Annapolis, MD Truck Accident Lawyer
Large trucks, 18-wheelers, and semi trucks can be terrible to drive alongside. In many cases, these trucks can make scary or dangerous moves that put other drivers on edge. In the worst cases, these drivers can actually cause truck accidents that put other drivers in the hospital.
If you or a loved one was injured in a truck accident in Annapolis, our attorneys might be able to help. Rice, Murtha & Psoras ’s Annapolis, MD truck accident lawyers represent injury victims in auto accidents and fight to get them compensation for their injuries. Call our truck accident lawyers today to set up a free, confidential legal consultation. We can go over your case and help you determine how much your claim might be worth. Call our lawyers today at (410) 694-7291.
Suing Trucking Companies for Accidents in the Annapolis Area
Truck accidents often cause serious damage to other vehicles, and the occupants of those vehicles are far more likely to face injury or death than the truck driver. After an accident with a truck, it is important to talk to a lawyer about your compensation options. In most cases, serious injuries will not be fully covered by insurance claims. Instead, your best chance at financial recovery will be to sue the trucking company.
Trucking companies are usually responsible for their drivers’ mistakes behind the wheel. As the trucker’s employer, the trucking company can often be made to pay damages to injured truck accident victims. Moreover, the trucking company could be directly responsible for hiring a dangerous driver or putting a dangerous truck on the road. Moreover, state and federal trucking regulations limit trucker hours and cargo weight. If the trucking company or the driver violated these rules, the rules could be used to help prove fault the crash.
When suing a trucking company, it is important to have an experienced truck accident lawyer on your side. Trucking companies will use their insurance companies and legal teams to try to shut down cases or pay low-dollar settlements. This stops claims from making the news and hurting their reputation and their bottom line. With a lawyer on your side to explain what your case might be worth and help protect you, you may have a better chance at recovery.
Damages for a Truck Accident in Annapolis, MD
The damages that a victim is entitled to in a truck accident vary from case to case. In most cases, the same categories of damages are usually available, but the specific amounts depend on the specifics of your case. the following categories of damages are typical in a truck accident lawsuit in Annapolis:
Medical Expenses
The damages that a victim can claim for medical expenses include the bills from emergency hospital visits and ongoing care. That means that if you were rushed to the hospital in an ambulance for emergency surgery and spent days in recovery at the hospital, those costs should all be covered. Moreover, the cost of follow-up appointments, additional surgeries, rehabilitation, physical therapy, and other care should also be covered in full. You did not cause the accident, so you should not have to pay for these costs yourself.
Lost Wages
If you cannot work because of your injuries, you should be entitled to have your lost wages reimbursed. These damages can be paid to cover the wages you missed during your recovery, as well as wages you will miss going forward. Truck accident victims often face permanent injuries and disabilities. the trucking company should pay for the wages victims will miss if their disability keeps them from supporting themselves.
Pain and Suffering
These damages are “noneconomic” damages paid to cover the physical and emotional stress of the injuries. There are no bills or statements that can prove what these damages are worth. Instead, your testimony about how the injuries affected your enjoyment of life, your day to day pain, and your mental state can all help you recover compensation for these damages.
Punitive Damages
These damages are not available in every case, but they can be claimed when the trucking company commits serious errors. If a trucking company had similar issues in the past or committed blatant violations that led to your crash, the court might punish them by ordering additional damages. These punitive damages can mean higher damages for you to force the trucking company to literally pay for what they did wrong.
Proving Fault in a Truck Accident in Annapolis
To prove that the truck driver was at fault for the crash, you usually need to point to some mistake on the road. This can involve traffic violations, such as changing lanes without signaling or speeding. it can also involve general safety violations, such as failing to keep a proper lookout for other cars while driving. In some truck accident cases, violations of trucking regulations also help supply fault.
Trucking regulations require drivers to be in good health, to take breaks while driving, and to avoid overloading trucks. Violations of these laws can cause safety hazards that can be used to prove fault.
If a truck driver claims that you did something wrong to share fault, the court might block your case. it is important to have a lawyer to help focus the case and overcome any counterclaims.
Call Our Annapolis Truck Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
If a negligent truck driver hit you and caused serious injuries, you might be entitled to file a lawsuit against them and the trucking company. the Annapolis, MD truck accident lawyers at Rice, Murtha & Psoras represent injury victims. We fight truck accident cases to get our clients and their families damages for the crash. These damages can include medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering damages. Call us today to set up a free consultation and learn more about your potential case. Our phone number is (410) 694-7291.