Given their large size and weight, dump trucks can cause severe damage to other vehicles in the event of an accident. Sometimes these accidents are beyond the dump truck driver or trucking company’s control; in other cases, they’re at fault. In these cases, they—whether it’s the dump truck driver personally or the company that they were working for—may be responsible for compensating the victim for their damages.
At Rice, Murtha, & Psoras, we are committed to getting compensation for victims of car accidents involving dump trucks. We understand the toll that an accident with a large dump truck can take on your life, and we’ll fight to get you compensated for it. Get in touch with the Maryland dump truck accident attorneys from Rice, Murtha, & Psoras soon so you can schedule a free consultation to discuss your case. Call (410) 694-7291 today.
Causes of Dump Truck Accidents in Maryland
Dump trucks are unique vehicles in that they are designed to carry large amounts of loose cargo in their beds, which can be dumped at a specific site. They’re extremely heavy since they are made to be sturdy to support the materials they carry, and they have the additional weight of the cargo they carry as well. Dump trucks are also usually much taller than other vehicles, meaning that the other car usually goes under the dump truck, resulting in unique and catastrophic injuries and damage to property. the weight and height also makes them extremely likely to tip over; the size of dump trucks makes it common for drivers to experience blind spots in their vision while driving, which means that accidents are more likely.
Car accidents involving dump trucks often involve improperly secured cargo. the materials that are carried in a dump truck can fall out of the truck and strike other cars, which can cause another accident. Accidents involving dump trucks may also happen due to the driver’s failure to observe proper safety protocol. Since dump trucks must back into spaces on construction sites so that they can dump cargo, their adherence to protocol is extremely important. Dump truck drivers that drive recklessly and fail to observe simple traffic signals have a high risk of causing an accident.
Another major cause of car accident involving dump trucks is improper maintenance of the truck on the part of the trucking company that owns it. the dump truck is owned by either the company that is doing construction or a separate third party; either way, it is their responsibility to make sure that the brakes, tires, steering column, hydraulic lift, and all other parts work properly. Failure to do so is a form of negligence.
What You Should Do Following an Accident with a Dump Truck in Maryland
Car accidents are one of the most stressful experiences a person can go through. However, if you’re prepared with the knowledge of what do when you are involved in one, you can feel relief knowing that you’re doing everything you can do to prove that you were not responsible for the accident.
Immediately following a car accident with a dump truck, you should make sure that you are out of the way of oncoming traffic. Then, you and all the other passengers involved should get medical attention as soon possible. Get medical attention even if you don’t seem to be injured, since some injuries have symptoms that take a while to appear. Next, call the police and gather the information of the truck driver, the trucking company they work for, and their insurance company.
Then, collect evidence that pertains to the accident. Take photos of the scene, the conditions that created the accident, and the damage to all of the vehicles that were involved. Write down information about the lighting, weather and road conditions, and speak with any witnesses that were present. Call your insurance company and a dump truck accident attorney as soon as possible. As time passes following your accident, keep all of the documents related to your medical treatment and your loss of employment, if applicable.
How a Maryland Attorney Can Help You Following Your Car Accident with a Dump Truck
An attorney can help you following your car accident with a dump truck by determining who was at fault for the accident and then negotiate for a full settlement on your behalf. Whether the accident occurs because of negligence on the part of the individual truck driver, the trucking company, the cargo handlers who are responsible for the cargo that the truck was carrying, or the truck’s manufacturers, an experienced dump truck attorney can look through evidence to make a case for why they were responsible for the damages you suffered as a result of the accident.
An attorney can then work with the responsible party and insurance companies to ensure that you receive compensation for your damages. Compensation in a settlement with a trucking company following an accident can include medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and more.
Maryland Lawyer Available for Dump Truck Accidents
The risk of an accident with a dump truck is always present when you’re driving on Maryland roads. If you or someone close to you has been in a car accident involving a dump truck in Maryland, contact the Maryland dump truck accident attorneys from Rice, Murtha, & Psoras to schedule a free consultation with our Maryland personal injury lawyers. Call (410) 694-7291 today.