If you are on this page – you may have been involved in a commercial vehicle accident. We know these accidents can be catastrophic. You may be suffering a lot. Your commercial vehicle injuries may have put you out of work while you heal. You might be worried about your future finances – and you may be looking for someone to help.
You deserve compensation if you sustained commercial vehicle injuries that deeply disturbed your life.
Alpert Schreyer Injury Accident Lawyers’s commercial vehicle injury lawyers can help you. Our lawyers will fight tirelessly to get you the compensation you deserve. We can answer your questions during your free legal consultation.
You don’t have to worry about the cost of our legal services. We know you’re under enough financial stress. To help ease your worries – we operate on a contingency fee basis. You will never have to pay us anything until we win your case.
By choosing to retain one of our lawyers – you are protecting your claim and taking care of yourself. Studies show that hiring a lawyer can increase your settlement amount by 3.5 times. With our lawyers taking care of all the legal aspects of your case – you can focus your energy on healing.
Don’t wait to take action. The longer you wait to get representation – the more likely you are to make a mistake. The commercial vehicle insurance company is waiting for you to say something that can lower your settlement amount or delay paying out your claim. They are not your friends regardless of how kind they behave on the phone. Insurance companies can use what you say against you. they can’t hold you responsible for what your lawyer says on your behalf.
Hiring a lawyer will protect you from making any mistakes.
Let us give your case a winning chance by calling Alpert Schreyer Injury Accident Lawyers to schedule your legal consultation today. Contact us at (301) 932-9997.
Experienced Attorneys Handling Complex Commercial Vehicle & Truck Accident Claims
Nobody expects to become involved in an accident with a commercial vehicle like a semi-truck, intercity bus, construction vehicle, delivery truck, or an emergency vehicle. Commercial vehicles should always be operated by professionals who have special commercial driver’s licenses and the necessary special training. Furthermore, because people drive commercial vehicles for work, the drivers usually have an interest in making sure their jobs are safe by making sure their driving is safe. However, collisions with commercial vehicles in Maryland do happen, and they can cause very serious injuries and sometimes even death.
When a truck crash occurs, it can be a traumatic experience and leave you facing a long recovery from severe injuries. It is important that you understand your legal rights as a truck accident victim so you can seek proper compensation for your accident and injury-related losses. At Alpert Schreyer Injury Accident Lawyers, we know how to handle tough truck accident claims in Maryland.
After an injury, do not hesitate to call our office (301) 932-9997 to speak to a member of our team for free.
Maryland State & Local Traffic Accident Statistics
Anytime you head out on the road in Maryland, you are at risk of being involved in an accident. Some accidents are “fender-benders” between two smaller cars, and you may walk away without a scratch or with only minor property damage. On the other hand, some crashes may happen at highway speeds between your small passenger car or SUV and a large semi-truck. In this case, the accident may completely change the course of your life.
Even if you are a safe driver, others can make mistakes and cause collisions. The following are some statistics reported by the Maryland Department of Transportation for a recent year in different counties in our state:
- Statewide – 114,848 reported crashes; 34,518 injury crashes; 517 fatal crashes
- Prince George’s County – 18,299 reported crashes; 5,236 injury crashes; 92 fatal crashes
- Montgomery County – 14,239 reported crashes; 4,950 injury crashes; 31 fatal crashes
- Charles County – 2,893 reported crashes; 853 injury crashes; 28 fatal crashes
- Frederick County – 3,617 reported crashes; 1,204 injury crashes; 24 fatal crashes
- Baltimore County – 20,764 reported crashes; 5,032 injury crashes; 65 fatal crashes
- Baltimore City – 19,737 reported crashes; 6,018 injury crashes; 37 fatal crashes
When you consider that about five percent of injury-causing crashes involve a commercial vehicle, the chances of a truck accident happening to you are surprisingly high.
Liability for Commercial Truck Accidents
Commercial vehicle accidents pose special challenges because there’s usually at least one extra layer of legal liability to consider. That is, both the driver and the employer or rental company may be considered legally responsible for the crash, depending on a variety of circumstances. This often means that there are also two or more insurance policies covering the accident, requiring victims to sort out liability and insurance coverage issues before they can receive proper compensation for their injuries. Help from an experienced lawyer can make this process much easier.
Determining liability for a commercial vehicle accident is a complex process that often requires a thorough investigation of the circumstances surrounding the accident. The trucking industry involves many rules and regulations that do not apply to non-commercial drivers, and violations of these regulations often indicate liability for a crash. For this reason, you should always have a law firm with knowledge of the trucking industry handling your commercial vehicle or truck accident claim.
Some parties that may be negligent and responsible for a commercial vehicle accident include:
- Commercial drivers
- Trucking companies
- Repair shops
- Cargo loaders
- Truck manufacturers
There are also many forms of negligence that can lead to commercial vehicle crashes, and the following are some of the most common:
- Distracted driving
- Driving too fast for conditions
- Impaired driving
- Fatigued driving
- Driving with serious health conditions
- Violating any Maryland traffic laws
- Violating any FMCSA regulations
- Negligent hiring of potentially dangerous or unqualified drivers
- Negligent retention of drivers who violate the law or fail drug tests
- Allowing hours of service violations
- Not inspecting or maintaining trucks
- Improper repairs
- Improper cargo loading, including over-loading or inadequate securing of cargo
- Defective tires or other truck parts
As you can see, there are many causes of truck accidents that normally would never apply in regular car accident cases. In addition, if a truck driver is negligent, the trucking company that employs the driver can generally be held strictly liable for all injuries and losses, as well, due to a legal principle called “respondeat superior.” This means that you can file an insurance claim against the trucking company’s policy, which will be more substantial than an individual driver’s policy would be. However, insurance claims against commercial insurers can be challenging, so you need the right attorney on your side from the very beginning. Insurance companies will always try to limit liability, often to the huge detriment of accident victims. The right legal representation can help ensure you receive the full amount you deserve.
At Alpert Schreyer Injury Accident Lawyers, we have the resources needed to pursue insurance claims against trucking companies, gather evidence of liability, and more. The sooner you call, the better, as evidence of fault can quickly disappear after a truck accident. Contact us today to discuss getting started on a possible case.
Catastrophic Injuries from Commercial Vehicle Crashes
Due to the large size of commercial vehicles, crashes can often cause catastrophic injuries to victims. A local delivery truck isn’t as large as a semi-truck, but it’s still much larger than the average private passenger car, and almost any type of commercial vehicle can do substantial damage to a smaller vehicle in a collision. In addition to totaling the vehicle, a crash can leave car occupants severely injured or permanently disabled, if they survive.
A catastrophic injury not only requires an extensive amount of costly medical care, but it may cause permanent impairments or disfigurement, often changing the course of your life.
Some catastrophic injuries that we’ve seen in commercial vehicle and truck accident claims include:
- Severe traumatic brain injuries, which can cause an extended coma, as well as lasting cognitive, physical, and behavioral impairments
- Spinal cord injuries, which may result in permanent paralysis
- Traumatic amputations or crush injuries that may require surgical amputations
- Serious burn injuries, which can result in permanent scarring and disfigurement
In addition to being painful and life-altering, these injuries can be extraordinarily expensive to treat, resulting in six or seven-figure costs in some cases. Many people with catastrophic injuries will require ongoing medical treatment for the rest of their lives. They may need home health assistance, medical equipment, and more. In addition, permanent disabilities can prevent a person from returning to their previous job or from ever returning to work.
