Tractor Trailer and Other Truck Accidents in Laurel

Laurel Truck Accident Attorney: Helping You After a Crash With a Tractor Trailer, Semi or Big Rig

Situated along Interstate 95 between Washington, DC and Baltimore, Laurel sees a great deal of truck traffic — particularly truck traffic that intermingles with the ordinary passenger vehicle traffic typical of a major metropolitan area. Such conditions make the Laurel area particularly prone to truck accidents and the injuries that arise from them. Below, we will highlight some of the accidents unique to trucks, as well as a few common causes of truck accidents. For more information about truck accidents and what to do if you have been injured in one, please contact a Laurel truck accident attorney. 

How Truck Accidents Differ from Car Accidents

Accidents between trucks and passenger vehicles differ from accidents involving only cars or passenger vehicles. Some of the most common types of accidents unique to trucks include: 

• Jackknifing: Jackknifing occurs when the two physical components of the truck — the trailer and the cab — become out of sync at their point of connection, which can cause the trailer to swivel out away from the cab and strike any objects in its path.
• Turning accidents: Due to their long length, trucks have very wide turning radii and require much more room to turn than ordinary passenger vehicles. Truck drivers who misjudge how much room they need to turn can strike vehicles in their paths. 
• Blind spot accidents: All vehicles have blind spots, but the blind spots surrounding trucks — known as the “no zone” — are much larger than those surrounding passenger vehicles, requiring truck drivers to take extra care when changing lanes. 
• Rollover accidents: Like SUVs, trucks have high centers of gravity, which makes them uniquely susceptible to rollover accidents when turning too fast. These types of accidents can also be caused by high winds and shifting cargo in the trailer of the truck. 

Of course, trucks are also capable of getting into the same kinds of accidents as ordinary vehicles, including head-on collisions, rear-end collisions, sideswipe collisions, and broadside collisions. 

Our Laurel Truck Accident Attorney Explains Some of the Common Causes of Truck Wrecks

As with all types of vehicle accidents, human error — such as speeding and distracted driving — also plays a large role in causing truck accidents. However, there are a few issues unique to the trucking industry that can also cause accidents. Some of these include: 

• Mechanical failure: Trucks require constant and extensive maintenance to ensure they are safe to be on the road. Improper maintenance can result in mechanical failures, which can cause accidents. 
• Drowsy driving: Long-haul truck drivers are subject to strict hours-of-service rules, but violations of those rules can result in drowsy drivers who are at a higher risk of causing accidents. 
• Improper loading of cargo: Cargo that is not loaded and secured properly into the trailer of a truck can shift during transit, which can cause accidents (including jackknifing)

Who are the Liable Parties in a Maryland Truck Accident? 

If you have been involved in a serious truck accident with a commercial carrier, there is a wide-array of potential defendants who could be subject to lawsuit. Not only would you have a right to bring suit against the driver, but also the employer, the retail company if the driver was hauling goods, and the company who performs maintenance on the commercial vehicle. Each suit is a case by case basis that would depend on the facts of the circumstance.

If I Have Been Involved in a Truck Accident, What Evidence Will Strengthen My Case?

If you have been involved in a truck accident case, there are certain types of evidence that will strengthen you case. You should obtain photographs of the accident scene from all angles, witness statements, police reports, and medical records to establish liability and damages. You need documentation regarding the truck driver, employment status, and the truck itself. These types of documents also include:

• The truck drivers’ personal record, including documentation of his or her status as an employee or independent contractor;
• The truck drivers’ log book;
• The truck drivers’ accident history;
• The truck drivers’ driving history including records of any violations;
• Any data collected from the truck drivers’ on-board recording device;
• Any safety violations committed by the owner, manufacturer, or other vehicle components.
• The trucking companies policies and procedures;
• The speed the truck was traveling at the time of the crash;
• Truck maintenance records.

Don’t feel as though it’s your responsibility to tackle the above though. Our attorneys will handle all of the legwork to get the evidence you need to have a successful claim. 

Speak to a Laurel Truck Accident Attorney Today

If you have been injured in a truck accident in Baltimore or surrounding cities, you may want to evaluate your options for seeking compensation. For more information, please contact a knowledgeable truck accident attorney at the Law Offices of Thomas E. Pyles by calling 301-723-7076 or filling out our online form.