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A rollover truck accident can cause significant injuries that can impact the course of your life. They are some of the most devastating and catastrophic accidents that occur on the road. A Maryland rollover truck accident lawyer can help protect your legal right to compensation and help you navigate the complex legal process. Generally, a rollover accident occurs with a semi-truck when the truck loses balance and tips over. This can be due to several reasons. The most common reasons are excessive speed, sharp turns, and shifting cargo in the back of the truck. Whatever the reason, it is rooted in negligence. We must prove any act of negligence by a preponderance of the evidence. This means we must convince a jury it is more likely than not that each of the four elements of negligence has been met at trial.
There are many ways to establish that a trucker has breached his duty. Even if the trucker does nothing wrong on the road, if a shift of cargo throws off the truck’s balance and rolls over, there may have been negligence in the loading process that we can investigate. Note that just because the trucker is not negligent does not mean that no trucking company employee has been negligent. Multiple individuals may be responsible for the accident. If that is the case, our Maryland rollover truck accident lawyers can hold each of them jointly and severally liable or go after the umbrella corporation if they are working for the trucking company within the course and scope of their employment as they are behaving negligently.
There are countless causes of rollover truck accidents in Maryland. Whatever the cause is, so long as it results in the other driver’s fault, you should contact a Maryland rollover truck accident lawyer. If you are still determining who is at fault, we are happy to discuss the facts of the accident to determine whether you have a claim worth pursuing.
Speeding is not just the cause of rollover truck accidents; it is one of the leading causes of all motor vehicle accidents in Maryland. However, when a heavy truck is speeding, it often struggles to stop in time to avoid accidents. Specific to rollover accidents, when an 18-wheeler is speeding, especially when it hits an exit ramp too quickly, it is at a high risk of rolling over. Most vehicles are designed to avoid rolling over. However, no amount of engineering can stop a truck from rolling over if it travels at a high enough speed when the driver negligently attempts to turn.
Speeding can lead to a rollover accident in other instances, too. For example, on a curved road, especially one where the trucker is unfamiliar with the curvature and the curve catches the driver by surprise, it may be too late to slow down before the curve comes, leading to a devastating rollover accident.
Like speeding, driver fatigue is a common cause of all types of motor vehicle accidents. However, fatigue is especially pervasive in Maryland truck rollover accidents. Whether it is an Amazon driver, grocery store driver, or even a Uhaul driver, truckers operate on tight schedules and are often overworked. While regulations govern the number of hours they may operate a truck in a given day and week, driver fatigue is still pervasive. What makes driver fatigue so dangerous? Fatigue impairs reaction times and judgment, leading to mistakes that increase the risk of a rollover accident. Thus, it leads to all types of truck accidents, not just rollovers. If you are in an accident and you suspect it is due to driver fatigue, speak to a Maryland rollover truck accident lawyer immediately.
Adverse weather conditions like slick, snowy, or icy roads frequently lead to rollover truck accidents. While not as dangerous, even windy conditions can lead to a case requiring assistance from a Maryland rollover truck accident lawyer. Any of these hazardous conditions can make it more difficult for truckers to maintain control of their vehicle. When a semi-truck attempts to turn on a slippery surface, or any motor vehicle for that matter, it may fail to do so. While the truck may be able to control its vehicle through the turn if it can gain traction, if it fails to gain traction, the momentum of the truck may carry the rear forward, causing a rollover.
Countless injuries may result from a rollover accident, requiring aid from a Maryland rollover truck accident lawyer. Most commonly, we see broken bones, whiplash and neck injuries, and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). There are two common ways in which a plaintiff suffers a TBI. First, the accident victim slams their head onto the window, airbag if it properly deploys, or the steering wheel. This is a painful injury that can result in months of therapy and an inability to work and support yourself financially during your recovery. We are aware of how difficult this part of the recovery process can be. That is why we are here to guide you every step of the way.
A whiplash, neck, or back injury is the most common type of injury in any motor vehicle case, and a truck rollover accident is no exception. This occurs when your head is thrown forward as it keeps up with your vehicle’s momentum. Meanwhile, your seatbelt should restrain the rest of your body, leaving just your head to be whipped forward. While it would be unsafe to have additional head restraints in a vehicle, this painful injury that results often requires months of physical therapy to return to normal health.
Proving liability in a truck accident is made simple with a trusted Maryland rollover truck accident lawyer. So long as the evidence supports that the other driver acted negligently in causing the accident, we can establish liability. Liability is the civil version of guilt in a personal injury trial. Thus, to prove liability, we must show that the adverse driver was negligent. An easy-to-understand example of negligence is when a truck driver fails to stop their truck before colliding with the rear of a vehicle. To convert this example into a rollover accident, suppose a truck is driving too quickly around a curve. Due to this excessive speed, the truck falls to one side and rolls over, crushing the vehicles it rolls over.
This is also an example of a truck driver failing to maintain speed and control of his vehicle. Accordingly, the negligent trucker is liable for all injuries caused by the accident.
Speaking to a Maryland rollover truck accident lawyer is critical to preserve your right to make a claim. While the statute of limitations for most personal injury matters in Maryland is three years, other statutes may approach quicker. A failure to act before these statutes pass could reduce the compensation you ultimately receive.
Contact our office today for a free consultation and case evaluation at (202) 331-7227.
Copyright © 2024 Gelb & Gelb, P.C. All rights reserved.