18-Wheeler Accident Attorneys in Leelanau County, Michigan

When 80,000 Pounds Changes Everything

You’re driving east on I-94 near Traverse City, or maybe heading north through Leelanau County toward Suttons Bay, when you see it in your rearview mirror. The grille of a semi-truck filling your back window. The driver had been on the road for 11 hours straight—one hour past the federal limit. The roads are slick with lake-effect snow from Lake Michigan. He hits the brakes too late.

What happens next changes your life.

Fully loaded 18-wheelers can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. That’s twenty times heavier than your car. When that much mass hits a passenger vehicle at highway speed, the laws of physics don’t leave room for survival—only survival stories. And the ugly truth? While you’re lying in Munson Medical Center fighting to recover, the trucking company that hit you has already dispatched their rapid-response team. Their lawyers are at the scene before the tow trucks arrive. They’re gathering evidence to protect themselves—not you.

You need someone fighting for you just as hard.

We’re Attorney911. For more than 25 years, Ralph Manginello has stood between trucking companies and the families they devastate. We’ve recovered multi-million dollar verdicts for catastrophic injury victims, including $5 million for a traumatic brain injury victim and $3.8 million for an amputation case. Our firm includes a former insurance defense attorney—Lupe Peña—who spent years inside the system learning exactly how trucking insurers minimize claims. Now he uses that knowledge against them. When trucking companies see our name on a lawsuit, they know we don’t settle cheap.

Leelanau County isn’t just a name on a map to us. We know the ice storms that turn M-22 into a skating rink in January. We understand how the cherry harvest in July brings overloaded produce trucks barreling through Suttons Bay. We’ve seen what happens when fatigued drivers try to navigate the steep grades near Sleeping Bear Dunes after dark. This is your home, and when an 18-wheeler injures you here, you deserve attorneys who understand the unique dangers of Northern Michigan trucking.

Call 1-888-ATTY-911 right now. The evidence you need to win your case is disappearing as you read this. Black box data can be overwritten in 30 days. Dashcam footage gets deleted in 48 hours. We send spoliation letters within hours of being retained to stop trucking companies from destroying the proof of their negligence. The consultation is free. You pay nothing unless we win.

Why Leelanau County Trucking Accidents Are Different

Leelanau County sits at the edge of Lake Michigan’s influence, where geography and weather create perfect conditions for catastrophic trucking accidents. The region’s economy runs on agriculture—cherries, grapes, apples—and tourism. That means seasonal trucking spikes that put thousands of extra commercial vehicles on narrow, winding county roads.

Interstate 75 serves as the primary commercial artery, carrying freight from the Mackinac Bridge down through Gaylord and Grayling toward Detroit and Saginaw. But it’s the secondary routes that create the most danger for local residents. M-22, the scenic highway hugging the Lake Michigan shoreline, wasn’t designed for modern 18-wheelers. Neither are the steep, curving roads near Glen Arbor or the narrow bridges crossing the Boardman River.

Winter transforms these corridors into death traps. Lake-effect snow dumps 100+ inches annually in parts of Leelanau County. The county road crews do their best, but black ice forms without warning, especially on bridges and overpasses. Trucking companies know their drivers lack experience on Northern Michigan ice—many come from southern states—but they send them anyway, pushing to meet delivery deadlines that ignore weather reality.

In Michigan, you have three years from your accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit. That’s longer than some states, but waiting is a mistake. Evidence degrades fast in harsh weather. Skid marks fade. Witnesses move away. The Electronic Logging Device (ELD) data that proves the driver violated federal Hours of Service regulations? It can be overwritten in 30 days. We don’t wait to build your case.

Michigan follows a “modified comparative negligence” rule with a 51% bar. That means if you’re 50% or less at fault for the accident, you can still recover damages—the award just gets reduced by your percentage of fault. But if the trucking company’s lawyers can convince a jury you were 51% responsible, you get nothing. They’ll try. We’ve seen them blame victims for driving “too slow” in snowstorms or “panicking” when a truck jackknifed. We know how to fight those tactics.

The 18-Wheeler Accident Types We See in Leelanau County

Every 18-wheeler accident is catastrophic, but the crashes common in Northern Michigan have distinct patterns tied to our geography and climate.

Jackknife Accidents on Icy Grades

Jackknifes happen when a truck’s cab and trailer skid in opposite directions, folding like a pocket knife across multiple lanes. On Leelanau County’s steep hills—particularly near the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore or along M-109—jackknifes become deadly chain reactions. One truck loses control on ice, blocks both lanes of traffic, and suddenly you have a multi-vehicle pileup in whiteout conditions.

These accidents almost always involve Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) violations. Under 49 CFR § 392.6, trucking companies cannot schedule routes that would require drivers to operate at unsafe speeds for conditions. When a driver hits a patch of black ice at 65 mph because dispatch pressured him to make a delivery window, that’s negligence. We subpoena the dispatch records and ELD data to prove it.

Brake Failures on Mountainous Terrain

M-22 isn’t the Rockies, but it has steep enough grades to cook brake systems. When fully loaded trucks descend hills toward Glen Lake or Empire without proper braking technique, brake fade sets in. The brakes overheat. The pedal goes to the floor. Physics takes over.

FMCSA regulations under 49 CFR § 393.40 require every commercial motor vehicle to have properly functioning brake systems. But “properly functioning” requires proper maintenance. We investigate every brake failure case by demanding the truck’s maintenance records under 49 CFR § 396.3. If the carrier deferred repairs to save money, we find it. If the driver skipped his pre-trip brake inspection required by 49 CFR § 396.13, we prove it.

Underride Collisions on Rural Highways

Leelanau County’s rural two-lane roads create perfect conditions for underride accidents—the deadliest type of trucking crash. When a smaller vehicle rear-ends a trailer, it can slide underneath, shearing off the passenger compartment at windshield level. The results are almost always fatal or involve catastrophic brain and spinal injuries.

While federal law (49 CFR § 393.86) requires rear underride guards on newer trailers, many older trucks skirt the rules. Side underride guards aren’t required at all, despite how often trucks making wide turns on narrow county roads create deadly gaps. We’ve handled cases where a truck suddenly slowed on M-88 without proper reflective tape or lighting, causing a nighttime underride collision. The trucking company claimed the car was speeding. The ECM data proved the truck was doing 25 mph in a 55-mph zone without hazard lights.

Cargo Spills and Shifts on Curving Roads

The cherry harvest brings specialized challenges. Box trucks and flatbeds loaded high with produce center their mass precariously. When these drivers take curves too fast on County Road 616 or Fish Town roads, cargo shifts. The center of gravity changes. The truck rolls over.

49 CFR § 393.100 through § 393.136 establish strict cargo securement standards. Cargo must withstand 0.8g deceleration—simulating a hard stop—without shifting. If a load of cherry bins spills across the highway because the driver failed to use adequate tiedowns, that’s a federal violation that establishes liability. We examine the cargo manifest, the loading company records (often a separate defendant), and the driver’s training on load securement.

Wide-Turn Accidents in Tourist Towns

Empire, Glen Arbor, Suttons Bay—these charming towns weren’t designed for 53-foot trailers. Yet summer tourism requires constant freight delivery to restaurants, hotels, and shops. Truckers attempting right turns onto narrow side streets often swing wide into oncoming lanes, crushing passenger vehicles in the “squeeze play.”

These accidents frequently involve driver inexperience with local geography. Under 49 CFR § 391.11, drivers must be qualified to safely operate their vehicles and cargo. If a trucking company sent an inexperienced driver unfamiliar with Northern Michigan’s tight corners into Leelanau County without proper route training, they’ve committed negligent hiring and training. We obtain the Driver Qualification File to check their training records, previous employment history, and safety performance history required by 49 CFR § 391.51.

Rear-End Collisions on I-94

I-94 through Leelanau County carries heavy interstate freight traffic connecting Chicago to Detroit and beyond. Truckers pushing to make Detroit by morning often follow too closely in heavy fog coming off Lake Michigan. When traffic slows near construction zones or accident scenes, they can’t stop in time.

A loaded semi at 65 mph needs 525 feet to stop—almost two football fields. That’s 40% farther than a passenger car. 49 CFR § 392.11 explicitly prohibits trucks from following more closely than is “reasonable and prudent.” We use the truck’s Event Data Recorder (EDR) to prove following distance violations. The data doesn’t lie, and it often contradicts the driver’s story.

Holding All Liable Parties Accountable

Most law firms go after the driver and the trucking company, then stop. That’s leaving money on the table that you need for your recovery. We investigate every potentially liable party under Michigan law.

The Driver

The person behind the wheel may be personally liable for negligent operation—texting while driving, speeding on ice, or falling asleep at the wheel. We obtain cell phone records, ELD logs showing Hours of Service violations under 49 CFR § 395, and post-accident drug and alcohol test results required by 49 CFR § 382.

The Trucking Company (Motor Carrier)

This is usually your primary recovery source. Under Michigan’s respondeat superior doctrine, employers are liable for employees’ negligent acts within the scope of employment. But we also pursue direct negligence claims:

• Negligent Hiring: Did they check the driver’s record? Under 49 CFR § 391.51, carriers must maintain Driver Qualification Files including three years of employment history and safety performance records.
• Negligent Training: Did they train him on winter driving in Northern Michigan? On proper cargo securement?
• Negligent Supervision: Did they monitor his ELD logs for hours of service violations? Did they know he had sleep apnea and ignored it?
• Negligent Maintenance: Did they skip brake inspections to keep the truck on the road? FMCSA requires systematic inspection, repair, and maintenance under 49 CFR § 396.3.

We also examine the carrier’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) scores. A pattern of violations suggests a corporate culture that prioritizes profit over safety—grounds for punitive damages.

The Cargo Owner and Loading Company

When cherry bins or construction materials shift and cause a rollover, liability may extend to whoever loaded the cargo. Third-party loading docks often use day laborers unfamiliar with federal securement standards. We sue them under 49 CFR § 393.100 violations for failure to properly block, brace, or tie down loads.

Truck and Parts Manufacturers

Defective brake systems, tire blowouts from manufacturing flaws, or inadequate underride guards can create product liability claims against manufacturers like Freightliner, Volvo, or component suppliers. We preserve the failed parts for expert engineering analysis and search NHTSA databases for similar defect complaints.

Maintenance Companies

Many carriers outsource repairs to third-party shops. If a mechanic improperly adjusted the brakes or installed the wrong tires, that company shares liability. We obtain work orders, invoices, and the mechanic’s training records.

Freight Brokers

Brokers who arrange shipping contracts but don’t own the trucks may be liable for negligent selection of carriers. If a broker chose the cheapest carrier available despite their terrible safety record, they contributed to your accident.

Government Entities

When Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) fails to maintain safe road conditions—like missing guardrails on steep grades, inadequate signage for sharp curves, or failure to treat ice on bridges—the state may share liability. These claims have strict notice requirements and shorter deadlines under Michigan’s Governmental Tort Liability Act. We act fast to preserve these claims.

The Evidence That Wins Cases (And Why It Disappears Fast)

Trucking companies don’t play fair. Within hours of a serious accident in Leelanau County, they dispatch their own investigators—sometimes before the Michigan State Police finish their report. These teams have one job: minimize the company’s exposure. They do it by making evidence disappear.

We’ve seen trucking companies “lose” the black box data showing their driver was speeding. We’ve seen maintenance records suddenly develop “water damage” after subpoenas are issued. We’ve seen drivers mysteriously “quit” and their Driver Qualification Files get “archived” in inaccessible locations.

That’s why we treat the first 48 hours after your accident as critical.

The Spoliation Letter

Within 24 hours of taking your case, we send a formal spoliation letter to the trucking company, their insurer, and any potentially liable third parties. This letter puts them on legal notice that all evidence related to the accident must be preserved. Once they receive this letter, destroying evidence becomes spoliation—a serious legal violation that can result in:

• Adverse inference instructions (the jury is told to assume destroyed evidence was unfavorable to the defense)
• Monetary sanctions
• Default judgment in extreme cases

Black Box and ELD Data

Modern 18-wheelers are computers on wheels. The Engine Control Module (ECM) and Electronic Logging Device (ELD) record:

• Exact speed before impact
• Braking application and timing
• Throttle position (was the driver accelerating?)
• Steering input
• GPS location and route history
• Hours of Service compliance data

This data can prove the driver was fatigued, speeding, or distracted. But here’s the catch: ECM data can overwrite after 30 days, sometimes sooner if the truck continues operating. ELD data must only be retained for 6 months under 49 CFR § 395.8, though we demand preservation immediately.

Driver Qualification Files

Federal law requires trucking companies to maintain extensive files on every driver. These files contain:

• Employment applications
• Previous employer safety performance inquiries (required by 49 CFR § 391.23)
• Motor vehicle records
• Medical certifications
• Drug and alcohol testing history
• Training records

If the driver who hit you had three prior accidents the company never investigated, that’s negligent hiring. If his medical certificate expired last month, he’s an unqualified driver under 49 CFR § 391.11. We subpoena these files within days of taking your case.

Inspection and Maintenance Records

Trucking companies must document every repair, every inspection, every brake adjustment under 49 CFR § 396.3. We look for patterns of deferred maintenance—brake systems that repeatedly required adjustment, tires repeatedly cited as bald, fluid leaks that were noted but not repaired. These patterns prove the company knew their trucks were dangerous but kept them on the road anyway.

Catastrophic Injuries and Your Future

An 18-wheeler doesn’t just damage your car—it shatters your life. The Physics of an 80,000-pound vehicle hitting a 4,000-pound car at highway speed causes devastating trauma. We specialize in the catastrophic injuries that require lifetime care.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

The human brain wasn’t designed to withstand the forces involved in a trucking accident. Even without direct head impact, the violent whiplash can cause the brain to slosh inside the skull, tearing axons and causing diffuse axonal injury.

Our TBI clients face:

• Cognitive impairment (memory loss, difficulty concentrating)
• Personality changes (mood swings, aggression, depression)
• Physical disabilities (chronic headaches, dizziness, seizures)
• Inability to work or maintain relationships

These cases require extensive future care planning. We’ve recovered settlements ranging from $1.5 million to $9.8 million for TBI victims to cover lifetime medical needs, lost earning capacity, and pain and suffering.

Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis

The impact forces in trucking accidents often crush vertebrae or sever the spinal cord. Depending on the injury level, victims may face:

• Tetraplegia/Quadriplegia: Loss of function in all four limbs from neck injuries
• Paraplegia: Loss of function in the legs from thoracic or lumbar injuries
• Incomplete injuries: Partial preservation of some sensation or movement

Lifetime care costs for spinal cord injury victims can exceed $5 million for high tetraplegia. We work with life care planners and vocational experts to calculate these future costs, ensuring your settlement covers home modifications, wheelchairs, accessible vehicles, and 24/7 attendant care.

Amputation

When an 18-wheeler crushes a vehicle door or drives over a limb, surgical amputation may be required. Or crush injuries may develop compartment syndrome, forcing emergency fasciotomies that later require amputation.

The costs extend far beyond the initial surgery. Our clients need:

• Advanced prosthetics ($50,000+ per limb, requiring replacement every 3-5 years)
• Physical therapy and occupational therapy
• Psychological counseling for body image trauma
• Home modifications (wheelchair ramps, bathroom modifications)
• Career retraining for those who can no longer perform previous work

We’ve secured $1.9 million to $8.6 million for amputation victims, including one recent $3.8 million settlement for a client who lost a leg after a car accident involving medical complications.

Severe Burns

Fuel tank ruptures in trucking accidents can cause vehicle fires or explosions. Tanker trucks carrying flammable materials create additional hazmat dangers. Severe burns require:

• Immediate treatment at specialized burn centers (like University of Michigan’s Burn Center)
• Multiple skin graft surgeries
• Reconstructive surgery
• Physical therapy for contracture prevention
• Lifetime scar management

These cases often involve permanent disfigurement and significant psychological trauma.

Wrongful Death

When a trucking accident kills your loved one, no amount of money brings them back. But a wrongful death claim serves two purposes: providing financial security for the family left behind and holding the trucking company accountable so they can’t kill someone else.

In Michigan, wrongful death claims can recover:

• Lost income and benefits the deceased would have earned
• Loss of companionship, guidance, and support
• Funeral and burial expenses
• Medical expenses incurred before death
• The deceased’s pain and suffering before death
• Punitive damages (if gross negligence is proven)

We’ve recovered between $1.9 million and $9.5 million for families who lost loved ones to trucking company negligence.

Insurance Battles: What You’re Really Up Against

Federal law requires trucking companies to carry substantial liability insurance:

• $750,000 minimum for general freight
• $1,000,000 for oil, hazardous materials, or passenger transport
• $5,000,000 for certain hazardous cargo

But having insurance doesn’t mean getting paid. Insurance companies employ armies of adjusters trained to minimize payouts. They use software like Colossus that reduces your suffering to algorithmic calculations based on “comparable” injuries—ignoring that no two people experience pain the same way.

Here’s what they do:

• Quick Lowball Offers: They call days after the accident while you’re still in shock or on heavy pain medication, offering settlements that won’t cover your first year of medical bills, let alone lifetime care.
• Surveillance: They hire investigators to follow you, hoping to catch you lifting a bag of groceries or smiling at a family gathering to argue you’re “not really injured.”
• Independent Medical Exams (IMEs): They send you to their hired doctors who minimize your injuries and claim your problems are “pre-existing” or “exaggerated.”
• Gap in Treatment Arguments: If you missed one physical therapy appointment because you were vomiting from pain, they’ll argue you must not have needed the treatment.

That’s why having Lupe Peña on our team matters. He used to work for these insurance companies. He knows their playbooks. He knows that when they offer $50,000 for a TBI case, they’re really afraid of $5 million verdicts. And he knows exactly how to counter their arguments because he used to make them himself.

Leelanau County 18-Wheeler Accident FAQ

How long do I have to file a lawsuit after a truck accident in Michigan?

Three years from the date of the accident for personal injury, and three years for wrongful death. But waiting even a month risks losing critical evidence. Call us immediately.

What if I was partially at fault for the accident?

Michigan uses modified comparative negligence with a 51% bar. If you’re 50% or less at fault, you can recover damages reduced by your percentage of fault. If you’re 51% or more at fault, you recover nothing. Don’t let the trucking company’s lawyers convince you that checking your GPS at a stoplight makes you 51% responsible for their driver running a red light.

How much is my case worth?

It depends on injury severity, medical costs, lost wages, and available insurance. Trucking cases generally involve higher recoveries than car accidents because of the higher insurance minimums and catastrophic nature of injuries. We’ve recovered settlements from hundreds of thousands to millions.

Will my case go to trial?

Most settle, but we prepare every case as if it’s going to trial. Insurance companies offer better settlements to attorneys with actual courtroom experience. Ralph Manginello has been trying cases since 1998—that matters when the trucking company is deciding whether to offer a fair settlement or risk a jury verdict.

How much does it cost to hire you?

Nothing upfront. We work on contingency—33.33% pre-trial, 40% if we go to trial. You pay nothing unless we win. We advance all costs for experts, investigations, and court filings. If we don’t recover money for you, you owe us nothing.

What if the truck driver was an independent owner-operator?

We investigate all relationships. Often, owner-operators are “leased on” to larger carriers who control their routes and schedules. Those carriers may be vicariously liable. The owner-operator’s insurance and the motor carrier’s insurance may both apply, increasing available coverage.

Can I sue if my spouse was killed?

Yes. Michigan allows wrongful death claims by surviving spouses, children, parents, and the estate representative. We can help you understand who qualifies and what damages are available in your specific situation.

What if the accident involved hazardous materials?

Tanker trucks and hazmat carriers must carry $5 million in insurance. These cases are complex and require attorneys familiar with PHMSA regulations and hazmat response protocols. We’re experienced in these high-stakes cases.

Hablas Español?

Sí. Lupe Peña is fluent in Spanish and provides direct representation without interpreters. Si usted o un ser querido ha sufrido un accidente con un camión en Leelanau County, llame al 1-888-ATTY-911 para una consulta gratuita.

Your Next Step: Call Attorney911 Now

The trucking company that hit you has lawyers working right now to protect their interests. Their insurance adjuster is already building a file to minimize your claim. What are you doing to protect yours?

Ralph Manginello has spent 25 years making trucking companies pay for the devastation they cause. From the BP Texas City Refinery explosion litigation to the $10 million hazing lawsuit we’re currently handling against a major university, we’ve proven we can take on the biggest corporations and win. Our 4.9-star rating from 251+ Google reviews reflects our commitment to treating clients like family, not case numbers. As Chad Harris told us: “You are NOT just some client… You are FAMILY to them.”

But more importantly, we know Leelanau County. We know how lake-effect snow creates black ice on M-22. We know how the cherry harvest brings inexperienced truckers onto narrow county roads. We know the medical facilities at Munson Medical Center where you’ll receive treatment. This isn’t just a case to us—it’s your life, your family, your future.

You have three years to file a lawsuit in Michigan, but you only have 30 days to preserve the black box data that proves the driver was speeding. You have 48 hours before the trucking company “cleans” their driver’s logbooks. Every hour you wait, evidence disappears.

Call 1-888-ATTY-911 now. We’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The consultation is free. The advice is invaluable. And you pay nothing unless we win your case.

Don’t let the trucking company push you around. Push back with Attorney911.

Attorney911 / The Manginello Law Firm
Fighting for truck accident victims across Michigan and beyond

24/7 Emergency Line: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Direct: (713) 528-9070
Email: ralph@atty911.com
Website: https://attorney911.com

Main Office: 1177 West Loop S, Suite 1600, Houston, TX 77027
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We serve trucking accident victims in Leelanau County, Traverse City, Grand Traverse County, Benzie County, and throughout Northern Michigan. Hablamos Español. No recovery, no fee.