Westland Fatal Truck Accident Lawyer

Lost a Loved One in a Truck Crash? Speak to an Experienced Westland Truck Accident Lawyer Today

Semi trucks and delivery trucks regularly pass through Westland, making deliveries and connections with nearby Plymouth, Canton, Garden City, Wayne, and Dearborn. Westland is also near Detroit Metro Airport, where trucks of all shapes and sizes pick up and deliver cargo.

Truck traffic is a key part of Westland’s economy, but it can also lead to deadly accidents. If you’ve lost a loved one in a truck collision in or near Westland, talk to an experienced attorney today. The team at Sommers Schwartz, P.C. can help.

Michigan and Wayne County Fatal Truck Accident Statistics

The Michigan State Police defines a “truck” as a vehicle with a curb weight of over 10,000 pounds. In 2024, the MSP’s Statewide Traffic Crash Data Year End Report recorded 1,012 fatal vehicle collisions on Michigan roadways. Many of these accidents involved trucks. According to the MSP, 52 tractor-trailers, 10 tractors hauling double trailers, four trucks hauling a trailer, and 29 single-unit trucks with two or three axles were involved in fatal accidents in 2024.

Truck crashes are becoming more common and more deadly. The 2024 statistics showed a 5% increase in overall truck and bus crashes in Michigan compared to 2023. Fatal crashes increased 7%. The number of total truck crashes and deaths in 2024 exceeded the previous five-year high set in 2022.

As in previous years, Wayne County led the state in total traffic accidents and in deadly crashes in 2024. Crashes claimed the lives of 177 people in Wayne County, including 20 fatalities from collisions with large trucks. Macomb County recorded 70 traffic deaths, four of which occurred in truck collisions; Oakland County had 68 total deaths, six of which involved truck accidents. Injury rates were also high; Wayne County recorded 879 injuries in large truck collisions in 2024.

Dangerous Roads and Intersections in Westland

Everyone who regularly travels Michigan’s roadways is familiar with the sight of semi trucks traversing the state on I-94, I-69, I-96, I-75, and other major freeways. However, Michigan’s interstate highways are not the most common locations for fatal large-truck collisions. According to the Michigan State Police, deadly collisions are more likely to occur on Michigan state highways and other roadways than on interstates.

In 2024:

• 43.3% of fatal truck crashes in Michigan occurred on U.S. or state highways.
• 29.8% occurred on county roads and city streets.
• 26% occurred on interstate highways.

While I-275 and I-96 are easily accessible from Westland, they do not connect directly to Westland. Trucks traveling to Westland rely on US-12 (Michigan Avenue) and M-153 (Ford Road). Both roads are part of the group that sees the highest rate of deadly truck crashes. Westland’s city streets are also more common sites of fatal collisions than the interstate freeways that pass nearby.

Most large truck collisions, including those causing injury or death, happen in the roadway itself. In 2024, 94.2% of fatal truck collisions occurred on Michigan’s roadways, rather than on medians, shoulders, or driveways.

What Causes Deadly Truck Crashes?

When two cars collide, it’s often challenging to determine which driver caused the accident. When a large truck crashes into another vehicle, it’s easy to assume the truck’s driver is at fault.

Truck drivers have a serious responsibility to handle their vehicles safely and use appropriate care to prevent collisions. However, trucking is a complex industry, and trucks are complex machines. While an investigation into the cause of a deadly crash should examine the driver’s actions, it should also investigate the driver’s employer, the trucks’ maintenance and repair, the loading of cargo, and the safety of the truck and its components.

Driver-Related Negligence

Truck driver negligence causes many collisions. Common negligent behaviors include driving while distracted, drowsy, or under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. Drivers who take to the road without proper training or who ignore safety regulations can also trigger an otherwise preventable crash.

Trucking Company Negligence

Trucking companies have a duty to supervise their drivers to prevent accidents. This responsibility includes screening drivers they hire, ensuring drivers receive appropriate training, and holding drivers accountable for complying with federal and state regulations.

A trucking company may share fault for a truck crash if it failed to screen or train the driver. You may also be able to hold a company liable if it pushed the driver to ignore Hours of Service (HOS) regulations, which exist to reduce the risk of driver fatigue causing a crash.

Maintenance and Repair Issues

Trucks are complex machines. They need regular maintenance and repair to keep them running safely. When maintenance or repair teams fail to check trucks regularly or fix known problems, their oversight can lead to an accident. These accidents can be especially frightening for truck drivers, who may not know the truck has a problem until it’s too late to prevent a crash.

Inappropriate Cargo Loading

Many truck drivers handle “no-touch” freight. This means the driver does not participate in loading or securing the cargo they haul. Instead, the driver trusts a team at the loading dock to ensure the cargo is loaded and secured correctly. If this team fails in its duties, cargo can shift or fall during transport. Cargo problems can trigger a crash that wouldn’t have happened if the cargo had been loaded properly.

Hidden Equipment Defects

Even when drivers, trucking companies, repair teams, and cargo loaders do their jobs correctly, a hidden defect in a truck part, cargo chain, or other piece of equipment can trigger a crash. Manufacturers and designers of truck equipment have a duty to provide equipment free of hidden, dangerous defects. A driver might not know there’s a defect until it’s too late to prevent a crash.

Compensation for a Westland Fatal Truck Collision

After a deadly crash, the victim’s family and community deserve answers. Family members can seek compensation for the loss of their loved one by filing a lawsuit. A wrongful death case seeks compensation for both the accident victim’s damages and their family members’ losses.

Compensation in a fatal truck accident case can include:

• Payment of medical bills (the care your loved one received from emergency teams, doctors, and hospitals).
• Lost wages to replace the financial support your loved one provided to the household.
• The cost to repair or replace items lost or damaged in the crash, such as a family vehicle.
• Funeral and burial expenses for your loved one.

You may also be able to recover damages for the intense personal loss caused by a deadly accident. This may include compensation for:

• Your loved one’s conscious pain and suffering.
• The mental and emotional anguish you suffer from the loss of your loved one.
• Family members’ loss of their loved one’s care, companionship, and support.

If you were also injured in the crash, you may be able to file a separate personal injury claim. An experienced Westland truck accident lawyer can explain your options and help you pursue the compensation you deserve.

A wrongful death claim can help your family recover critical financial support after a difficult loss. It can also help you determine exactly what happened and who was at fault. When you can identify the parties at fault, you can hold them accountable for their actions. Doing so may also help prevent similar tragedies from harming others in your community.

Time Limits for Filing a Claim After a Deadly Truck Crash

Time moves both slowly and quickly when you lose a loved one. The days may seem to crawl, but weeks and months fly by. While you’re dealing with the immediate loss, it’s important to keep some legal deadlines in mind.

Michigan typically allows three years from the date of an accident to file a claim in court. However, Michigan law may shorten or extend that time period depending on the specific facts of the case. For example, in some situations, wrongful death claims may be filed more than three years after the incident. An attorney can help you understand which deadlines apply and ensure your claim is filed on time, so you don’t lose the opportunity to pursue compensation and justice for your loss.

Contact a Knowledgeable Truck Accident Attorney in Westland Today

Losing a loved one in a truck crash turns your world upside-down. You’re left figuring out how to pay bills, take care of your family, and move forward with your life while bearing the weight of immense grief. If you were also injured in the collision, you may also struggle to care for yourself and your immediate needs.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. An experienced Westland truck accident lawyer can help you fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact the team at Sommers Schwartz, P.C., to schedule a free, no-obligation, confidential consultation with a knowledgeable Westland truck accident attorney today.