Southfield, MI Truck Accident Lawyers

Assessing Truck Accident Liability in Southfield, MI

According to data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), truck accidents caused 4,764 deaths in 2022. And given the size discrepancy between a car and a truck, those who survive truck accidents often experience more severe injuries than those in a regular auto accident.

If you’re the victim of a truck accident in Southfield or other neighboring communities, you deserve fair treatment and just compensation.

Yet dealing with the ‘legalese’ of truck accident claims can be challenging and complex – especially when it comes to determining liability. All of this can prevent you from getting the compensation and justice you deserve. That’s why you need experienced truck accident attorneys on your side.

Who Is Liable After a Truck Accident in Southfield, MI?

After a truck accident in Southfield, it’s critical to determine if negligence caused the accident so you can file a claim against the responsible party. This is where things can get tricky because there are many possibilities. So it’s crucial you have an experienced truck accident lawyer working for you.

Unless the blame is 100% clear-cut (which it rarely is), the following are the most common possible liable parties:

Truck Driver

After a truck accident in Southfield, it’s easy to blame the truck driver. After all, the truck has the advantage of sheer size and heft. Plus, truck drivers must know and follow all Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rules and regulations. These rules dictate that the following will not be tolerated:

• Distracted driving
• Speeding
• Aggressive driving
• Failure to yield
• Improper lane changes
• Substance use
• Drowsy driving

Yet, truck drivers are under immense pressure to meet strict deadlines. In the face of road and weather delays, they may flout some of these rules. If a trucker involved in a crash is found to have broken FMCSA regulations or standard traffic laws, they can be held liable.

Trucking Company

While it’s easy enough to blame the truck driver, the trucking company may be complicit – or even fully to blame. On occasion, the truck driver may have done everything in his/her power to avoid the accident. Trucking companies have a responsibility to properly screen job candidates, regularly conduct drug and alcohol testing of drivers, properly and fully train drivers, maintain vehicles, and create realistic deadlines. Failure to do so can make them liable.

Cargo Owners and Loaders

Some truck accidents are the result of an uneven load, causing instability and flying debris. Trucks transporting hazardous materials are required to follow strict rules for loading and securing those items. If a truck is overloaded or improperly secured, the cargo owners and loaders can be held liable.

Maintenance Providers

In some cases, trucking companies will outsource truck maintenance to third-party providers. If this provider fails to conduct regular safety inspections or performs a negligent repair that contributed to the truck accident in Southfield, they are considered responsible.

Vehicle/Parts Manufacturer

If your accident was the result of a failure of one or more components on the truck or your car, your truck accident attorney may encourage filing a  product liability claim to hold the vehicle or parts manufacturer accountable.

Government Entities

Finally, an accident may be the result of broken pavement, a soft shoulder, or poor signage. In this case, the local or state government is responsible for that roadway and could be held accountable. In addition, the government could be responsible if the action or inaction of a negligent contractor contributed to the accident.

Insist on Only The Best Southfield Truck Accident Attorneys

When it comes to navigating a truck accident in Southfield, there are often many parties involved. That means anyone involved in a Michigan truck accident needs legal representation that understands the specific laws that affect a case along with the steps involved to get a truck accident victim’s medical bills paid and to recover the full compensation they deserve.

Kajy Law has a dedicated truck accident team who only focus on trucking cases–nothing else. So call us at 248-487-8826 or use our contact form to set up a free truck accident consultation.

With decades of cumulative experience with truck accident cases, our team of knowledgeable lawyers has won sizable compensation for our clients. We provide an unmatched level of client service while aggressively protecting your rights at each stage in the legal process.