Dearborn Truck Accident Attorney
According to Michigan Traffic Crash Facts from 2021, compared to the overall crashes in Michigan, large commercial truck drivers have more driver errors in backing, lane use, and turning, fewer single-vehicle crashes, more sideswipes, and more daytime and weekday crashes than drivers of smaller vehicles. Large commercial trucks and buses were involved in 5.1 percent of the 282,640 Michigan crashes during 2020, with 103 people killed, and 3,369 people severely injured following a truck or bus crash. Carsurance.net found that tire defects are responsible for almost a full one-third of all truck-related crashes and that sleep deprivation on the part of truck drivers causes as many as 100,000 truck crashes across the United States each year.
More than half of all truck accidents in the nation occur in rural areas, and in 2019 large trucks accounted for almost 10 percent of all vehicles involved in fatal accidents. If you have been involved in a truck accident, you may have suffered severe, even catastrophic injuries. The sheer size difference between a fully loaded truck (which can weigh up to 80,000 pounds) and a 3,000-pound passenger vehicle leaves those in the smaller vehicle extremely vulnerable to injury and death. If you are the victim of a truck accident, it is imperative that you have an experienced truck accident attorney from the Dan Makled Law Office as a strong advocate in your corner.
Why Choose Dearborn Truck Accident Attorney Dan Makled?
Due to the sheer size of a truck as compared to a passenger vehicle, truck accidents often leave those in the smaller vehicle dead, or with catastrophic injuries. Catastrophic injuries, like spinal cord injuries, amputations, disfigurement, and traumatic brain injuries can result in a lifetime of medical interventions and rehabilitative therapies. The victim of a truck accident may never be able to return to work and make a living or return to the life they had before the accident. Pain may be something they must learn to live with, and emotional trauma can make the situation even worse.
Should you find yourself in such a situation following a truck accident you need strong, experienced legal assistance. You need someone who will fight for you as if you were family and who will never hesitate to fight in court rather than accept a settlement that simply will not cover your damages. Attorney Dan Makled has the qualities you need following a truck accident. Dan is tenacious and will never allow an insurance company to bully you into accepting a less-than-optimal settlement. Dan has a deep understanding of insurance industry tactics and strategies because he began his career working for insurance defense firms.
Choosing the Dan Makled Law Firm gives you an immediate advantage; we have achieved many multi-million-dollar results and work hard to build strong, trusting relationships with each client. In one case, we recovered a $700,000 personal injury settlement when the initial offer was $75,000. We understand that you have choices when choosing a truck accident attorney. We hope you will give us an opportunity to speak to you about your truck accident—we believe once you talk to Dan Makled, your choice will be clear.
What Does a Truck Accident Attorney Do?
Once you have a strong Dearborn truck accident attorney assisting you, your attorney will work to determine liability in your accident. Unlike other types of accidents, there can be more than one defendant in a truck accident claim, which makes truck accidents much more complex. Your truck accident attorney will do the following on your behalf:
- Investigate and collect evidence in your case, including photos, videos, police reports from the accident, data from the truck’s onboard electronic information system, expert witness testimony, and eyewitness statements
- Ensure you receive the medical treatment you need, then gather and compile all your medical expenses related to the truck accident to prove damages
- Identify the potentially liable parties, along with each liable party’s insurance carrier
- File all relevant documents in your case, allowing you the time you need to heal from your injuries
- Negotiate with the insurance company or companies in an attempt to reach a fair settlement on your behalf that will fully cover all your damages
- Try your case in court if the insurance company or companies refuse to settle
Your truck accident attorney from the Dan Makled Law Office will prove the following elements in order to secure an equitable settlement on your behalf:
- The truck driver (and/or trucking company, loading company, maintenance company, or truck manufacturer) owed you a duty of care
- That duty of care was breached or violated
- That breach of duty of care caused injuries to you and your loved ones
- You suffered damages and losses as a result of your injuries
Who is Liable in a Commercial Truck Driving Accident?
In a car accident with another driver, there is usually a clear determination of which driver is at fault—or at least, mostly at fault. Truck accidents are different because there can be many different liable parties. The truck driver could be at fault if he or she was driving carelessly, distracted, impaired, exceeding the speed limit, overly fatigued, or disobeying traffic rules or laws. The trucking company could be liable if it failed to perform a thorough background check on the driver, failed to ensure the driver was properly trained or was aware the driver was exceeding his or her allowable hours.
If shifting or falling cargo caused the accident, the loading company could be liable for the accident, or if the maintenance company failed to properly maintain the truck and that was the cause of the accident, the maintenance company could be liable. If a defective truck part was the cause of the accident, then the manufacturer of the truck part could be liable, or at least partially liable. Since there can be multiple liable parties, it is essential that your truck accident attorney have significant experience with truck accident liability determination.
What Are the Different Types of Truck Accidents?
There are many different types of truck accidents, including the following:
- Truck rollover accidents can be devastating—and terrifying for those involved. Since large commercial trucks have a higher center of gravity, truck drivers must be extremely careful when making a sharp turn and should not exceed the speed limit. Otherwise, the trailer can flip and roll the entire truck onto one side, where it can slide into multiple vehicles. While a truck rollover can be the driver’s fault, it can also be caused by an overloaded or improperly loaded truck.
- Rear-end collisions can be devastating for the smaller vehicle in front of the truck. Larger, heavier trucks need significantly more distance to come to a complete stop than smaller vehicles, so if a vehicle in front of a truck stops suddenly, the truck may run right over it. Truck drivers that are tailgating smaller vehicles are extremely dangerous to those around them.
- Head-on collisions are usually deadly when a large commercial truck is involved. When a driver loses control of the truck, drifts out of their lane, or falls asleep while driving, a head-on collision can occur. There are usually fatalities when a large commercial truck hits a smaller vehicle head-on.
- When a large truck makes an improper turn or braking maneuver, the truck can jackknife—the trailer can swing wide around its pivot point to create a shape like a folding knife.
- T-bone accidents are also known as side-impact accidents and can cause severe injuries to those inside the smaller vehicle that are “t-boned” by the truck.
- A sideswipe accident occurs when a truck driver changes lanes without seeing the smaller vehicle in the other lane. A sideswiped car can be forced into other lanes, causing multiple-vehicle collisions and significant damage.
- Trucks made much wider turns than smaller vehicles; when a truck driver makes a right-hand turn, they must first swing the cab wide to the left, but this can create a dangerous situation for vehicles in neighboring lanes.
What Are the Factors Involved in Most Truck Accidents?
Truck driver distraction and truck driver fatigue are significant causes of truck accidents. Truck drivers are only paid for the time they are actually driving the truck, therefore, may drive more than their allowable hours. Truck drivers can be distracted by the same things other drivers are distracted by—eating a meal while driving, talking on a cell phone, changing or reading a GPS device, or talking to a passenger. Trucking companies may look the other way because it benefits them to have their loads delivered quickly as well. Faulty brakes and tires are among the top causes of truck accidents. When the maintenance company is not doing its job properly or the truck driver does not check the tires before each trip, an accident can occur.
Getting the Help You Need from Truck Accident Attorney Dan Makled
When you lack quality legal representation, you may be taken advantage of by an insurance company. Attorney Dan Makled will never allow that to happen. Dan enjoys stepping in and fighting the insurance company to victory, ensuring they pay what your truck accident claim is worth. Dan will carefully evaluate the facts and circumstances surrounding your Dearborn truck accident. He will then clearly present your options, answering your questions thoroughly, yet in an easy-to-understand manner.
Once you have chosen the Dan Makled Law Firm, you can rest easy, knowing your interests are being looked after in the best way possible. Attorney Dan Makled wants you to be able to heal from your injuries and put your life back together while he fights for the settlement you deserve. Contact the Dan Makled Law Firm today for assistance with your Dearborn truck accident.
