Freight moves through mid-Michigan on I-96, I-69 and US-127, and much of it passes within a few miles of downtown Lansing. When a fully loaded semi hits a passenger car, the injuries are usually far worse than in a typical crash, and the insurance company on the other side is usually far better prepared. A Lansing truck accident lawyer can move quickly to lock down the trucking company’s records before they disappear and build the case while you focus on recovery.
Khamo Law represents people hurt in semi-truck, delivery truck and commercial vehicle crashes across Lansing, East Lansing and Ingham County. Our offices are in Troy and Sterling Heights, and clients in the Lansing area can meet with us by phone, by video or in person in Troy. Our attorneys and staff speak Arabic, Chaldean and English. Reach us at (248) 466-0606 to set up a free case review. There is no attorney fee unless we recover money for you.
For an overview of truck claims anywhere in the state, see our Michigan truck accident lawyer page. For other kinds of injuries in the capital area, visit our Lansing personal injury lawyer page.
Recent Semi-Truck Crashes on Lansing-Area Freeways
Two recent crashes show how quickly a truck collision can turn deadly near Lansing:
- I-96 at US-127, March 2025: a crash involving two semi-trucks and a car on westbound I-96 at the US-127 interchange killed the car’s 34-year-old driver, according to WILX. Both truck drivers were uninjured.
- I-96 east of Lansing, November 2024: a westbound semi crashed into traffic that had stopped for utility work, setting off a fire involving about 15 vehicles. Four people died, three of them Lansing residents, and 17 were seriously injured. Michigan State Police said the truck driver did not see the backup and could not stop in time, as reported by CBS News Detroit.
State crash data for 2024 lists 495 large trucks and buses (over 10,000 pounds) involved in crashes in Ingham County, including 46 in injury crashes and one in a fatal crash, according to the Michigan Traffic Crash Facts county profile. The report does not break these numbers out by city.
How a Lansing Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help
A truck case is not just a bigger car case. The trucking company usually sends its own investigators to the scene, and key evidence sits in the truck’s computers and the company’s files. Our work typically includes:
- Sending a preservation letter right away so the carrier keeps electronic logging device data, engine data, dashcam video and dispatch records
- Requesting the driver’s qualification file, drug and alcohol testing records and past safety violations
- Checking inspection and maintenance records for brakes, tires and lights
- Identifying every company that may share responsibility, from the motor carrier to the shipper or loader
- Handling your No-Fault benefits claim so medical bills and wage loss are paid while the injury case proceeds
- Working with crash reconstruction experts when speed, following distance or stopping time is disputed
REPRESENTATIVE RESULTS
Results That Reflect the Cases We Handle
Khamo Law has obtained millions of dollars in recoveries for injured clients.
Past results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome. Every case depends on its individual facts, injuries, liability, insurance coverage, and applicable law.
Where Truck Crashes Happen Around Lansing
The I-96, I-69 and US-127 Corridors
I-96 carries traffic between Grand Rapids and Detroit, and I-69 heads northeast toward Flint, with both passing the Lansing area. Long-haul trucks share these freeways with commuters, and interchanges like I-96 at US-127 force heavy vehicles to merge and change lanes in tight spaces. A loaded tractor-trailer needs far more distance to stop than a car, so sudden slowdowns are especially dangerous.
Work Zones on US-127 and I-496
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is rebuilding US-127/I-496 between I-96 and I-496, a $205 million project listed for completion in fall 2028. Lane closures and ramp closures create exactly the kind of stop-and-go traffic where a truck driver who is following too closely or not paying attention can cause a chain-reaction crash.
Local Delivery and Box Trucks
Not every truck crash happens on a freeway. Delivery vans, box trucks, garbage trucks and construction vehicles work city streets every day. Wide right turns, blind spots and backing maneuvers in tight downtown and commercial areas can catch drivers, cyclists and pedestrians off guard. Our blind spot accident page explains how these crashes happen.
Federal Trucking Rules That Matter in a Lansing Case
Interstate trucking companies and drivers must follow Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rules. A violation does not automatically decide a case, but it can be strong evidence that the carrier or driver was careless. Key rules include:
- Hours of service: a property-carrying driver may drive no more than 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty, may not drive past the 14th hour after coming on duty, must take a 30-minute break after 8 cumulative hours of driving, and is limited to 60 or 70 hours on duty in 7 or 8 days, according to the FMCSA summary of hours-of-service rules
- Electronic logging: most long-haul trucks record driving time electronically, which makes hours violations easier to prove if the data is preserved
- Driver qualification and testing: carriers must check a driver’s license, medical certification and history, and run drug and alcohol testing
- Inspection and maintenance: trucks must be inspected and kept in safe working order, including brakes and tires
- Insurance minimums: for-hire interstate carriers hauling ordinary freight in vehicles over 10,000 pounds must carry at least $750,000 in liability coverage under 49 CFR 387.9
Our trucking laws and regulations in Michigan page goes into these rules in more depth.
Who Can Be Responsible for a Semi-Truck Crash
- The truck driver, for fatigue, speeding, distraction, impairment or unsafe lane changes
- The motor carrier, which is generally responsible for its drivers’ conduct on the job and for its own hiring, training and scheduling decisions
- The owner of the truck or trailer, when it is different from the carrier
- A shipper or loading company, if an overloaded or poorly secured load shifted or fell
- A maintenance or repair shop, if faulty work on brakes or tires contributed
- A parts manufacturer, when a defective component failed
Learn more on our page about who is liable in a commercial truck accident in Michigan.
No-Fault Benefits and the Claim Against the Trucking Company
Michigan No-Fault law applies to truck crashes too. Your own auto insurer, or one covering a relative you live with, generally pays your medical bills, a portion of lost wages for up to three years, household help and medical mileage, regardless of fault. The amount of medical coverage depends on the personal injury protection (PIP) limit chosen on the policy. Our Michigan No-Fault insurance page explains these benefits.
The separate claim against the driver and trucking company covers what No-Fault does not: pain and suffering, wage loss beyond what PIP pays, and medical costs over your PIP limit. Under Michigan Compiled Laws (MCL) 500.3135, pain and suffering is available only if the crash caused death, permanent serious disfigurement or a serious impairment of body function. Because truck crashes often cause fractures, spinal injuries and brain injuries, many truck cases meet that standard, but the medical records have to prove it.
Michigan’s comparative fault rules also apply. Your recovery from the at-fault parties is reduced by your share of fault, and you cannot recover pain and suffering damages if you are found more than 50% at fault. No-Fault benefits are not reduced by fault.
Common Injuries in Truck Collisions
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Multiple fractures and crush injuries
- Burns, when a crash leads to fire
- Internal organ damage
- Amputations
Crashes where a car slides under a trailer or a truck rolls over are especially severe; see our pages on underride accidents and truck rollover accidents. When a truck crash is fatal, the family may bring a wrongful death claim.
Steps to Take After a Truck Crash Near Lansing
- Call 911. Freeway truck crashes are often handled by the Michigan State Police; city streets by Lansing or East Lansing police.
- Get medical care right away, even if you think you are only shaken up.
- Photograph the truck, including the company name, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) number on the door, the trailer number and the license plates.
- Get witness names and phone numbers, especially from other drivers who saw the truck before the crash.
- Do not talk to the trucking company’s adjuster or investigator or sign anything before speaking with a lawyer.
- Open your No-Fault claim with your own auto insurer.
- Call a truck accident attorney in Lansing quickly, before the carrier’s electronic data is overwritten.
Our guide on how to file a truck accident claim in Michigan walks through the process step by step. You do not need to request the police report yourself; Khamo Law orders it as part of intake.
Deadlines for Truck Accident Claims
- No-Fault notice: written notice to your insurer within one year of the crash (MCL 500.3145)
- Injury lawsuit against the driver and carrier: generally three years (MCL 600.5805)
- Claims against a road agency for a defective road or work zone: written notice usually within 120 days (MCL 691.1404)
The more practical deadline is evidence. Some electronic data and video can be overwritten within days or weeks unless the company is put on notice to keep it.
Why Choose Khamo Law for a Lansing Truck Case
Truck cases reward fast, organized work. We focus on preserving the carrier’s evidence early, coordinating your No-Fault benefits and building the medical proof needed for a full claim. Our team has more than 40 years of combined experience and has recovered more than $40 million for injured clients. More than 230 clients have given us a 5.0-star average on Google, and founder Koro E. Khamo has been recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star and selected for The National Trial Lawyers’ Top 40 Under 40. Our attorneys and staff speak Arabic, Chaldean and English.
If a car, rather than a truck, hit you, our Lansing car accident lawyer page covers those claims.
Lansing Truck Accident Questions
How much are truck accident settlements?
There is no typical number. Value depends on the severity and permanence of the injuries, lost income, who was at fault and how much insurance is available. Trucking companies often carry higher limits than individual drivers, which can matter in serious cases.
How much does a truck accident lawyer cost in Michigan?
Khamo Law handles truck cases on contingency. The consultation is free, and there is no attorney fee unless we recover money for you. The fee terms are set out in a written agreement.
What should I tell my lawyer after a semi crash?
Everything, including details that seem bad for you, such as speed or a missed turn signal. Your lawyer can only prepare for the trucking company’s arguments if they know about them first. Conversations with your attorney are confidential.
How long does a truck accident lawsuit take?
Many truck cases take longer than car cases because of the number of parties and records involved. Some settle within months after treatment ends; others go through a lawsuit that can last a year or more.
Can a Lansing semi truck accident attorney help if the crash was in East Lansing?
Yes. We handle truck crashes throughout Ingham County and the surrounding area, including East Lansing and the freeway corridors around the capital.
What if the trucking company is from out of state?
Out-of-state carriers operating in Michigan are still subject to federal rules and can be sued for crashes that happen here. Your No-Fault benefits still come through Michigan’s system.
Talk to a Lansing Truck Accident Attorney Today
If a commercial truck hit you or someone in your family, every day matters for the evidence. Phone (248) 466-0606 or send us a message to set up a free consultation.
This page is general information about Michigan and federal law, not legal advice for your situation. Prior case results do not guarantee or predict the outcome of any future case.