Maryland Truck Accident Lawyers
What Is a T-Bone Truck Accident?
A T-Bone Accident is when another vehicle slams into the side of your car in a T-bone accident, it’s always scary and dangerous, but the results could be catastrophic if the crash involves a massive tractor-trailer.
The sides of passenger cars offer limited protection in a crash, so this type of accident can cause devastating or even fatal injuries. If the truck driver or company was liable for the accident, you could receive compensation in a personal injury lawsuit.
A T-bone accident is one of the most dangerous and severe on the roads. This crash happens when a vehicle crossing an intersection smashes into another vehicle on its side at a 90-degree angle. If a tractor-trailer T-bones your car, it can be obliterated. Most truck T-bone accidents involve severe injuries, including head and spinal cord damage, shattered bones, internal injuries, burns, lacerations, and more. Some T-bone accidents are fatal.
Maryland Truck Accident Lawyers
T-Bone Accident Statistics
Side-impact crashes are the deadliest for small children. Over the last 20 years, deaths from T-bone crashes have risen by 20%. This may be because more SUVs and other large vehicles are on the road, increasing the force involved in T-bone accidents.
The Insurance Institute For Highway Safety found in 2021 that 3,662 people died in T-bone accidents, representing 25% of all auto accident fatalities. Unfortunately, a side-impact blow is often more fatal than a head-on impact because in a side-impact crash, the only thing separating the person from the other vehicle is the door. Some T-bone accidents cause the vehicles to be thrown into other vehicles. This is especially common when a tractor-trailer hits a much smaller vehicle.
Maryland Truck Accident Lawyers
Where Do Most T-Bone Accidents Occur?
Most T-bone accidents involving trucks occur at intersections where one vehicle runs a red light or stop sign or fails to yield. They also can happen when a truck makes a left turn and fails to yield to oncoming traffic.
Brake failure is another common cause of T-bone truck accidents; a factor considered in Product Liability. Moreover, negligence on behalf of drivers and their employers, who are supposed to maintain their vehicles so they are safe on the road, can be a factor. Sometimes, they don’t keep the truck’s brakes in good repair, leading to brake failure at the worst times. If the truck was improperly maintained and caused a T-bone accident, your Maryland Truck Accident Lawyer will find the necessary evidence to hold them accountable.
Causes of T-Bone Truck Accidents
Most T-bone truck accidents are caused by the truck driver failing to obey right-of-way rules on the road. Most T-bone accidents involving trucks are caused for one or more of these reasons:
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Misjudging oncoming traffic speed when making a left turn
- Misjudging gap in oncoming traffic
- Not checking blind spots
- Distracted driving, including cell phone use
- Aggressive or reckless driving
Many T-bone crashes involving trucks are caused by speeding, running red lights, or driving recklessly. But large trucks cannot stop quickly like smaller vehicles; it can take a semi-truck twice as long to stop from 55 MPH as a regular car.
If you were in a T-bone accident because of a trucker’s negligent actions, don’t hesitate to call one of our truck accident attorneys today.
Most modern motor vehicles are equipped with airbags and reinforced side-impact bars that help to protect drivers and passengers in T-bone collisions. However, the provided protection is not the same as in a front-impact crash. Plus, the tremendous weight and force of a tractor-trailer hitting the vehicle can cause severe injuries, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken or crushed bones
- Internal injuries
- Paralysis
You should receive prompt medical assistance if you suffered severe injuries in a T-bone truck accident. Then, speak to a truck accident attorney to determine your next legal steps.
Who Is Liable in a T-Bone Truck Accident?
Many T-bone accidents happen at intersections where the truck driver fails to yield the right of way or doesn’t stop at the red light. It may seem obvious that the truck driver was at fault. If that is the case, Maryland Truck Accident Attorneys will collect all of the evidence and prove that the trucker or his company caused the accident.
However, there are many factors to determine who caused a T-bone truck accident. Evidence that may be collected to determine liability could include photos, traffic camera footage, eyewitness accounts, and the official
If the evidence shows that the other driver was at fault, you could file a claim or lawsuit against the driver. However, if a trucking company employs the trucker, the legal theory of respondeat superior could apply. Respondeat superior means that an employer may be liable for an employee’s negligent actions. Most commercial trucking companies must carry large liability policies, so you could sue the employer for your injuries and other damages.
Maryland Truck Accident Lawyers
We will strive to be there when you have questions or concerns and to return all calls, text messages, and emails in a timely manner. We will keep you fully involved and informed throughout the legal process, making sure you are up to date on all developments in your case, as well as your rights, options, and chances of success, so you can make good decisions about how to proceed.
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Maryland Truck Accident Attorneys
if you have questionsFrequently Asked Questions About Large Truck Accident Injury Claims
>How Do I Protect My Rights After a Truck Accident?
Your first priority should always be your own health. Get the medical attention you need, whether from an urgent care facility, a hospital, care facility, or your personal physician. Seek medical treatment immediately, because the longer you wait, the greater the risk that the at fault party might challenge the cause or seriousness of your injury. Make certain doctors document everything in writing, and tell them about everything that seems out of the ordinary.
Once you're treated by medical professionals, hire an experienced attorney. Your lawyer will immediately take steps to protect your legal rights, ensuring that evidence is not lost or compromised, and that key witnesses provide statements while the events are fresh in their memories. Your attorney can also be your liaison with insurance companies, helping you get all the benefits to which you are entitled ..
You can help your attorney by getting contact information from anyone involved in the accident, as well as any witnesses. If you are able, take pictures of everything, the damage to your vehicle and the truck, your injuries, roadway and weather conditions, skid marks. Using the camera on your phone is fine.
What Compensation Can I Pursue After a Truck Accident?
Our experienced truck accident attorneys will help you seek damages for your losses, including:
lost wages, income or salary;
physical pain and suffering;
loss of companionship or consortium;
loss of the ability to engage in activities that bring you joy, fulfillment, or pleasure;
medical expenses not covered by insurance.
property losses not covered by insurance.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Large Truck Crashes?
A study by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration held a number of factors that regularly contribute to commercial truck accidents:
Driver fatigue. Because most drivers are paid by the mile, there's an incentive to spend long hours on the roads. State and federal law limit this, but some drivers ignore or intentionally flaunt the rules.
Mechanical failure. Drivers and trucking companies are required to perform routine maintenance and keep logs, but they can be falsified or ignored.
Distracted driving. Drivers may take their eyes off the road to use a handheld device, adjust the radio, grab food or beverages, or talk to someone else in the vehicle.
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Maryland Truck Accident Lawyers
if you have questionsDriving while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs
Failure to obey traffic laws, including speeding, failure to stop or yield at lights or signs, and illegal lane changes
Unfamiliarity with roads.
we have successfully represented personal injury victims throughout Maryland for decades. We know the unique aspects of a truck accident injury claim and how to effectively prepare such a case for maximum recovery. We work effectively with expert witnesses, including engineers, accident reconstruction specialists, medical professionals, and financial projections specialists. We know how courts and juries across Maryland view personal injury claims, as well as what evidence is most persuasive to help you get full and fair compensation.
When you or a loved one is hurt in an accident involving a big rig, 18 wheeler, tractor trailer, semi, or other commercial truck, you need an experienced lawyer to help you get fair full compensation. Our proven personal injury attorneys an offer a free initial consultation. We handle all truck accident lawsuits on a contingent fee basis. You won't pay any legal fees unless we get compensation for your losses
.