Baltimore Truck Accident Lawyers: When Truck Driver Negligence Causes Wreck
July 5, 2016Auto accidents involving large trucks can be some of the most devastating collisions due to the massive size and weight of large trucks and tractor-trailers. In most cases, it is the driver of the car that sustains the most devastating, often fatal, injuries, and not the driver of the truck. While there are a number of things that can cause a truck accident, there are times when the truck driver is responsible. Regardless of who is at fault, the consequences of truck accidents can be devastating, particularly to the occupants of a car.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Loss Data Institute, most fatal truck accidents involving passenger vehicles occur because of the following:
- Large trucks weigh almost 30 times more than a typical car.
- Tractor trailers have a greater ground clearance, and smaller passenger vehicles can end up underneath it, which is known as an underride crash.
- When a truck is fully loaded, it can take up to 40 percent further to stop. When the roads are wet, icy, or slippery, it can take even longer.
Fortunately, the number of accidents involving large trucks is small when compared to the total number of car accidents in the United States. However, when truck accidents do occur, there is a much greater chance that the resulting injuries will be serious, if not fatal, for the occupants of the car or other passenger vehicle.
When the Truck Driver is Responsible for the Accident
Even the most responsible, experienced truck driver can make a mistake. Unfortunately, an unintentional error by a trucker can cause massive damage to the other vehicle, and devastating injuries to the other driver. Some of the most common causes of driver negligence include the following:
- Driving aggressively
- Drowsy driving
- Driver not paying attention
- Driving a truck that has bad brakes
- Inadequate training
- Turning too fast
- Driving a truck that is improperly loaded
- Driving without a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL)
- Texting while driving
- Driving when in violation of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) hours-of-service regulations
- Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Baltimore Truck Accident Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton Seek Maximum Compensation for Truck Accident Victims
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed in a truck accident due to the negligence of the truck driver, contact the experienced Baltimore truck accident lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton. Our skilled and dedicated team will fight for the financial compensation you deserve. For a free consultation, call us today at 800-547-4LAW (4529) or contact us online.
Our offices are located in Baltimore, Columbia, Glen Burnie, and Towson, allowing us to represent truck accident victims throughout Maryland, including those in Anne Arundel County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Maryland’s Western Counties, Southern Maryland, and the Eastern Shore, as well as the communities of Catonsville, Essex, Halethorpe, Middle River, Rosedale, Gwynn Oak, Brooklandville, Dundalk, Pikesville, Parkville, Nottingham, Windsor Mill, Lutherville, Timonium, Sparrows Point, Ridgewood, and Elkridge.