Fruitland, MD Truck Accident Lawyer

All vehicle accidents should be taken seriously, particularly when they involve large trucks, as victims might be more likely to sustain debilitating or permanent injuries in Fruitland.

Truck accidents happen for many reasons, a top one being driver fatigue. Despite being held to federal regulations, some trucking companies might have their drivers work overtime. This increases the chance of drivers falling behind the wheel and losing control of their vehicles. Truck accidents happen for many of the same reasons as other vehicle accidents, including speeding, distracted driving, and drunk driving. Other accidents happen because of improper cargo loading or negligent vehicle maintenance. After confirming the cause of your specific accident, we can help prepare your claim. Depending on the information we uncover during our investigation, that claim might include the truck driver’s employer.

Call our truck accident lawyers at (410) 694-7291 to discuss your case for free with Rice, Murtha & Psoras.

Common Reasons for Truck Accidents in Fruitland, MD

Truck accidents are often due to driver error, such as drowsy driving, speeding, drunk driving, and distracted driving. Improper cargo loading could cause weight imbalances during transport, posing the risk of crashes. Vehicle malfunctions due to improper maintenance or defective parts could also injure victims. While reviewing the cause of the crash, our truck accident lawyers will confirm if the driver’s employer is also liable for your damages, which will likely be the case, provided the driver is not an independent contractor.

Drowsy Driving

Long haul semi truck drivers might drive from state to state, operating vehicles for long hours. Trucking companies must ensure their drivers do not work too many hours by overseeing schedules. Letting or encouraging drivers to work overtime without sufficient breaks could lead to driver fatigue. Furthermore, federal regulations stipulate how many consecutive hours truckers may drive, and ignoring those regulations could cause an accident for which the trucking company may be liable.

Fatigue reduces reaction times and increases the risk of falling asleep behind the wheel. Driver fatigue might cause sideswipe accidents as truck drivers nod off and drift into other lanes. If trucks drift into a lane of oncoming traffic, a head-on accident might occur. These collisions might be fatal for victims or otherwise life-altering, particularly when they happen at high speeds. When truckers cause accidents due to fatigue, their employers may be financially responsible for victims’ injuries, especially if they were forced to work overtime.

Speeding or Reckless Driving

Getting stuck in traffic or falling behind on delivery schedules could increase the risk of truck drivers speeding. Speeding is a top cause of motor vehicle accidents of all kinds. When trucks drive over the speed limit, the room they need to slow down increases. Without enough room to slow down and stop safely, speeding truck drivers might rear-end other cars. While rear-end accidents are often viewed as relatively, this is not the case when they involve large trucks. When struck from the rear by a semi truck or other large vehicle, victims in passenger cars might sustain severe whiplash injuries or head injuries, among others.

Speeding is just one form of reckless driving that could cause truck accidents. Others include attempting to merge when there is not enough room, failing to check blind spots, and failing to yield to another driver’s right of way.

Distracted Driving

Semi truck drivers are often on the road for many hours at a time. This can lead to boredom in drivers, which might increase the risk of accidents due to distracted driving. Using one’s phone while driving or failing to pay attention to the road could lead to rear-end collisions or sideswipe accidents. Not watching the road is a breach of one’s duty of care and might not leave a driver enough time to respond to events or objects on the road. Distracted driving might cause truckers to lose control of their vehicles, which could be disastrous for passenger cars sharing the road.

Negligent Vehicle Maintenance or Defective Parts

Poor maintenance can cause vehicle malfunctions. It is important to ensure trucks are safe for road use and to get routine inspections for semi trucks. A serious accident could occur if a part is defective, like the vehicle’s brakes. Trucks might suddenly stall out, or drivers might lose steering control when they are not properly maintained or known problems are not addressed.

As in many truck accident cases, victims could file claims against trucking companies for failure to maintain vehicles. If a specific part of the truck failed because it was defective, your claim might include the manufacturer of the negligent part.

Drunk Driving

Despite being on the job, some truck drivers operate their vehicles under the influence of alcohol, endangering others. The risk of drunk driving truck accidents may be highest during the night, as truckers might drive through the night to make deadlines and stay on schedule. Being under the influence of drugs or alcohol increases the risk of reckless driving, speeding, aggressive driving, and falling asleep behind the wheel, all of which could cause a serious crash. Because drunk drivers are more likely to speed and not slow down before impact, the risk of fatal injuries to victims is high when struck by large trucks. Passenger cars might roll over or crash into fixed objects on the road, like highway medians, increasing the chance of sustaining permanent or long-lasting injuries.

Improper Cargo Loading

When cargo is not loaded or secured onto a truck, it might shift while the truck moves. These can lead to weight imbalances that cause the truck driver to lose control of the vehicle. Trucks whose cargo exceeds weight limits are dangerous to take on the road, as trucks might tip over while making turns or merging.

Call Us to Discuss Your Truck Accident in Fruitland, MD

Get a free case assessment from our truck accident lawyers by calling Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291.