18 Wheeler Accidents in Grand Rapids | Big Rig Grand Rapids Injury Lawyer

An “18 wheeler” is a slang term for a semi truck, tractor-trailer or big rig. It gets its name from the number of wheels in the combination of the semi tractor (the powered vehicle that pulls the trailer) and the semi trailer.

Semi truck, tractor trailer and 18-wheeler accidents are common occurrences on Grand Rapids roads and highways such as the I-96, US 131 and SH 46. It is estimated that approximately 5,000 people die as a result of 18-wheeler accidents and big rig collisions in the United States each year with a substantial number of 18-wheeler truck wrecks occurring in Grand Rapids, Michigan, every day. Due to the high population and highly congested traffic throughout Grand Rapids’s metropolitan area, the city of Grand Rapids unfortunately has its fair share of big rig truck crashes

Why is it Called an 18 Wheeler?

An 18 wheeler gets its name from the number of wheels on the rig. The semi tractor and semi trailer combination will have 18 wheels (10 for the tractor and 8 for the trailer).

The semi tractor (or truck tractor) has 3 axles - one axle in front for steering and two drive axles in the rear. The front axle will have a pair of single wheels and the two drive axles will each have a 2 pairs of double wheels. That’s a total of 10 wheels for the semi tractor (4 doubles and 2 singles).

The semi trailer has two axles in the rear. A semi trailer has no front axle by definition because the front part of the trailer is coupled to the semi tractor. A semi trailer will usually have 2 pairs of double wheels per axle. That’s a total of 8 wheels for the semi trailer (4 doubles).

With all these wheels and with a gross weight in the neighborhood of 70,000 to 80,000 lbs., it is imperative that the brakes are properly maintained. A truck with bad brakes simply cannot stop as quickly or in as short a distance as one with properly maintained brakes.

Grand Rapids 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyers Need to Assess Cause

In many cases, Grand Rapids 18-wheeler accident attorneys must retain the services of scientific and medical experts to prove both the cause of the accident and the cause of your injuries. Additionally, a qualified 18-wheeler accident lawyer will obtain all kinds of evidence concerning the scene of the crash, truck logs, and other important information to be used against the trucker, trucking company, or the company’s insurer. Arranging expert witness testimony and preparing important physical and documentary evidence is just one of many ways a Grand Rapids tractor trailer injury lawyer can help you after you’ve suffered a truck accident injury for a major commercial vehicle wreck.

If you or a loved one have been involved in a serious semi truck wreck, tractor trailer crash or big rig accident, hiring a lawyer is the farthest thing from your mind when tragedy such as this strikes you, a family member, or a friend. However, this is when you need a Grand Rapids truck accident lawyer most. Do yourself a favor by calling one of the qualified Grand Rapids truck accident lawyers listed on this page. Hire a qualified Grand Rapids tractor trailer accident lawyer to help protect your rights.

Maintenance of Brakes Required For Grand Rapids 18 Wheelers

When an 18 wheeler is driving on the roads and highways in Grand Rapids such as the I-96, US 131 and SH 46 or just passing through to some other destination, the trucker will know if he or she has bad brakes. It doesn’t matter if the trucker is an employee of a trucking company or the owner of the rig or not. If you’re driving an 18 wheeler or big-rig, then you’re responsible for maintaining the truck’s brakes, period. There are many truck brake repair shops in the Grand Rapids area that are suitable for servicing 18 wheelers. A trucker can select from any one of them before entering a congested Grand Rapids truck route or interstate with their commercial vehicle. If an accident ensues as a result of the trucker’s failure to repair faulty brakes, then it is considered to be negligence. And, if a lawsuit is filed in Kent County on behalf of the injury victim, the trucker has no excuse for failing to repair the brakes. Failure to properly maintain brakes is considered negligence on the part of the trucker and/or trucking company.

There are a number of truck brake and repair shops in the greater Grand Rapids area where a truck driver can stop to have his brakes inspected and/or repaired. As mentioned before, there is absolutely no excuse for an 18 wheeler’s brakes to fail and a Grand Rapids truck driver will be held negligent if this occurs. Following below are some Grand Rapids area brake repair shops where 18 wheeler brakes can be maintained:

Grand Rapids 18 Wheeler Brake Experts

Grand Rapids truck accident lawyers call upon experts that they use who specialize in truck brakes. If the accident is serious enough, and you contact a lawyer quickly enough, a seasoned Grand Rapids personal injury trial lawyer will know the right experts to contact. The trucking expert will be able to assess the brakes and gather any braking evidence from the scene of the accident on any Grand Rapids street, avenue, or major Interstate highway, including I-96, US 131 and SH 46. The Kent County trial attorney will do what is necessary to preserve the evidence, protect your rights, and fully determine whether the cause of the truck accident was a braking issue.

18 Wheeler Accident Attorneys Serve Grand Rapids and Surrounding Cities

Serving clients throughout Western Michigan, including Alaska, Allendale, Alma, Alpine, Battle Creek, Cannonsburg, Carson City, Cascade, Comstock Park, Cutlerville, Dorr, East Grand Rapids, Forest Hills, Grand Haven, Grand Rapids, Grandville, Greenville, Hastings, Holland, Ionia, Jackson, Jenison, Kalamazoo, Kentwood, Lansing, Mount Pleasant, Muskegon, Northview, Norton Shores, Portage, Steelcase, Tallmadge, Walker, Wyoming, areas in the vicinity of Gerald R. Ford International Airport, and other communities in Kent County.

Grand Rapids 18 wheeler accident attorneys are experienced in handling serious injury truck collision cases and can help you fight the trucking company or its insurer in order to get you the compensation you deserve. Contact a Grand Rapids 18 wheeler accident lawyer today for a FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION.