Southfield facts that matter in a truck accident case
- Southfield contains I-696, the Southfield Freeway (M-39), US 24 (Telegraph Road), and the John C. Lodge Freeway (M-10). Source
- The Lodge Freeway connects downtown Detroit to the Mixing Bowl, the sprawling interchange of I-696, US 24, and M-10 in Southfield. Source
- Oakland County recorded 1,990 crashes involving heavy trucks or buses in 2024, with 4 people killed in those crashes, according to Michigan Traffic Crash Facts. 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.
Southfield courts, police and hospitals
| Crash reports | Southfield Police Department |
|---|---|
| District court | 46th District Court (26000 Evergreen Rd., Southfield) (serves Cities of Southfield and Lathrup Village; Township of Southfield) |
| Circuit court | 6th Circuit Court (Oakland County), 1200 N. Telegraph Rd., Pontiac |
| Trauma centers | Ascension Providence Hospital, Southfield Campus (Henry Ford Providence Southfield) (Level II, in Southfield); Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital (Level I (adult), nearest Level I; in Royal Oak) |
| Major roads | M-10 (John C. Lodge Freeway / Northwestern Highway), I-696 (Walter P. Reuther Freeway), M-39 (Southfield Freeway), US 24 (Telegraph Road), M-102 (8 Mile Road), Greenfield Road |
| From our office | About 20 minutes 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 Southfield crash cases we handle
- Southfield car accidents
- Southfield pedestrian accident
- Southfield Uber and Lyft accident
- Southfield 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 Southfield?
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 Southfield case be filed?
Claims of $25,000 or less usually go to the 46th District Court. Larger claims and most injury lawsuits go to circuit court, the 6th Circuit Court for Oakland County. Venue can also depend on where a defendant lives or does business.