Read on to discover why semi-truck accidents commonly happen and how a seasoned St. Mary’s County truck accident lawyer at The Dorsey Law Firm can help you identify the appropriate party to hold accountable for yours.
Why do semi-truck accidents commonly happen?
It is a shame that semi-truck accidents happen so commonly because the aftermath is usually catastrophic. This is given that standard motor vehicles stand little to no chance of going up against the sheer size and weight of these tractor-trailers or 18-wheelers. Nonetheless, our firm has seen and dealt with semi-truck accidents that were caused by the following:
- A truck driver fails to maneuver this truck safely (i.e., failing to give enough space to brake, kick out wide enough to make a right turn, etc).
- A truck driver is seriously fatigued and falls asleep behind the wheel (i.e., they have been driving for too many hours, consecutive hours without a break).
- A truck driver consumes alcohol during their short break and drives under the influence (i.e., their blood-alcohol content level is 0.04 percent or higher).
- A truck is improperly loaded or in poor working condition (i.e., the tractor unit has uneven weight distribution, the brakes are worn out, etc).
Who is the at-fault party if I get hit by a semi-truck?
If a semi-truck driver collided with your standard motor vehicle, you may assume automatically they are to blame for it. But semi-truck accidents may not be as black-and-white as this. That is, third parties not even present at the time of your accident event may be considered partially or entirely at fault.
For example, of course, it is negligent of a truck driver to fall asleep behind the wheel. However, they may have fallen under the pressure of their trucking company employer, who set a nearly impossible deadline for them to meet. In fact, in the state of Maryland, truck drivers can only be scheduled to drive for 11 hours within 14 hours. After reaching this limit, they must be off duty for at least 10 consecutive hours. What’s more, they need to take a 30-minute break after driving for eight hours or more. So if their employer did not consider these regulations when crafting their schedule, they may be assigned responsibility.
In another example, a truck driver may have done everything possible to drive safely and carefully. However, a defective truck part, like defective brakes, may have prevented them from braking on time before colliding with you. This may be the fault of a truck manufacturing company. But if the brakes were simply worn out and needed to be inspected and replaced, this may fall once again on the trucking company employer.
Speaking with a lawyer is never a bad idea, even if you are still unsure whether you require legal representation. At the very least, they may serve as a shoulder to lean on or a listening ear. So when in doubt, please schedule an initial consultation with a competent St. Mary’s County auto accident lawyer from The Dorsey Law Firm today.
