Somerset County Truck Accident Attorney

Truck accidents are responsible for some of the most devasting injuries victims sustain in Somerset County. Depending on the severity of the accident, an individual might need significant support recovering.

While the injuries from a truck accident are often serious, our truck accident attorneys can help your recover compensation for the damages stemming from your injuries. Truck accident cases can be complex and take longer than typical accident cases. Fortunately, our team has years of experience proving these cases in court.

For a free case consultation with our truck accident lawyers, contact Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291.

Common Injuries Caused by Truck Accidents in Somerset County

Injuries caused by truck accidents in Somerset County and throughout Maryland can be very serious and life-threatening. Truck drivers often have large trucks that carry a great deal of weight, so it is no surprise that a collision with one of these vehicles can cause severe injuries. How much compensation you can recover depends on the injuries you suffered. Fortunately, our truck accident attorneys can help you recover damages regardless of the harm you suffered. The following are typical injuries caused by truck accidents in Somerset County.

Traumatic Brain Injuries and Head Trauma

Truck accidents often result in head trauma, leading to traumatic brain and head injuries in Somerset. Serious injuries can occur when there is damage to the brain from an impact or blow to the head. Brain trauma can also be caused by swelling in the brain tissue, which can cause bleeding inside the skull. These injuries can easily result in lasting physical, cognitive, or emotional problems, potentially affecting the victim’s entire life. Traumatic brain injuries can range from mild concussions to severe permanent brain damage.

Spinal Cord Damage

The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that extends from the brainstem down through the main body of your spine. It carries signals between your brain and spinal nerves, which control various movements and sensations throughout your body. If you suffer spinal cord damage is damaged in a truck accident, these messages might not get relayed properly. This can lead to weakness or more debilitating injuries like paralysis and sensory loss in certain parts of your body. This type of injury can be very severe if not treated properly right away after a truck accident because there could be permanent nerve damage that cannot be reversed once it has occurred.

Fractures

Fractures are among the most common types of injuries caused by truck accidents. Fractures occur when bones break due to an impact or force applied to them by another object or person. Fractures can be either open or closed, depending on whether they break through the skin. Fractured bones can cause much more serious injuries than people think, as bones broken off inside the body can pierce organs and cause life-threatening internal bleeding.

Internal Injuries

Truck accidents often result in internal injuries, such as ruptured organs. Given that most trucks impact with great force, catastrophic injuries to vital organs like the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys are not uncommon. These types of injuries require immediate medical attention as they can lead to permanent disability or death if left untreated for too long.

Whiplash

This is a neck injury caused by sudden jolts or jerks of the head forward and back. It usually causes neck and joint pain, which could last for weeks or months after the accident. However, significant nerve damage can result from a whiplash injury, which could require extensive physical therapy or surgery to repair it. Victims sometimes never quite recover from the damage, entitling them to compensation for the future care they require.

Eye Injuries

Truck accidents also have the potential to cause serious eye injuries. If you were involved in a crash with a large truck, you might suffer blurred or double vision long after the crash has ended. It is also possible that your eyes could be seriously injured by flying objects such as rocks or glass fragments from broken windshields or windows.

Elements Necessary to Prove a Somerset County Truck Accident Lawsuit

Truck accidents are a common occurrence in Somerset County. Many trucking companies in Maryland operate with a high degree of care, but some fail to meet their professional obligations. When this happens, it is important for victims to know what elements they must prove in order for a lawsuit to be successful. To show that a truck driver or trucking company was negligent, you must show that the liable party breached a duty of care they owe you, causing you significant damages.

Duty

The first element to prove in a Somerset County truck accident lawsuit is duty. Duties are obligations that people have to each other based on their relationship with one another, such as a truck driver’s duty to operate their vehicle responsibly. When a person breaches their duty, they have failed to fulfill their obligation to drive safely and with reasonable care for those around them.

Breach of Duty

The second element to prove in your lawsuit is breach of duty. A breach of duty occurs when someone fails to perform an action they should have performed, or when they perform an action, they should not have performed. For example, if a truck driver fails to obey traffic laws and causes an accident resulting in injury, this would be considered a breach of duty because they were legally obligated to drive safely and obey all traffic signs and signals.

Causation of Injuries

The third element you will need to establish in your truck accident lawsuit is causation. Causation occurs when one event leads directly to another event which causes injury or damage. In order for causation to be proven in court, there must be some connection between your injuries and the truck accident you claim you were injured in. This is to show that your injuries are not the result of a prior accident or other condition.

Real Damages

Lastly, you will need to provide evidence showing you suffered real damages. This usually means some monetary losses, like past and future medical expenses, lost income, and other out-of-pocket expenses. However, you can also claim non-economic damages to cover other losses associated with your injuries, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, disability, and disfigurement.