The United States economy would not function without the many commercial trucks out on the roads throughout the country. Despite their importance, however, there’s no denying that they can be dangerous vehicles.
You may have experienced a twinge of anxiety when you’ve traveled near a tractor-trailer along the Dixie Highway, and unfortunately, your fears are well founded. In 2022, 4,764 people died in the country as a result of large truck crashes. Of these deaths, 66% were the occupants of the vehicles the truck collided with.
Michigan follows a no-fault system when it comes to traffic collisions. This type of system can be useful for people who’ve suffered minor injuries during a crash because it’s a relatively fast process that doesn’t require you to establish that the other party was at fault. All you have to do is file a claim with your own insurance.
It does have limitations, however — especially if you suffer serious injuries. With a no-fault claim, you can only receive economic losses, like medical expenses and lost wages. However, these may not be enough if you suffered catastrophic injuries.
A personal injury claim does require that you prove the other party was negligent. That means first demonstrating that they owed you a duty of care and that they breached that duty.
Anyone operating a vehicle owes others on the road a responsibility to obey all traffic laws and drive safely. If the defendant was speeding, for example, that’s a breach of their duty of care. You then have to show that their negligent conduct led to the injuries you suffered and that you can be compensated for those losses.
It’s important to note that in most cases, you have three years from the moment the accident occurs to file a personal injury claim. There are instances when this timeline is much shorter, however, like when you’re dealing with government entities, so you need to file a claim as soon as you can.
Driver errors are the most common cause of Oakland County truck accidents. Distracted driving is consistently one of the most serious issues for drivers throughout the country, with texting and driving being all too common. A trucker who’s distracted may not be able to react in time to prevent a collision.
Filing a personal injury claim is not something you want to tackle on your own. There are a lot of pitfalls that could prevent you from getting the compensation you deserve.
For one thing, gathering the necessary evidence to prove negligence is difficult when you’re dealing with physical and emotional trauma. You may even have suffered disabling injuries that make leaving your home a struggle. With a lawyer helping you, you can focus on healing without worrying about paperwork and legalities.
At Atnip & Associates, PLLC, we are also experienced in dealing with insurance companies. They are always looking for ways to keep from paying you what you deserve, and they could try to pin the majority of the blame for the accident on you. Bullying you into accepting a low offer is a classic tactic.
After being in a truck accident that resulted in serious injuries, you can file for economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages compensate you for financial losses you suffered as a result of the accident, including medical expenses and lost wages.
If you’ve suffered losses after being in a truck accident, you may be entitled to file a claim outside of Michigan’s no-fault laws. Give yourself the chance to get fair compensation by contacting us at Atnip & Associates, PLLC.
Our team of lawyers can help you understand your rights and what your options are while also offering the support you need during this stressful time. We’ll guide you through the entire claims process. Schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced truck accident lawyers to learn more.
