truck-accident

Large truck accidents account for 3% of all injury-causing accidents and 5% of all property-damage-only accidents claimed each year. However, 8% of vehicles involved in fatal accidents are large trucks, and 98% of the people killed in large truck accidents are occupants of the non-truck vehicle.

Truck Accidents in Virginia & Maryland

Virginia and Maryland have major port cities, including Baltimore and Norfolk, and many large interstate highways that carry heavy truck traffic.

Major routes include:

  • Route 95
  • Baltimore Beltway (Route 695)
  • Capital Beltway (Route 495)
  • Baltimore-Washington Parkway (Route 295)

Full highways, overloaded trucks, and fatigued drivers rushing to meet tight deadlines can create dangerous conditions for large truck accidents, often resulting in serious injury or wrongful death.

What Causes Truck Accidents?

Establishing the cause of an automobile and truck accident can be critical. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration lists ten important factors to consider:

  1. Interruption of traffic flow
  2. Inadequate surveillance
  3. Driving too fast for conditions
  4. Illegal maneuver
  5. Inattention to the road
  6. Fatigue
  7. Illness
  8. False assumption of other drivers’ actions
  9. Distraction by objects or persons inside the vehicle
  10. Unfamiliarity with the road

Compensation for Truck Accident Injuries

If a truck driver or trucking company was negligent and caused the accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses and damages.

These damages can include:

  • Medical bills
  • Property damage repair or replacement costs
  • Lost wages
  • Pain and suffering

Your attorney will look to the truck’s insurance company for compensation. Federal law requires trucking companies to carry minimum liability insurance of:

  • $750,000 for vehicles over 10,000 lbs. carrying non-hazardous freight
  • $1,000,000 for vehicles carrying hazardous materials and oil
  • $5,000,000 for trucks operating portable tanks with a capacity over 3,500 gallons

How Raheen Law Group Can Help

If you or someone you know was injured or killed in a trucking accident, you should consider consulting with an experienced attorney.

At Raheen Law Group, we are here to help. We have many contacts and avenues with which to assist you in the difficult aftermath of a trucking accident.