Dump trucks are designed to carry loose materials, which means that they’re heavier and bulkier than most other vehicles on the roads. An accident involving a dump truck can be more dangerous than accidents involving other vehicles because their size and weight can provide much more of an impact in an accident, leading to severe injuries for drivers and passengers of smaller cars. If the driver of the dump truck, the trucking company that owns the dump truck, or a third party was responsible for your injury following an accident, you can hold them responsible for damages.
Call the Baltimore dump truck accident attorneys from Rice, Murtha, & Psoras today to discuss your options following a car accident involving a dump truck. You shouldn’t be responsible for medical bills and lost wages that were not your fault. We encourage you to contact us today to schedule a free consultation with our experienced attorneys. Call (410) 694-7291.
Causes of Dump Truck Accidents in Baltimore
Dump trucks are especially prone to accidents for a number of reasons. These reasons include:
Weight of Truck
Dump trucks are extremely heavy. On top of the weight of the vehicle itself, they are burdened by the weight of the cargo they carry. Their weight makes them especially destructive when they are involved in an accident.
Size of Truck
Dump trucks are usually much taller than other vehicles on the road, which makes it difficult for drivers to see other vehicles on the road. it can also be difficult for drivers to see when they are backing into spaces on construction sites so that they can unload their cargo. When dump trucks are involved in accidents with other cars, the smaller car often goes under the dump truck, which can be exceedingly dangerous for the drivers involved. Their size, in combination with their weight, make them especially likely to tip over.
Cargo
If the cargo that a dump truck is carrying is not properly secured, it can fall out and strike other vehicles or cause an obstruction on the road.
Car accidents involving dump trucks often happen because drivers fail to observe all of the necessary safety protocols. Since dump trucks are so prone to accidents and are required to back into tight spaces on construction sites so that they can dump cargo, an extreme amount of care is required to operate them. Failure to do is a form of negligence on the part of the driver. Drivers who fail to observe regular traffic signals and driving procedures also increase the chances of accidents.
Car accidents involving dump trucks may also happen because of improper maintenance on the part of the trucking company or third party that owns the truck. If they fail to ensure that the hydraulic lift, brakes, steering column, and other vital parts of the dump truck are in functioning order, they may be responsible for any accidents that the dump truck is involved in.
What You Should Do Following an Accident with a Dump Truck in Baltimore
There are certain things you can do following an accident with a dump truck that can increase your chances of winning a lawsuit against the trucking company, the driver, or a third party while reducing your stress overall.
- Make sure you are safe. Pull your car over to the side of the road, if you are able to do so. Get medical attention for yourself and all of the other passengers immediately, even if you don’t seem to be injured since some injuries have symptoms that take time to become apparent.
- Call the police and then write down the driver’s information, information about the trucking company that the driver works for, and their insurance information.
- Collect any evidence that can help you prove who was at fault for the accident. Take photos of the damage to your property, the scene of the accident, the road conditions (such as wet or snowy), and the lighting. Find witnesses who were present and write down their account of what happened.
- Call your insurance company and a dump truck accident attorney.
- Continue to keep documents related to your medical treatment as time passes following your accident. If you cannot work due to your injuries or you lose your job, keep documents relevant to that as well.
How a Baltimore Attorney Can Help You Following Your Car Accident with a Dump Truck
Following a car accident with a dump truck, an attorney can help you determine who was at fault for the accident. An attorney can gather all of the evidence relevant to the accident and then examine it to figure out whether the truck driver individually, the trucking company, the truck’s manufacturer, or another party is at fault for your accident.
Another crucial thing that an attorney can do for you following an accident with a dump truck is to negotiate a settlement for you on your behalf. An attorney will work with insurance companies to ensure that you get compensation for the damages you suffered as a result of your accident, which can include: medical bills (hospital visits, prescriptions, physical therapy, and more), lost wages, property damage, loss of consortium, and pain and suffering.
Baltimore Lawyer for Dump Truck Accidents Offering Free Consultations
Don’t allow an accident with a dump truck to ruin your life. Get the compensation that you deserve. Contact the Maryland dump truck accident attorneys from Rice, Murtha, & Psoras to schedule a free consultation. Get in touch with our Maryland personal injury lawyers by calling (410) 694-7291 today.