Fort Meade Truck Accident Lawyer
A trucking accident can be a devastating event that can impact a victim’s life forever. A severe truck collision has the potential to leave a victim severely disfigured or battling a life-threatening injury. Pursuing compensation after a truck accident can help you begin to put your life back together. If you or a family member was severely injured after a truck accident, contact an experienced Fort Meade truck accident lawyer.
Rice, Murtha & Psoras understand the difficulty of living with a severe injury after a trucking accident, and we are here to help you pursue compensation for your injuries. Our firm has served residents of Fort Meade for over 10 years, and we would be honored to represent you. To schedule a free legal consultation to discuss your potential claim, contact Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291. You may also contact us online using our online submission form.
What to Do After a Truck Accident in Fort Meade, MD
If you were involved in a truck accident, there are a number of steps you should take that can help keep you safe and assist you if you decide to pursue a legal claim against the truck driver and their employer.
After a truck accident occurs, your first step should be to get yourself and any passengers in your vehicle to safety. If your vehicle is still operational and it is blocking traffic, you should attempt to move it to a safer location.
Contact Law Enforcement and Call for an Ambulance
Next, you should call an ambulance if you, passengers in your vehicle, or any other motorists were injured. Be sure to state how you sustained your injuries when receiving medical attention. This can help you document your injuries, which will be helpful when reporting the accident to your insurance company or as evidence for a personal injury lawsuit.
You should also report the crash to law enforcement. the State of Maryland requires that certain car accidents must be reported to law enforcement. Specifically, car crashes with extensive property damage or crashes where a victim was seriously injured or killed must be reported. the police report from law enforcement can also help you when reporting the accident to your insurance company to help determine liability for the accident.
Exchange Information with the Truck Driver
It is also important to exchange information with the truck driver that caused the accident. You should ensure that you collect the following information from the truck driver:
- The truck driver’s name and contact information
- The license plate and the insurance company that insures the vehicle
- The make and model of the truck
- The company that employs the truck driver
It is essential that you learn about the company that employs the truck driver. While you can seek a claim directly from the truck driver that caused the accident, they may be unable to fully compensate you for your medical expenses, vehicle repairs, and many other expenses. Depending on the circumstances of the accident, the trucking company could be held vicariously liable for the truck driver’s actions.
Gather Evidence of the Accident
Gathering evidence for the accident should also be a priority. This evidence can help when seeking compensation either through an insurance company or in an injury lawsuit. There are various types of evidence that can help you prove your claim for injuries:
- Photos of injuries sustained by you or passengers in your vehicle
- The damage to your vehicle and the truck
- Any adverse weather that may have contributed to the accident
- The intersection where the accident occurred
- The circumstances of the accident (e.g., rear-end car crash)
Additionally, if any individuals observed the accident, you should speak with them about providing you with a statement. If any witnesses are able to provide you with their account of the accident, be sure to document their name and contact information.
Report the Accident to Your Insurance Company
Once you are able, contact your insurance company to report the accident. Your insurance company will send a representative to assess the damage to your vehicle and will contact the insurance company of the truck driver’s employer to seek compensation.
At this stage, the insurance claim adjuster from the trucking company may contact you to discuss the accident. it is important to remember that the insurance claim adjuster is protecting the interests of the insurance company. This means that they will look for ways to diminish your claim for injuries.
To learn more about filing a lawsuit after a trucking accident, you should continue reading and speak with an experienced Fort Meade personal injury lawyer.
Statute of Limitations for a Wrongful Death in a Fort Meade Trucking Accident
If your loved one was killed in a trucking accident, you may be considering filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the trucking company and the truck driver. Before pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit, you should be aware that only certain family members that can file this lawsuit on behalf of a decedent. Specifically, Maryland only permits the following surviving family members to file a wrongful death lawsuit:
- Parents of the decedent
- Surviving spouse of the decedent
- Children of the decedent
You should also be aware that there is a statute of limitations on wrongful death lawsuits. This means that a potential plaintiff only has a limited amount of time to file their suit with the court. In Maryland, the statute of limitations for a wrongful death lawsuit is three years from the date of the decedent’s death. If you do not file a lawsuit within this timeframe, you risk the possibility of having the court bar the lawsuit entirely.
Contact Our Experienced Fort Meade Truck Accident Attorney to Discuss Your Potential Claim
If your family member was killed in a trucking accident, you should consult with an experienced Fort Meade truck accident attorney today. With over 10 years of legal experience, personal injury attorney Randolph Rice believes that victims of a trucking accident deserve compensation for their injuries, and he is here to help you fight for it. To schedule a free case evaluation to discuss your potential claim, contact Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291.
