Glen Burnie 18-Wheeler Accident Attorney

All traffic accidents in Glen Burnie, Maryland, have the potential to be catastrophic, but serious injuries and fatalities are much more likely to occur in collisions involving commercial trucks. The size of 18-wheelers and the force they exert can total passenger vehicles while putting drivers and passengers in mortal danger.

If you’ve been in one of these accidents, it’s vital to contact experienced Glen Burnie 18-wheeler accident lawyer John Leppler to represent you. Because these collisions often result in severe injuries that require extensive medical care and that could rob you of your chance to work, you can’t risk negotiating for a settlement on your own.

With a skilled 18-wheeler accident attorney in Glen Burnie helping you, you have the chance to receive the compensation you deserve for what you’ve suffered. Call Leppler Injury Law at (443) 955-1989 today to learn more about these accidents and how John Leppler can help.

How Attorney John Leppler Can Make a Difference With Your Glen Burnie 18-Wheeler Accident Claim

Accidents involving 18-wheelers and commercial truck accidents aren’t your standard collisions because they involve vehicles that can cause serious injuries just because of their size. There can also be multiple liable parties, such as the trucking company, which complicates matters further.

At Leppler Injury Law, you can receive assistance from a top rated attorney who has years of experience helping the people of Maryland through some of the most complex traffic accidents. John Leppler offers dedicated representation that ensures you feel like more than just a case.

John Leppler knows that these types of serious accidents can leave you anxious and struggling with a barrage of bills, so he remains in constant communication with his clients and welcomes phone calls if there are worries he can address. Above all, he offers compassionate representation that can make the claims process a bit easier.

Attorney John Leppler has significant experience negotiating with insurance companies. He has seen these companies take advantage of people struggling with catastrophic injuries and will do everything he can to protect your right to fair compensation.

With a dedicated Glen Burnie 18-wheeler accident lawyer by your side, you can put all of your efforts toward healing.

Negligence and Who May Be Liable for an 18-Wheeler Accident in Glen Burnie, Maryland

One of the most challenging aspects of commercial truck accidents is establishing liability. There could be more than one party that could be held responsible for the injuries you suffered, so it’s essential to consider all options.

Independent Truckers

Numerous truck drivers you may encounter on the road are independent contractors, meaning they are contract employees who fill in at companies when fleets need additional drivers. If they are negligent in their conduct while driving, you can hold them individually responsible for your losses.

Aside from common issues like distracted driving and speeding, negligent behaviors can include not following federal and state regulations. One of these regulations is that every trucker must have a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL).

There are weight regulations that they must adhere to, as well. Truck weights are carefully measured to protect roads and other infrastructure, so a trucker who violates these rules and overloads a truck can be seen as negligent.

As independent contractors, these truckers must also ensure that their vehicles are regularly inspected to make certain that they’re roadworthy. Failure to do so could put everyone around them at risk because the truck could have unchecked mechanical problems.

Additionally, truck drivers must obey hours of service limits. These regulations are in place to help avoid fatigued drivers getting behind the wheel. Being exhausted can impact concentration, coordination, and reflexes, making accidents more likely.

Trucking Companies

If a trucker is an employee of a trucking company and their conduct leads them to cause an accident, their employer could also be liable. There may be instances when you can hold the company responsible for negligent hiring practices if they employ people without the right training or experience.

Loading Companies

Many trucking companies rely on loading businesses to get the cargo ready for transport. If this company doesn’t load the cargo correctly, it can shift during the trip to its destination, potentially increasing the risk of accidents.

If an accident does occur because cargo falls off the truck or shifts the vehicle’s center of gravity in such a way that the trucker loses control, a Glen Burnie 18-wheeler accident attorney can help you hold the loading company responsible.

Truck Mechanics and Manufacturers

Before commercial trucks are allowed on the road, they must be assessed by mechanics to ensure they are safe enough to operate. If a mechanic doesn’t perform the necessary checks or if they are in any way negligent about doing their jobs, they can be liable for subsequent accidents.

Sometimes, the truck’s parts are defective. If that’s the case, the manufacturer could be responsible for losses that the vehicle causes. However, if a mechanic fails to spot the problem, they may also be liable.

The Accident Was Partially My Fault. Can I Still Be Compensated for My Injuries?

Maryland is an at-fault state when dealing with traffic accidents. This means that receiving compensation for losses requires demonstrating that the other party was responsible for the collision. In many states, being partially responsible for the accident doesn’t prevent you from receiving compensation. That’s not the case in Maryland.

Maryland operates on an “all or nothing” basis. Contributory negligence laws prevent you from recovering anything if you were even 1% at fault for the accident that resulted in your losses.

Because of this provision, insurance companies will do everything possible to pin some of the blame on you. That is just one of the reasons why you should never pursue a claim without the help of an experienced Glen Burnie 18-wheeler accident attorney.

Examples of Evidence You Can Use for Your Maryland 18-Wheeler Accident Claim

Gathering evidence to demonstrate that you were not the party that caused the collision is a crucial step. Because these accidents often cause serious injuries, you may not be well enough to collect all of the data you need on your own. That’s when you can turn to attorney John Leppler for help.

One of the places where your lawyer will typically begin is by looking at the truck’s logs. Truckers must maintain updated logs on the hours they work. Many of the newest trucks have systems that automatically record the hours it’s on the road, so truckers don’t have a chance to tweak the records to their benefit. Your lawyer can subpoena these records.

Another important piece of evidence is the truck’s maintenance records. These records show when the truck was last checked, what issues it may have had, what steps mechanics took to resolve problems, and a variety of other information. If trucking companies don’t perform thorough or regular maintenance checks, these records can be used against them. 

Witness accounts are very useful in trucking accidents. Anyone who was present at the time of the accident can offer insight into how it occurred. If you’re well enough at the site of the accident to get their testimonies and contact information, make sure to do so. If your injuries are severe and require going to the hospital, have someone else speak with witnesses.

Expert witnesses are also vital, especially if defective truck parts or mechanical issues might have caused the collision. It can be difficult to find these witnesses on your own, but you can be confident that your Glen Burnie 18-wheeler accident attorney will have the necessary contacts to help strengthen your claim.

You will also need the police report of the accident. This report will contain a variety of crucial information, including how to contact witnesses and what the police officer at the scene saw. This can speak to the behaviors of the trucker, for example. If they were acting erratically, the police record is likely to contain that piece of information.

Ensuring that you or someone else at the site takes pictures and videos of the vehicles and the road condition right after the accident can also help. There may be important clues that could help accident reconstruction experts recreate the collision later on.

Your medical records also paint a picture of the injuries you sustained and the suffering you’ve experienced. Keeping very detailed accounts of your pain levels throughout the recovery process strengthens your case, as well. 

18-Wheeler Accident Crash Statistics in the State of Maryland

In 2023, there were 780 large trucks and buses involved in fatal and non-fatal accidents throughout Maryland. These crashes resulted in 411 injuries and 15 deaths. Along with Hawaii, Maine, Florida, and a few others, Maryland was one of the states with the lowest percentage of large trucks leading to fatal accidents in 2022.

Tactics the Insurance Companies Use to Minimize Your Accident Claim

Insurance companies are always looking for ways of paying as little as they can get away with. In Maryland, this goal can be very easy to accomplish if they can demonstrate that you in any way contributed to the collision. Aside from this, however, they can attempt a number of other tactics.

One of these is to delay the process as long as possible. Insurers can take a long time to respond to calls or emails from your Glen Burnie personal injury lawyer, hoping to tire you out and get you to accept a lower settlement just to be done with the entire process.

They can also refuse to negotiate. They could sustain that there isn’t enough evidence to show that the trucker or other parties caused the accident. This is another tactic that is meant to frustrate you and make you feel as though the only option you have is to accept any offer insurers send your way, no matter how low it is.

Insurers are more likely to try these strategies if you represent yourself, however. They’re counting on you being in such distress from the injuries you sustained and the financial losses you suffered that you will cave.

By having a lawyer representing you, you have someone on your side who understands all of these strategies and will push back. An attorney can also use their own tactics, such as considering filing a lawsuit, which can be a long and expensive process that insurers will want to avoid. That could get them back to the negotiating table.

Factors Influencing Settlements in Glen Burnie 18-Wheeler Accident Claims

Many factors influence settlements in truck accident claims. Liability is one of them. If there are many parties who hold some liability, your Glen Burnie 18-wheeler accident lawyer can assess whether there’s enough evidence to hold all of them liable. If there isn’t, it can be better for your claim to pursue legal action against the surest bets.

The amount of evidence available can also impact the amount you receive. If your lawyer has convincing information that the trucker or other party was fully responsible, they can fight for higher settlement amounts. If there isn’t much evidence, your lawyer might recommend taking a lower settlement if the insurer offers it.

Whether you contributed to the accident is a significant factor. If you hold any degree of fault, you will be barred from recovering losses.

Your injuries also play a significant role in your settlement amount. In instances when the 18-wheeler accident results in catastrophic injuries like head trauma, spinal cord injuries, or any other wounds that prevent you from working or living your life as you did before, the compensation has to cover all of these losses.

Knowledgeable Truck Accident Lawyer in Glen Burnie, Maryland

After being in a collision with an 18-wheeler, you need experienced representation from a Glen Burnie 18-wheeler accident lawyer to protect your rights. At Leppler Injury Law, attorney John Leppler offers the compassionate and tenacious legal assistance you deserve after suffering injuries in one of these crashes. He can help hold those who were negligent responsible for your losses.

Locations near Glen Burnie that attorney John Leppler also serves includes Baltimore, Towson, Owings Mills, Pikesville, Timonium, Parkville, and more. Call us today to schedule a free consultation.