Brandywine Truck Accident Lawyers

Attorneys for Injuries in Commercial Truck Crashes in Brandywine, MD

Commercial trucks are unavoidable on the roads, and smaller vehicles will often need to travel alongside 18-wheelers and other large trucks. Around Brandywine, highways like U.S. Route 301 and Interstate 95 serve as major corridors for freight that is transported up and down the East Coast. With a large volume of tractor-trailer trucks, tanker trucks, flatbed trucks, and delivery trucks passing through the area every day, accidents involving these vehicles can occur, and their results can be catastrophic.

Truck accident victims may suffer multiple types of catastrophic injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, fractured bones, internal organ injuries, and severe burns. Many injury victims face long recoveries and permanent disabilities, and the losses that occur because of other people's negligence can affect them for the rest of their lives.

The attorneys at Farmer & Klopfer understand the complex issues that may arise in truck accident cases. Unlike a standard car accident claim, a truck crash may involve multiple parties who were partially responsible. Trucking companies and insurance companies may act quickly to protect their financial interests, and injury victims will also need dedicated legal advocates on their side as they take steps to secure financial compensation. Our team has the experience and dedication needed to go up against large companies and fight for our clients' rights.

Why Truck Accident Cases Require Thorough Investigations

The aftermath of a truck accident can be chaotic. Large trucking companies may send their own investigators to the scene of an accident within hours. They may take steps to gather evidence and build a narrative that is meant to limit their liability. Truck accident victims who do not have legal representation may not be able to obtain evidence that could be essential to their case.

Our legal team can move quickly after a truck accident to conduct an investigation. We may visit the scene, take photographs of damage, identify witnesses, and make sure the proper steps are taken to prevent evidence from being lost or destroyed. We will make sure all evidence showing that a truck driver or other party was negligent can be preserved and used in a case.

Hours of Service Violations and Fatigued Driving

Driver fatigue is one of the most common causes of truck accidents. When operating a large commercial vehicle, a driver will need to maintain concentration, and they will need to be able to react quickly to changes on the road. When a driver is exhausted, their ability to drive safely will be affected, and they will be much more likely to make mistakes that could lead to a truck accident.

The hours of service regulations that apply to truck drivers are meant to prevent fatigued driving. These rules limit how long a truck driver can drive during a shift while also requiring them to take breaks and get sleep before they begin driving again. When drivers violate these rules, they will be more likely to become fatigued. Trucking companies may sometimes pressure drivers to meet tight delivery deadlines, and drivers may falsify their logs or continue driving when they are fatigued.

Our attorneys can obtain driver logs and other records to determine whether hours of service violations occurred. We can review other evidence to determine whether a driver may have been fatigued, and we can take steps to hold trucking companies liable for unsafe practices that allowed fatigue to occur.

Inadequate Maintenance

Because commercial trucks contain many complex parts, they will need to be maintained correctly to ensure that they can operate safely. Trucking companies may fail to inspect trucks regularly, they may delay maintenance, or they may fail to replace parts that have worn down or are not functioning correctly. Truck accidents can occur because of maintenance-related issues such as:

Tire Blowouts

Commercial truck tires support heavy loads that are carried over thousands of miles of driving, often at high speeds. When tires are worn, have not been inflated correctly, or contain defects, tire blowouts can occur. This may cause a truck driver to lose control, sending their truck into other lanes, across a median, or off the road. Debris from a blown tire can also strike other vehicles and create obstacles that may cause secondary accidents.

Brake Failure

Brake systems on commercial trucks are more complex than those on passenger vehicles. A brake failure on a heavy truck traveling at a high speed can make it impossible for a driver to stop in time to avoid a collision. Issues that may affect brakes may include worn brake pads or drums, leaks in air hoses, or improper brake adjustment.

Identifying the Parties Who May Be Held Liable for a Truck Accident

Our lawyers can conduct investigations to determine who was responsible for causing a commercial truck accident. These parties may include:

The Truck Driver

Driver error is a factor in many truck accidents. In addition to unsafe driving because of fatigue, a driver may cause an accident due to speeding, distracted driving, failure to check their blind spots, or other forms of negligent driving. We can review a driver's employment history, safety record, drug and alcohol test results, and other information to show that they were responsible for causing a crash.

The Trucking Company

Trucking companies may be held responsible for the conduct of their drivers and the conditions of their vehicles. A company may be liable for its failure to ensure that a driver had the proper license or training, pressuring drivers to drive while fatigued, neglecting to perform vehicle maintenance, or other forms of negligence.

Cargo Loading Companies

Improperly loaded or secured cargo can cause a truck to become unstable, making it difficult or impossible for a driver to maintain control. Overloaded trucks can place strain on brakes and tires, increasing the likelihood of mechanical failure. Unsecured cargo may fall from a truck and cause severe damage to other vehicles. A loading company may be liable for its failure to load and secure cargo correctly.

Manufacturers

When an accident occurs because of defective truck equipment, a parts manufacturer may be held liable for the injuries suffered by victims. These issues may be addressed through product liability claims.

Maintenance Contractors

When a trucking company uses a repair shop or a contractor to ensure that trucks are maintained, these third parties may be held liable for negligent repair work that led to a truck accident.

Contact Our Brandywine, Maryland Truck Accident Attorneys

The team at Farmer & Klopfer can provide the legal help needed to ensure that truck accident victims will receive the compensation they need and deserve. Contact our Brandywine commercial truck accident lawyers at 301-843-3890 to arrange a free consultation.