Farmington Hills Truck Accident Attorneys

Experienced Farmington Hills Truck Accident Attorneys Work to Help Our Clients Receive the Full and Fair Compensation They Deserve

Truck accidents are all too common in Michigan. With so many businesses and families in the metro Detroit area, truck traffic is an essential part of commerce – yet large trucks also increase the risk of collisions on roads in Farmington Hills and neighboring cities.

If you’ve been injured in a truck crash, don’t wait. Talk to a knowledgeable Farmington Hills truck accident attorney today. The team at Sommers Schwartz PC is here to help.

Truck Accidents in Farmington Hills

Farmington Hills is home to several nationally recognized employers, including some of Michigan’s largest employers. Companies like Gale, Mango Languages, Bosch, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services, and TD Auto Finance all call Farmington Hills home.

Beaumont Hospital employs approximately 2,500 people in Farmington Hills. Other major employers include Bosch, Nissan, Hitachi, and the Farmington Public Schools. Oakland Community College’s Orchard Ridge campus is in Farmington Hills, as is the Michigan School of Psychology.

Many employees and students of these businesses and schools live in Farmington Hills. Others commute to work or classes. Many people visit Farmington Hills daily for work, shopping, business, school, or other tasks. Interstate highways I-696 and I-275 bring truck and passenger traffic into the area, as do M-5, Orchard Lake Road, 12 Mile Road, 8 Mile Road, and Northwestern Highway. Freeway interchanges connect the interstates to the surface roads at several points.

All this traffic makes Farmington Hills a vibrant, growing community. Yet it also increases the risk of serious accidents – including collisions with large trucks.

Michigan Truck Accident Statistics

According to the Michigan State Police 2023 Year End Traffic Crash Statistics Report, large trucks and buses were involved in 15,852 crashes throughout Michigan in 2023. These accidents included 100 fatal crashes.

Truck types involved in Michigan traffic accidents in 2023 included:

• Single unit 2-axle trucks: 4,695 accidents
• Single unit 3-axle trucks: 1,515 accidents
• Trucks hauling semi-trailers: 5,201 accidents
• Semi truck tractors without trailers (“bobtail”): 197 accidents
• Semi truck tractors hauling two or three trailers: 463 accidents

Semi trucks were the truck type most often involved in fatal crashes, accounting for 51 fatal crashes in 2023 – just over half. Single-unit two-axle trucks, like delivery trucks, accounted for 22 fatal accidents in 2023.

Other fatalities in truck crashes by truck type included:

• Single unit 3-axle trucks: 7 fatal accidents
• Semi-trucks without trailers: 2 fatal accidents
• Semi truck tractors hauling two or three trailers: 4 fatal accidents

In 2023, the Michigan State Police recorded 32,313 total accidents on Michigan interstate highways. These included 103 fatal accidents. More dangerous, however, were Michigan’s trunklines: routes like M-5 accounted for 60,028 total crashes and 231 deaths in 2023.

Oakland County ranked highly for total vehicle accidents in 2023, including total fatal crashes and injury-causing collisions. In Oakland County in 2023:

• 35,386 traffic crashes were recorded,
• 53 crashes resulted in a total of 54 deaths,
• 6,683 separate crashes caused a total of 9,212 injuries.

Only Wayne County recorded higher numbers of total accidents, deaths, and injuries. Macomb County ranked third in 2023.

Common Injuries in Large Truck Accidents

Federal safety regulations allow large trucks to weigh up to 80,000 pounds and stand up to 14 feet tall. These rules, however, apply only to trucks traveling across state lines.

Trucks that only travel within the state of Michigan can exceed these federal weight limits. Michigan’s weight limit is 164,000 pounds. While trucks must have permits to carry this much weight on Michigan roads, many trucks and trucking companies do carry such permits.

By comparison, the average passenger vehicle weighs between 2,000 and 3,500 pounds and stands approximately 4 to 6.5 feet tall. When a passenger vehicle collides with a fully loaded tractor-trailer, the smaller vehicle takes the brunt of the collision – and those inside can suffer serious injuries.

Common injuries in large truck accidents include:

• Head, neck, and back injuries,
• Brain and spinal cord injuries,
• Broken bones,
• Internal organ damage,
• Amputation, scarring, and disfigurement.

Other types of injuries may also occur. For example, if a crash causes damage that starts a fire, those involved in the accident may suffer burn injuries. Psychological trauma from experiencing a severe crash can also cause lingering problems.

How Truck Accident Claims Can Become Complex

When a large truck and a car collide, it can be easy to assume that the resulting injuries are the fault of the truck driver. In some cases, this analysis proves true. A driver’s negligence, inattention, or intoxication can cause a large truck crash – and many crashes each year are caused by driver negligence.

However, not all truck accidents are the fault of a truck driver. Many parties have responsibilities when it comes to putting trucks on the road safely. After a truck accident, it’s important to ask questions like:

• Did the driver have proper training and supervision? Trucking companies have a responsibility to ensure their drivers have proper training. They must also supervise their drivers, checking for drug use and ensuring that drivers follow Hours of Service requirements to prevent drowsy driving. When a trucking company fails to train or supervise its drivers properly, a crash can result.
• Was the truck properly maintained? Large trucks are complex machines. Trucking companies and maintenance teams must make sure that all of a truck’s essential parts are in good working order. When maintenance is neglected or performed improperly, a resulting issue can cause a crash – and the driver may be helpless to prevent the collision.
• Was the trailer properly maintained and loaded? Many truck drivers handle “no touch” freight. This means the truck’s driver never interacts with the cargo. Instead, workers at the loading dock must make sure that cargo is loaded and secured properly. Likewise, those who load trailers must make sure the trailer’s essential parts are in good working order.
• Did a hidden defect cause the crash? Even when maintenance and cargo teams do their jobs properly, a hidden defect in a part or piece of equipment may cause that item to fail, resulting in a crash. Manufacturers and designers of truck parts and equipment must make sure the items they create and sell are fit for their intended purpose. A hidden defect may be impossible to spot until after the danger has already occurred.
• How did other drivers on the road behave? Many accidents, especially on Michigan interstates, are the result of a long chain of events. A truck driver may collide with one vehicle while attempting to avoid a sudden emergency caused by a different vehicle. Understanding all the events that led up to a crash is essential for understanding who is responsible for the resulting injuries.

With so many potential parties involved, a truck accident claim can quickly become complex. Often, several insurance companies may become involved as well. The case can drag on for months as insurance companies each try to shift the blame – and the payment – to someone else.

If you’ve been injured in a truck crash, you don’t have time to wait for these parties and their insurers to fight with one another. You need full and fair compensation. You need the help of an experienced Farmington Hills truck accident attorney.

What To Do If You’re Injured in a Large Truck Accident

If you’ve been injured in a large truck crash, you can take steps to protect yourself and your family:

• Get medical attention. If you were taken to an emergency room, continue the treatment plan you’ve received. If you didn’t see a doctor immediately after the crash, see one as soon as possible to document your symptoms and start you on the path to medical recovery.
• Save your paperwork. Save copies of all paperwork related to the crash. This might include doctor’s notes, medical bills and receipts, towing bills, vehicle repair bills, and similar items. Keep track of your mileage when you travel to doctor’s appointments. This paperwork can help you demonstrate your need for compensation.
• Talk to an experienced attorney. Speak to a knowledgeable attorney as soon as possible. Choose a law firm with experience handling truck crash claims in Farmington Hills. A lawyer can answer your questions, advise you on your options, and help you pursue the compensation you need.

Reach Out To an Experienced Farmington Hills Truck Accident Attorney Today

If you or someone you love has been injured in a truck crash, you know how devastating these collisions can be. You may be struggling to recover from serious injuries, worrying about your home and family, and wondering what your life will look like after the crash.

If this sounds familiar, there is hope. Talk to a dedicated Farmington Hills truck accident attorney today. The team at Sommers Schwartz PC can help you understand your legal rights and fight for the full, fair compensation you deserve. Contact us today via our online form or by calling our office to schedule a no-cost, no-obligation consultation.