If you’ve been seriously injured in a truck accident in Grand Rapids, you may be facing mounting medical expenses and are wondering what happens if your personal injury protection (PIP) benefits aren’t enough to cover it all. This is where an experienced Grand Rapids truck accident lawyer can help. With decades of experience, our personal injury law firm has helped seriously injured truck accident victims manage the legal process to recover the compensation they deserve—and we’re here to help you too.
In this Article
What Is Michigan’s No-Fault Law for Motor Vehicle Accidents?
Michigan is a no-fault state. By Michigan law, every driver must have PIP from their own insurance company to cover their minor injuries, regardless of fault. Michigan drivers can choose among several levels of PIP coverage with auto insurance companies, which will then pay for reasonable and necessary medical expenses up to the selected coverage amount—along with lost wages, attendant care, and some funeral and burial expenses. If injuries are severe—such as those a truck crash can cause—seriously injured victims may be able to sue for additional damages, if the injured person is less than 50% at fault for the accident.
Do I Need a Lawyer in Michigan’s No-Fault System?
Injuries suffered in a semi-truck accident are often catastrophic injuries. In a no-fault insurance system like Michigan’s, if your injuries are severe, you may be able to pursue compensation beyond your own PIP insurance coverage and no-fault benefits. An experienced truck accident lawyer with in-depth knowledge of no-fault insurance, as well as state and federal trucking regulations, can help determine if you have a case.
Serious Injuries in Grand Rapids Truck Accident Cases
MCL – Section 257.58c defines injuries that qualify as a serious impairment of a body function that may be grounds for pursuing additional damages beyond your no-fault insurance benefits after a car-truck crash and may include:
The loss or loss of use of limbs, such as hands, feet, fingers, or thumbs
Vision or hearing loss, as well as impairments to bodily functions
Conditions like comas that last more than 3 days or measurable brain or mental impairments
Serious physical trauma, including serious visible disfigurement, skull fractures, traumatic brain injuries, and substantial bone fractures
Loss of organs or internal injuries like subdural hemorrhages or hematomas
Compensation for Seriously Injured Truck Crash Victims
In truck accident claims involving serious impairment of a body function, additional damages beyond those provided by a no-fault insurer may include medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
Types of Grand Rapids Truck Accidents
A serious truck accident could be a:
Jackknife accident
Rollover accident
Underride collision
Head-on crash
Blind spot incident
Tire blowout
What Causes Truck Accidents in Grand Rapids?
Commercial truck crashes can happen due to:
Driver fatigue—long hours can leave truck drivers exhausted
Intoxication—driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Improperly loaded cargo
Poor vehicle maintenance
Who May Be Held Liable for a Commercial Truck Accident Case in Grand Rapids?
Determining liability in accidents in the trucking industry can be more complicated than in other motor vehicle accidents, since multiple parties might share responsibility, including:
A negligent truck driver, if they acted recklessly
The trucking company, for improper training or lack of supervision
Third-party contractors, if errors were made during loading or maintenance
The truck manufacturer, if a defective part contributed to the accident
How Long Do I Have to File a Truck Accident Case in Grand Rapids?
Under Michigan personal injury law, the statute of limitations for an automobile-truck accident is three years, starting from the date of your accident.
Contact Our Grand Rapids Truck Accident Attorneys Today
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident involving a large truck in Grand Rapids, or anywhere in Michigan, we’re here to help. Reach out to our personal injury law firm today for a free consultation.
Get help from a Grand Rapids, MI truck accident lawyer when you've been injured in a crash because of someone else's negligence.
$7.5 Million
Recovery for a construction worker injured when a support wall fell and struck him. (Highest award on record for a construction injury in DuPage County at the time).
$3.2 Million
Recovery for a construction worker injured when he fell in an uncovered foundation trench, ranking as the highest award on record for a construction injury in McHenry County at the time.
$3 Million
Recovery for the family of a man struck by a garbage truck that was making an illegal turn.
$2.2 Million
Recovery for a salesman injured in an automobile collision.
$2 Million
Recovery for a man struck by a speeding vehicle as he waited for the CTA bus.
$1.5 Million
Recovery for a truck driver that was struck by another car on the expressway while his vehicle was disabled.
$1.4 Million
Recovery for a computer programmer that slipped and fell in the washroom at work.
Recovery for a pedestrian struck by a vehicle in a parking lot. At the time, this was the second-highest recovery on record in DuPage County for a similar injury.
$800,000
Recovered for a disputed wrongful death claim against a trucking company. The company denied they were involved in the collision.
$660,000
Recovery for a truck driver that was injured while unloading his trailer.
$550,000
Recovery for a person who slipped and fell in a grocery store.
$550,000
Recovery for a woman who injured her neck in a motor vehicle collision.
$500,000
Recovery for a pedestrian that was struck by a vehicle while standing on the sidewalk.
$460,000
Recovery for a truck driver that tripped and fell in the parking lot while making a delivery.
$450,000
Recovery for a dental assistant who slipped and fell at work on an unnatural accumulation of ice.
$425,000
Recovery for a union worker struck by a speeding vehicle.
$425,000
Recovery for a passenger in a vehicle struck by an inexperienced driver.
$415,000
Recovered for a woman that required neck surgery after aggravating an existing neck injury in a truck accident.
$400,000
Recovery for a lab technician injured while transporting equipment.
$370,000
Recovery for a construction worker injured on faulty equipment at a construction site.
$315,000
Recovery for a motorist struck by a falling utility pole.
$310,000
Recovery for a person injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$300,000
Recovery for a bicyclist struck by a vehicle.
$250,000
Recovery for a young woman struck by another vehicle.
$250,000
Recovered for a woman who sustained a partial finger amputation and other injuries in a rollover car accident. (Policy Limits)
$250,000
Recovered for a man injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$250,000
Recovered for a 60-year-old woman involved in a car accident. (Policy Limits)
$250,000
Recovered for a man hit by a semi-truck while operating a go-cart.
$240,000
Recovery for the injured party struck by another vehicle.
$235,000
Recovery for a person injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$235,000
Recovery for an inventory clerk injured when shelving toppled onto her.
$219,000
Recovery for a restaurant patron that slipped and fell in the bathroom.
$200,000
Recovered for an airline employee struck on the runway at O’Hare International Airport.
$190,000
Recovery for a person injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$175,000
Recovered for a child injured by fireworks at a fourth of July celebration.
$170,000
Recovered for a person injured when she slipped and fell exiting a major retail store.
$150,000
Recovered for a woman who fractured her leg when she was struck by a vehicle.
Latisha S.
Great service. They helped me get my money, and everyone was very pleasant even though the health insurance took a while. Everything was on point on Kryder’s side.
(312) 223-1700