Caring Yet Strong Support For The Victims Of Trucking Accidents
Last updated on November 8, 2024
The injuries caused by large commercial trucks in accidents tend to be catastrophic. Due to their massive size, semi trucks, 18-wheelers, tractor-trailers and other large trucks can wreak havoc on smaller passenger vehicles. In some tragic cases, they even cause fatalities.
At Wampler & Souder, LLC, we are committed to serving the victims of trucking accidents. With attorneys who have decades of collective experience, we advocate for the rights of clients in Frederick County and throughout Maryland and Virginia.
We handle cases involving a vast spectrum of vehicles, including:
- Tractor-trailers
- Semi trucks
- 18-wheelers
- Big rig trucks
- Flatbed trucks
- Garbage trucks
- Bulldozers, cement trucks, dump trucks and other construction vehicles
- Other commercial trucks and vehicles
Did you lose a loved one in an incident with one of these vehicles? We provide compassionate, cohesive support for a wrongful death claim to provide for you after your loved one’s passing.
What Are The Most Common Types Of Truck Accidents?
Crashes can occur due to a variety of factors and circumstances. Some of the most common varieties of accidents involving commercial trucks include:
- Jackknife accidents
- Wide-turn accidents
- Rear-end accidents
- Head-on collisions
- Sideswipe accidents
- Roll-over accidents
- T-bone crashes
- Loose cargo accidents
Tragically, many of these accidents involve negligence on the part of the truck driver, trucking company, cargo loader, manufacturer or another party. Our truck accident lawyers have handled thousands of these cases, giving them extensive insight into how to determine fault. Then, we guide you through the insurance claim process and the personal injury claim process until we recover maximum compensation.
Damages In A Truck Accident Claim
If you’ve been involved in a truck accident in Maryland, the damages you can recover may cover a variety of financial and nonfinancial losses. It’s important to understand the types of compensation available, as truck accidents often lead to serious injuries that require extensive care and recovery.
Economic damages refer to the direct financial costs resulting from the accident. These can include:
- Medical expenses: These damages compensate for the cost of emergency treatment, surgeries, hospital stays, medications and any long-term care such as physical therapy or rehabilitation.
- Lost wages: If you are unable to work during your recovery, you can claim compensation for the wages you would have earned. In cases of permanent disability or diminished ability to work, you may also recover compensation for future lost earnings.
- Property damage: Compensation for vehicle repairs or replacement, as well as any other personal property damaged in the accident.
On the other hand, noneconomic damages address the more subjective impacts of the accident. These damages don’t have a clear monetary value but can significantly impact your quality of life. Common noneconomic damages include:
- Pain and suffering: Compensation for the physical pain and emotional distress caused by the accident and its aftermath.
- Loss of enjoyment of life: If your injuries prevent you from enjoying activities you once loved, you may be entitled to compensation for this diminished quality of life.
- Mental anguish: Truck accidents often leave victims with emotional trauma, such as anxiety, depression or PTSD.
In rare cases, punitive damages may be available if the truck driver or company’s actions were particularly reckless or malicious. These damages are intended to punish the wrongdoer and discourage similar behavior.
When pursuing compensation for truck accident damages in Maryland, it’s essential to understand the range of damages available. Each case is unique, and securing a fair truck accident settlement depends on fully accounting for both financial and emotional losses.
Common Causes Of Semi-Truck Accidents
Semi-truck accidents can have a devastating impact on victims and their families. Understanding the common contributors to these accidents can help you stay safer on the road and know when to seek legal help. Some common causes of semi-truck accidents include:
- Driver fatigue: Long hours and tight deadlines can lead to exhausted truck drivers with impaired reaction times. Federal regulations mandate rest periods, but some drivers push their limits, potentially leading to accidents.
- Improper turns and lane changes: Large blind spots and the need for ample space make turns and lane changes challenging for semis. Wide-turn accidents and sideswipe collisions often result from misjudgments.
- Tailgating and speeding: semi-trucks require much more stopping distance than passenger vehicles. When truck drivers follow too closely or speed, they might be unable to avoid a collision.
- Distracted driving: Long hours on the road can tempt truck drivers to use phones, adjust GPS devices or engage in other distractions. Even a moment’s inattention can have catastrophic consequences.
- Poor vehicle maintenance: Neglected maintenance can lead to brake failures, tire blowouts, or other mechanical issues that cause accidents.
- Weather conditions: While truckers can’t control the weather, they should adjust their driving accordingly. Failure to slow down or take proper precautions in bad weather can lead to devastating crashes.
- Speeding and reckless driving: Pressure to meet deadlines can lead some truck drivers to speed or drive aggressively. These behaviors are especially dangerous in large trucks due to their longer stopping distances and rollover potential.
- Inadequate training: Companies’ failure to properly train their drivers can result in inexperienced drivers handling massive vehicles on busy highways. If driver inexperience caused your accident, both the driver and the company may be liable.
These factors should not mean that a driver should be negligent. The law protects your right to seek compensation if a truck driver’s negligence causes you harm. Our attorneys understand the common causes of semi-truck accidents, making us better equipped to build compelling cases for our clients. We stand up to at-fault parties and fight for your rights.
Talk To A Truck Accident Lawyer In A Free Consultation
You can rely on our team of attorneys at Wampler & Souder, LLC, to advocate for your right to receive compensation for your damages. When you need help after a truck accident, please call our Frederick office at or send us an email for a free, no-obligation initial consultation.