Hagerstown, MD Truck Accident Lawyer

Motor vehicle accidents are sadly quite common across the United States. Truck accidents are arguably the most devastating kind of motor vehicle accident. Commercial trucks’ sheer weight, size, and speed virtually guarantee serious injury or death in a collision. If you or a loved one were involved in a truck accident, many questions are probably swirling around in your mind.

At the scene of the crash, collect as much information as possible after the accident, and make sure you file a police report. If the truck driver did not exercise the care they should have while driving or the truck was defective, you may be able to get financial compensation.

Also, file your truck accident lawsuit right away. If you wait too long, you will not be able to recover anything. In Maryland, you have three years to file your truck accident lawsuit.

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

When Should You File a Hagerstown, MD, Truck Accident Lawsuit

You should file your truck accident lawsuit as soon as you are able.  The statute of limitations for a civil action in Maryland is three years. After that period, you will not be able to bring a lawsuit successfully.

The statute of limitations sets the time period you have to bring your lawsuit. Once that period runs out, your lawsuit will be thrown out, and you will not be able to recover anything.

There are very few exceptions to this rule. For example, if you are in a truck accident before you turn 18, the statutory period starts running the day before you turn 18.

What to Do Right After a Truck Accident in Hagerstown, MD

There are important steps to take right after a truck accident. In the moments after a truck accident, going through a checklist to improve a lawsuit might be the last thing on your mind. Still, it is important to document the accident and collect as much information as possible. This information could prove crucial in a future lawsuit.

After a crash, stay at the site of the accident. Not only will you be better able to collect information, but medical responders will be better able to assist you and anyone else injured.

If they determine you should go to the hospital, go with them immediately. Even if you do not think you are injured, seek medical attention right away. The adrenaline spike from being in an accident might hide injuries that could show themselves later. Failure to seek medical treatment could also be used against you in a lawsuit.

Interview witnesses if you can and take notes. It is important to have a record of the events of the accident while it is fresh in the minds of everyone involved. You should also file a police report right away. A police report can help support your case in a lawsuit. Finally, call a truck accident lawyer right away to handle your case.

Claims you might file in a Hagerstown, MD, Truck Accident Lawsuit

Truck accidents can happen for many reasons. Those varied reasons result in truck accident lawsuits being filed under different theories of law. For example, a lawsuit against a truck driver for bad driving will look for different things to establish liability than a lawsuit against the manufacturer of a defective truck. Your lawyer will determine the best legal theory for your truck accident lawsuit.

Negligence

In law, negligence refers to someone’s failure to act as a reasonable person would under the circumstances. This could take the form of either not doing something a reasonable person would or doing something a reasonable person would not do. Common examples of driver negligence in a motor vehicle accident include speeding and running a stop sign.

Truck drivers have additional regulations in place limiting how long they are allowed to drive continuously and setting other rules and standards for them. If the truck driver in your accident spent too much time on the road or violated another trucking regulation, you might have a negligence claim against them.

Wrongful Death

Truck accidents, unfortunately, often lead to death because of the severe trauma and injuries they cause. A wrongful death lawsuit is when you sue to get compensation for the loss of a loved one. You can be compensated for funeral expenses, lost income, and lost companionship of the deceased.

If a truck accident resulted in the death of a loved one, you might have a wrongful death claim.

Product Liability

In law, product liability refers to the area of law surrounding defective products. Product liability is the idea that you can sue the manufacturer of a product if their product is defective or more dangerous than it should be.

In the context of a truck accident, this could refer to a defect in the truck or trailer that ultimately led to the accident. For example, you might have a product liability claim against the truck manufacturer if there was a problem with the design of the brakes that led to your crash.

Common Contributing Factors to Hagerstown, MD Truck Accidents

There are a number of factors that are uniquely prevalent in truck accidents. Sleep deprivation is of particular concern and is frequently the cause of truck crashes.

Sleep Depravation

Sleep deprivation is common in truck accidents. Truckers get paid for delivering goods, so it makes little sense from their perspective to take breaks. However, the trucking industry has regulations to keep drivers from falling asleep at the wheel.

Usually, the limit on how long a trucker is allowed to drive at one time is fourteen hours. Moreover, truck drivers are required to take breaks between long drives so they stay sharp on the road. If a truck driver did not follow these rules, they might be liable.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a common medical condition. Sleep apnea is when breathing sporadically stops and starts while sleeping. The condition is often mild but can be serious. Sleep apnea can cause daytime drowsiness and fatigue. These symptoms could prove catastrophic if they happen to someone behind the wheel of an 18-wheeler.

Call Our Hagerstown, MD Truck Accident Lawyers Today

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