Michigan Truck Accident Lawyer - find an attorney for Michigan semi truck accident cases.

Michigan Trucking Laws   We wrote the book. We are connected. We do our research.   Truck Accident Injury Attorney Jason Waechter and his team have spent over 20 years solidifying their reputation for results. Over the years, Jason has extensively researched and vetted the top Semi Truck Accident Injury Lawyers in every state, to create a network of top truck accident injury attorneys across the country. No matter what city or state your tractor trailer crash happened, Attorney Jason Waechter and his network of top truck accident injury attorneys are waiting to take your case.   Call Truck Accident Injury Attorney Jason Waechter Now: 1-800-708-5433

We Wrote The Book: Semi truck crash injury lawyer Jason Waechter personally researched and wrote a guide specifically to help attorneys litigate, and help Michigan tractor trailer crash injury victims understand negligence cases or serious injury cases involving semi trucks. 

We Are Connected: In order to better help truck accident injury victims, Attorney Jason Waechter has researched and vetted attorneys across America in order to build a national network of top tractor trailer accident injury lawyers to help victims in every state. No matter where your semi truck accident injury happened, Jason and his network of specializing injury lawyers has a winning track record. Jason is also a member the American Association for Justice's Trucking Litigation Group, one of the most prestigious trucking organizations for lawyers in the United States.  

We Do Our Research: Through more than 20 years of helping semi truck accident injury victims, Attorney Jason Waechter has developed expertise in litigating serious Michigan tractor trailer injury and death accidents semi trucks and other commercial vehicles are involved. 

Law Offices Jason A. Waechter

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Satellite offices in Flint, Grand Rapids, Detroit, Mt. Clemens, and Ann Arbor.

In order to build a network of top truck accident injury lawyers across the country, we look for attorneys who have winning verdicts, who win awards, who teach other attorneys how to ligitage serious tractor trailer negligence cases, and have great reputations. The attorneys we select to be part of our network of specialized semi truck accident attorneys across the country are respected by judges and defense attorneys, and known by insurance companies as a force to be reckoned with. 

If you've been involved in a tractor trailer crash in Michigan, call us as soon as possible for a free assessment of your case. If we don't personally handle your case, we will refer you to a member of our national network of top semi truck accident injury attorneys. So call us now, and don't wait. When talking about a Michigan tractor accident injury or death case, time is of the essence. The sooner you call the Law Offices of Jason Waechte and speak to our experienced attorneys, the sooner we can start gathering evidence for your case. Call for free advice with no obligation. 

Call Truck Accident Injury Lawyer Jason Waechter Now: 1-800-708-5433

Overview of Michigan Trucking Laws

Below you will find a listing of Michigan laws that may apply to a semi truck (tractor trailer) or other commercial vehicle accident. The governing body of commercial trucks is the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). They are responsible for creating and enforcing rules for semi trucks on our highways, and they apply in the state of Michigan. The rules that all motor carriers must obey are known as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR), and include rules for truck drivers, their employers, and whomever owns the truck(s) they drive.

Obviously, we can't cover every aspect of the law on this page, and laws are always changing. To get more detailed information about the FMCSR and any related documents relating to trucking in Michigan, visit www.fmcsa.dot.gov, or click here for Title 49 of the Federal Code.

There may be some difference between Federal laws and Michigan's semi truck (tractor trailer) accident laws. Below are some excerpts that are relevant for tractor trailer accident injury victims in Michigan. 

• The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations are the federal laws applying to all motor carriers in the United States, including Michigan. See them here: www.fmcsa.dot.gov

• The Motor Carrier Safety Act of 1963 is the act that governs Michigan tractor trailers (semi trucks). You can find it here: Michigan Semi Truck Laws  

Qualifications for Michigan Commercial Motor Carrier Drivers 

There are federal and Michigan-specific state safety rules for Michigan semi truck drivers. All truck drivers in Michigan must have a drriver qualification file.

Age:

                                                              i.      Interstate Travel (traveling within two or more states): Michigan drivers must be at least 21 years old.

                                                            ii.      Intrastate Travel (within a single state): Drivers must be at least 18 years old. 

Language:

                                                              i.      Truck drivers in Michigan must be able to speak, understand, and converse in English.

                                                            ii.      Truck drivers in Michigan have to be able to read and understand traffic signs.

                                                          iii.      Truck drivers in Michigan need to keep records and reports in English. 

Driving Conditions and Licensing:

                                                              i.      Michigan truck drivers must have experience and/or training to safely operate a semi truck or other commercial vehicle. 

                                                            ii.      Truck drivers in Michigan must be physically capable of operating a motor carrier. 

                                                          iii.      Truck drivers in Michigan are required by law to adjust their speed and drive according to weather conditions. Speeds must be reduced in cases of snow, ice, fog, rain, smoke, dust, or any condition that could negatively impact traction or visibility. In other words, they must slow down if safety requires it. In certain weather, Michigan truck drivers must stop their vehicle altogether until the conditions change (§392.14).

Valid Michigan License:

                                                              i.      Michigan semi truck driver must possess a currently valid C.D.L. (Commercial Driver’s License)

                                                            ii.      Issued by Michigan

                                                          iii.      Successfully completed Michigan road test

Michigan Certifications:

                                                              i.      Has any and all certifications required by Michigan employer / Michigan motor carrier

                                                            ii.      Is not disqualified to operate a Michigan semi truck / Michigan motor carrier  

Michigan Driver Responsibility

Hours of Service:

                                                              i.      The driver of a Michigan semi truck (tractor trailer) may not drive more than 11 hours following at least 10 consecutive hours off duty. (§395.3) The reason for these hour restrictions is to prevent driver fatigue. It has been a proven fact that driver fatigue often is a cause of interstate trucking accidents. The trucking carrier and the driver are both responsible for this type of Hours-of-Service (HOS) violation.

1.      Michigan drivers can only drive 11 consecutive hours, after resting for at least 10 hours. (§395.3) Failure to comply with this rule constitutes an Hours-of-Service (HOS) violation.

 Michigan Truck Driver Logs:

                                                              i.      A Michigan tractor trailer (semi truck) driver is required to keep certain specific logs to prove that he or she has not violated these Hours-of-Service rules. The Michigan employer or motor carrier is required to inspect the drivers’ logs to confirm compliance with these regulations.

1.      Drivers must log their hours every 24 hours, in written format. (§395.8)

                                                            ii.      Driver Logs: §395.8 involve a Michigan driver making a record of his duty status. A Michigan driver must keep a log of his or her status for every 24 hour period. Pursuant to Section 395.8 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, the log is usually in written form and on a grid.

                                                          iii.      Because of technology, the Michigan driver log is often kept by an on-board recording device. The log indicates when the Michigan driver is on and off duty and whether they are driving or in the “sleeper birth”, which is usually designated as “SB”. The Michigan motor carrier is responsible if the tractor trailer driver submits a false log.

1.      There are sometimes investigations regarding whether a Michigan driver keeps two sets of logs or books, so that he or she could driver longer than they are allowed to drive by Michigan law.

                                                          iv.      The following is an example of an Hours-of-Service truck driver log with no driving violations recorded:

Call Truck Accident Injury Lawyer Jason Waechter Now: 1-800-708-5433

Michigan Truck Accident Lawyers helping truck accident victims. If you were injured in a truck accident, you need to speak with a qualified trial attorney, one who knows truck law. We can help you find the right law firm to represent you.