Michigan Truck Accident Attorney

Commercial truck accidents are among the most devastating collisions on Michigan roads. A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds — twenty to thirty times the weight of a passenger vehicle. When that mass collides with a car, the results are catastrophic. At Jalal Abdallah Law PLLC, we represent truck accident victims and their families across Southfield, Detroit, Dearborn, and all of Michigan — taking on trucking companies, their insurers, and every party whose negligence contributed to your injuries.

Why Truck Accident Claims Are Different

Commercial truck accident claims are fundamentally more complex than standard car accident cases. Multiple parties may share legal liability — and each will have their own attorneys and insurance adjusters working to minimize what they owe from the moment the crash occurs. Identifying every responsible party, preserving critical evidence before it disappears, and navigating the intersection of federal and Michigan state law requires an attorney with specific experience in commercial vehicle litigation.

Potentially liable parties in a Michigan truck accident include:

• The truck driver — for negligent, reckless, or impaired operation
• The trucking company — for unsafe hiring, inadequate training, hours of service violations, and negligent supervision
• The vehicle owner — for improper maintenance or authorizing an unqualified driver
• Cargo loaders and shippers — for improper loading or securing of freight
• Truck manufacturers and parts distributors — for defective equipment or components
• Government entities — for road design or maintenance defects that contributed to the crash

Common Causes of Michigan Commercial Truck Crashes

Driver Fatigue and Hours of Service Violations

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) limits truck drivers to 11 hours of driving within a 14-hour window, with a mandatory 10-hour rest period before returning to duty, and no more than 60–70 hours of driving per week. Despite these rules, trucking companies frequently pressure drivers to exceed safe limits to meet delivery schedules. Fatigued driving is one of the leading causes of serious truck crashes in Michigan. Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) now record driving hours automatically — and violations captured in ELD data are powerful evidence of negligence.

Driver Error and Impairment

Commercial drivers are held to a higher standard than passenger vehicle drivers. FMCSA regulations set a stricter blood alcohol limit of 0.04% for commercial drivers — half the standard limit. Distraction, poor training, reckless driving, and operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs are all violations of the duty of care truck drivers owe to everyone sharing Michigan’s roads.

Mechanical Defects and Maintenance Failures

FMCSA requires trucking companies to maintain detailed maintenance records, conduct annual inspections by qualified inspectors, and ensure drivers complete pre- and post-trip vehicle inspections. Any defects reported must be repaired before the vehicle is dispatched again. When companies skip maintenance, ignore defects, or allow trucks with known brake, tire, or electrical failures to operate, they bear direct liability for the crashes that result.

Improper Cargo Loading

FMCSA cargo securement standards require freight to be immobilized and secured to prevent shifting during transport. Improperly loaded or unsecured cargo can cause a truck to become unstable, tip over, or shed debris onto the roadway — creating deadly hazards. Cargo loading contractors, warehouse operators, and third-party shippers can all share liability when improper loading contributes to a crash.

Road and Environmental Conditions

Michigan’s road conditions, construction zones, and winter weather create significant hazards for commercial vehicles. When a government entity’s failure to maintain or properly design a roadway contributes to a truck crash, that entity may also bear legal responsibility — though government claims carry specific and short notice deadlines.

Federal Regulations and Your Truck Accident Case

Michigan has adopted the FMCSA’s insurance requirements for commercial trucks under MCL 480.11a. Federal law under 49 CFR § 387.9 requires trucking companies to carry a minimum of $750,000 in liability coverage — a figure critics note has not been updated since the 1980s and is frequently inadequate to cover the catastrophic costs of serious truck crashes.

FMCSA violations — including hours of service violations, maintenance failures, and cargo securement violations — constitute powerful evidence of negligence in Michigan courts. When a trucking company or driver violates a federal safety regulation and that violation causes your injuries, it may establish negligence per se, significantly strengthening your claim. Our attorneys investigate FMCSA compliance records, obtain black box data and ELD logs, review maintenance histories, and work with accident reconstruction experts to build the strongest possible case for your recovery.

What You Can Recover After a Michigan Truck Accident

If you or a loved one was injured or killed in a commercial truck accident, you may be entitled to recover:

• Medical expenses — past and future, including emergency care, surgery, rehabilitation, and long-term treatment
• Lost wages and lost future earning capacity
• Pain and suffering and emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life and disfigurement
• Loss of consortium for affected family members
• Wrongful death damages for families who have lost a loved one

Michigan does not cap pain and suffering damages in standard negligence cases. Given the severity of injuries in commercial truck accidents, the value of these claims is often substantial — and trucking companies and their insurers know it. They respond quickly and aggressively to protect their interests. You should too. Contact Jalal Abdallah Law today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation. No upfront fees — we only get paid if you win.

Frequently Asked Questions