Maryland Truck Accident Lawyer
What important steps should be taken immediately following a truck accident?
Call the Police
Any good Maryland truck accident lawyer will inform you that the first thing you should do right after being hit by a truck is call the police. It is vital to not talk to anyone right after the accident, especially the other person in the accident. If you do, you should accidentally admit to some of the blame which could end up hurting you in the long run.
After the police arrive, allow them to do your job and try to prove them with as much accurate information as possible and tell them exactly what occurred during the accident. It is important to give a lot of information, however, you should not exaggerate this information. Only provide exact information to the police officers.
A Maryland truck accident lawyer may also inform you that the police have the job of writing the proper citation to the negligent party and writing a police report explaining the details of the accident and who caused it. This police report will be vital to your case and is extremely important to have. Receiving compensation without the police report will be very difficult because you may not be able to prove that the other party was at fault.
Take Photographs
If you are able to right after the accident, you need to take photos all over the accident scene. This will provide you with lots of evidence to defend your case. You should take photos of:
- Damaged vehicles
- The location of the accident
- Any visible injuries
- Any visible damage to the surrounding areas
As an experienced Maryland truck accident lawyer can tell you, another source of evidence can be having a detailed record of the accident. This can be important in remembering exact details from the accident and making sure your story doesn’t change if you forget any minor or major details. Pictures can also help with remembering how bad the accident actually was and what damage was done.
Exchange Information with the Other Driver
After the accident you should get information about the other party. This information includes:
- Name
- Phone Number
- Insurance Information
- License Plate Number
- Driver’s License Number
- Trucking Companies Name and Contact Information
Follow all Medical Advice
Any knowledgeable Maryland truck accident lawyer will strongly suggest that seeking medical attention can be another form of proof for your case. Medical examinations can keep you safe and provide reports of different injuries you have.
Contact an Experienced Truck Accident Injury Attorney
If you believe your trucking accident was based on an act of negligence, you should contact an attorney to help you deal with your case. Trucking accidents can be very complex and can be related to many parties such as the driver, the trucking company, the trucking manufacturer, or anyone else related to the accident. Handling a truck accident injury case on your own can be next to impossible. Experienced attorneys can handle negotiations with other insurance companies as well as deal with insurance adjusters who are not on your side.
Do not hesitate to contact the experienced attorneys at Cohen & Cohen today to ensure your case is being handled correctly. Call today to set up your free consultation with a trusted Maryland truck accident lawyer on our team.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Accidents involving commercial trucks are often more serious than accidents with only passenger vehicles. Those in passenger vehicles are especially susceptible to life-threatening injuries. Here are some of the most common causes of truck accidents that you should know about.
- Driver fatigue. Although federal regulations prohibit truck drivers from driving too many consecutive hours, not all of them follow this law. They may be under a lot of pressure to deliver goods and stay on the road longer than they should. Unfortunately, this can cause truck drivers to become too tired. If they are running on little sleep, truckers may lose focus of the road ahead and even fall asleep behind the wheel.
- Speeding. As mentioned above, many truck drivers are under constant pressure to deliver goods on time. If they are behind, they might drive above the speed limit to make their deadlines. However, speeding is even more dangerous for truck drivers. Because commercial trucks are so large and heavy, they require more time to stop.
- Distracted driving. Truck drivers have to spend long hours on the road, which can become tedious. Some may use distractions to pass the time. They may send text messages, eat or look at objects outside. Unfortunately, as a Maryland truck accident lawyer can confirm, distracted driving can put everyone on the road in danger. Truck drivers who are distracted may take their attention and eyes off the road.
- Overloading cargo. Truck drivers have to carry cargo in the back of their trucks. However, if they overload cargo, it can be very hazardous. It can cause tire blowouts and increase the risk of accidents.
- Drug or alcohol use. It is dangerous for all motorists, including truck drivers, to operate a vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. However, some truck drivers use these substances to cope with their high stress jobs. Being under the influence of drugs or alcohol impairs judgment and lowers reaction times, increasing the risk of accidents.
- Poor truck maintenance. Trucking companies are responsible for maintaining and repairing their trucks when necessary. If they fail to do this, truck accidents are more likely to occur. For example, if the brakes are not properly maintained, a truck driver could have trouble stopping and run into another vehicle.
Why should I seek professional legal representation?
If you have recently been in a truck accident in or near Maryland, it is essential to contact an experienced truck accident lawyer that Maryland residents recommend from Cohen & Cohen. The main reason personal injury victims retain our lawyers is for our specialization in a wide range of personal injury related matters, including truck accidents. Our goal is to help in any way we can to get the justice you deserve, meaning that following a truck, you are fully compensated for any injuries you sustain and for all damages done to your property.
What can I be compensated for following a truck accident?
Compensation can be pursued following a truck accident where there was damage to personal property or injury, regardless of the level of seriousness. Compensation includes what you have been billed for already, as well as future expenses such as future medical issues that are a direct result of the accident. For example, if you sustained an injury during the accident and consequently you require physical therapy, you can collect compensation to help with physical therapy expenses.
The compensatory damages may be “economic” or “noneconomic.” Economic damages are physical, more tangible damages that can be quantified, and their value does not change depending on the jury that is evaluating them.
Economic damages:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Past and future lost wages
- Household services
- Vocational rehabilitation
- Property damages
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Lost earning capacity
- Medical expenses may also be included under economic damages. These damages are bills that arise out of the injuries that are caused by the accident.
Other medical expenses that compensation can be collected for:
- Chronic physical health issues
- Chronic mental health issues
- Surgeries
- Future treatments
Noneconomic damages:
- Pain
- Emotional anguish
- Humiliation
- Reputation damage
- Loss of enjoyment of activities
- Worsening of prior injuries
In some states, noneconomic damages are referred to as pain and suffering. In addition to the one who suffered the damages, a spouse may be able to recover a type of non-economic damage referred to as “loss of consortium”. In the event of a wrongful death, or inability to seek legal assistance, a spouse can also be the one to seek legal counsel and fight for compensation for personal injury damages.
How do we determine the liable party?
In order to succeed, the victim and their attorney must provide evidence related to each item, such as police reports, medical records, photos of the accident and injuries, and eyewitness testimony. An attorney will guide his client through counseling and identifying the proper evidence to support the claim.
How does a truck accident lawyer help gain compensation?
Cohen & Cohen brings experience, compassion and tenacity in the face of adversity when victims of personal injury/truck accidents need it most. A truck accident victim can face a long road to recovery, and to ensure your recovery is a priority, you must have an attorney take the lead on your case, and negotiate compensation. Contact our Maryland truck accident lawyers from Cohen & Cohen as soon as possible to learn more about our firm and how we can help.
Understanding Common Injuries Suffered in Car Accidents
Car accidents can be traumatizing experiences that often result in serious injuries as a Maryland truck accident lawyer knows all too well. While some injuries may be minor, others can be life-threatening or have long-lasting consequences. Learn more about the most common injuries that people suffer in car accidents, what causes them, and what you can do if you or anyone you know is injured in a car accident. Then, contact a lawyer at Cohen & Cohen for help.
Head Injuries:
Head injuries are among the most severe injuries that people suffer in car accidents. Even if you’re wearing a seat belt and your car’s airbag deploys, your head can still hit the steering wheel, dashboard, or door, resulting in a traumatic brain injury. Sometimes even airbags themselves can cause these severe injuries if the wreck is bad enough. Symptoms of a head injury can vary, but they can include headaches, confusion, dizziness, and vomiting.
Neck Injuries:
Whiplash occurs when the head and neck are jerked back and forth suddenly, causing damage to the soft tissues in the neck. Symptoms of whiplash may not appear until days after the accident and can include neck pain, headaches, and stiffness, among others. You should seek out medical help immediately after an accident to try and prevent injuries from cropping up later.
Chest Injuries:
Chest injuries can range from minor bruises and contusions to more serious injuries like broken ribs and internal bleeding. These types of injuries are often caused by the deployment of airbags or the impact of the seatbelt. Symptoms of chest injuries can include chest pain, difficulty breathing, and coughing up blood. Seek medical attention immediately if you experience any of these symptoms then contact a Maryland truck accident lawyer for help.
Back Injuries:
Back injuries can range from minor sprains and strains to more serious injuries like herniated discs and spinal cord injuries. Symptoms of back injuries can include pain, numbness or tingling in the legs or feet, weakness, and difficulty moving. Even severe bruising on the back can cause long term damage from a wreck.
Psychological Injuries:
Car accidents can also have psychological effects on people. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common psychological injury sustained in car accidents. Symptoms of PTSD may not appear until weeks or months after the accident and can include flashbacks, nightmares, and anxiety. It’s essential to seek mental health treatment if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, and it’s essential to know that mental health problems can also be compensated for in a lawsuit.
Car accidents can result in various injuries, some of which may not be apparent immediately after an accident. Seeking medical attention immediately after an accident can help prevent any further damage and ensure that you’re treated for any injuries sustained. It’s also important to remember that psychological injuries are just as serious as physical injuries and should not be ignored. If you or anyone you know has suffered an injury in a car accident, don’t hesitate to seek help from a medical professional or a Maryland car accident lawyer from Cohen & Cohen to ensure you get the compensation you deserve.
The truck accident lawyers in Maryland from Cohen & Cohen know that truckers spend long hours transporting products and goods to all over the nation. Along with the endless hours they must drive, truckers have to haul around 50,000 to 80,000 pounds of material. This cargo can range from produce to hazardous chemicals, so truckers must be properly rested so they don’t put the public at risk.
Because of the nature of the work, regulations have been established to oversee the use of commercial trucks and how long a trucker can drive before requiring a rest. Truck drivers may suffer from fatigue because of the high-pressure aspect of the job. However, this is no excuse for driving fatigued and causing a serious accident. Typically, a trucker can drive between 12-14 hours each day. But in even more cases, truckers may be behind the wheel for 18 hours or longer. These extended hours doing the same motions over and over again can lead to fatigue, which is a primary cause of truck-related collisions and fatalities.
Federal law only allows truckers to drive for 11 hours every day, and a total of 77 hours per week. Within a 14-hour window, truckers are permitted to drive for 11 hours with the other tasks being non-driving duties. Once a trucker has driven for 11 hours, they are required to have a 10-hour rest before they can go out again. As our MD truck accident lawyers can explain, fatigue can cause a driver to act poorly in many ways, including:
- Impaired judgement and space
- Slowed reaction time
- Blurry vision
- Inability to concentrate
- Easily distracted
- Prone to road rage
- Short-term memory lapses
If you or a loved one was injured in an accident with a potentially fatigued trucker, then you must call us now for assistance. You may be entitled to more compensation than you realize, so it’s important to contact us before it’s too late to negotiate for a higher settlement.
The dedicated Maryland truck accident lawyers from Cohen & Cohen are well aware that commercial trucks are the largest motor vehicles on the roadway. These trucks can weigh tens of thousands of pounds when fully stocked, and can cause terrible damage in the event of a crash. Because of the inherent danger of these vehicles, truckers and their employers must abide by state and federal safety regulations. For instance, a trucker is not permitted to just drive endlessly, they must log their hours and take proper rest breaks within a certain period of time.
If you or someone you care about was seriously injured in a truck accident, it is possible that the trucker and trucking company had violated regulations. There may also be additional parties who could have contributed to the accident, such as manufacturers of truck parts.
Victims may be eligible for compensation based on what they had gone through. And because of how complicated a truck accident can be with so many parties involved, we strongly recommend getting legal support now before moving forward. Our truck accident lawyers in Maryland have decades of experience handling personal injury accidents, including traffic collisions. We can guide you through every step of the process and relentlessly advocate for your behalf. We have built a positive reputation in the community for being a source of reliable legal guidance, so please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need help right now.
In many cases, it is the truck driver that had done something wrong which led to a collision. However, the driver may not be the only person who had influenced a crash. Sometimes multiple parties are liable for causing a truck accident. These entities may entail the truck driver themselves, trucking company, manufacturers, shipping company, and others. Let us investigate to find out more.
Victims of truck accidents can suffer in many ways. They may need to be rushed to the nearest emergency room for life-saving treatment. Or they may be unable to pay their rent because medical bills are piling high. And, many victims have to deal with mental trauma too. Those who survive being hit by a truck often sustain painful injuries that need extensive medical care to treat, which means there will be bills to pay too.
If you need a lawyer to come to your aid after a recent accident and fight for your right to restitution, please call us now. Our MD truck accident lawyers from Cohen & Cohen, P.C is prepared to take on your case and inform you of what to do next.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Truck accidents are often more catastrophic than accidents only involving passenger vehicles. These accidents frequently result from driver error. Here are some of the most common causes of truck accidents.
- Distracted driving. Truck drivers have to spend long hours on the road, which can become tedious after a while. Some drivers may turn to distractions, such as texting and changing the radio stations, to help pass the time. Unfortunately, these actions can take their eyes and attention off the road ahead, increasing the risk of an accident.
- Improper cargo loading. Truck drivers are responsible for loading their cargo before driving to their destination. However, if they load too much cargo or load it unevenly, it can fall into the street and cause an accident.
- Fatigued driving. Federal regulations prohibit truck drivers from driving a certain amount of hours without breaks. However, that doesn’t mean that all truck drivers abide by this rule. They are often under immense pressure to deliver their goods by strict deadlines and may drive longer hours to accomplish this. Truck drivers who are running on little sleep may lose focus of the road ahead or even fall asleep behind the wheel.
- Speeding. As Maryland truck accident lawyers can confirm, driving above the speed limit is another common cause of truck accidents. Truck drivers may be under pressure to deliver their goods on time, so they speed. Unfortunately, speeding is especially dangerous for truck drivers. They won’t have time to react to hazards if they’re driving too fast.
- Impaired driving. Believe it or not, many truck accidents result from impairment from drugs or alcohol. Trucking driving can be a stressful profession, so some drivers may resort to drugs or alcohol to relax. However, these substances can impair their judgment and cause an accident.
- Inadequate training. Driving a commercial truck is much different than driving a passenger vehicle. As such, truck drivers should go through extensive training before getting behind the wheel. However, some trucking companies may skimp on training to save money and allow inexperienced drivers on the road. Truck drivers with minimal training are more likely to cause accidents.
- Poor truck maintenance. Trucking companies are responsible for maintaining and repairing their trucks on a regular basis. If they fail to do this, accidents are more likely to occur. For example, if faulty brakes don’t get fixed promptly, truck drivers may have trouble stopping and cause an accident.
Cohen & Cohen
The team from our law firm have been successful in representing victims of truck accidents. We can thoroughly investigate why the incident happened, and whether the driver could have been fatigued. Your recovery is our primary focus. We hope that if you or someone you care about is in need of legal support after a truck collision, that you reach out to us today for help. Our Maryland truck accident lawyers from Cohen & Cohen are ready to take your call.
