Detroit Truck Accident Lawyer

Winning Millions for Our Clients

After you get into a serious truck accident, you need and deserve compensation. You also need the help of a Detroit truck accident lawyer. Those responsible for injuries will rarely admit fault, and insurance companies do their best to steer clear of accountability. Some truck accident lawyers in Detroit might even say that your case is too difficult for them to take on.

But our Detroit truck accident attorneys at Goodman Acker are ready to step up to the challenge. We are proud and prepared to take on complex and high-stakes catastrophic injury claims that cause other Detroit lawyers to shy away. Our tenacious and deliberate approach to casework and representation has earned us a long history of incredible success for our clients – and we don’t have any intention of changing our winning methods now.

For a combined 150+ years, we have been helping our community members throughout the Detroit metropolitan area. We have a 99 percent success rate to show for it.

You need a Detroit truck accident attorney who is resilient, knowledgeable, and wants to do all they can to help you and your case. At Goodman Acker, our Detroit truck accident lawyers are ready to learn more about you and how they can help.

How Our Detroit Truck Accident Attorneys Are Different

99% Success Rate

Goodman Acker is not your ordinary law firm. Our Detroit truck accident attorneys are deeply rooted in our community. We don’t just work for our clients, we build relationships with them. Our team will dedicate our formidable resources and expertise to your case. Our attorneys will be prepared for any tactics insurers and trucking companies use. We have unique legal insight that only comes from experience with complex truck accident cases, such as a truck accident case in which we won $2 million when our client was tragically run over by a truck driven by a distracted driver.

Ian – Client, Truck Accident Victim

Our 99% success rate speaks for itself. You make a good choice when you work with our truck accident lawyers in Detroit. We rise to the challenge and use our collective knowledge, skills, and resources to make sure our truck accident clients recover what’s fair and just. Our reputation testifies to our commitment.

1. We are available 24/7 for client emergencies, which is just another reason why we are trusted and respected in Detroit and throughout Michigan.
2. Our team of seasoned truck accident lawyers fights tirelessly for our clients shown by the millions of dollars we have recovered for our clients.
3. Our reputation is backed by awards and recognition, like inclusion on the Super Lawyers list, an AV Martindale-Hubbell Rating, and a spot on the list of Top 100 Trial Lawyers.
4. News groups, like FOX 17, feature our law firm regularly – we are a trusted name in our community.
5. Former and current clients thank us for our help – and you can read our client testimonials to learn of how our work has impacted their lives.
6. We have 150+ years of combined legal experience.

We Handle All Types of Truck Accident Claims

Truck Accident Lawyers in Detroit with Vast Experience

No matter how you were injured, our Detroit truck accident lawyers have the experience needed to work with you. With the shared experiences and insight from our team of truck accident lawyers, we can prepare our clients’ cases for anything that the defense might try to use to escape liability. Because truck accidents can involve multiple parties who can be held liable, our prior experience with truck accident cases means we know what it takes to prove responsibility for the accident.

How Our Detroit Truck Accident Attorney Will Help You

If you’ve been injured, you might think that you can handle the insurance companies on your own. However, you’ll be much more likely to recover full compensation by working with our skilled Detroit truck accident attorney. Why try to take on this burden yourself while you’re injured? Instead, you can focus on recovery while we fight for your compensation. Our truck accident attorney understands the stress you’re under and the fears you have about your future, so you’ll be kept informed about your case every step of the way.

Among the many ways we will guide and represent you, there are some core elements you can count on our truck accident lawyers in Detroit to handle. We will:

• Negotiate with insurers to make sure that they don’t make a lowball offer that isn’t appropriate to cover all your damages
• Handle your claim and administrative tasks and file the paperwork while you focus on healing
• Investigate your case by reviewing accident reports, truck driver and repair records, medical records, data recorded on the truck at the time of and prior to the accident, on-site surveillance, and other evidence
• Identify all at-fault parties who may be responsible for the truck accident and owe you compensation
• Involve expert witnesses such as medical professionals and truck accident analysis professionals whose expertise can be used to support your truck accident case
• Represent you at trial if your case goes to court and there is no other option to obtain a fair settlement.

By teaming up with our truck accident attorneys in Detroit, you’ll have expertise and experience on your side. At Goodman Acker, we take pride in being able to handle complex and high-stakes injury cases, and we know that our services and resiliency can be used to your benefit. 

How Michigan Handles Large Truck Accidents

Large truck accidents are more complicated than accidents involving passenger vehicles. For starters, Michigan’s no-fault insurance law will apply. This law requires injured parties first seek reimbursement from their own insurance providers. That reimbursement may include:

• Lost wages for up to three years.
• Replacement services for up to three years.
• Lifetime benefits for allowable medical expenses.

You don’t have to stop there, however. Other liable parties might come into play. With the help of one of our attorneys, you can seek additional compensation from others who bear responsibility for your truck accident. This might include:

• The truck driver
• The truck manufacturer
• The truck maintenance company
• The employer of the truck driver
• The owner of the truck.

Dealing with insurance companies is tricky because they will attempt to avoid payment when they can. Our Detroit truck accident lawyers know how to thwart these tactics and make sure you get what you deserve.

Detroit Truck Accident Statistics

Truck Accident Settlement Amounts

Factors in The Value of Your Truck Accident Case

When you’re in a serious truck accident, your injuries are likely severe. The size and weight of trucks far exceed that of cars and can cause great damage not only to other vehicles on the road but to the people in them, too. When our truck accident attorneys in Detroit negotiate a settlement, we will pursue “damages” in your case. Damages can be generally categorized as economic and non-economic.

Economic damages in a truck accident may include:

1. Medical costs for emergency care
2. Medical costs for a hospital stay or surgeries
3. Medical expenses for ongoing treatment and therapy needs
4. Transportation costs associated with your medical treatment
5. Costs for household or family services necessary because your injuries prevent you from doing them, like cleaning or child care
6. Lost income for both current and estimated future loss of income
7. Costs of your damaged vehicle.

There are limitations to property damage claims for your car. Claims for damage to a vehicle, above the amount covered by insurance, have a $3,000 limit (M.C.L. §500.3135)2.

Non-economic damages may include:

1. Scarring or disfigurement caused by your injuries
2. Pain and suffering you experienced as a result of the truck accident
3. Emotional distress with which you are burdened since the accident
4. Loss of companionship if your loved one died in a truck accident.

Want to learn more about damages in your case? Talk to our truck accident attorney today to find out. You can reach our team at (248) 286-8100.

What if Your Loved One Died in A Truck Accident?

The parties that were at fault for the truck accident can still be held responsible for their negligence. In this case, you would pursue a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of your loved one. If your loved one was hospitalized for their injuries and later died, you may be able to recover some of the damages as you would in a personal injury case, like medical expenses. However, the loss of your loved one also means your family will have lost their income that you expected to continue for years to come. Our truck accident lawyers will pursue damages for that lost income. We can also pursue compensation for funeral expenses and for the loss of companionship.

Who Can Be Held Liable in A Truck Accident Case?

Multiple Parties May Be Responsible for Your Truck Accident

While it may seem obvious that a driver who is clearly at fault could be responsible for a truck accident, others can be held responsible, too. They may include employees who are haphazard in securing a load at a warehouse, the trucking company managing a fleet of trucks and drivers, or a manufacturer. Some of these potential defendants might be pursued in a third-party lawsuit.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has clear rules to ensure our roads are safe and to prevent truck accidents whenever possible. Depending upon the circumstances of your accident, our truck wreck lawyers will be sure we document all ways in which regulations apply and were violated.

Among those who could be held liable are the:

• Truck driver: A truck accident can be caused by driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, including prescriptions; distracted driving with use of a phone, tablet or computer while driving; reckless driving or unsafe driving for conditions. In addition, truck drivers must comply with federal regulations about the number of hours they drive and mandated breaks (49 CFR §395). If they ignore the rules to meet a deadline and drive fatigued, they could be held liable for a truck wreck.
• Trucking company: Maintenance of a truck is essential to its safety and when companies don’t regularly maintain their fleet or skip some of the steps, their negligent actions could lead to a serious truck accident. Or, to meet financial goals, the company may force truck drivers to work added hours, causing driver fatigue and the potential for a truck accident. Federal regulations govern maintenance requirements and state clearly what equipment needs monitoring and repairs (49 CFR §396).
• Manufacturer of truck parts: Allowing defective parts to be used in a truck engine, chassis, body, frame, or computerized components. Whether it’s faulty brakes or an axel or hitch with flaws, any part with defects can cause a disastrous accident. When a manufacturer knows a product is flawed and doesn’t inform users of that product, their failure to warn makes them liable in a truck accident case.
• Warehouse employees or company: When cargo is loaded onto a truck, it must be secured very carefully so it can withstand high speeds or forces that are unexpected, like if a truck jackknifes. When a load isn’t safely tied down and comes loose on the roadway, it can cause horrible accidents.

When you’re a severely injured victim of a horrible accident, determining who can be held legally liable and how can be nearly impossible. You have no need to worry about such things when you work with our Detroit truck accident lawyers. We know just how to prove who is responsible for an accident and have an excellent record of success winning cases for our clients.

How Our Detroit Truck Accident Lawyer Proves Negligence

To obtain compensation for your injuries and losses, our truck accident lawyers in Detroit must prove that the defendant was negligent. Because there can be multiple defendants in a truck accident case, we will be certain to gather all relevant evidence to ensure we have a strong case. Our attorneys will need to prove all defendants acted negligently.

There are four legal elements our truck accident attorney will use to prove a party acted or failed to act, with negligence:

1. Duty of care: The defendant owed you a duty to have reasonable care and caution. For example, a reasonable truck driver would stop at a red light and would not use a laptop while driving. In another example, a manufacturer of truck brakes would test that those breaks worked before selling them.
2. Breach of duty: The truck driver was not sufficiently careful and thus did not hold to their duty to behave as a reasonable person would. When the driver failed to stop for a red light, he or she had a breach of a duty of care. The truck brake manufacturer did not make an effort to include testing in the development process of their product. Failing to ensure the product worked safely and performed its main purpose of stopping the truck was a breach of the manufacturer’s duty of care.
3. Breach of duty caused injury: The next step is to prove your injury happened because the truck driver, or manufacturer, was not as careful as a reasonable person should have been. In the example of the driver running a red light, a person in another vehicle suffered injuries when the truck hit their car. Or, in the case of the brake manufacturer, passengers in a car suffered terrible injuries when a truck was unable to stop at an intersection on a rural highway.
4. Show the breach of duty caused damages: The last element of the steps needed to prove negligence in your truck accident case will be showing the injuries suffered in the truck wreck resulted in financial damages for you.

Our truck accident attorneys in Detroit know how to look at the facts of a case to identify in what way a defendant was negligent. We know what it takes to prove a driver, a trucking company, a manufacturer, or any other party was negligent and that their acts or inaction led to a truck wreck. Through this process, our Detroit truck accident attorney takes essential steps to obtain the damages that you’re rightfully owed.

Preying on Vulnerable Truck Accident Victims

It may seem like the deck is stacked against you when you face a large trucking company and its insurer, both of which may have a large team of attorneys to defend them. They will want to take advantage of your vulnerable situation: you’re seriously injured, you are missing work and thus are losing income, you have high medical bills, and you may be emotionally distressed. Lawyers for the companies will think you will be happy to get any settlement and may make a low offer.

Our Detroit truck accident lawyers will carefully calculate the settlement amount you deserve and will take into account all the damages. We consider not only your current losses and expenses but also what costs you may have in the future. We can identify if you deserve compensation for pain and suffering or emotional distress. We are tough negotiators because we have only your needs in mind. The trucking company and insurance company lawyers have only their bottom line in mind. Our attorneys won’t let them take advantage of you. If our negotiations don’t reach a fair settlement amount, we will be ready to take your case to court.

Rely on Our Detroit Truck Accident Attorney

There is a lot at stake for you, so choosing the right truck accident lawyer in Detroit matters deeply for your future. If you’ve been involved in a large truck accident, you may be able to recover a significant amount for your losses, including medical expenses, pain and suffering, home services, and more. Rather than risk not getting the full amount of compensation you deserve, seek the help of one of our attorneys and put more than 150 years of experience to work for you. We understand the tactics insurance companies and trucking companies use to reduce the amount of a settlement they must pay. Our truck accident attorneys know how to confront these tactics and win you maximum compensation in your settlement.

If that settlement offer isn’t satisfactory, and the insurer and trucking company are not willing to provide you the amount you deserve, we may recommend taking your truck accident case to court. Our Detroit personal injury lawyers are seasoned and skilled litigators whose knowledge of Michigan’s laws give you the upper hand in a trial. We rise to the occasion when your truck accident case reaches this level and will fight aggressively on your behalf. Time can run out, however. According to Michigan law, truck accident cases must be brought within 3 years (M.C.L.  §600.5805). Whether you’re in Detroit or the surrounding area, like Grand Rapids, our team of truck accident lawyers is ready to help you right away.

LEGALLY REVIEWED BY BARRY J. GOODMAN

Barry J. Goodman has devoted his professional life to keeping courthouse doors open for victims seeking justice. Always a tireless advocate for his own clients, Goodman sees his responsibility as a Detroit personal injury attorney in a broader sense as well. [ Attorney Bio ]