Countless commercial semitrucks, 18-wheelers, and other big-rig vehicles travel through the United States every day. People rely on these vehicles to get packages and various other things where they need to be on time. Unfortunately, commercial trucks do get into accidents from time to time, and those accidents can be devastating. Since commercial trucks are so large, they can cause a lot of damage and leave victims seriously injured. Many victims of commercial truck accidents are left upset, frustrated, and wondering what they should do after an accident.
The first thing you need to do after a commercial truck accident in Maryland is to ensure that you are safe and get any medical attention you need. After that, you need to assess your options, which include filing a lawsuit to get compensation from the parties that wronged you.
For a totally free, no-obligation analysis of your situation, call (410) 694-7291 and talk to the Maryland truck accident attorneys from Rice, Murtha & Psoras.
What Should I Do Right After a Commercial Truck Accident in Maryland?
Some people may think that they do not have to take any action when truck accidents happen until they talk to our Baltimore truck accident attorneys. While it is not catastrophic to any potential lawsuit if you do nothing after an accident, there are certain steps you can take that can be very beneficial to your case.
Get Emergency Medical Attention
Even before thinking about a lawsuit, the most crucial thing you can do after a commercial truck accident is making sure that you get the medical attention you need. If your injuries are serious enough that you need immediate medical evacuation, then there is nothing else you need to worry about, as that is what is going to happen. However, for other, less serious injuries, be sure to let first responders examine and attend to you and follow all of their instructions. While allowing yourself to get medical attention after a truck accident may just seem like good advice, it is also important for the success of your case. If you fail to let yourself be treated, the other side may try to use that against you to hurt your case.
Additionally, even if you think you were not hurt in the accident, it is a good idea to seek follow-up medical care after the fact. Some injuries, like whiplash, may take time for symptoms to manifest, so they may not be obvious right after the accident.
Get Information
If you get cleared by medical professionals and can stay at the scene of the accident, then your next task is to get as many details as possible right after the truck accident. This includes any videos or photos you can take of the vehicles involved, pictures of the truck accident and anywhere near it, and any statements you can get from eyewitnesses. Be sure to get the license plate, name, and insurance information of anyone in the truck accident. All of this information can be helpful to our lawyers in building a stronger case for you.
Call Our Lawyers
You should also try to contact legal counsel very shortly after your accident. This is because you have a limited time to file a lawsuit after you get injured. There is a law in every state called the statute of limitations that puts a timer on how long you have to file a lawsuit. In Maryland, the statute of limitations for virtually all personal injury lawsuits is three years under Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. Art., § 5-101. After that time, you will not be able to have a case heard by the court, and you will not be able to recover any damages.
While three years can appear to be a long time, in reality, a good chunk of that time after a commercial truck accident is going to be spent dealing with recovery and life in general. The time is shorter than you think. Accordingly, it is important to talk to an attorney right away.
Who to Sue in a Commercial Truck Accident Lawsuit
It is almost always a good idea to file a lawsuit against multiple parties in a commercial truck accident lawsuit. This is because a truck driver’s employer is responsible for their employee’s actions, so you should, at minimum, sue both the driver and their employer. If you are going to include other parties, you need to prove that they helped cause your injury. You can only recover damages from parties that actually caused your injuries, so you need to be careful about including parties that may be considered frivolous.
Suing Commercial Drivers
You should virtually always sue the driver of the commercial truck involved in your accident. After all, they were behind the wheel of the vehicle when it hit you. Commercial drivers can be negligent by speeding, running red lights, and doing other things that would constitute negligence for any driver. However, commercial drivers also have some extra responsibilities. For example, truckers can only be on the road for a certain amount of hours before needing to take a break. It can be considered negligence if they stay on the road past the point of tiredness or fatigue.
Suing Their Employers
In addition to the driver, you should sue their employer. As previously stated, employers are responsible for the actions of their employees so long as those actions are related to their job. Moreover, employers are likely in a far better position to financially compensate you than their drivers.
Talk with Our Maryland Truck Accident Lawyers Today
For a free case review, call Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291 to have a free chat with our Ellicott City, MD truck accident attorneys.