Lutherville Truck Accident Attorney
Few crashes are as terrifying as those that involve a massive 18-wheeler truck. Sharing the road with these vehicles can be intimidating, as one wrong move or blown tire can result in devastation. Each year crashes involving large trucks kill thousands of Americans. In most of these crashes, it is the people driving near these trucks who suffer the consequences of these wrecks.
Adding to the frustration and tragedy of large truck crashes is the fact that most of these crashes are avoidable.
If you suffered injuries in a truck crash in Lutherville, Maryland, you probably have questions about your rights moving forward and your ability to hold the other driver accountable for the damage that he or she caused.
At Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP, our attorneys work to recover compensation for truck crash victims and their families. In the aftermath of a crash, families often find that they struggle with the physical, emotional, and financial impacts of the accident. Hiring a Lutherville, Maryland truck crash attorney can help you recover for your losses and focus on healing. Call us today at 410-769-5400 to discuss your claim.
Why are Large Trucks so Dangerous?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported good news regarding car crash-related fatalities in the United States. These tragic accidents are declining. Unfortunately, while the overall number of crashes is dropping, large trucks were involved in more crashes last year than in 2018.
Why are large trucks killing more people, even as other types of accidents drop? One factor may be that passenger cars are better designed to avoid crashes now than were older models. Crash avoidance technology is working to prevent many collisions. Large trucks, however, are not being outfitted with as much of this technology, even though we all could likely benefit from the added safety features.
Of course, many of the causes of large truck crashes are not new. Some factors that make trucks a hazard to others on the road include the following:
- Trucks outweigh other cars and passenger vehicles by 20 or even 30 times
- Trucks take longer to stop in an emergency, meaning that if the truck follows another car too closely, it will not be able to stop in time
- Large trucks are higher from the ground, and cars can slide beneath them in deadly wrecks called “underride crashes”
- Poorly-maintained brakes and other equipment can increase the risk of crashes
- Drivers work too many hours in a row and are often fatigued
- The pressure to work long hours leads to drivers using drugs to stay awake
- Trucks have large blind spots that make it challenging for them to see things in their surroundings
The dangers created by large trucks are most often problems for people in passenger cars. When a large truck and a passenger vehicle collide in a fatal crash, 96 percent of the time, the victim or victims are in the passenger car, not the truck.
If you were injured in a large truck crash, you must understand your legal options. Contact a Lutherville, Maryland attorney to discuss your claim.
How Do I Pursue A Claim After a Truck Crash?
If you were injured in a truck crash, the first step is to find a Lutherville, Maryland, car crash attorney who can represent you in your claim. Your attorney will be able to evaluate the facts of your case to let you understand your options.
The first move your attorney may make is to attempt to settle the claim. If negotiations fail to yield desirable results, the next step is to file a complaint and initiate a lawsuit. In the course of those proceedings, you and the other party, the defendant, will exchange information and possibly sit for a deposition. This process is referred to as “discovery,” and it helps the attorneys on both sides gather valuable information that might help you build your case.
The majority of claims settle at some point in the process. However, some will go to trial where a jury will determine whether the defendant is liable, and what, if any, damages are owed to the plaintiff.
In Maryland, the plaintiff cannot be liable for any part of his or her injuries. In many cases, the plaintiff does not bear any of the fault for his or her injuries. However, in other situations, the plaintiff will be prevented from recovering because he or she will be found “contributorily negligent.” Maryland is less forgiving than most states when it comes to a plaintiff who is, in part, at fault.
Call Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP Today
At Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP, our attorneys know that your truck crash claim is a way for you and your family to cope with the losses caused by a horrific event. We work tirelessly to ensure that our clients get the help and compensation that they need and deserve. Call us today at 410-769-5400 to discuss your truck crash claim with an experienced Lutherville, Maryland truck accident attorney.
