Maryland Truck Accident Attorney

Learn How Our Team Approaches Truck Accident Cases

The Goldwater Law Firm has helped the injured for more than 20 years. We have strategic partnerships with law firm partners nationwide that allow us to help victims get justice for their injuries, expenses, and losses. Our co-counsels all work based on contingency, so you will never need to pay upfront fees to hire an attorney to manage your case.

Our team has a history of getting results for crash victims. We are one of the most widely recognized firms in the country and partner with some of the largest and most successful law firms in the United States.

We know you may be worried, anxious, and stressed out about what will happen with your case. It is difficult and frustrating to be hurt and unable to work while bills and financial losses add up. You can count on our co-counsels to treat you with respect, empathy, and dedication. Call us today for a free consultation to learn more.

Truck Accident Victims Often Require Extensive Medical Care and Rehabilitation

Commercial big rigs are much larger and heavier than passenger vehicles. Their size and weight amplify the forces in collisions, leading to severe damages and injuries, especially at high speeds.

When a crash victim suffers injuries in a collision with a tractor-trailer, they might require care that includes:

• Immediate treatment in an emergency department for life-threatening injuries
• Surgeries to repair broken bones, internal injuries, or severe trauma
• Ongoing care for serious head, neck, or spinal injuries
• Physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech therapy for rehabilitation
• Medications or treatments to manage chronic pain
• Counseling or therapy for emotional trauma, PTSD, or depression
• In-home care, nursing assistance, or specialized medical care for disabling injuries
• Prosthetics and assistive devices for amputations or permanently disabling injuries

What Damages Are Available in a Maryland Truck Accident Injury Case?

Maryland law allows you to recover compensation for your economic and non-economic damages by holding the liable party accountable. The expenses and losses for which you might recover compensation include:

Economic Damages

These are damages that have a set monetary value. Your attorney will calculate their value by gathering receipts, bills, and other financial documents and working with experts to estimate future costs. Examples include:

• Medical Expenses: These are your current and future costs for hospital visits, surgeries, medications, and rehabilitation.
• Lost Income: This is income lost due to your inability to work.
• Loss of Earning Capacity: This is your future income loss if you cannot return to your previous job or any job due to your injuries.
• Property Damage: This includes repairing or replacing your damaged vehicle and other personal property.
• Out-of-pocket expenses: These could include transportation, medical devices, or home modifications necessary due to your injuries.

Non-Economic Damages

These are damages for intangible losses. These damages are more difficult to document but are still compensable.

• Pain and Suffering: This includes compensation for physical pain, emotional suffering, and discomfort from the accident and injuries.
• Emotional Distress: This is compensation for mental anguish, anxiety, depression, or PTSD due to the accident.
• Loss of Enjoyment of Life: This includes damages for losing the ability to participate in activities or hobbies you enjoyed.
• Disability or Disfigurement: This is compensation for permanent scarring or disfigurement from the accident.

Wrongful Death Damages

These damages compensate survivors for both economic and non-economic losses resulting from their loved one’s death in a truck accident.

Economic damages could include:

• Loss of financial support that the deceased would have provided
• Funeral and burial expenses
• Loss of household services, such as childcare or home maintenance
• Medical costs related to the final injury

Non-economic damages could include:

• Mental anguish, emotional pain, and suffering
• Loss of companionship, comfort, protection, and care

Maryland caps non-economic damages for most victims’ families. This cap is adjusted annually for inflation. Your attorney from one of our law firm partners can provide additional information about this cap and how it could affect your case.

How Do Truck Drivers and Trucking Companies Cause Truck Collisions?

At The Goldwater Law Firm, our law firm partners know how to determine the cause of a collision and who is liable. They investigate what happened and document the proximate cause and each party’s role.

Some of the ways truck drivers cause collisions include:

• Drowsy or fatigued driving
• Speeding or aggressive driving
• Distracted driving
• Driving under the influence
• Inadequate training
• Failing to check blind spots
• Making illegal or unsafe turns
• Following too closely
• Failing to yield to oncoming traffic
• Violating other traffic laws

Some of the ways that trucking companies cause collisions include:

• Poor vehicle maintenance
• Negligent hiring practices
• Inadequate driver training
• Allowing drivers to violate hours-of-service regulations
• Encouraging unrealistic delivery schedules
• Failing to enforce safety policies
• Improper cargo loading
• Allowing overweight trucks
• Skipping required inspections
• Pressuring drivers to break safety laws

Who Is Liable for a Maryland Truck Accident?

Under a legal doctrine known as respondeat superior, employers are generally responsible for their employees’ actions or inactions while on the job and performing work-related tasks. This includes truck drivers who pilot commercial vehicles when they cause a crash.

Under these laws, most truck accident victims pursue compensation from the trucking company. They typically have large liability policies that allow victims to recover more money for their serious injuries than holding an individual driver responsible would.

How a Truck Accident Lawyer Can Recover Compensation for You

Many truck accident cases settle without litigation. A lawyer from one of our co-counsels near you can present strong evidence to the trucking company and its insurer to show fault and liability. This could lead to negotiations and a fair settlement agreement.

Alternatively, a lawsuit and trial could occur, and a jury could determine the case’s outcome. Under Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101, you likely only have three years to file a lawsuit against the trucking company. Act quickly to protect your rights.