For your fitness

Many Michigan drivers assume the state laws and compensation for injuries, wage loss, etc., are the same whether you are involved in an accident with a car or commercial truck.  Yet there are distinct differences between the two and understanding them is key to protecting yourself if you have been in a truck crash. Unique issues such as different insurance policies, the independent status of truck drivers and the location of trucking companies can all drastically impact an insurance claim and a truck accident case.

Immediately following a commercial truck accident, there are several important steps that Michigan truck accident attorneys recommend. The most time-sensitive tips on dealing with insurance, medical issues and claims in Michigan have been summarized below:

1. Even if it’s a minor accident, contact local police, seek medical attention if needed and document the Michigan truck accident.

At the scene of a Michigan truck accident, the victim should contact the nearest police department and immediately seek medical attention for all injuries. Be sure to report and document any minor pain that may seem less important at the time compared to more serious injuries. Significant injuries are often masked early on, making it difficult to link them to the truck accident if they are not documented.

In Michigan, it’s crucial to obtain contact information for any passengers and witnesses involved in the truck accident. This information will be extremely important if it becomes necessary to hire a Michigan truck accident Maryland personal injury lawyer, because all too often, the truck driver who caused the accident will change his story along the way. Furthermore, if witness information is not preserved at the scene, or if it’s missing from the police investigation, it becomes much more difficult for an attorney to prove negligence.

2. Notify your auto insurance company immediately.

After the truck accident, auto insurance companies must be notified. In Michigan, there’s a strict, one-year time limit to notify your own insurance company of a truck accident, and to file an application to receive compensation for your medical bills and other benefits.

Filing an application for benefits form with your insurance company is essential for protecting your no-fault rights in Michigan, even if your injuries from a truck accident do not seem severe. The form is required to receive five important benefits: medical expenses related to the auto accident, wage loss for the first three years following the accident, household replacement services (chores/help with children), payment for mileage to and from medical appointments and attendant care (nursing services). Use the form available through your auto insurance company. Please be as accurate and complete as possible, and include all of your injuries and impairments.

If a truck accident victim fails to adhere to this one-year deadline on time, he/she can lose this important coverage. There is also a three-year time limit to file a lawsuit against the negligent driver’s truck insurance company. In addition to the above deadlines, many Michigan auto insurance policies pose even more strict notification requirements, such as 30 days notice for hit-and-run truck crashes.

3. Retain an experienced Michigan truck accident Maryland personal injury lawyer quickly.

Trucking companies are required by federal and state law to keep records of safety inspections and drivers’ hours. Because bad equipment and driver fatigue cause many truck accidents, these records could prove liability against the trucking company. But after a certain period of time, trucking companies by law can dispose of pre-trip inspection documents and log books. That’s one important way that a truck crash is very different from a car crash. It is imperative that an experienced