, a 48-year-old Attica man is in critical condition with serious injuries at a local hospital.  Police continue to investigate this tragic accident.

I   am very sorry to hear about this tragic accident and offer the family of the deceased victim my most heart-felt condolences. I hope that the injured parties have a full and speedy recovery and suffer no permanent injuries as a result of this tragic accident.

If you would like more information about your rights after a Michigan car 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 car accident cases, visit our law firm web site at www.BuckfireLaw.com.  If you would like to speak with one of our Michigan car 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.

I saw on the news this morning a story about a Fatal St. Clair Semi-truck Car Accident on I-94 in St. Clair County. According to Michigan State Police,  a semi-truck allegedly slammed into the rear of a passenger vehicle in a road construction zone at Division Road and Fred Moore Highway.  After running over the passenger car, the truck reportedly then hit another passenger vehicle before ramming into a second semi-truck.  One person was killed and four others were seriously injured. Police continue to investigate this accident.

I   am very sorry to hear about this tragic accident and offer the family of the deceased victim my most heart-felt condolences. I hope that the injured parties have a full and speedy recovery and suffer no permanent injuries as a result of this tragic accident.

If you would like more information about your rights after a Michigan car 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 car accident cases, visit our law firm web site at www.BuckfireLaw.com.  If you would like to speak with one of our Michigan car 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.

The Michigan truck accident lawyers at our firm represent clients who have been injured in  garbage truck accidents.  Many car-garbage Garbage Truck collisions are not accidents at all. Rather, they are preventable tragedies that typically result from the negligence of the garbage Garbage Truck driver.  

Unlike in the past, most garbage garbage trucks are owned by private companies who contract with cities to provide sanitation services.  As a result, those large companies can be held accountable for the driving accidents of their employees.

Victims of  garbage Garbage Truck accidents often suffer significant injuries.  Injuries often include brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, back injuries, neck injuries, and bone fracture injuries. Lawsuits can be filed to compensate them for their injuries. 

For more information on your rights after a Michigan truck accident, call us at (800) 606-1717.