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Helping Surviving Families Seek Compensation
Tractor trailers can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, or 40 tons, and even more with oversize or overweight permits. They are also quite lengthy and can be anywhere from 70 to 80 feet long. Due to their sheer size and weight, their destructive potential is massive. That is why truck accidents often result in serious injuries and/or fatalities, usually to the passengers in other involved motor vehicles. Families who lose their loved ones in such incidents are devastated, and no amount of money can replace the presence of the deceased victims. However, compensation is useful in helping families recover from the financial and emotional fallout of tragic accidents. In other words, recovery is made easier when all other matters have been taken care of.
At the Maryland-based law firm of Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers, our personal injury lawyers treat clients like family and provide them with compassionate legal guidance. We understand how sensitive the death of a loved one is and will treat you with the appropriate amount of consideration and care. We will also fight hard to get you the justice you deserve so you can make peace and move on with your life.
What Are the Statistics on Fatal Truck Accidents?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2012, there were 3,921 fatalities in accidents involving large trucks reported in the United States. Approximately 73 percent of those fatalities involved occupants of other vehicles whereas only around 18 percent involved the truck drivers. That same year, there were 65 fatalities in accidents involving large trucks reported in the state of Maryland alone. Prince Georges County saw the most, with 14 deaths.
What Are the Common Causes of Fatal Truck Accidents?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations are statutes set forth by the United States government that all big-rig truck drivers must abide by.
The language of these statutes contains very specific truck operating regulations, including but not limited to:
- Truck length, width, and weight when fully loaded
- Manner in which loads are stored and secured
- Amount of time a driver can operate a truck without rest
- Stringent blood alcohol/drug interaction precautions
Many truck accidents occur due to companies and/or their employees violating these regulations.
The common contributing factors of truck accidents that result from these violations include the following:
- Driver fatigue
- Speeding and other aggressive behavior
- Driver negligence in inclement weather
- Overloaded or unsecured cargo
- Jackknifing
- Rollovers
- Truck parts failure
The loved ones of a truck accident victim may bring a lawsuit against one or more parties, depending on the circumstances surrounding their particular case. The liable party in a truck may be the company that owns the cabin or the trailer, the driver, and/or a truck parts manufacturer. An attorney can help identify the liable party or parties by conducting a detailed investigation of the accident scene, questioning witnesses, consulting with accident reconstruction specialists and other professionals, etc.
What Damages May I Recover in My Truck Accident Wrongful Death Claim?
Children, parents, spouses, and other “beneficiaries” may recover economic damages, such as funeral expenses and lost earnings, as well as non-economic damages, such as loss of companionship and pain and suffering, in a wrongful death claim. In Maryland, there is no statutory cap on the amount of economic damages beneficiaries can be awarded in a wrongful death lawsuit; however, there is a $785,000 cap on non-economic damages, as of October 1, 2013. Every year, the cap limit is to increase by $15,000.
Why You Need an Attorney for Your Maryland Fatal Truck Accident Case
To pursue a wrongful death case, you need an aggressive and experienced fatal truck accident attorney to provide the guidance, strategic advice, and support to make your case. Wrongful death cases are civil matters – the burden of proof on the plaintiff is significantly less than it is in criminal cases. To prove the charge, you need only establish your case by a “preponderance of the evidence.” Essentially, you must prove that you are 51% correct. To prove a criminal charge against a negligent truck driver, on the other hand, you must establish guilt “beyond reasonable doubt” — a much more stringent standard. Let Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers help you reach this standard so you can collect the compensation amount you deserve.
Contact our offices today. We have convenient office locations in Bowie, Frederick, Lexington Park, Prince Frederick, and Waldorf.