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Maryland Truck Accident Law
Washington, D.C., Maryland & Virginia
Laws governing truck accidents vary from state to state. In Maryland, truck accidents are subject to a fault system, meaning the party responsible for the accident is required to pay damages to anyone else who was injured during the accident. Truck accident claims in Maryland typically have two components: liability and damages.
Truck Accident Liability in Maryland
Liability simply refers to who caused the accident. All motorists – truck drivers included – have a responsibility to drive safely and observe traffic laws with reasonable care. If a driver fails to adhere to this standard, they can be held liable for negligence.
Proving liability and negligence in a Maryland truck accident case will require you to show that the trucker was acting carelessly. For example, you might argue that the truck driver was:
- Speeding
- Distracted
- Making an illegal turn
- Changing lanes without warning
- Driving under the influence
- Disobeying traffic laws
Unfortunately, Maryland is one of four states in the nation that operates under a harsh rule called “contributory negligence.” This means that if your opponent can prove that you contributed to the accident in any way, you cannot recover damages from them. Even if it is determined that you were only 1% responsible for a truck accident, you still get nothing.
Because of this rule, it is all the more important that you contact our experienced Maryland truck accident attorneys if you have been seriously injured in a truck accident. We know how to aggressively argue for the complete responsibility of the other party, helping you secure the compensation you need to make a proper recovery.
Truck Accident Damages in Maryland
Damages are technically defined as the consequences of the negligent party’s actions. In other words, what harm did the negligent truck driver (and their trucking company) cause you? Damages need to be reasonably quantified and justified in order to be recovered.
In a Maryland truck accident claim, you can fight for:
- Personal injury damages
- Property damages
- Punitive damages (in rare cases)
There is one aspect of Maryland truck accident law that can be pursued separately from your personal injury and negligence claim: Personal Injury Protection (PIP). Unless you rejected it when you purchased your car insurance, you should have PIP coverage. This is a no-fault policy, allowing you to collect benefits no matter who caused your accident. PIP is particularly valuable since you can receive benefits while you are still pursuing your liability claim against the at-fault truck driver (and/or trucking company).
If you have further questions about Maryland truck accident law, please schedule a free consultation today with our experienced truck accident attorneys at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. We can help you pursue the justice and compensation you deserve.
