Gaithersburg Truck Accident Lawyer

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Truck accident lawyer Gaithersburg, Md

Trucking accident lawyers Gaithersburg, MD residents trust know all too well that crashes involving tractor-trailers are some of the most catastrophic accidents that can happen on the road. The massive size of these vehicles often end up causing fatal injuries to the victims involved. There are many reasons why truck accidents can happen. The following are some of the most common.

Crashes Caused by Truck Drivers

There are many actions or behaviors on the part of truck drivers that can cause a crash. Some of the more common types of dangerous driving behaviors include:

• Speeding
• Distracted driving (texting, using GPS, talking on the phone, eating or drinking, etc.)
• Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs
• Driver fatigue
• Aggressive driving or road rage
• Frequent changing of lanes
• Failure to check for blind spots when changing lanes or turning
• Failure to use turn signals
• Improper turning
• Tailgating
• Failure to obey traffic laws

Crashes Caused by the Trucking Company

Skilled trucking accident lawyers from Gaithersburg, MD will likely inform you that in addition to actions taken or failed to be taken by the truck driver, there are also failures on the part of the trucking company which can result in a truck accident. It is up to the company to ensure that every truck driver they hire has been properly trained and possesses the skills needed to operate these vehicles. It is also up to the company to make sure the driver has enough experience to handle the often curvy and narrow roads they are required to travel, especially in areas that are unfamiliar to them.

Experienced trucking accident lawyers in Gaithersburg, MD will also inform you that how the truck is loaded is often a factor in truck crashes. If a vehicle is overloaded, this could cause issues in whether the driver can bring the vehicle to a stop or turn the vehicle without risking the truck rolling over, jackknifing, or blowing a tire. Failure to properly secure a load can also lead to a serious crash.

Failure on the part of the trucking company to perform regular mechanical inspections of the vehicle and quickly repair any issues can also lead to horrific accidents.

Other Causes of Crashes

There are also other causes of truck accidents. Trucking accident lawyers from Gaithersburg, MD should tell you that cad road conditions can be the main factor in why a crash occurs. Narrow roads or lanes, roads riddled with potholes, and highways with no shoulders can create hazardous driving conditions for these big rigs and other vehicles traveling around them. Road construction can also contribute to losing control and crashing.

Bad weather can also result in a serious crash. Trying to maneuver these huge vehicles in rain, snow, ice, and fog can be extremely difficult for drivers, as can driving in an area with extreme wind speeds.

Although in many situations the fault of the crash lies with either the truck driver or trucking company, there are situations where there is another party responsible for the crash. There have been many crashes where another vehicle driver has behaved in such a way that results in a truck and other vehicles crashing. This can occur because the first driver engages in the following:

• Negligent or erratic driving
• Swerving in front of a truck when merging or changing lanes
• Unsafe passing, which can cause a truck driver to lose control
• Ignoring the truck’s blind spots
• Tailgating behind a truck

Any experienced Gaithersburg, MD truck accident lawyer knows all too well that truck accidents often result in life-threatening injuries because commercial trucks are such big and powerful vehicles. While some truck crashes result from bad weather or road conditions, more of them are caused by distracted truck drivers. These drivers spend long hours on the road and and may distracted by one thing or another.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common truck driver distractions:

Cell Phone Use

Whether it is sending a text message or making a phone call, using a cell phone behind the wheel is dangerous. Unfortunately, according to a Gaithersburg, MD truck accident lawyer, some truck drivers use their cell phones to keep in touch with their coworkers, bosses and customers while they are driving. This takes their eyes and attention away from the road, increasing the risk of accidents. Truck drivers who need to get in contact with one should wait until they come to a safe stop somewhere.

Eating and Drinking

Truck drivers are often on tight deadlines and don’t always have time to sit down at a restaurant and eat. Many of them eat and drink while behind the wheel to save time. However, this can cause them to take one hand off the wheel and may divert their attention from the road ahead.

Looking at Other Objects

As a skilled Gaithersburg, MD truck accident lawyer will likely tell you, driving for long hours every day can get pretty tedious for truck drivers. That is why some of them look at objects outside their trucks, such as other vehicles and buildings. Unfortunately, taking their eyes of the road for even a few seconds can increase the risk of an accident.

Looking At a Map

Truck drivers who have to driver in familiar may glance at a map once in a while to make sure they are heading in the right direction. However, looking at a map takes their eyes off the road and increases their risk of hitting other vehicles.

Daydreaming

As mentioned before, truck drivers spend many hours behind the wheel. A good  Gaithersburg, MD truck accident lawyer may also suggest that this can get quite boring after a while and cause some drivers to daydream about other subjects. Unfortunately, zoning out can cause drivers to lose focus of the road ahead of them and get into crashes.

Hiring a Truck Accident Attorney

If you were injured in an accident caused by a truck driver, you may be eligible for compensation. Your first step is schedule a consultation with an experience truck accident attorney. He or she can assess your case and determine if you have a good chance of winning your claim or not. If the lawyer determines that you have a strong case, he or she can help you gather important evidence, locate witnesses and negotiate with the insurance company. It’s much is easier dealing with a truck accident claim if you have a skilled attorney on your side.

Is the driver or the trucking company responsible for a trucking accident?

Depending on the results of the investigation, both the driver and the company they work for could be held liable in a truck accident. Trucking companies often try try to avoid liability by denying that the driver works for them or saying that the company doesn’t own the truck involved. Having truck accident lawyers in Gaithersburg, MD on your side can help reveal the truth of who is responsible, how they are responsible, and what further steps need to be taken.

You may be able to sue the truck driver’s company if there is an employee relationship established between the company and the driver. Also if the company owns the truck and not the driver, than the company does hold some liability for the accident. A trucking company is legally responsible for any actions taken by workers on the job however, sometimes drivers are hired as independent contractors. This means that the company that hired them may not be liable for any accident damages. In this case, you would not be able to sue the company since the driver is technically “independent”.

Special Laws and Regulations for Truck Drivers

There are many federal and state regulations for truck drivers. These include traffic laws, civil laws, and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and Department of Transportation regulations. These laws a regulations have to do with speed limit, weight,height maximums on roadways, and how many hours in a row a driver can legally drive.

If you feel that you may benefit from an attorney who specializes in truck accidents, call Cohen & Cohen to set up your free consultation with truck accident lawyers Gaithersburg, MD residents rely on.

If you or someone you love has been involved in a trucking accident, do not hesitate to reach out to Cohen & Cohen and we will be more than happy to set you up with trucking accident lawyers Gaithersburg, MD is proud to have in its midsts.