When injured victims are looking for a truck accident lawyer Silver Spring MD residents trust, it’s understandable and expected that these individuals will have many questions about truck accidents.
At Cohen & Cohen, we understand that trucking accidents can be very complicated. For a victim who is injured in a truck accident, the legal processes of obtaining financial damages could seem even more complicated. At our firm, we believe that prospective clients should receive answers to important questions before choosing to work with a truck accident lawyer Silver Spring MD drivers rely on.
Here are some of the most common questions that individuals ask about truck accidents and about the injuries that may result from truck accidents:
Question 1: Many people say that large trucks are more likely to cause extensive damage in a collision with a passenger car. Why is this?
Each traffic accident depends on many different factors and it is not guaranteed that a truck accident will cause more damage than an accident involving passenger cars, SUVs, or trucks. However, a large commercial truck — such as an 18-wheeler or a semi-truck — may cause more damage because of its size and weight. Commercial trucks can weigh around 25 times more than the average passenger car, especially when the truck is loaded with heavy cargo. When another passenger vehicle is involved in a collision with a big truck, occupants in that vehicle may not have enough protection against the force of a tractor trailer in motion. Injuries that result from truck accidents can be very costly to treat. Injured victims in a truck accident case may wish to seek financial compensation or talk to a truck accident lawyer Silver Spring MD trusts for legal counsel.
Question 2: What are some common causes of truck accidents that accidents involving only passenger cars might not face?
Large trucks are prone to the same road hazards that other passenger vehicles encounter; one big difference is that the truck driver may not be able to stop the truck or steer it away quickly enough to avoid causing an accident.
Rain, snow, and ice are all weather-related hazards that can cause passenger vehicle collisions — but these factors are even more dangerous for large trucks that might be more prone to “fishtailing” or skidding. When driving at a high speed, or when turning around a tight corner, a truck driver may not be able to turn the trailer fast enough to avoid a collision.
Large trucks may also face additional road hazards due to the cargo that they carry. If a truck is improperly loaded, this may be a factor in a truck accident case. Hazardous materials may also turn a minor “fender bender” into a serious collision. As any experienced truck accident lawyer Silver Spring MD has to offer may attest, minor hazards can become major problems for commercial trucks.
Question 3: Are there any special regulations or legal processes involved when a truck carrying hazardous material causes an accident?
There are regulations for trucking companies and truck drivers who transport hazardous and/or flammable materials like gasoline, industrial waste, and even oxygen tanks. If the truck is involved in a collision, these materials could cause an explosion or they could leak out of their containers, possibly causing more injuries if people come in contact with the materials.
Drivers transporting hazardous materials must have earned a commercial vehicle driving license, as required by federal legislation. In certain cases, it’s possible that the driver and/or owner of the truck was not aware that another party was shipping hazardous materials. In this case, an injured victim may wish to talk with a truck accident lawyer Silver Spring MD can provide because it might not be easy to determine who is at fault.
Question 4: Is “driver fatigue” actually a big problem for truck drivers?
Driver fatigue and distracted driving can be very problematic for commercial truck drivers. Various pieces of federal and state legislation have been put into place to limit the amount of time that a person is allowed to drive without a break. Truck drivers may turn to their radios or cellphones for entertainment — or to keep them awake on long drives — but these distractions also can lead to an accident.
Question 5: If the truck driver is at fault for causing an accident, what if his or her insurance policy won’t provide enough money to cover the victim’s injury claim?
It’s possible that an injured victim could claim compensation that goes beyond what the truck driver’s insurance policy can cover. This can happen in cases where the injured claimant sustains very severe injuries that require costly medical treatments or even lead to permanent health concerns. If this happens, it is often advisable to work with a Silver Spring MD truck accident lawyer on a personal injury claim. Depending on the relationship that the driver has with the company, it might be possible to seek damages from the company instead of from the driver.
Question 6: How is liability determined when the trucking company — but not necessarily the truck driver — is at fault?
It is possible for several parties to be at fault for a truck accident. As any truck accident lawyer Silver Spring MD can provide may attest, trucking companies may complicate the matter of liability by hiring contract workers and by using materials that are leased from another company. If there is any question of liability when a truck accident causes injuries, claimants may have a better chance receiving adequate compensation if they work with a truck accident lawyer in Silver Spring MD.
Contact a Local Truck Accident Lawyer Silver Spring MD Can Rely On
If you have been involved in a truck accident and you have sustained serious injuries, you may wish to seek financial compensation. At Cohen & Cohen, we believe that injured victims of truck accidents should be able to receive adequate compensation for the pain and suffering they have endured. Each accident injury case is unique and our legal team recognizes that each client may have complex questions pertaining to his or her case. For more information about our services, or to talk about your case with a truck accident lawyer Silver Spring MD trusts, contact Cohen & Cohen today.
