Suitland Truck Accident Attorneys

Injured in a Collision? Call Us for Legal Help.

Unfortunately, many truck accident victims need to fight twice as hard to obtain the compensation they deserve. Insurance companies and their lawyers are generally more aggressive in truck accident cases and may take immediate action to discredit and invalidate a claim.

With Farmer & Klopfer on your side, you can take on truckers, trucking companies, and insurance providers and give your claim the strength it needs to succeed.

If you or someone you love was involved in a collision with an 18-wheeler or commercial vehicle, now is the time to reach out to our Suitland, MD truck accident lawyers. We know what it takes to go up against powerful trucking companies and their insurance providers, and we don't back down from a fight.

---

---

Why File a Truck Accident Claim?

Truck accidents differ in many ways from common passenger car collisions. First, and most obviously, the size discrepancy between the two vehicles is one that often leads to catastrophic wreckage and great bodily harm.

By filing a personal injury lawsuit, you may be able to recover compensation for:

• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Current and future medical treatment
• Current and future missed wages
• Lost earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• And more

Truck accident claims can be incredibly complex for many reasons, including the numerous parties that may be liable for a victim’s damages. This is why you need an experienced legal advocate in your corner.

Understanding Federal Trucking Regulations

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is a regulatory agency tasked with overseeing the trucking industry. The agency’s main goal is to reduce the number of truck accidents on our roadways by creating and enforcing safety rules and regulations.

This agency enforces a series of regulations for commercial truck drivers and the companies that hire them, including regulations that address:

• Truck driver qualifications and training
• Hours of service
• Drug and alcohol testing
• Truck maintenance, inspections, and repairs
• Cargo loading and securement
• Driving records and logs

Sadly, federal trucking regulation violations are becoming more and more common as trucking companies rush to meet growing consumer demands. When we take on your case, we can investigate whether the truck driver or trucking company was in violation of these regulations.

For example, if a trucking company established a schedule that required a truck driver to stay on the road for a dangerously long time frame, and that truck driver fell asleep at the wheel as a result, both the trucking company and the driver may be held responsible.

Is the Trucking Company Liable?

Under the legal principle of respondeat superior, a trucking company can be held responsible for a truck crash if the driver was acting within the scope of their employment when the accident occurred. Under most circumstances, a trucking company is held vicariously (legally) liable for its drivers' mistakes, negligence, and carelessness.

A trucking company might be negligent by:

• Not enforcing federal trucking regulations
• Allowing an unqualified driver to get behind the wheel
• Encouraging truck drivers to violate mandatory rest breaks
• Not properly checking to see that a driver took mandatory rest breaks
• Overloading a truck or allowing a truck to be loaded improperly

An attorney can help prove a trucking company's liability by thoroughly investigating the company’s practices and adherence to federal regulations.

Common Truck Accident Injuries

Due to the substantial size and weight of an average 18-wheeler, injuries sustained as a result of a truck accident are almost always more severe, and even life-threatening, than those sustained in passenger car crashes.

Truck accident victims often experience:

• Traumatic head and brain injuries
• Spinal cord and neck injuries
• Back and pelvis injuries
• Fractured bones
• Partial or full paralysis
• Internal injuries and internal bleeding

In Maryland, you generally only have three years from the date of the accident to file a claim. While this may seem like plenty of time, it's important to take action as soon as possible to ensure you have the best possible chance of recovering compensation.

Contact Our Firm for a Free Consultation

At Farmer & Klopfer, we want to help you get back on your feet. Our truck accident lawyers in Suitland, MD have the level of experience and expertise you will want on your side when going head-to-head with powerful trucking companies and their insurers.

---

---