Michigan Fatal Truck Accident Attorneys In Lansing
For 2015, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), reported 4,067 fatal truck accidents nationwide. From 2014 to 2015, the number of fatalities from large truck accidents increased by four percent. The Michigan State Police’s Criminal Justice Information Center reports that trucks and buses accounted for 12,486 of the crashes in 2015 and resulted in 112 deaths and 2,191 injuries.
Of the number of people who died in 2015 in fatal truck accidents, 84 percent of those people were occupants of other vehicles or non-occupants (i.e. pedestrians, bicyclists, etc.). From 2014 to 2015, the number of people killed in truck accidents that were occupants of other vehicles increased by five percent while non-occupant fatalities increased by four percent. Sadly, occupants of other vehicles and others using our roads do not fare well in a commercial truck accident.
Causes of Fatal Truck Accidents
Sadly, driver error is one of the most common reasons for fatal truck accidents. Truck drivers are pushed by their employers to deliver loads faster than safely possible. To meet these unreasonable deadlines, truck drivers must drive additional hours in excess of the safe hours designated by law. Fatigued and drowsy truck drivers cause many of the fatal truck accidents each year. In addition to driving while fatigued and drowsy, other truck driver errors that lead to fatal crashes include driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs, distracted driving, speeding, and reckless driving.
Another common cause of fatal truck accidents is driver inexperience and improper driver training. This cause of truck accidents lies with the truck company who hires the truck driver. Some companies fail to train their drivers and hire inexperienced truck drivers to save money. Failing to ensure their truck drivers have the proper training and experience can result in company liability if the driver is involved in a fatal truck crash.
Other causes of fatal truck accidents include:
- Adverse weather conditions
- Poor road conditions
- Defective equipment or faulty repairs
- Failing to maintain the truck and equipment
- Improperly secured loads or overloaded trailers
- Equipment failure
The cause of a fatal truck accident is very important. More than one party could be responsible for the truck crash. Therefore, you may have claims against several parties. By identifying each liable party, we can increase the chance of receiving full compensation for all damages in your case. Our Michigan truck accident attorneys conduct thorough and comprehensive accident investigations to identify the liable parties and preserve key evidence to use to prove cause and liability.
Compensation for Families Under Michigan’s Wrongful Death Laws
Commercial truck accidents are typically more complex than claims involving passenger vehicles only. When you add a wrongful death claim, large truck accident lawsuits become even more complex. Handling these types of claims requires a certain level of expertise and training in addition to special resources for investigating the accident.
While no amount of money will replace your loved one nor will money ease the grief and pain you and your family are suffering, the law cannot undo what another party has done. However, Michigan’ wrongful death laws can provide compensation to the family to provide for the family’s financial needs after the loss of a loved one.
The types of damages in a wrongful death lawsuit that qualify for compensation include:
- Medical expenses from the time of the injury until death
- Cost of cremation, funeral, and burial
- Loss of income due to the death of the family member, including past, present, and future loss of income
- Loss of the value of the services provided by the loved one such as help with the house chores, childcare, etc.
- Loss of companionship, comfort, support, and love
- Pain and suffering of the deceased person from the time of the accident until death
We work with experts, including economists, to calculate the economic damages. There is not a formula for calculating the non-economic damages in wrongful death claims. Your attorney will work with you to present evidence and testimony that describes the extent of your loss to maximize the amount of compensation available for these damages.
Contact Our Office for A Free Appointment with A Lansing Truck Accident Attorney
Our legal team is ready to fight for justice for your loved one and your family. We urge you to contact our office to learn more about fatal truck accident lawsuits. Your time to file a lawsuit is limited, so please don’t delay.
Call The Clark Law Office at 517-347-6900 to schedule a free legal consultation. We have offices in Okemos and Lansing for your convenience.