One Killed in Dump Truck Accident on Fulton Ave in Ada Township, MI
Ada Township, MI — July 12, 2022, a 65-year-old man died when a dump truck ran a red light and hit two cars on Fulton Street in Ada Township.
According to reports the incident happened around 8:30 a.m. on Fulton at Spaulding Avenue. Preliminary investigation suggests an eastbound dump truck driver allegedly disregarded a red light and entered the intersection, then crashed into two westbound cars that were turning south onto Spaulding.
One car's driver was killed in the collision. No other injuries were reported.
The investigation continues. No further information is currently available.
Commentary on Truck Accident on Fulton Ave in Ada Twp
At a glance this accident doesn't seem particularly complicated; police said the truck driver ran a red light, so many might consider it basically open and shut. However, that's likely not true as his employer can still deny responsibility for the victims' injuries. They might not dispute that their driver did something wrong, but would instead say that wasn't the "real" cause of the damage.
That may sound ridiculous, but it's plenty common for trucking companies to point fingers wherever they can if it means they don't have to take the blame. In the meantime victims are burdened with proving their side of the story is the true one, which is why I often recommend they get help finding the facts and building a case.
I litigated a crash not long similar in some ways to the one in Michigan: An 18-wheeler and a car crashed at a light, and it seemed clear that the truck driver screwed up. The victim sought our help, however, because the trucking company dug in their heels and flatly denied their employee was to blame. They only changed their tune after we subpoenaed surveillance footage from a nearby business clearly showing that their employee ran a red light.
It generally costs a company far less to fight liability than it does to fess up and help the victims of their drivers' negligence, so they usually try. Their hope is that those hurt in the crash won't have anyone on their side to even the odds, or they'll wait too long to take action and crucial evidence will vanish. It's important to make sure that doesn't happen, so independent accident investigators should gather evidence on the victims' behalf. Armed with that proof, people hurt by truckers' negligence are better able to seek the help they need and deserve.
