Cause And Liability For Trucking Accidents In Maryland

In this article, you will discover:

• How to get compensated for damages after a hit-and-run accident.
• When employers are held liable for their driver’s negligence.
• How to receive compensation without injury.

What Are The Most Common Causes Of Trucking, Commercial Vehicle, Or Semi-accidents Across Maryland?

The most common reason I see for trucking accidents is smaller vehicles. I often see a car cutting off a truck, causing the truck to either hit the car or swerve and hit a different vehicle or jackknife. I’ve had several of those cases before. The fault is of the car driver that cuts you off.

If we know who that driver is, I will pursue them for a liability claim. If we don’t know who the driver is—often they just keep on driving—then we go through your own uninsured motorist coverage (UM).

We had a case like this a few months ago. Even with the dash-cam, we still couldn’t make out the at-fault driver’s license plate. We got $67,000 for the accident from the truck driver’s UM policy.

What Are The Most Common Types Of Serious Injuries Caused By Semi-truck Accidents In Maryland?

The injuries we see from semi-truck accidents in Maryland differ with each case. I’ve seen truck drivers with concussions, back injuries, and ankle problems. They jam on the brakes so hard; they twist their back or ankle and get thrown around the cab.

There is a wide range of injuries that a car driver or occupant may receive if they’re in a wreck with a truck—it could be anything. It could be death, paralysis, or coma. It just depends on the exact situation.

Who Is Potentially Liable For My Serious Injuries In A Prince George’s County Trucking Accident Case?

To determine who is liable for a trucking accident, I would first determine if the driver is an owner-operator or works for somebody else? If he works for Walmart, Amazon, or some other trucking company, the company ultimately is liable for their employee’s negligence.

I frequently handle cases like this. I will sue the driver and the trucking company as co-defendants. Typically, they’re both under the same insurance policy. The insurance company then defends the case.

What Damages Can I Recover For A Severe Trucking Accident Injury Case In Upper Marlboro?

For a severe trucking accident injury case, you can recover damages for medical bills, lost wages, and general damages for pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment. General damages can far exceed the amount of medical bills.

We had a serious injury case recently where we recovered $95,000. The client only had about $4,000 in medical bills. The rest was intended to pay for future surgery and to compensate her for the pain caused by the accident and the loss of enjoyment. When you can demonstrate you’re passionate about something you can no longer do—from picking up your kids to riding rollercoasters—you can be compensated for your loss of enjoyment.

You can recover for lost wages, even if you don’t have a severe injury. I once had a case where a car hit my truck driver client while he drove a tractor-trailer. My client was fine with no injuries. He had no medical treatments, but he did have a messed-up truck. He couldn’t drive it for about a month while it was in the shop. They were waiting for a part to come in and had other complications.

My client had $22,000 in lost wages. He worked for a small truck company with limited trucks, and they didn’t have another truck available for my client to drive. We had his boss write a letter stating that. At first, the car driver’s insurance company didn’t want to pay anything. We did end up settling the case without going to trial for the full $22,000 of lost wages.

Suppose you lose money because your truck is down after an accident, that extends your lost wage period. If you can prove your wages and prove the truck is in the shop for a period, you can recover money for your lost wages, on top of medical bills and general damages.

For more information on Trucking Accidents in Maryland, an initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (443) 990-1529 today.