North Bethesda Truck Accident Lawyer

When truck accidents happen in North Bethesda, victims have the right to pursue compensation by filing a lawsuit against negligent parties, such as truck drivers and trucking companies.

Truck accident injuries can range from more minor, like lacerations and bruising, to incredibly severe, like traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries. Regardless of the type of truck accident you are injured in, the sheer force of impact might result in life-changing injuries. Most truck injury claims need to be brought three years after the original incident takes place in North Bethesda. In addition to suing the individual truck driver for an accident, victims can often sue their employers as well because of vicarious liability. When proving your claim, statements from witnesses, such as medical experts and eyewitnesses, can be incredibly effective.

For a confidential and free assessment of your case from Rice, Murtha & Psoras, call our North Bethesda truck accident lawyers now at (410) 694-7291.

Common Types of Truck Accident Injuries in North Bethesda

When trucks come into contact with passenger cars or pedestrians, the resulting injuries can be catastrophic. Because of that, victims are often entitled to compensation following truck accidents in North Bethesda.

Truck accident injuries commonly sustained by victims include crushing injuries, traumatic brain injuries, whiplash, spinal cord injuries, loss of limb, lacerations, broken bones, contusions, internal injuries, and more.

Depending on the specific circumstances of a crash, injuries might differ. For example, if you were T-boned by a large truck while driving your passenger car in North Bethesda, you might sustain crushing injuries on one side of your body, resulting in several broken bones. These types of accidents, as well as head-on collisions, are often the most devastating to victims.

Even seemingly minor injuries when compared to others, like broken bones compared to head injuries, deserve compensation. Since Maryland is a fault state for auto accidents, victims can file lawsuits, regardless of the severity of their injuries, as long as they have incurred damages due to another party’s negligence.

Deadline to Sue for Truck Accidents in North Bethesda

There are a few filing deadlines victims of truck accidents should be aware of after getting injured in North Bethesda. Our attorneys can keep you abreast of these deadlines so that they are not missed, causing you to lose your opportunity to recover damages.

Generally speaking, truck accident claims are held to a filing deadline of three years in North Bethesda, according to Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. Art., § 5-101. That said, if your claim is against the local government because you were involved in an accident with a trash truck or other government vehicle, you must file a notice of a claim within one year, according to Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. Art., § 5-304(b)(1). This gives you considerably less time to initiate the recovery process following your accident in North Bethesda.

Vicarious Liability and Suing Trucking Companies for Injury in North Bethesda

Because of the doctrine of vicarious liability, employers can often be held responsible for the actions of their employees that take place within the scope of their employment. This can give you a reason to sue the company that employs the truck driver who caused your injuries in North Bethesda.

Often, suing the truck company for an accident can result in greater damages for victims, sometimes including punitive damages, depending on the severity of negligence exhibited. To prove vicarious liability, our truck accident lawyers will look into the hiring practices of the truck company to determine whether or not it confirmed the truck driver was properly trained, licensed, and capable of performing their duties in a responsible manner.

Truck companies can be held liable for accidents in a number of ways. For example, failing to routinely examine vehicles for efficacy might lead to an accident that injures a victim in North Bethesda. Similarly, requiring drivers to work overtime, causing them to drive while fatigued, might cause a serious crash that injures victims.

All of that said, if the driver was an independent contractor, meaning they owned the vehicle themselves and were not a regular employee of the truck company, you cannot sue the truck company for vicarious liability in in North Bethesda.

Getting Witness Statements for Your North Bethesda Truck Accident Claim

Witness statements might make or break your truck accident claim in North Bethesda, depending on the case. Our attorneys can obtain witness statements to use in support of your injury lawsuit against a negligent driver or truck company.

The first set of witness statements to get should be from eyewitnesses. Eyewitnesses can confirm your exact telling of events and explain the defendant’s negligent act. For example, if a witness saw the truck driver making an illegal turn or running a stoplight, they can testify to that fact, strengthening your claim.

Expert witness statements can also be useful, especially when providing context to the victim’s injuries. Medical experts can explain the circumstances under which a person would likely sustain the injuries you have by reviewing your medical records in detail.

Furthermore, if you are seeking non-economic damages, statements from mental health professionals or close friends and family can allow a judge or jury to see the impact the truck accident has had on your quality of life. You can provide testimony yourself regarding your pain and suffering following a truck accident in North Bethesda.

Our attorneys will obtain witness statements using various methods. By referring to the police report for your collision, we can learn the names and contact information of eyewitnesses. Speaking to eyewitnesses at the accident scene and informing them that our lawyers will be in touch in the following days can be helpful.

Call Our North Bethesda Attorneys About Your Claim Today

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