The most common causes of truck accidents in Detroit are rarely simple accidents. They are typically the result of specific, preventable failures.
These include driver fatigue from violating federal work limits, mechanical neglect like brake failure, and aggressive driving on high-volume corridors such as I-75 and I-94. A police report might cite “following too closely” as the immediate reason for a crash, but the root cause is typically a trucking company enforcing dangerously unrealistic delivery schedules.
This distinction is necessary for securing compensation that goes beyond your basic No-Fault Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits. Our practice focuses on digging beneath the surface of the official crash report to find the truth and hold negligent carriers and their insurance companies accountable for the harm they cause.
If you have a question about a recent collision involving a semi-truck or commercial vehicle, call us for a free consultation. We offer a free consultation, and there is no obligation to work with us.
Key Takeaways for Detroit Truck Accident Claims
- Company negligence is a primary factor. The root cause of a truck crash is frequently a trucking company’s policies, such as unrealistic schedules or poor maintenance, not just a driver’s mistake.
- Preserving evidence is an immediate priority. A truck’s black box and company records contain vital data, which is why a legal demand to preserve this evidence must be sent right away.
- Strict deadlines apply to all Michigan claims. You have only one year to file for No-Fault benefits and three years to file an injury lawsuit, making prompt action essential for protecting your rights.
Driver-Specific Causes: When Human Error Is Fatal
While the company behind the truck frequently bears responsibility, the actions of the driver are the most immediate factor in a collision. These are frequently conscious decisions that prioritize deadlines over safety.
Distracted Driving
Many people think of texting when they hear about distracted driving, but for commercial truck drivers, the sources of distraction are everywhere. Many trucks are equipped with dispatching devices and GPS units that require a driver’s attention. Eating, adjusting controls, or simply zoning out from highway hypnosis on long, monotonous stretches of Michigan highways may have catastrophic consequences.
Speeding and Aggressive Driving
A fully loaded truck weighing 80,000 pounds requires a much greater distance to come to a complete stop compared to a passenger car. Speeding erases the already thin margin for error that truckers have. When a driver tailgates, makes improper lane changes, or drives too fast for conditions, they are piloting a multi-ton weapon with little room to correct a mistake.
Driver Fatigue and Hours of Service Violations
To combat the clear danger of exhausted drivers, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has strict Hours of Service rules. These regulations generally limit property-carrying drivers to an 11-hour driving limit within a 14-hour window, followed by 10 consecutive hours off duty. They also have a 60 or 70-hour limit over a 7 or 8-day period.
However, economic pressures from trucking companies to meet just-in-time delivery schedules may lead drivers to push these limits. Some might falsify their electronic logbooks, while others are implicitly encouraged to drive while tired. A fatigued driver may be as impaired as a drunk driver, with slowed reaction times and poor judgment.
Impaired Driving
While alcohol-related incidents are a known danger, a more hidden threat in the trucking industry is impairment from other substances. This might include illegal drugs, but it also frequently involves prescription medications or over-the-counter stimulants used to stay awake and fight off fatigue. Any substance that affects a driver’s ability to safely operate their vehicle is a form of impairment.
Company-Level Causes: The Silent Negligence
The driver’s error is commonly just the final link in a chain of negligence that starts in a corporate office. The driver may have caused the crash, but the company likely created the conditions that made it inevitable.
Negligent Maintenance
Commercial trucks are complicated machines that travel hundreds of thousands of miles a year, and they require constant, rigorous maintenance to remain safe. Common points of failure include:
- Brake failure: Improperly maintained or adjusted brakes may dramatically increase stopping distance.
- Tire blowouts: Worn or underinflated tires are prone to blowouts, which may cause a driver to lose control instantly.
- Lighting and electrical issues: Burnt-out headlights, taillights, or turn signals make a truck less visible, especially at night or in poor weather.
Federal law requires trucking companies to keep detailed inspection and maintenance records. If a company chose to skip necessary repairs to save money or keep a truck on the road, that is a clear form of actionable negligence.
Negligent Hiring and Training
A trucking company has a duty of care to ensure its drivers are qualified and safe. Did they hire a driver with a known history of reckless driving, DUIs, or other serious traffic violations? Did they fail to provide adequate training, especially for operating in challenging Michigan winter conditions? If so, the company could be held liable for placing a dangerous driver on the road.
Improper Loading and Overloading
Weight and balance are essential to a truck’s stability. Under Michigan law, the gross vehicle weight of a truck generally cannot exceed 80,000 pounds without a special permit. An overloaded truck is dangerous in several ways:
- It places immense strain on the brakes and tires.
- It raises the truck’s center of gravity, increasing the risk of a rollover accident, especially during turns.
- Unsecured or poorly balanced cargo can shift during transit, causing the driver to lose control and potentially jackknife.
- The driver, the loading company, and the trucking company could all share liability for a crash caused by improper loading.
Unrealistic Scheduling
Perhaps the most pervasive form of company negligence is the pressure to deliver faster. When a company creates schedules that are nearly impossible to meet without speeding or violating Hours of Service rules, they are implicitly telling their drivers that safety is a secondary concern.
Environmental and Infrastructure Factors in Detroit
Not every factor in a truck accident relates to the driver or the company; sometimes, the road itself plays a role. Detroit’s infrastructure and Michigan’s weather create unique challenges for all drivers, but especially for those operating 40-ton vehicles.
Construction Zones and Road Conditions
The ever-present construction season on highways like I-75 means frequent lane shifts, narrowed roadways, and sudden stops. These conditions demand heightened attention, and a moment’s inattention from a truck driver may be disastrous. Furthermore, potholes and other road defects might cause a truck driver to swerve or lose control. If a documented and dangerous road defect was the cause of the accident, the government entity responsible for maintaining that road could be liable.
However, pursuing a claim against a government entity in Michigan is exceptionally difficult. Under MCL 691.1404, you are required to provide a formal, written notice of the injury and defect to the correct government agency within just 120 days of the incident. Failure to meet this strict deadline will permanently bar you from recovering compensation.
Michigan Weather
Rain, snow, and ice are a reality of driving in Detroit. All drivers have a responsibility to adjust their speed and driving habits to match the conditions. However, commercial truck drivers, as licensed professionals, are held to an even higher standard of care. Simply driving the speed limit could be considered negligent if weather conditions warrant a much slower speed.
Determining Fault: How We Uncover the True Cause
A trucking company and its insurer will not simply admit that their negligence was the root cause of the crash. It is our job to gather the evidence needed to prove it.
The Black Box and Spoliation Letters
Modern commercial trucks are equipped with an Event Data Recorder (EDR), also called a black box. This device records data in the seconds leading up to a collision, such as speed, braking, and engine RPMs. This data provides objective proof of what the driver was doing right before impact. This information, along with driver logs, dispatch records, and maintenance files, is evidence that trucking companies may be tempted to lose.
This is why one of the first things Kajy Law Firm does is send a spoliation letter. This is a formal legal notice that demands the trucking company preserve all evidence related to the crash. It puts them on notice that destroying or altering this data will have severe legal consequences.
Holding the Company Accountable
We use legal principles to connect a driver’s actions to their employer.
- Respondeat Superior: This is a legal concept that means “let the master answer.” It allows us to hold the trucking corporation liable for the negligent acts of its employee (the driver) as long as the driver was acting within the scope of their employment.
- Joint and Several Liability: In Michigan, we may pursue compensation from multiple at-fault parties. For instance, if the driver was speeding, the maintenance company failed to fix the brakes, and the loading company overloaded the trailer, we may seek recovery from all of them.
Navigating Michigan Law After a Commercial Crash
Michigan’s auto insurance system creates a two-tiered approach to compensation after an accident.
Your No-Fault (PIP) Benefits
Regardless of who caused the crash, your own auto insurance policy provides what are called Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits. These benefits cover your medical expenses, a percentage of your lost wages, and replacement services, all up to the limits you selected in your policy.
Third-Party Claims for Pain and Suffering
Because truck accidents frequently cause severe and life-altering injuries, you may have the right to step outside the no-fault system and file a lawsuit against the at-fault truck driver and their company. To do so, you must show that you suffered what the law calls a Serious Impairment of Body Function. This means an injury that is objectively observable and affects your ability to lead your normal life.
There are strict deadlines for taking legal action. You generally have only one year from the date of the accident to file an application for No-Fault benefits with your own insurer. For an injury lawsuit against the negligent parties, the statute of limitations under MCL 600.5805 is typically three years. Do not wait. Evidence in trucking cases may disappear quickly, and building a strong case takes time.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Can I sue if the truck driver says he was cut off by another car?
Yes. A professional driver is expected to maintain a safe following distance precisely so they can react to sudden events. We would investigate whether the trucker was following too closely or driving too fast for traffic conditions, which prevented them from reacting safely to the other car.
What if the truck was from another state (Interstate Trucking)?
The federal FMCSA safety regulations apply to all commercial carriers operating in the U.S., regardless of their home state. Our firm frequently handles cases involving out-of-state trucking companies that cause accidents in Michigan.
Who pays for my car if a semi-truck totaled it?
For damage to your vehicle, you will primarily rely on your own collision coverage if you have it. Under Michigan’s mini-tort law, you might also be able to recover up to a limited amount from the at-fault driver’s insurance to help cover your deductible.
Is the trucking company liable if the driver was an independent contractor?
In many cases, yes. A trucking company usually cannot avoid responsibility by labeling its drivers as independent contractors, especially if the company exerts significant control over the driver’s schedule, routes, and equipment.
How do I prove the truck driver was tired?
We analyze the driver’s electronic logbooks (ELDs) to check for Hours of Service violations. We also cross-reference those logs with fuel receipts, GPS data, and weigh station records to find discrepancies that indicate the driver was falsifying their logs to conceal how long they were actually on the road.
Don’t Let Negligent Trucking Companies Evade Responsibility
A collision with a commercial truck is not a fair fight. Within hours of the crash, the trucking company and its insurance carrier have a team of adjusters and lawyers working to control the narrative and minimize their financial exposure. They are already investigating the cause of the crash with the goal of protecting their interests.
You do not have to face this alone. At Kajy Law Firm, we know the federal and state regulations that govern the trucking industry, and we understand the tactics companies use to try and hide evidence of fatigue, maintenance failures, and other safety violations.
Take control of your recovery. Call Kajy Law Firm today for a free, confidential consultation to discuss the specific causes of your truck accident.
