Maryland Truck Accident
Frequenly Asked Questions

How do lawyers in Maryland handle truck accidents versus other motor vehicle accident cases in Maryland?  [Select here]

Can I sue the truck driver's trucking company for my injuries from the truck accident?  [Select here]  

I was injured in a truck crash where a big-rig truck jackknifed. Does this mean the truck driver was negligent?  [Select here]   

What is the difference between the manner in which attorneys handle truck accidents versus other motor vehicle accident cases in Maryland?  [Select here] 

Who can sue in a truck accident injury or fatal truck accident in Maryland?  [Select here] 

I was seriously injured in a truck accident. The accident was the truck driver's fault but my injuries were made worse by the fact that I was not wearing a seat belt? Can the truck driver's lawyer use that against me at trial in Maryland?  [Select here] 

Are trucking companies regulated by the law in Maryland?  [Select here] 

My accident occurred in Washington, D.C. but I live in Maryland. Should I hire a truck accident lawyer in Maryland or a truck accident lawyer in Washington D.C.?  [Select here] 

If I am partially at fault for the accident, can I still prevail in a claim against a truck accident case?  [Select here] 

Are trucks required by the law in Maryland to carry insurance?  [Select here]

FAQ Answers

How do lawyers in Maryland handle truck accidents versus other motor vehicle accident cases in Maryland?  (FAQ)

In terms of the rules of the road in determining negligence, there is no difference. There are four considerations attorneys must consider in Maryland truck accident cases that are specific to the handling of trucking cases: (1) Maryland and federal regulations that apply to trucking companies, (2) the types of claims that can be brought against the trucking companies, (3) the nature of the investigation required by the truck accident lawyer, (4) the tactical jurisdiction issues regarding the most appropriate venue for the injury victim, and (5) the manner in which many truck accidents occur as specific to semi trucks and other large commercial vehicles (e.g., the problems associated with turning).

Can I sue the truck driver's trucking company for my injuries from the accident?  (FAQ)  

In most truck accident cases in Maryland, yes. It depends on the relationship between truck driver and the trucking company. If such a relationship is demonstrated, the company can be held legally liable for the truck driver's negligence under a legal theory known as respondeat superior, which means that the agent is responsible for the principal. The trucking company may also be liable under the theories of negligent entrustment or negligent supervision if they failed to properly screen out drivers they knew or had reason to know would untrained or unsafe truck drivers. You would be stunned how many commercial truck operators, particularly big rig trucks, are inadequately trained or have driving records that demonstrate they should not be behind the wheel of any vehicle, much less a commercial truck. There can also be a claim for negligent maintenance, a related legal theory truck accident lawyers in Maryland pursue when the company fails to properly inspect and maintain the truck    

I was injured in a truck crash where a big-rig truck jackknifed. Does this mean the truck driver was negligent?  (FAQ)   

Usually a truck jackknifes because of the truck driver's negligence, often because the driver locked up the trucks breaks. Because a truck driver could theoretically jackknife without driver error, the truck accident lawyers on behalf of the defendant will seek to avoid liability by arguing that the truck jackknifed because of due to unforeseeable slipperiness of the road or because it had to take an emergency turn to avoid another vehicle. This argument can usually be defeated after a full investigation of the physical evidence.

What’s the difference between the manner in which attorneys handle truck accidents versus other motor vehicle accident cases in Maryland?  (FAQ) 

Although the rules determining fault for the accident are generally the same, there are special laws that apply to trucking companies. Other differences in the way in which Maryland attorneys handle auto and truck accident cases differently include the nuances of how the truck accidents typically occur, the types of claims that can be brought against the trucking companies, the nature of the investigation required by the truck accident lawyer, and the tactical jurisdiction issues regarding the most appropriate venue for the injury victim.

Who can sue in a truck accident injury or fatal truck accident in Maryland?  (FAQ) 

Your truck accident lawyer in Maryland can bring a lawsuit on behalf of anyone injured or has had a loved one killed in a fatal truck accident.

I was seriously injured in a truck accident. The accident was the truck driver's fault but my injuries were made worse by the fact that I was not wearing a seat belt? Can the truck driver's lawyer use that against me at trial in Maryland?  (FAQ)

Under the Maryland Transportation Code § 22-412.3, the fact that you were not wearing a seat belt cannot be used against you at trial. (But in the future, wear your seat belt, it may save your life.)

Are trucking companies regulated by the law in Maryland?  (FAQ)

Yes, there is a complicated statutory scheme that governs the trucking industry. Click here for more information about the background of these statutes.

My accident occurred in Washington, D.C. but I live in Maryland. Should I hire a truck accident lawyer in Maryland or a truck accident lawyer in Washington D.C.?  (FAQ) 

There are many potential places to file a truck accident case in this type of situation. Your truck accident lawyer must consider the best venue given all of the factors, such as which jurisdiction has a cap on damages, the reputation of the juries in a particular jurisdiction, convenience of injured party, the attorney's subpoena power over the witnesses, and a whole host of other factors. Your case may be filed where the trucking company is incorporated or does regular business, or where the trucking accident occurred. Our truck accident lawyers often engage in battles with the trucking companies over which jurisdiction is the most appropriate for the case.

If I am partially at fault for the accident, can I still prevail in a claim against a truck accident case?  (FAQ) 

In Maryland, you cannot recover if you are partially to blame (called contributory negligence). In many other jurisdictions, under a legal theory called comparative negligence, the amount of truck driver and/or the trucking company would be liable for the percentage of fault a jury attributes to their negligence.

Are trucks required by the law in Maryland to carry insurance?  (FAQ) 

Yes. Commercial vehicles traveling in interstate commerce to carry $750,000 of insurance for bodily injury and property damage. Maryland also imposes the same limit for trucks traveling within Maryland.