Prince George’s County Truck Accident Lawyers

Semi-Truck & 18-Wheeler Collisions in Maryland

Although any car accident can be devastating, those involving semi-trucks and other large commercial vehicles tend to be particularly catastrophic. The immense size and weight of these massive vehicles often leads to widespread destruction when collisions occur. Smaller vehicles can be crushed—and their occupants can suffer life-altering injuries or even fatalities. 

To make matters worse, filing a personal injury claim after a large truck accident can be uniquely challenging. Trucking companies and their insurance providers are reluctant to admit liability and may do everything possible to dispute, undervalue, or deny your claim. Additionally, depending on what happened, you could be owed compensation not only from the trucking company but from another liable third party, as well.

After a semi-truck, 18-wheeler, or tractor-trailer accident, you need the help of a skilled motor vehicle accident attorney. You need a team that will fight for you and the full, fair compensation you deserve. You need an aggressive advocate who understands the law and how to work with insurance companies that will take drastic measures to avoid paying what you’re owed. 

You need Gracia & Mintz. 

Continue reading to learn how our Prince George’s County truck accident attorneys can help you get back on your feet, or contact us directly at (301) 842-8584 for a consultation.

How Do Large Truck Accidents Happen? 

With any given truck accident, there are usually many factors at play when it comes to determining what happened. A truck driver may have been fatigued, causing him to have a delayed reaction to stopped traffic and be unable to avoid a rear-end collision. However, the truck driver’s fatigue may have been due to an employer that not only permitted drivers to operate vehicles well beyond the admissible hours of service but actually encouraged such violations with unreasonable deadlines. 

Some of the most common causes of large truck accidents include:

• Truck Driver Error: When truck drivers make mistakes or act negligently on the road, the consequences can be deadly. Examples of truck driver negligence include distracted driving, speeding, driving while intoxicated, driving while fatigued, and violating traffic laws.
• Hours-of-Service Violations: Hours-of-service laws restrict the number of hours and consecutive hours drivers may operate commercial vehicles. When truckers violate these rules, they are at risk of driving while fatigued. This has been shown to be as dangerous as driving while drunk in some cases. 
• Trucking Company Negligence: Various forms of trucking company negligence can indirectly lead to devastating accidents. Some examples include negligent hiring practice, failure to provide adequate training, failure to conduct background checks, and holding truck drivers to unrealistic schedules or expectations. 
• Vehicle Defects: Defective truck design and faulty parts can cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle, leading to catastrophic accidents. Common truck defects include defective accelerators and brakes, defective tires that blow out at highway speeds, and missing safety devices, such as warning stickers and reflective strips. 
• Improper Truck Maintenance: Semi-trucks, tractor-trailers, and other large commercial vehicles must be routinely inspected for defective or malfunctioning parts. Any issues that arise should be promptly addressed. Failure to conduct routine inspections and truck maintenance can lead to serious problems, which may result in deadly collisions. 
• Cargo Issues: Semi-trucks and tanker trucks haul massive loads, weighing multiple tons. It is essential that transported items are properly loaded with weight evenly distributed to avoid a loss of vehicle control. Improperly loaded cargo or overloaded trucks can be difficult to manage, and collisions are likely. 

In addition to all these common causes, other factors may have played a role in your truck accident. If another driver was careless, or if debris in the roadway led to the crash, this is important, as it may indicate another liable party who could be partially responsible for your accident-related damages. 

Who Is Liable for Truck Accident Damages?