Truck accidents are very dangerous and can result in serious personal injury or death. Commercial trucks, such as 18-wheelers and semi-trucks, often weigh more than 25 times the average car. Accordingly, the consequences of such accidents can be severe. Our Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC truck accident lawyers provided the information below to educate you about truck accidents and how to prevent them.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Truck accidents can be caused by a variety of negligent activities on the part of truck drivers, including:
- Failure to remain attentive to roadway conditions, including objects in the road
- Running off the road or out of the proper lane
- Failure to signal when switching lanes
- Rollovers
- Backing into another vehicle
- Defective trucking equipment
Preventing Truck Accidents
To prevent truck accidents or to minimize any injuries sustained from such accidents, implement the following steps:
- Pay attention to your driving at all times
- Always wear your seat belt while driving a motor vehicle
- Never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Be aware of your surroundings and check your side view and rear view mirrors prior to switching lanes
- When approaching a truck, use caution to insure that the truck driver can see you
- Always use your turn signal when making a turn or switching lanes
- Allow an even greater following distance when driving near a truck
- Do not cut truck drivers off – allow adequate space when merging in front of a truck
- If you see a truck swerving, call roadside assistance or 911 to report the activity
While you cannot avoid all accidents, following the above guidelines will lower your risk of becoming involved in a truck accident.
What to Do If You Have Been Involved in a Truck Accident
Like other drivers, truck drivers are liable for damages resulting from their negligence while operating their vehicles. However, oftentimes the trucking company, the company that manufactured the truck, or an insurance company may also be held liable for the truck driver’s negligence.
If you have been involved in an accident that was caused by the above activities, or by any other negligent activities, you are entitled to be compensated for any injuries that you have suffered. Such compensation is available for medical bills, lost wages, disability, wrongful death, and other out-of-pocket expenses resulting from the accident.
To ensure that you have all the proper information to bring a claim against the truck driver or any other responsible party, it is important that you record the following information following a truck accident:
- The location, date, and time of the accident
- All parties involved, including any witnesses to the accidents
- Description of the vehicles involved, including the make and model of each vehicle
- The injuries that you have sustained, including any minor injuries
- Insurance information for the other driver(s) involved in the accident
Truck accidents often involve a number of injured victims and this can often make it difficult to prove that the truck driver’s negligence was the actual cause of the accident. Accordingly, it is extremely important that you retain the assistance of a qualified attorney who can assist you by investigating the facts surrounding the truck accident, researching the relevant state and federal truck accident regulations, and providing comfort and support during this difficult time.
If you have been injured in a truck accident in the Washington DC Metro area, contact Koonz, McKenney, Johnson, DePaolis & Lightfoot, L.L.P. We can provide a Virginia, Maryland, or Washington DC truck accident lawyer who will be available to consult with you and answer any questions that you may have. |
