If you or your loved one suffered injuries in an Ann Arbor, MI, truck accident, you likely have many questions about your future. You may be unable to return to your job after your truck collision, and you may wonder how you will pay your medical bills and support your family.
Truck crash cases are particularly complex, often involving state and federal laws and multiple parties. Fortunately, an Ann Arbor truck accident lawyer with Christensen Law can explain your legal options and guide you through complicated claims. Our attorneys will work to get you the maximum compensation needed to cover your expenses and losses without jeopardizing your financial stability.
Our goal is to seek the settlement you deserve while supporting you throughout as a powerful advocate and legal ally. To learn more about how our personal injury lawyers can protect your rights and fight for fair compensation, contact us or call 248-900-9000 today to schedule a free initial consultation.
Our Lawyers Can Help with Your Ann Arbor Truck Accident Case
For more than 30 years, Christensen Law has handled complex truck collision cases to help injured victims in Michigan get justice. Our mission is to protect, guide, and provide top-notch legal representation to those who find their lives turned upside down due to another party’s negligence.
We want to make a challenging time easier by relieving your legal or insurance burden so that you can focus on what is most important – your health and your family.
The commercial truck accident attorneys at Christensen Law will use their case experience, negotiating skills, and knowledge of the law to build the most robust possible case. Our team will:
- Thoroughly investigate your truck crash and collect evidence proving another party is at fault for your injuries and damages
- Identify and calculate every cent that is due to you
- Pursue claims against all liable parties, such as the truck driver, trucking company, and truck owner, and hold them financially accountable
- Communicate and negotiate with the insurance companies and opposing parties.
- Protect your rights and best interests throughout the legal or insurance process
- Keep you updated and informed about your case
- Draft and file PIP and liability claims and handle related paperwork
- Manage and adhere to deadlines
- Represent you at trial if necessary
We have handled hundreds of trials and recovered millions for our clients, including $17,800,000 for a truck vs. car crash and $1,100,000 for a truck collision. We serve as the voice of the unheard and pursue results that help our clients recover after an injury or loss. Here’s what some our our clients have said about working with our firm:
- If it wasn’t for Christensen Law, I don’t know where I would be today. Thanks to Dave, Stephanie, and Michelle for getting me through this hard time that I have gone through. I didn’t know what to do, and since I’ve met them they have become family. -Timothy Taylor
- If you require excellent, courteous and professional legal services, this is the firm you want!!! Without a doubt. – J. Hawkins
- After my accident, I reached out to Christensen Law and was guided by attorney Thomas Economy through the process. He and his team made this entire process more manageable for me. I was able to get a fair settlement and would refer them to anyone that has any legal troubles. – Justin Tatum
Our Ann Arbor truck accident lawyer is ready to hear from you and start on your case during a free initial consultation.
PIP Coverage and Michigan Truck Accident Compensation
Michigan uses a No-Fault insurance system. This means if you suffer injuries in a truck or any motor vehicle crash, you must first collect damages through your personal injury protection (PIP) insurance coverage. With the No-Fault system, you collect benefits regardless of whether you or the truck driver are at fault for the collision. You can read more about PIP and recent changes to the No-Fault system.
In general, PIP compensation includes your medical expenses, lost income for up to three years, and replacement services. However, if you have severe injuries and damages exceeding your PIP policy , you can pursue compensation from an at-fault truck driver or other negligent parties with a liability insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.
Possible Recoverable Damages in an Ann Arbor Truck Crash
Our firm has helped people recover from their injuries and losses since 1991, so we know how vital a fair settlement or verdict is to you and your family. We will put in the effort and hours necessary to establish your right to compensation.
We prepare every case as though it will head to trial and spare no resources when it comes to getting results. We will not sacrifice justice to settle for a quick and easy resolution. We will pursue:
- Medical expenses (past, present, and future)
- Loss of current income and benefits
- Loss of your future earning capacity
- Vehicle repair costs or your car’s fair market value
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional and mental distress
- Reduced quality of life
In truck crashes involving fatalities, the surviving family members can recover damages through a wrongful death lawsuit. These cases seek compensation for the pain and suffering of the victim, economic losses resulting from their death (such as medical bills and funeral and burial expenses), and loss of the deceased’s support, services, financial contributions, society, and companionship.
Our Notable Michigan Truck Accident Claim Results
The results we achieve for truck accident victims are a testament to how hard we work to protect our clients’ rights. These are some of the settlements and awards we have secured for people who were injured in truck wrecks:
- $17.8 million for a client who sustained serious injuries after being rear-ended by a cement truck in largest ever personal injury verdict in Michigan
- $1.1 million for a long-haul truck driver who was rear-ended by another trucker, resulting in back injuries that required surgery
- Confidential settlement that went well beyond the available insurance after a special education teacher lost her leg when she was rear-ended by a trucker
You can learn more about the results we’ve achieved for our clients. Reach out to us to learn more about what we can do for you.
Why Are Truck Cases More Complex?
Truck cases are often much more complicated than regular car crashes for a number of reasons:
- State laws and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations apply to truck accidents. State and federal laws and commercial vehicle rules and regulations govern truck driver requirements, insurance requirements, vehicle maintenance and safety equipment, record-keeping, record-retention periods, and more. Our Ann Arbor truck accident lawyers are well-versed in the law and know how to use violations to establish negligence.
- Numerous parties are often involved in a truck accident claim, including the person in the passenger vehicle, the truck driver, the truck owner, the trucking company, and the truck manufacturer. Your case may involve multiple claims against multiple parties who may each have their own insurance company to deal with.
- Many survivors of truck accidents have serious injuries that require long-term treatment, rehabilitation, and a lengthy recovery. You must fully understand your current and future expenses because once you settle with a liable party, you cannot seek more compensation if your injuries and losses are worse than initially thought.
If you sustained injuries in a truck collision, figuring out what to do next can be incredibly stressful and overwhelming. With the help of Christensen Law, you do not have to navigate what comes next alone.
Types of Truck Accidents Our Ann Arbor Injury Lawyers Represent
Our Ann Arbor truck accident lawyers are here to listen to your concerns and respond to your needs. We give you our undivided attention when discussing your case and will always take the time to answer your questions and explain exactly what is going on with your claim or lawsuit.
We use our skills, knowledge, and experience to face challenging issues while providing you with compassionate and personalized representation at every step. We handle all types of motor vehicle accident cases, including those involving:
- Head-on collisions
- Rear-end collisions
- Jackknife or rollover accidents
- Underride or T-bone accidents
- Multi-vehicle crashes
- Commercial truck wrecks
- Tractor-trailer collisions
- Truck wrecks involving bicycle riders
- Truck accidents involving pedestrians
Can I Get Compensation if I am Partly Liable for a Michigan Truck Accident?
Michigan has comparative negligence laws that state that parties who are less than 50% responsible for an accident can recover compensation for their damages, minus their percentage of fault. This is important in truck accident claims, because many parties can be involved and share various degrees of fault. Insurance companies may try to inflate your percentage of negligence to reduce your payout.
Our Ann Arbor truck accident lawyers will fight for your right to the full compensation you deserve by proving your percentage, if any, of negligence.
Who Can We Hold Responsible After a Commercial Truck Accident in Ann Arbor?
Financial responsibility depends on the circumstances of your particular truck case. While every case is different, liable parties may include:
- The truck driver
- The truck owner or entity in charge of vehicle maintenance and inspections
- The trucking company
- The truck part manufacturer
- The cargo loading company
- The owner of the property where the crash occurred
- Other road users
Do You Need a Michigan Truck Accident Attorney to Get Compensation?
You do not legally have to hire an attorney to seek financial compensation after a truck accident in Michigan. You have the right to handle your own injury claim negotiations with insurance companies. However, doing so without a lawyer representing your interests may not lead to favorable case outcomes for truck accident victims.
There are crucial strategic reasons Michigan truck crash victims benefit greatly from retaining an injury attorney. Laws regulating commercial carriers and litigation procedures are complex. Maneuvering the claims process alone means trying to master intricate legal rules and nuances yourself while also coping with injuries, which is a formidable challenge.
Insurance carriers and trucking companies quickly deploy entire teams of legal defenders to minimize payouts in serious crash cases involving substantial liability. A single individual may lack the equivalent firepower and resources to counter sophisticated denial tactics. Our truck accident attorneys level this imbalance and can take on the complicated and stressful tasks while you focus on your recovery.
Evidence We Use to Prove Fault in Your Michigan Truck Accident Claim
Our attorneys will investigate your crash and determine who caused the collision and the resulting damages. However, we will need to establish that those liable acted negligently, recklessly, or wrongfully and that their behavior caused your injuries and losses. We can put in the time and effort needed to gather case evidence, which may include:
- Police reports
- Medical records
- Eyewitness statements
- Expert testimony
- Crash reconstruction reports
- Photographs, debris, and other data from the crash site
- Cell phone, dash cam, or surveillance video of the collision
- Driver logs, alcohol and drug testing results, the truck’s “black box” recorder, and other evidence from the trucking company
Michigan’s Statute of Limitations on Truck Accidents
Under Michigan’s statute of limitations, outlined in Michigan Compiled Laws § 600.5805, you must file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit within three years of the accident date. Michigan Compiled Laws § 500.3145 establishes a one-year time limit for filing a claim against your PIP insurance.
If your insurance company refuses to pay your No-Fault benefits, you must file a lawsuit within one year of the date you incurred the last unpaid benefit. If you fail to meet these deadlines, the court will likely bar you from seeking recovery.
Talk to a Truck Crash Attorney in Ann Arbor Now
The Ann Arbor truck accident attorneys at Christensen Law understand the complexities and challenges of commercial vehicle cases. Our compassionate lawyers will fight tirelessly to ensure you or your loved one receives the maximum compensation available.
Contact us or call 248-900-9000 today. We offer free, no-obligation consultations. A team member will discuss your legal options and tell you more about our contingency fee payment structure, which allows us to represent you for nothing upfront or out of pocket.
