Our Baltimore truck accident lawyers have handled motor vehicle accident cases for nearly 70 years in D.C. and Maryland. Based primarily in Washington, D.C., all our attorneys are licensed in Maryland, and we have an office in Maryland. Unfortunately, truck accidents occur often in Baltimore and Baltimore County. A truck accident is any motor vehicle accident involving a truck or 18-wheeler. It can be a collision between a truck and a car, pedestrian, house, or any other conceivable collision due to negligent or intentional conduct.
Truck accidents are among the most devastating types of personal injury cases. Of course, this is due to the sheer weight of a truck compared to most other motor vehicles on the road. Moreover, large trucks are more difficult to maneuver. Especially on the highway at high speeds, a smaller car or motorcycle can easily slip into the blind spot of an 18-wheeler. While the truck driver must still drive prudently and reasonably under the circumstances, being careful around large trucks is always advantageous.
Though truck drivers are professionals, they still make mistakes. This is not surprising. It takes longer to stop an 18-wheeler entirely than a lighter motor vehicle. Additionally, it is more vehicle to keep from contacting a third party. Below is a list of Baltimore, Maryland’s most common causes of truck accidents.
The impact of a truck accident can be substantial. First, the effect it has on traffic flow is noticeable and significant. Even more so if it takes up multiple lanes, which is possible given a truck’s length. However, on a more personal level, the injuries that can result from a truck accident can be life-threatening and life-altering. Our Baltimore truck accident lawyers have had clients with broken arms, legs, ribs, hands, faces, spines, necks, and more. Lasting disfigurement is a genuine concern in a truck accident, and if this happens to you, you deserve compensation.
Your car, bike, or motorcycle may have been damaged in your truck accident. If this is the case, and you have a viable negligence claim, you are entitled to compensation for its property damage. There are different ways to calculate property damage for a vehicle. It will depend on the extent of the damage and if it is reparable. Moreover, you are generally not able to recover from emotional damage related to attachment to your vehicle. The law views your car as personal property and does not allow this recovery. Of course, this is separate from the pain and suffering damages in your personal injury claim.
Your legal recourse is against the driver and, in some circumstances, the company the driver works for. This theory depends on the doctrine of respondeat superior, which imposes vicarious liability on an employer for negligence by an employee acting in the course and scope of his employment. It is not always applicable merely because the truck driver drives in the company’s truck. Generally, he must be on a job. However, there are exceptions that our Baltimore truck accident lawyers can assist you with.
If you can make a successful negligence claim, you can recover all your medical expenses. However, we must prove that they were reasonable based on your injuries, and your treating medical provider must relate it to your truck accident. We do this daily, so it is not a significant concern. However, we can and will only make this argument if it relates to your accident.
Claiming a professional truck driver can be complex. Please call our Baltimore truck accident lawyers today for a free consultation if you have any questions or think you have a viable claim.