Detroit facts that matter in a truck accident case
- The Ambassador Bridge between Detroit and Windsor is the busiest international border crossing in North America by trade volume and carries more than 10,000 commercial vehicles on a typical weekday. Source
- The Gordie Howe International Bridge opened to vehicle traffic at noon on July 27, 2026, connecting I-75 in Detroit with Highway 401 in Ontario and giving trucking companies a second bridge option. Source
- I-96 ends in Detroit at an interchange that connects it to I-75 (Fisher Freeway) and to the Ambassador Bridge. Source
Federal safety rules
Interstate carriers must follow the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations on driving hours, drug and alcohol testing, inspections and driver qualification. Michigan applies most of those rules to intrastate carriers too (MCL 480.11a). A violation is strong evidence of negligence.
More than one defendant
A truck case often involves the driver, the motor carrier whose authority the truck ran under, the owner of the tractor or trailer, the shipper that loaded it and the shop that maintained it. Michigan’s owner liability statute (MCL 257.401) can make the owner responsible for a permissive driver.
Evidence disappears
Electronic logging device data, engine control module data and post-crash drug and alcohol tests have short retention windows. An alcohol test not given within 8 hours, or a drug test not given within 32 hours, can no longer be given. A preservation letter should go out quickly.
Detroit courts, police and hospitals
| Crash reports | Detroit Police Department |
|---|---|
| District court | 36th District Court (421 Madison St., Detroit) (serves City of Detroit) |
| Circuit court | 3rd Circuit Court (Wayne County), Detroit |
| Trauma centers | DMC Detroit Receiving Hospital & University Health Center (Level I, in Detroit); Henry Ford Hospital (Level I, in Detroit); Ascension St. John Hospital (Henry Ford St. John Hospital) (Level I (adult); Level II (pediatric), in Detroit); DMC Sinai-Grace Hospital (Level II, in Detroit) |
| Major roads | I-75, I-94, I-96, M-10 (John C. Lodge Freeway), M-39 (Southfield Freeway), M-1 (Woodward Avenue) |
| From our office | About 35 minutes to downtown by car (approximate) |
What to do now
- Get medical care and tell every provider a truck crash caused the injury.
- Get the crash report number and the carrier’s name and USDOT number from the truck door or the report.
- Photograph the truck, trailer, cargo and the scene.
- Do not give a recorded statement to the trucking company’s insurer.
- Call us so a preservation letter goes out before logs and video are overwritten.
One year. Give your no-fault insurer written notice within one year of the crash. Use the deadline calculator to see every date for your case.
Other Detroit crash cases we handle
- Detroit car accidents
- Detroit pedestrian accident
- Detroit Uber and Lyft accident
- Detroit wrongful death
Sources: Michigan courts directory, Michigan Traffic Crash Facts (2024), the DIFS Level I and II trauma center list, the Michigan Compiled Laws and local agency websites, checked October 2026.
Questions people ask us
Who pays my medical bills after a truck crash in Detroit?
Your own auto insurer, or a household relative’s, usually pays no-fault benefits first, regardless of fault. The trucking company’s liability insurer pays for pain and suffering and excess losses if you prove fault and meet the threshold.
How long do I have to sue a trucking company?
Generally three years from the crash for the injury claim. Give your no-fault insurer written notice within one year. Evidence is the real deadline, because carriers may lawfully discard some records within months.
Where would a Detroit case be filed?
Claims of $25,000 or less usually go to the 36th District Court. Larger claims and most injury lawsuits go to circuit court, the 3rd Circuit Court for Wayne County. Venue can also depend on where a defendant lives or does business.