Grand Rapids Truck Accident Lawyer

Large commercial trucks are abundant on the roadways in and around Grand Rapids, MI. Unfortunately, if a crash occurs, these massive vehicles can inflict significant damage and injuries on those inside traditional passenger cars, trucks, and SUVs. In the wake of an accident, you may find yourself contending with bills you cannot pay.

White Law PLLC’s Grand Rapids truck accident attorneys can help you address those bills along with the negligence that led to your accident. You can bring in our team to conduct a full investigation into your claim. Once we have the evidence to establish liability, we can fight for your right to fair compensation in civil court.

What Can an Attorney Do to Help?

Many truck accidents stem from the negligent actions of truck drivers or trucking companies. An attorney understands that truck drivers and companies must abide by state and federal regulations. A truck accident lawyer in Grand Rapids can look out for the following common causes of these crashes:

• Drivers operating while distracted or impaired by alcohol or drugs
• Drivers failing to follow hours of service requirements
• Companies or drivers overloading their trucks
• Truck operators failing to inspect or maintain the vehicle
• Drivers failing to follow traffic laws or operating too fast for present weather conditions

Moreover, Kent County attorneys can work with you to delegate your post-accident responsibilities. While you seek out physical therapy and focus on going back to work, we can bring forward evidence of your losses. We can also interview bystanders and use the data we gather to name a party liable for your losses. 

Our team stands in the way of unfair settlement offers and large trucking agencies’ attempts to intimidate you out of legal action. We also put power back in your hands, giving you the opportunity to pursue fair compensation through negotiations or in a truck crash trial. You can discuss our services during an initial consultation.

Why Choose White Law PLLC For Your Grand Rapids Truck Accident Case?

White Law PLLC can bring decades of combined legal experience helping truck accident victims in Michigan to your side. Our attorneys utilize cutting-edge technology, such as laptops, tablets, and cloud services, to stay connected at all times.

White Law PLLC also prides itself on its people-first values. We understand that you need time to recover from the strain of an accident. We also know that because the nature of truck accident fault can become so intertwined, you’ll want to have a team with proven experience on your side.

That’s why we make our case results and testimonials readily available. Since White Law PLLC’s founding, we’ve generated over $1 billion in compensation for over 30,000 clients. When you sign a White Law PLLC onto your case, you reap the benefits of over 60+ years of legal experience in Michigan’s civil courts.

Grand Rapids Truck Accidents Can Be Severe

There is no denying that commercial trucks can inflict significant damage on other vehicles on the roadway. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), a fully loaded tractor-trailer can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds. At White Law PLLC, we regularly help clients who have sustained the following injuries in these incidents:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Crush injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Internal bleeding or organ damage
• Broken and dislocated bones
• Catastrophic injuries, including long- and short-term paralysis

Unfortunately, due to the size and weight of large commercial trucks, these accidents are more likely to result in the death of drivers and passengers in traditional vehicles.

Data supplied by the Michigan Traffic Reporting System shows that there were more than 6,000 total heavy commercial truck crashes across Michigan during the latest year. More than 1,200 people were injured in these incidents. There were more than 60 fatal large truck crashes that year.

Working With Insurance Companies After a Truck Crash

Most drivers today know that it’s in their best interest to exchange insurance information with all other parties involved in a collision, even if the distribution of fault isn’t yet clear. Most insurance companies then expect truck accident survivors to reach out to them within 24 hours of an accident.

This early contact makes it easier for providers to connect you with an insurance adjuster who can allegedly help estimate the value of your motor vehicle accident losses. However, insurance adjusters often prioritize their company’s bottom lines over your recovery. As such, the compensation estimate you receive from an insurance provider may undervalue your accident.

Fortunately, you can call on an auto accident attorney to contest the estimate an insurance company provides you with. Our truck accident lawyers in Grand Rapids can establish our own estimate of your case’s value to compare against an adjuster’s. If it looks like an adjuster has overlooked some of your losses, we can negotiate for a fair settlement on your behalf.

Who to Hold Liable For a Semi-Truck Collision

The process of assigning liability for a collision doesn’t start and end with a negligent driver. You need to have evidence on hand to adequately identify an at-fault driver both at the scene and later in court. The evidence you can bring forward to better back your assertion of liability can include:

• Video and photo footage of your accident
• Bystander statements
• Expert witness opinions
• Social media statements
• Physical debris

What’s more, you have to consider the influence that contracts can have on liability in a truck crash case. Independent contractors are responsible for their own insurance and, subsequently, their own accidents, should you choose to take them to civil court. Drivers employed by the trucking industry may see fault for their accident revert to their employer.

Our law firm can assess your circumstances and follow the evidence to the right at-fault party or parties. That way, your lawsuit can accurately represent the nature of your accident and demand appropriate fault benefits on your behalf.

What Kind Of Compensation Can Survivors Demand in Personal Injury Claims?

If you can trace the source of your semi-truck collision back to a particular party’s negligence, you may have the right to file for personal injury compensation. The team at White Law PLLC will fully investigate your claim in order to secure the following:

• Any truck accident-related medical bills
• General household out-of-pocket expenses
• Lost income if you are unable to work while you recover
• Future disability benefits
• Emotional distress
• Pain and suffering damages

If your collision results in the untimely passing of a loved one, you are entitled to more than your grief. Michigan state law may allow you to pursue a wrongful death claim on behalf of the departed.

You can discuss your right to wrongful death action with the personal injury attorneys at our firm. We can then integrate the value of your loved one’s medical bills, funeral expenses, and related losses into an estimate of the financial compensation you may deserve.

The Question of Punitive Damages

A judge may choose to award you punitive damages after a case involving a truck driver’s or agency’s gross negligence. You may not ask for punitive damages in your initial claim nor include them in your estimate of your case’s total value. You do not have the right to punitive damages if you choose to pursue a settlement via negotiations, either.

Instead, it is up to a judge and a judge alone to determine if your case merits punitive damages. That said, you can discuss the possibility of punitive damages with the Grand Rapids truck crash attorney in charge of your case.

When to File a Trucking Accident Claim in Grand Rapids

An experienced personal injury lawyer understands that taking legal action while also contending with truck collision injuries is no easy feat. However, Michigan state law does expect you to file a truck accident personal injury claim on a tight deadline. 

Michigan Compiled Laws section 600.5805, the state’s statute of limitations, gives you no more than three years to bring your losses forward.

If you can’t file your complaint within that three-year period, Michigan courts may waive your right to fair compensation regardless of what evidence you bring forward. As such, it’s important to connect with auto accident lawyers early in the days following your crash. Our team can take the lead on your case while you focus on recovering from your injuries.

We Operate With Your Financial Needs in Mind

Our team understands that fear of legal fees may keep you from taking legal action, even in cases where fault seems cut and dry. That’s why White Law PLLC operates on contingency. We do not add to your medical expenses and other economic stressors.

You will not receive a bill from our team. Instead, we only get paid if we win your case. You can learn more about contingency and our contingency fee agreements during an initial consultation.

Let Our Grand Rapids Truck Accident Lawyers Help

If you or somebody you love has been injured due to the negligent actions of a truck driver or trucking company, let the team at White Law PLLC get to work on your case today. Our forward-thinking attorneys in Kent County focus on streamlining your case and using technology to maximize the compensation you will receive.

We have no problem taking your Grand Rapids personal injury case to trial if that is what it takes to stand up to aggressive insurance carriers. When you need a truck accident attorney in Grand Rapids, you can contact us for a free consultation of your case by clicking here or calling our office.