Though rare, truck accidents are among the most fatal auto accidents to take place on the road. Those who survive often face devastating injuries and a long road to recovery. If you or a loved one was hurt in a collision involving a big rig or other heavy-duty truck in Harford County, Maryland, you can seek compensation.
A Joppatowne truck accident lawyer can help you begin to put your life back together. The Law Offices of Adam M. Smallow is available 24/7 and provides free consultations. We’ll learn the specifics of your case and answer all your questions.
Damages Your Truck Accident in Joppatowne May Allow You to Recover
A truck accident can disrupt your career and family life and, of course, jeopardize your health. That’s why it’s important to hold the at-fault party accountable for their actions. You shouldn’t have to pay for their negligence.
Our truck accident lawyers can look closely at the various losses you’ve suffered due to your accident. In order to obtain a full picture of your losses, we can examine both your monetary and non-monetary damages.
Economic Losses
Your monetary damages may include things like:
- Hospital bills
- Loss of income
- Lost earning capacity
- Rehabilitation
- Prescription drugs
- Vehicle repair or replacement
- Property damage
- Rental car costs
- Future medical treatment
- Disability modifications for home or car
- Other accident-related expenses
Non-Economic Losses
We can assign a monetary value to each non-economic loss based on multiple factors, such as severity, the impact on your life, and expert opinion. Non-economic damages can include:
- Psychological trauma
- Emotional distress
- Chronic pain
- Physical impairment
- Scars or disfigurement
- Diminished enjoyment of life
- Reduced quality of life
- Loss of consortium
For legal consultation with a truck accident attorney in Joppatowne, call (410)777-8960
Our Law Firm Handles Accidents Involving Various Types of Semi Trucks and Large Vehicles
Commercial trucks go by many names: semi-trucks, big rigs, heavy-duty vehicles, tractor-trailers, and so on. Regardless of what they are called, we can help recover damages if your accident involved any of the following large vehicles:
- An 18-wheeler
- Tanker
- Cement truck
- Garbage truck
- Dump truck
- Flatbed truck
- Other semi-truck or big rig
- Large buses
Joppatowne Truck Accident Attorney (410)777-8960
Clients Who’ve Trusted Our Firm With Their Cases
Our firm has gone to bat for countless auto accident victims and their families, securing them the compensation they deserve. Take a look at what some of our previous clients had to say about working with our firm:
- “HIGHLY RECOMMENDED…I never had to deal with an automated system; I never had to wait to get the information and answers I needed.” – Michelle
- “I highly recommend Adam to anyone looking for a personal injury attorney… If you have an injury, you’ll want this team in your corner!” – J.Harm.
- “Since switching over to Adam’s law office, they’ve gotten more done in a week than what another company could do in six months… I’m extremely grateful for you guys helping me and my fiancé out in a time of need, and would recommend you to anyone.” – Brian
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Who Is Liable for My Truck Accident?
A truck accident case may involve numerous liable parties. The liability of the driver depends on whether or not they are an employee of a motor carrier, an independent contractor, or a trucking company.
Employees are usually covered by the insurance of the trucking company they work for. However, independent contractors and owner-operators would, in most cases, need to have their own insurance.
To determine liability, you may also need to know if the truck was leased, as this may indicate another potentially liable party. Large truck companies usually have extensive insurance coverage; however, smaller trucking businesses may have limited insurance coverage and financial resources. Our truck accident lawyers can perform a thorough investigation to determine all liable parties in your truck crash.
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Joppatowne Truck Drivers Are Required To Have Liability Insurance
Generally, the federal government requires truck drivers to have certain minimum insurance coverage in order to operate on the interstate highway. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), insurance limits are:
- $300,000 for non-hazardous freight on vehicles under 10,001 lbs.
- $750,000 for non-hazardous freight in vehicles over 10,001 lbs.
- $1,000,000 for oil moved by for-hire drivers and private carriers
- $5,000,000 for other hazardous material moved by for-hire and private carriers
Driver Error Is One of the Leading Causes of Truck Accidents
The commercial truck industry is regulated by the FMCSA. Safety codes are put in place for both truck drivers and the public, and yet truck driver errors are a factor in a large portion of fatal truck accidents that take place.
Driver Fatigue
Semi-truck drivers spend long hours on the road, often transporting payloads across multiple states. They do this typically after getting only a limited amount of sleep. A study by the New England Journal of Medicine shows that commercial truck drivers get an average of 4.8 hours of sleep each day, which is much less than needed for optimal alertness on the road.
Despite hours of service rules requiring truck drivers of big rigs to stay off the road for at least ten hours following 11 consecutive hours of drive time, drivers may sometimes ignore the rules putting themselves and others in danger.
Distracted Truck Driving
Distracted driving includes:
- Texting or otherwise using a cell phone
- Using the dispatch device
- Writing something down
- Looking at a map
- Reaching for an object
Anything that takes a truck driver’s attention away from the road can cause an accident.
Driving Under the Influence
Stimulants, marijuana, and narcotics are the most commonly found drugs used by commercial truck drivers. Drugs further impair an already sleep-deprived mind.
Other driver-related issues that can lead to truck collisions include:
- Speeding
- Traveling too fast for conditions on the road
- Inadequate surveillance of surroundings
Call the Law Offices of Adam M. Smallow for Help With Your Truck Accident
No matter what your injuries are or who caused them, a Joppatowne truck accident lawyer is prepared to do the work to protect your rights. Call or text the Law Offices of Adam M. Smallow at (410) 777-8960 for legal help today.
Call or text (410)777-8960 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form