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contact usMaryland Truck Accident Attorneys
Tractor-trailers carry goods on both country and city roads all across Maryland.
Accidents involving heavy trucks can be very serious for those in the smaller vehicles, due to the size and weight of large trucks.
Truck drivers are required to hold a commercial driver’s license and usually have enough work experience to safely transport their trailer without causing accidents. However, just like any other type of driver, there are some truck drivers who are either reckless in their driving or are too inexperienced to travel our roads without causing serious vehicle accidents.
Large trucks aren’t easy machines to handle. For example, it takes a large truck 20 to 40 percent farther than a passenger car to come to a complete stop. The challenges don’t end there. Steering and watching out for blind spots also make driving big rigs a tough job. Truck drivers are often asked to travel many miles on a tight schedule to meet the demands of their employers.
Truck Accident Statistics
In 2013, there were 3,944 fatalities and 95,000 injuries in large truck-related accidents in the United States.- 71 percent of those fatalities were those in the smaller vehicle, as opposed to 17 percent of those in the large truck.
- In 2013, there were 61 large trucks involved in fatal vehicle accidents in Maryland.
- Drivers of large trucks had the highest percentage of previously recorded crashes compared to drivers of other types of vehicles.
- 64 percent of fatal large truck crashes happened on rural roads, 79 percent of which happened on weekdays.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety lists some of the common causes for large truck accidents, including speeding, tailgating, improper lane changes, reckless driving and impaired driving. One of the biggest dangers facing truckers, and all other motorists, is driver fatigue.
The Dangers of Tired Drivers – AKA “Truck Driver Fatigue”
Truck drivers work in a demanding environment. The trucking industry has been struggling to find enough drivers to make shipments on time, leaving current drivers stretched thin on the job. In order to make sure that drivers aren’t too tired, “Hours of Service” rules were put into place, putting a limit on the amount of time a driver can travel without taking a break. Drivers push the limits of these rules in order to find parking and meet the deadlines of their bosses.
It is the job of professional truck drivers to make sure that their trucks don’t pose a threat to other drivers, and that includes driving safely at all times. When the bad driving of a truck driver causes the injuries of other drivers, that driver or their employer should be held responsible.
Many truck drivers work for large trucking companies who have Injury lawyers ready to take action on their behalf. Sometimes a representative of a trucking company will come to the scene of the accident to get signatures or statements from other drivers involved in order to cover the company from the possibility of a lawsuit.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a large truck accident in Maryland, it’s important to know that you don’t have to face a trucking company’s legal team alone. By hiring an experienced Maryland truck accident attorney, you can fight back to win the payment that you deserve. At Jezic & Moyse, we know how hard it can be to cope with the fallout from a serious trucking accident, and we’ve helped many clients in their legal fight so they can focus on recovering. Contact Jezic & Moyse for a free consultation by calling (240) 292-7200 or by filling out our online form.
