Common Causes of Semi-Truck Accidents & Your Legal Options

Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers | May 15, 2026 | Semi-Truck Accident

Semi-truck accidents can be devastating, leaving victims unsure of what steps to take or how to begin navigating the insurance claims process. When an 80,000-pound fully loaded semi-truck collides with a standard passenger vehicle, the damage visible at the scene often reveals only part of what actually happened.

In many cases, why the accident happened is found in a small device called the Event Data Recorder, also known as the black box. This recorder is installed in most semi-trucks, and can capture critical data to show what was happening right before the collision. This post breaks down your legal options after a semi-truck accident, how fault is determined, and why working with a personal injury attorney at Alpert Schreyer will help protect your rights and maximize your compensation.

I Was Injured in a Car Accident. What Lawyer Do I Call?

If you’ve been in a car accident, contact our Maryland personal injury lawyers at Alpert Schreyer, LLC for a free consultation 24/7 by calling us at (301) 720-1309 or filling out our online form. During your consultation we will:

• Review the facts and evidence, including:
  • The date, time, and location of the accident
  • Cause of the accident
  • All parties involved, and whether any witnesses were present
  • The police report
  • Photos, videos, or other evidence of the scene
  • The extent of your injuries and symptoms, medical treatment received, and any future treatment recommendations
  • Time missed from work, lost income, and any future lost income
  • The impact of the injuries on your daily life and activities
  • Actions or negligence by the other party that may have led to the incident
  • Deadlines that could affect your right to file a claim
  • Determine if another party is at-fault and if you have a strong case.
  • Discuss the next steps for your claim

Common Causes of Semi-Truck Accidents in Maryland

Understanding the most common causes of semi-truck accidents is important for road safety and preventing collisions.

Driver Fatigue

Operating a semi-truck is demanding work because drivers are often on the road for long hours over several consecutive days. Despite Hours of Service regulations that limit how many hours truck drivers can work, they sometimes ignore these rules to meet tight delivery deadlines.

Mechanical Failures

Semi-tucks require regular maintenance to ensure they’re safe to drive. Failure to properly maintain a truck can lead to mechanical issues such as brake failure, tire blowouts, or engine troubles, all of which can cause devastating car accidents. 

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is a leading cause of all motor vehicle accidents. Drivers can be distracted by many things like talking on the phone, eating, adjusting the radio, or reaching to get something. When a driver’s attention is diverted from the road, even for a few seconds, the risk of an accident increases significantly.

Improper Loading

A truck’s cargo must be properly secured and evenly distributed, so when a load is improperly balanced or shifts during transit, it can destabilize the truck, which increases the risk of losing control or causing a rollover accident.

Speeding and Aggressive Driving

The pressure to meet tight delivery deadlines can sometimes cause truck drivers to speed or drive aggressively (e.g., tailgating, making unsafe lane changes, or failing to yield the right of way). At high speeds, even a small mistake can cause a truck driver to lose control of the vehicle, leading to catastrophic motor vehicle accidents.

Failure to Check Blind Spots

Semi-trucks have large blind spots along the sides, rear, and front of the truck, so when a driver doesn’t check these blind spots before changing lanes or merging, serious accidents can happen in seconds. A passenger vehicle traveling beside the truck may be completely hidden from the driver’s view, increasing the risk of a sideswipe collision or forcing the smaller vehicle off the road. These crashes are especially dangerous because of the size and weight difference between a commercial truck and a standard passenger car.

Driving Under the Influence (DUI)

Alcohol, illegal drugs, and some prescription and over-the-counter medications can impair a truck driver’s judgment, reaction time, coordination, and ability to focus on the road. An intoxicated truck driver may drift between lanes, fail to brake in time, ignore traffic signals, or make reckless driving decisions that put everyone nearby at risk. These accidents often result in severe injuries, fatalities, and significant property damage due to the sheer size and force of a semi-truck.

Unsafe Driving Conditions

Unsafe driving conditions can significantly increase the risk of a semi-truck accident, especially when drivers fail to adjust how they drive to match the conditions on the road. Heavy rain, fog, snow, ice, strong winds, construction zones, and poorly maintained roads can make it more difficult for semi-trucks to stop, turn, or maintain control. Because semi-trucks require much more distance to brake safely, hazardous conditions can quickly lead to jackknife accidents, rollovers, and rear-end collisions.

Understanding Vicarious Liability in Maryland Semi-Truck Accidents

In semi-truck accident cases, vicarious liability may allow injured victims to hold a trucking company responsible for the actions of its driver. Under vicarious liability, an employer can be held liable when an employee causes an accident while performing work-related duties. Which means, if a truck driver causes a crash while on the job, the trucking company may also be responsible for damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. In some cases, the company may also face direct liability for negligent hiring, inadequate driver training, poor vehicle maintenance, or pressuring drivers to meet unrealistic delivery schedules.

Maryland Contributory Negligence in Motor Vehicle Accidents

Maryland follows a strict legal rule known as contributory negligence. Under this law, if a court finds you even 1% at fault for the accident, you are barred from recovering any financial compensation. Trucking companies are very aware of Maryland’s contributory negligence rules, so their lawyers and insurance adjusters will look for any opportunity to argue that you were partially responsible for the crash. This is why contacting an experienced semi-truck accident attorney at Alpert Schreyer as soon as possible is so important.

Maryland Truck Accident Attorneys Serving Lanham, Waldorf, Frederick, Charles County, Prince George’s County & Surrounding Areas

A collision with a semi-truck is scary and overwhelming, but you don’t have to handle it alone. Alpert Schreyer’s experienced personal injury semi-truck accident attorneys will protect your rights, investigate the crash right away, negotiate with insurance companies to make sure you receive the maximum compensation for your pain and suffering. 

We have offices in Lanham, Waldorf, Frederick, and Rockville, but also handle semi-truck accident cases nationwide. Call us 24/7 at (301) 477-8154 or fill out our online form for a free case consultation today.

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