Lanham, Maryland Truck Accident Attorneys

Lawyers for Tractor-Trailer and Commercial Vehicle Accidents in Lanham

Lanham serves as a junction for several major highways, including U.S. Route 50 and the Baltimore-Washington Parkway. These roads experience constant traffic that includes many large commercial trucks. When those vehicles are involved in accidents, the consequences for people in smaller vehicles can be devastating. An 18-wheeler or other large truck that collides with a smaller vehicle can cause catastrophic injuries to the people who are involved in the collision.

At Farmer & Klopfer, our lawyers know how people can be affected by commercial truck accidents. We have worked with numerous clients who have suffered serious injuries, helping them determine who was responsible and making sure these parties are required to pay the proper compensation. We have the experience needed to handle the complex issues involved in these cases and to make sure our clients will have the resources they need as they recover from their injuries.

Types of Truck Accidents and Their Causes

Rear-End Accidents

When large trucks strike other vehicles from behind, they can inflict severe damage. These crashes can occur when a truck driver cannot stop in time after traffic slows down suddenly. They may be caused by truck drivers who tailgate behind other vehicles or exceed speed limits. Driver fatigue and distracted driving may also be factors that can play a role in rear-end truck accidents, or brake problems may affect a driver's ability to slow down when necessary.

Jackknife Accidents

The shape that is formed when a truck's trailer swings to the side of its cab is similar to a pocketknife, so these situations are known as jackknife accidents. Improper braking, unsafe driving on slippery roads, or speeding on curves or highway entrance and exit ramps can lead to jackknifing. Once a truck begins to jackknife, a truck driver may have no way to maintain control of their truck and trailer. The trailer can move across multiple lanes of traffic, striking other vehicles or creating an obstacle that people may be unable to avoid.

Underride Accidents

A smaller vehicle can suffer serious damage in a collision with a commercial truck. If a vehicle slides underneath a truck's trailer, the consequences for people in the vehicle can be catastrophic. A trailer may crush or destroy the passenger compartment of a car, causing severe injuries or fatalities to the people inside.

A rear underride accident can happen when a car strikes the back of a trailer that has slowed or stopped suddenly. These accidents may occur if the lights on a truck are not working correctly, preventing others from knowing when the truck is braking. Side underride accidents can occur in intersections or when a truck strikes another vehicle during a lane change or turn.

Rollover Accidents

Commercial trucks have a high center of gravity, and they may be top-heavy. If a truck driver does not operate their truck safely, their vehicle may roll over. Speeding on curves, making sudden lane changes, or other dangerous maneuvers may lead to rollover accidents. A truck that turns over can crush other vehicles, block multiple lanes of traffic, and scatter cargo across the road.

Blind Spot Accidents

When traveling in a truck's blind spots, cars, motorcycles, or other smaller vehicles may be completely invisible to the truck driver. The blind spots to each side of a truck are large, and truck drivers will need to make sure these areas are clear before they change lanes. Blind spot accidents can occur in heavy traffic on highways when truck drivers do not fully pay attention to other vehicles. Accidents can also occur when truck drivers take wide turns without signaling or watching for cars in their blind spots.

A blind spot accident may involve a truck sideswiping another vehicle, which can push the vehicle into oncoming lanes of traffic or send it off the road. When a truck driver makes an unsafe turn, another vehicle may be crushed between their trailer and barriers or objects on the side of the road, leading to serious injuries for the driver or passengers.

Falling Cargo Accidents

When cargo is not properly secured on a truck, it may fall into the road, causing an accident that may involve multiple vehicles. These accidents can take place when items are not tied down correctly or when chains or straps are defective. Items that fall off a truck can strike the windshield or roof of another vehicle, causing crush injuries and other forms of bodily harm to the driver and passengers. Cargo that lands in the road can create obstructions that can cause a collision when a driver cannot react in time to avoid it. In high-speed traffic, multiple vehicles may become involved in a collision with no way to avoid obstacles in the road.

Contact Our Lanham, MD Truck Accident Lawyers

When an 18-wheeler, flatbed truck, tanker truck, or other commercial vehicle is involved in a collision, the injuries suffered by victims can be severe, and they may be unsure about what steps they can take to obtain compensation. At Farmer & Klopfer, our lawyers can provide compassionate legal help and effective representation for people who have been injured in truck accidents. We will work to ensure that trucking companies, equipment manufacturers, cargo loaders, or other parties who were responsible for an accident will be held accountable. Contact our Lanham commercial truck accident attorneys at 301-843-3890 to arrange a free consultation today.