Maryland Truck Accident Lawyers

Defending Your Legal Rights to Seek Financial Compensation Following Accidents Involving Large Commercial Vehicles

Traffic accidents involving large trucks are often capable of causing life-threatening or catastrophic injuries to the occupants of smaller passenger cars, as well as pedestrians and motorcyclists. The difference in size between many tractor-trailers and other commercial vehicles and most passenger vehicles is such that the damage to the smaller automobiles can be devastating. If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident involving big rigs, delivery trucks, or other large commercial vehicles, you require dedicated legal representation to seek compensation for your personal injuries and financial losses.

Unfortunately, accidents involving large commercial motor vehicles are relatively common in Maryland, accounting for approximately 7 to 10% of all traffic accidents in the state. Approximately 40 truck accident fatalities occur annually in Maryland, accounting for a disproportionate percentage of fatal crashes on average.

Our legal team has extensive experience assisting clients who have suffered significant injuries and other losses due to negligent truck drivers and other liable parties in the trucking industry. As your legal representatives, our personal injury attorneys will pursue all avenues to hold the at-fault parties accountable, negotiate with insurance companies, gather evidence to maximize your compensation, and help you recover financial compensation for lost wages, property damage, hospital bills, and emotional distress caused by the tragic accidents.

The truck accident lawyers of our law firm operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning that we only get paid if we recover a settlement in your personal injury case. Additionally, we offer free consultations to prospective new clients interested in retaining our legal services. To learn more about your legal options, please get in touch with our law office to schedule your risk-free case evaluation today.

What Should You Do After Commercial Motor Vehicle Accidents?

After getting into an accident with a large commercial vehicle, there are specific steps you must take to defend your legal rights in the pursuit of financial recovery and safeguard your well-being and the well-being of others involved in the collision.

First and foremost, check for the injuries sustained in the crash to both you and any passengers in your vehicle. Regardless of the apparent severity of personal injuries, we recommend calling 911 immediately to summon first responders to the accident scene. While awaiting the police and paramedics, attempt to move your vehicle to the side of the road to prevent additional accidents from occurring.

When law enforcement arrives at the crash scene, they will assess the situation, assemble evidence, and create an official document in the form of a police report. Attempt to provide as comprehensive a version of events as possible to the police, as their accident report will be valuable evidence to your personal injury attorneys.

Even if you believe your injuries are relatively minor, we strongly encourage you to seek professional medical treatment after a trucking accident. Some injuries may worsen with time, and failing to seek medical attention could devalue your claim in the eyes of an insurance company.

Document the accident scene by taking photos and videos of your injuries, damage done to all vehicles, weather, and road conditions, and anything else that may seem relevant to the cause of the vehicle crash. Additionally, seek the names, phone numbers, and addresses of any witnesses present for the accident, as their testimonies will be valuable later.

Notify your insurance company of the accident as soon as possible. If insurance adjusters arrive at the scene and insist on speaking to you, direct them to talk with your legal representative instead. Remember, anything you say to insurance adjusters or other drivers involved in the crash could be used to devalue or dismiss your claims. Even going so far as saying ‘sorry’ could hurt your case.

What Are Common Causes of Accidents Involving Commercial Trucks in Maryland?

Traffic accidents involving 18-wheelers and other large commercial vehicles can occur for many reasons. Many truck accident cases involve truck driver negligence or failures by trucking companies or other third parties.

Our truck accident lawyers have represented injured victims in various types of trucking accidents, including rear-end collisions, blind spot accidents, underride accidents, rollovers, jackknife accidents, hit-and-run incidents, and head-on collisions.

Common causes of commercial truck accidents include, but are not limited to, the following:

Adverse weather conditions or hazardous road conditions, such as potholes, missing signs, and other issues, can be common causes of commercial trucking accidents, especially if truck drivers do not slow their vehicles to meet dangerous conditions
Commercial truck drivers must get proper training and obtain unique professional skills. Inexperienced or inadequately trained truck drivers are more likely to make mistakes or fail to handle emergencies
Distracted driving, including texting while driving, talking on a cell phone while driving, addressing passengers in the cab of a vehicle, or using a navigation device while operating the vehicle
Driver fatigue or drowsy driving is common in trucking accidents, as sometimes trucking companies force their drivers beyond their limits to meet deadlines and quotas. Also, sometimes the truck driver is to blame, ignoring regulations for necessary downtime
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs can be dangerous in all types of driving. Still, it can be especially hazardous when truck drivers operate vehicles with dramatic size and weight. Truck drivers who are drunk or under the influence of drugs often have delayed reaction times or flawed reasoning, which can result in catastrophic accidents
Mechanical failures due to defective vehicles or vehicle parts, improper maintenance procedures, brake malfunctions, tire blowouts, and more
Traffic violations such as speeding, failure to yield to the right of way, improper lane changes, reckless or aggressive driving, and failure to use proper traffic signals are also common factors in semi-truck accidents

What Are Common Truck Accident Injuries?

Due to the difference in size and weight between most big rigs or other commercial vehicles and the passenger cars they share the roads with, the damage inflicted by collisions can be catastrophic. Often, the occupants of passenger cars are more likely to suffer significant injuries than the commercial drivers of much larger vehicles.

Common truck accident injuries include, but are not limited to, the following:

Broken bones and bone fractures
Concussions and other forms of head trauma
Crushing injuries and degloving injuries
Deep cuts and lacerations, which often result in significant blood loss
Dismemberment or loss of limbs
Internal bleeding, organ damage, nerve damage, and other internal injuries
Permanent injuries that leave truck accident victims forever disabled
Post-traumatic stress disorder and other forms of emotional trauma
Severe burns and other forms of disfigurement
Soft tissue damage
Spinal cord injuries, which can sometimes result in complete or partial paralysis
Traumatic brain injuries
Whiplash and other forms of back or neck injuries
Wrongful death
And more

Why is a Truck Accident Claim More Legally Complex Than Most Other Motor Vehicle Accidents?

While motor vehicle accident victims would benefit from the legal representation of experienced attorneys, this is especially so for trucking accident victims. Commercial truck accidents are different from most other traffic accidents for many reasons.

Because of the severity of most commercial vehicle crashes, there is often more money on the line during insurance claims and lawsuits. With more money at stake for medical expenses and lost income, the at-fault party and their insurer are more likely to fight harder to defend their interests. Truck accident victims are encouraged to seek professional legal counsel to assist them throughout the legal process.

In truck accidents, multiple liable parties can often exist. While this presents multiple opportunities for recovering financial compensation, it also means facing off against multiple attorneys and insurance companies, which can quickly become overwhelming.

Different rules and federal regulations may apply to your truck accident case, making things more complicated than a typical car accident. You want attorneys who are well-versed in the applicable laws and regulations to help you with your truck accident case.

Evidence can be difficult to come by, especially accident crash data from the truck’s black box, as the trucking company often owns such data and could potentially legally destroy the evidence after a specific length of time.

Do not assume you can handle your truck accident lawsuit alone. You would certainly benefit from professional legal representation provided by our experienced attorneys. Contact us to schedule your free case evaluation today.

Who May Be Held Liable in a Truck Accident Case?

Depending on the facts of your case, multiple parties could be held accountable for a semi-truck crash. Proving negligence and liability are essential parts of every truck accident case, and victims often have difficulty establishing such facts while still recovering from their injuries and other losses. It is strongly recommended that you seek professional legal advice from experienced lawyers when seeking to prove liability.

At-fault parties in a truck accident case could include the following:

Negligent truck drivers or other commercial drivers
The trucking company that the driver worked for, particularly in situations where the company knowingly hired reckless drivers or failed to maintain the vehicles properly
Cargo loading companies, especially in cases where tractor-trailers are improperly loaded or overloaded, which frequently result in rollovers and jackknife accidents
The truck owner or the company that owns the cab of the truck, which can sometimes differ from the owner of the truck’s trailer
Truck manufacturers and the manufacturers of vehicle parts, especially in situations where truck parts failed or were defective, and caused the accident
The insurance companies for any of the individuals or entities involved in the truck crash
Other third parties involved in the collision, including other drivers, pedestrians, and more

What Sort of Financial Recovery is Possible with the Help of Maryland Truck Accident Attorneys?

A successful insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit can recover economic and non-economic damages to help compensate for your injuries, financial losses, and pain and suffering.

Potential financial recovery could include the following:

Chronic physical pain and suffering compensation for those with severe, debilitating injuries
Disability, disfigurement, or dismemberment compensation
Emotional distress and mental anguish compensation
Lost wages if forced to miss time from work following a truck accident. Victims may also potentially recover a settlement for lost income-earning capacity if their permanent injuries prevent them from being able to return to their former place of employment
Out-of-pocket expenses related to the aftermath of the trucking accident, including transportation costs, medical treatment, and more
Past medical bills and future medical expenses, including compensation for doctor visits, ambulance rides, surgeries, medications, and rehabilitative services
Property damage, including compensation for repairs and replacements
Wrongful death damages, which can include loss of benefits, lost wages, loss of companionship, guardianship, or consortium, and compensation for funeral, burial, and memorial expenses

The value of your personal injury claim will depend on several factors, including the severity of your injuries, long-term medical care, the ability to return to work, shared negligence, and more.

Maryland operates under a contributory negligence doctrine for personal injury law. Under contributory negligence rules, if accident victims were deemed to be even 1% at fault for the accident, they are likely to be barred from recovering a settlement. To ensure that you get the fair compensation you deserve, it is highly recommended that you work with experienced legal representation that can help strengthen your case.

Contact Us for a FREE Consultation with Our Experienced Personal Injury Lawyers Today

If you or a loved one has been harmed in a commercial trucking accident, do not delay speaking with an attorney about your case. There is a deadline for truck accident claims in Maryland, and if you fail to file your claim within the allotted time window, you could forever miss your chance of recovering compensation.

Our Maryland personal injury law firm has years of experience representing the community in complex traffic accident cases, including those involving large commercial vehicles. Please get in touch with our law office to schedule your free initial consultation with our legal team today to learn how we may be of valuable legal assistance in your case.

You can get in touch with us by calling us at 240-887-0414.