Chillum, MD Truck Accident Lawyer

Truck accidents can cause a great deal of destruction on the roadway. Semi trucks and 18-wheelers can cause significant damage to other vehicles and severe injuries to people involved in the accident. Any injuries sustained will likely require a long recovery period to return to normalcy.

You should not deal with the aftermath of a truck accident alone. An attorney can help prepare a lawsuit on your behalf and get you the compensation you need. Insurance and truck companies will not want to be held liable, but you do not have to fight them in court by yourself.

Call the truck accident lawyers at Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291 for a free case review.

Federal Trucking Rules in Chillum, MD

Federal law places rules and requirements on truck drivers and companies in every state. Violating these rules could open truckers and truck companies to civil liability. Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations deals with nationwide trucking rules and standards.

Important Federal Trucking Regulations

Per 49 CFR § 395.3, truck drivers are not allowed to drive beyond the 14th hour after their day starts. Moreover, truckers cannot drive for more than eight hours without a 30-minute break, and any 11 hours of driving must be followed by ten hours off-duty. Additionally, a truck driver cannot work for more than 60 hours in a seven-day workweek or 70 hours in an eight-day workweek.

49 CFR § 395.8 requires that drivers keep logbooks while on the job. These logs are meant to record the work status of drivers while they are on the road. Our truck accident lawyers can help you obtain a driver’s logs to see if they violated any federal regulations.

How Federal Rules Affect Truck Accident Lawsuits

These federal regulations and others can be used to improve your chance of recovering damages. Violations of these regulations generally fall on the trucking company. That means that you could sue the trucking company and use their violation as proof of their negligence. This can allow you to get the compensation you need paid by the larger trucking company rather than the individual truck driver.

What to Do After a Truck Accident in Chillum, MD

Truck accidents are hectic and traumatic. You might not have much time to react after it happens, so having a plan of action helps make sure things go as smoothly as possible when preparing for a truck accident lawsuit.

Immediately After the Accident

The very first thing you should do after a truck accident, if you are able, is call emergency services. Even if you are not injured, chances are someone else is, and they need medical attention as soon as possible. Additionally, a scary experience like a truck accident can give you a burst of adrenaline that could mask an injury you have but do not know about, so even if you do not think you are injured, you should let any responding medical personnel attend to you after a truck accident.

You should also make a personal record of the accident. Record a video or take photographs. Interview witnesses if possible and record what they say. Get as much information as you can, as it will likely help our lawyers in preparing your case.

Make sure to talk with an officer on the scene. Talking with the officer who responds to the accident can assist your case in many ways, such as by helping them investigate any potential tickets or citations to issue against the other driver and helping them write up their official report. Just take care to not say anything that could be perceived as admitting fault. Additionally, it is important that you get your side of the story told. If another party talks to the responding officer and you do not, they are controlling the narrative of events.

Shortly After the Accident

Retain legal counsel as soon as you can after a car accident. The statute of limitations in Maryland gives you three years to file a personal injury lawsuit. You must sue within that time, or courts will dismiss your case.

Once the lawsuit process starts, you will likely be interviewed by opposing counsel at some point. It is important that you have your story straight because what you say in these interviews will be under oath, and any mistakes or contradictions could be used against you in court.

Our lawyers can help you prepare information relevant to the case and will be present when you are interviewed by any opposing lawyers.

Types of Truck Accidents in Chillum, MD

Truck accidents can happen for a variety of reasons. Different kinds of accidents have different causes, so the particular kind of truck accident you were involved in can be relevant to your case.

Rollover Accidents

A truck that is improperly loaded can become top-heavy and difficult to drive. This puts the truck at risk of falling over onto its side. In addition to blocking roadways, a truck unexpectedly rolling over is a serious hazard to other drivers.

Jackknife Accidents

18-wheelers have their trailers attached to the tractor through a variety of linking mechanisms. This has the side effect of allowing the trailer to pivot at that connection point. If the truck driver is not careful or if road conditions are bad, the trailer has the potential to swing further than is safe and potentially crash into the truck itself, posing a great danger to other drivers.

Ordinary Motor Vehicle Accidents

Trucks are susceptible to common types of car accidents just like any other motor vehicle. Switching lanes without checking mirrors, speeding, or driving too close to other drivers can all result in a truck accident on the road.

Call Our Chillum, MD Truck Accident Lawyers Today

The truck accident lawyers at Rice, Murtha & Psoras are reachable at (410) 694-7291 to review your case for free.