Despite making up a substantial percentage of Michigan’s land area, the state’s upper peninsula is not as populated as other regions. Population varies widely in the peninsula, too, with some counties having as few as 2,000 people in them.
From the upper peninsula’s largest county, Marquette County, to its least populous, Keweenaw County, one thing is constant, however — traffic accidents can occur.
It’s important to know that some of the most serious collisions throughout the state involve commercial trucks.
Their sheer size and power make them potentially deadly if the driver loses control of the vehicle for any reason or if they behave negligently. If you’ve been in an accident involving a commercial truck, it’s crucial that you contact a personal injury lawyer to see if you’re eligible to get compensation for your losses.
At Atnip & Associates, PLLC, our experienced team of upper peninsula truck accident lawyers can help. Learn more about truck accidents and what your options are.
To drive a vehicle in Michigan, you need to have personal injury protection insurance, property protection insurance, and residual liability insurance. You need all of this coverage because, if an accident occurs, the state’s no-fault laws require you to file a claim with your own insurance, not the other party’s.
With no-fault laws, you don’t have to prove who was responsible for the accident, but you also have limitations as to what kind of losses you can claim.
You can get compensation for the medical expenses you’ve had because of the accident, as well as the wages you lost. You can’t, however, claim non-economic losses like pain and suffering.
These limitations can be a problem if you’ve suffered serious injuries, which are common in accidents involving commercial trucks. Fortunately, you have the option of stepping outside of the state’s no-fault laws to pursue a personal injury claim.
Personal injury claims after traffic collisions are possible for people who’ve suffered injuries like disfigurement, fractures, and disabling conditions, and they allow you to claim both economic and non-economic losses.
For those who will need ongoing medical care or who’ve suffered because of someone’s negligence, this is the right choice.
In 2023, there were 7,827 truck accidents throughout Michigan. Although accidents can occur for many reasons, there are some common ones to be aware of.
One of the most common causes of traffic collisions around the country is drivers who aren’t fully focused on the road. This is called distracted driving.
Commercial drivers have very strict regulations they must follow when it comes to substance use. They have a much lower blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit allowed by law.
Despite the many federal regulations in place dealing with commercial drivers’ work hours, truckers and their employers still find ways of circumventing the law. Truckers may not maintain accurate driving logs, and employers may tweak official hours while pushing drivers to remain on duty for longer than is allowed.
All of this results in drivers operating huge vehicles while they’re tired and sleepy. A fatigued driver is as dangerous as a distracted driver. They won’t be able to react as needed to prevent collisions, and they could even fall asleep at the wheel.
A commercial driver behind schedule might speed up to make their next destination on time. That could be a fatal mistake. A speeding truck can get out of the driver’s control, leading to jackknife and even rollover accidents.
To be safe on the road, a large vehicle, like a commercial truck, needs to be perfectly balanced. If the cargo the truck is carrying shifts during transport because it wasn’t secured correctly, the vehicle’s center of gravity changes.
Brakes that fail or tires that explode in the middle of the M-28 can all result in serious accidents. If the parts were defective, the manufacturer could be held liable. Keep in mind that if the problem should have been caught with proper maintenance, whoever was in charge of that maintenance could also be responsible.
Sometimes, the road itself is the cause of the accident. If there are large potholes, uncleared ice on the road, or other serious pavement damage, the truck driver can lose control of the vehicle. In that case, the government entities in charge of the road can be liable.
The very first thing you need to do after an accident is ensure you get to safety. If the car is in a precarious situation or if there’s the danger of anything catching on fire, you need to quickly get out if possible.
Take stock of your injuries and call emergency services. Even if you don’t think you need medical assistance, let the professionals look you over. It’s common for the shock and adrenaline of being in an accident to prevent you from feeling pain.
You also need to call the police. Not only does Michigan law require you to do so after accidents involving injuries or property damage of at least $1,000, but you also need the report to file a claim.
If you’re well enough, exchange information with the other party and gather evidence from the scene. That means taking pictures of the vehicles, the street, and your injuries. If there were witnesses, get their information, too, so you can use their testimony later.
You should then call your insurer to let them know of the accident. Keep this conversation as brief as possible because they’ll be listening for any mention of fault. Right after, contact a truck accident lawyer to represent you.
After being in an upper peninsula truck accident and suffering injuries, you need to hire experienced personal injury lawyers. At Atnip & Associates, PLLC, we bring decades of experience and aggressive negotiating techniques to the table. We’ll guide you through the entire claims process so that you can focus on healing.
