Every year, hundreds of people in Maryland are injured in semi-truck and tractor-trailer accidents. Busy Maryland roadways have all kinds of road hazards, confusing turns, high-speed lanes and construction zones that contribute to these catastrophes – not to mention extreme Atlantic coast weather that creates poor visibility and icy conditions.
Truck driver error is often a contributor, too: excessive speeding, driver fatigue, distracted driving, failure to understand the rules of the road and driving while impaired or under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If you’re the victim of a semi-truck crash, you deserve caring representation from an attorney who has experience with commercial trucking, semi-truck and large vehicle accidents. You deserve the advocacy of Zirkin & Schmerling Law.
We Have Semi-Truck Insurance Claim Experience
Your accident is unique to you, but here at the law firm of Zirkin & Schmerling, we’ve seen it all. Nothing an insurance company does will surprise us. We’ve seen insurance companies offer lowball checks to severely injured people, try to rush and bully people into making poor decisions and fail to provide the resources people truly need to fully recover from tragic accidents. When you partner with us, you have an ally on your side. We have the confidence it takes to stand up to trucking companies and insurance companies, so you get what you deserve.
Zirkin & Schmerling truck accident attorneys are here to help you understand your rights and regain peace of mind after the trauma of a truck accident. Whether you’re suffering from physical pain, lasting psychological damage or financial distress, our trucking accident lawyers will help you secure the resources you need to heal and move forward.
Semi-Truck Accidents Can Happen
Accidents involving semi-trucks are some of the most traumatic and disastrous on Maryland roads. They’re much more likely to cause a fatality or life-altering injury due to the extreme forces involved. According to the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA), of all fatality car accidents that happen in a typical year, about 11% involve a large truck, 30% involve speeding and 15% involve rollovers.
Every year, at least 635 Maryland people die in vehicle accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Prince George’s County has the highest number of fatalities overall, followed by Baltimore County, Montgomery County and Anne Arundel County.
The rate of fatalities in Maryland per 100,000 people is generally lower than the rest of the United States, at about 11% compared to 14% nationwide. However, just one fatality is too much for family and friends left behind. An auto death leaves a lifelong traumatic impact on the survivors.
The majority of Maryland auto deaths involve fairly young people. Half are under age 40 and 30% of all deaths are people age 29 and younger. Tragically, 5% are young children.
There are also 55,000 auto injuries every year in Maryland, with the most serious injuries typically happening in high-speed collisions involving heavy semi-trucks. The more miles a truck travels, the more likely it is to have experienced a major collision. In one year, Maryland has about .78 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled.
Semi-truck accidents cause severe damage to people and property and can even damage roadways. A $65,000 study commissioned by the city of Baltimore finds the cost would be $4 million just to implement short-term collision solutions, like sensors and signs, on the Jones Falls Expressway/Interstate 83 – the Baltimore road with the highest rate of serious accidents.
While roads and vehicles can be repaired, the human impact affects semi-truck accident victims for decades afterward. One government-funded study finds vehicle accidents are the #1 most traumatic life event for men and the #2 most traumatic for women in the United States. They may face disabling psychological conditions like post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD), depression and anxiety on top of a lifetime of chronic physical ailments.
Types of Semi-Truck Accidents We See In Maryland
Because so many types of large trucks, commercial motor vehicles and larger autos travel through our state, the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) provides a detailed handbook for motor carriers. If you’re in a collision with one of them, you might not know exactly what type of vehicle it is but it’s almost certain you’ll have some type of damage or injuries as a result.
We count at least 24 different and most common types of trucks that are involved in Maryland accidents.
18-Wheelers
An 18-wheeler is a general term for a trucking rig consisting of a tractor and a trailer that has 18 wheels. Technically, the term “semi” or “semi-truck” refers only to the truck itself, and “18-wheeler” means the entire rig from the front bumper of the truck to the tail of the trailer.
Big Rigs
This is a general term for any large truck that travels the roads. It typically refers to vehicles defined by law as commercial motor vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or gross combination weight rating (GCWR), or gross vehicle weight (GVW) or gross combination weight (GCW) of 10,001 pounds or more.
Boat Hauling Trucks
Maryland waterways are full of boats, so our roadways are full of boat haulers. A boat hauler is specially designed to carry heavy, wet watercraft. Common accidents involving these vehicles include crashes caused when boats slip off the haulers, side-impact collisions and damage caused by flying debris.
Cargo Trucks
Around Maryland’s ports, you’ll find plenty of cargo trucks. In fact, the Port of Baltimore has a tradition of moving cargo to two-thirds of the nation’s population and manufacturing bases within an overnight drive, including most of Canada. These trucks move fast and their drivers sometimes prioritize speed over safety.
Cement/Concrete Trucks
Cement and concrete trucks tend to be heavier and slower-moving than other types of trucks because they’re loaded down with so much weight. A collision with a cement truck can be very serious for a passenger vehicle because the truck is so much heavier than the car.
Commercial Buses
In Maryland, a commercial bus is generally a commercial motor vehicle that is designed and used to transport more than eight passengers (including the driver) for compensation, or designed and used to transport more than 15 passengers whether for compensation or otherwise.
Construction Vehicles
There are too many types of construction vehicles to list, but you know them when you see them: big, heavy, bulky vehicles with all kinds of special purposes to serve the construction industry. They’re often carried on semi-trailers. Together, the duo of construction vehicle and semi-trailer creates precarious driving conditions for fellow travelers. Risks include front, rear and side-impact collisions, roll-overs, impact from flying debris and multi-vehicle crashes that cause catastrophic damage.
Coal Trucks
Although most of Maryland’s coal movement happens on the railroads, coal trucks are a concern on the roads. They’re large and weighed down with a heavy load. Coal industry trucks have sometimes been the subject of controversy in Maryland due to concerns about hazardous and toxic materials that put public health at risk.
Crabbing Trucks
The crabbing industry thrives in Maryland and crabbing trucks travel our roads full of freshly-caught seafood. Drivers must beware of these trucks, which often clog the roads in our towns as they stop to deliver fresh seafood to local markets and restaurants. Unfortunately, they also create road hazards and don’t always abide by the law.
Delivery Vans and Trucks
Delivery vehicles come in many shapes and sizes. Most commonly, they are owned by commercial companies who deliver goods in Maryland and beyond. Sometimes they are rental vehicles driven for non-commercial purposes, like moving vans. The after-effect of a collision with one of these vehicles can be complex to manage because it can involve multiple parties.
Dump Trucks
One of the most common complaints we hear about dump trucks is damage due to unsecured loads. They may be full of debris like rocks, branches and trash. Dump trucks large and small may be owned by small businesses or large corporations. If you’re in a collision or other kind of accident with a dump truck, your attorney can help you track down the responsible party and hold them accountable.
Fishing Industry Vehicles
Maryland’s fishing industry brings all sorts of vehicles onto our roads, from small boat haulers to huge cargo containers full of fish and carried on semi-trailers. Particularly when you’re near the coast, fishing vehicles can be a risk on the road.
Flatbed Trucks
Flatbed trucks are used to carry vehicles and materials, often over long distances. Unfortunately, their loads sometimes become unstable and cause serious traffic accidents.
Fuel and Gas Tanker Trucks
Many vehicles you see driving Maryland streets are referred to as fuel tankers and gas trucks. Fuel tankers cause some of the most disastrous collisions on the road. They may transport all kinds hazardous materials in large quantities, which the state of Maryland calls a placardable amount of hazardous materials – an amount that must be marked on the vehicle and tracked by the authorities. A fuel tanker accident can create an environmental disaster that takes days or weeks to clean up at a high cost to the state of Maryland.
Garbage Trucks
Garbage trucks are all over our roads in Maryland, from suburban subdivisions to downtown expressways. These trucks can be surprisingly heavy and unpredictable, making sudden stops and sometimes even accidentally releasing dangerous materials while driving.
Horse-Hauling Trucks
If you’ve ever seen a horse-hauling truck on the road, you know they carry precious cargo. Horses must be transported in special horse trailers that can be difficult to maneuver for drivers. Collisions with horse trailers are rare but when they happen, they’re quite costly. Aside from the vehicle cost, a horse is typically valued anywhere from $5,000 to $100,000.
Logging Trucks
As they navigate the path from forest to destination, logging trucks add danger to the road. They’re long, heavy and sometimes travel in packs as they deliver large quantities of logs to processing facilities. Beware of these trucks on Maryland roadways.
Moving Vans
If there’s one thing you should know about moving vans, it’s this: They’re often driven by non-professional drivers. The driver of a moving van may not hold a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and could just be an ordinary person behind the wheel of a big vehicle. If you are in a collision with a moving van, we strongly advise seeking an attorney’s advice to sort out where the responsibility falls.
Semi-Trailers
A semi-trailer is the trailer portion of a semi-truck rig. Semi-trailers are dangerous because they sometimes detach from their trucks, sway sideways on a windy day, experience mechanical failures and create unpredictable movements that interfere with other vehicles on the road.
Semi-Trucks
Semi-trucks are the vehicular portion of a truck-trailer combo. They can ride alone or with a trailer attached. A standard 18-wheeler semi-truck can hold about 80,000 pounds. For perspective, that’s 23 small cars or 450 people. On a typical highway, a semi-truck travels between 50 and 70 miles per hour, sometimes faster if they’re breaking Maryland’s maximum speed limit. It’s no wonder these trucks create dangers on the road.
Steel Trucks
Maryland’s steel industry is putting trucks on the road that carry one of the heaviest loads a truck can carry. Steel is one of the heaviest construction materials known to man, so colliding with a steel truck can cause severe damage to the vehicles and injury to the people involved.
Tow Trucks
Although you might think of tow trucks as vehicles that help in the aftermath of accidents, they cause them, too. Their loads can be unstable. They work in high-risk zones. They sometimes drive more slowly than the flow of traffic or pull out onto the road suddenly. These circumstances can all be factors in traffic accidents.
Tractor-Trailers
This is another name for a semi-truck. The “tractor” is the truck part of a truck and trailer combination.
Vans for Commercial/Industrial Transport
Commercial vans, also known as transport vans, are some of the smaller “large” vehicles on the road. They can haul between 4,000 and 9,000 pounds. Transport vans tend to be top-heavy, which makes them unsteady when driving and prone to roll-over and side-impact collisions. Their drivers are often pressured to make fast deliveries, which can cause them to make fast movements in traffic that cause accidents.
Type of Injuries From Semi-Truck Accidents
In a collision between a passenger car and a semi-truck, the people in the passenger car tend to have much more serious injuries than the truck driver. A study of 43,000 crashes by the National Institutes for Health (NIH) finds no fatalities among semi-truck drivers in collisions with passenger cars while 82% of the passenger car inhabitants were either injured or killed.
When it comes to non-fatal injuries, some are apparent from the moment of impact and some aren’t obvious until a long while later. You’ll notice a broken leg right away but a persistent back injury might reveal itself hours, days or weeks after the accident. Here’s a look at some of the most common types of injuries caused by semi-truck accidents.
Back Injuries
A back injury commonly happens in a truck accident due to the huge and sudden impact involved. Rear-end collisions are responsible for a high proportion of back injuries because the rear vehicle suddenly collides with the front vehicle and jolts the spine, vertebrae and discs of the occupants inside. Trucking accidents are a common source of sprained backs, strained backs and spinal fractures.
Shoulder Injuries
A shoulder injury can be extremely painful. Shoulder injuries happen in all kinds of auto collisions, especially side impacts and corner impacts that twist the car and the people inside. A torn rotator cuff occurs when the tendons in the arm are separated from the joint/socket of the shoulder. This is a very difficult injury to heal and may require extensive rehabilitation.
Bone Fractures
Broken bones frequently happen in truck collisions because the smaller passenger vehicle can’t withstand the impact of a huge truck. If the truck creates an impact on your body, your bones may break under the force. You may also suffer broken bones from your safety precautions, like the airbag or seat belt.
Brain Injuries
One of the most severe injuries a person can suffer in a trucking accident is a brain injury. It may happen during whiplash, when the brain moves inside the skull with high force, or it may occur due to blunt force trauma to the head. Unfortunately, some brain injuries are irreversible and may cause life-altering consequences for the victim.
Neck Injuries
In a semi-truck accent, a neck injury can be just as serious as a back or head injury. You may have whiplash, which occurs from a sudden impact, or a spinal or disc displacement. Neck injuries tend to be painful and difficult to heal and are frequently the source of long-term suffering. Like all injuries, a neck injury should be evaluated by a medical professional as quickly as possible after the accident.
Maryland Semi-Truck Accident Laws
The state of Maryland requires all commercial drivers of big rigs to learn the Maryland Motor Carriers’ Handbook and hold a commercial driver’s license. Truck drivers and their vehicles are subject to rigorous rules, testing and inspection.
Click to view Maryland’s commercial vehicle code
Click to view the rules of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Failure to familiarize themselves with the rules for commercial vehicle drivers can cost truckers their driver’s licenses. Sometimes it can even cost them their freedom.
Many Maryland residents remember a famous case from the 1990’s when a Maryland trucking company was accused of falsifying documents and forcing their drivers to stay on the road for excessive hours. Gunthers Transport, Inc., run by Mark Gunther, routinely skirted the law and failed to meet trucking regulations, which allegedly led to serious injuries on Maryland roads. As a result, Gunther received a 30-month jail term for his role in the scheme.
Sadly, even going to jail didn’t stop Gunther. After he got out of jail, his firm was later held liable for another trucking accident that caused permanent brain damage and disability to Brian Buber. Buber was the passenger in a pickup truck that was hit by one of Gunther’s trucks. Buber’s family won a $13 million judgment against Gunther, and Gunther tried to avoid paying it by filing for bankruptcy.
What these stories show is that no matter how strict Maryland’s laws are for commercial vehicles and semi-trucks, some companies will still fail to follow the law. When trucking companies cause harm to the citizens of Maryland, these injured people must stand up for their rights and sue to receive the medical care and other damages they deserve.
After a trucking accident, two things happen: The law determines who is responsible according to the rules of the road, and financial responsibility is assigned. According to the Transportation Article of the Maryland Annotated Code, drivers have certain responsibilities on the road. If they fail to meet these responsibilities, they may be held liable for the accident.
In terms of financial responsibility, tort law will be used. It’s a set of civil rules that holds someone financially and legally liable for damages that result from negligent conduct. The trucker may not be held personally responsible for your financial damages, but their employer could be. Your lawyer will help you find the trucking company and put the blame where it belongs.
Be cautious about trusting anyone’s advice, other than your lawyer’s, in the days following a truck-related accident. As the authorities and insurance companies work to assign blame for what happened, you may receive an offer from the trucking insurance company to take a quick payment.
This is very important to remember: An insurance company will always offer you far less than the amount you deserve under the law. Don’t be fooled. They only have their own best interests at heart.
With the help of a Maryland auto accident lawyer, you can refuse the offer from the trucker’s insurance company and file a civil lawsuit instead. Take the case in front of a judge or jury and let them decide what you deserve. The results are usually much better by taking this route and you’ll be happier in the end.
What are the Most Dangerous Intersections in Baltimore for Semi-Truck Accidents?
Each year, 25% to 40% of all Maryland accidents happen at intersections. That’s because intersections are confusing, unpredictable places where many things are happening at once. Many vehicles of all shapes and sizes are coming together in one central spot, so an increased opportunity for a collision exists.
Urban Baltimore is a particularly hazardous zone for semi-trucks. With its combination of old-fashioned roads and high-speed expressways, Baltimore is a minefield for truckers to navigate. When they misjudge a turn or merge unexpectedly, your passenger vehicle can be the unfortunate victim of their mistake.
Here’s a countdown of the five most dangerous intersections for semi-truck accidents, according to the National Highway Travel Safety Administration and the Baltimore Sun:
#5: Orleans/GayEnsor Streets
Just west of the Jones Falls Expressway in western Baltimore is the congested area of Orleans, Gay and Ensor Streets. The street splits suddenly and catches people off guard, especially truckers who aren’t from the area. All it takes is one tractor-trailer driver to get confused, wedge their vehicle into the tight intersection and cause an accident to occur.
#4: Jones Falls Expressway/West Cold Spring Lane
This is an extremely busy area at 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, when workday traffic spills out from the expressway and clogs the Cold Spring Lane area. Traffic statistics show an average of 30 accidents a year occurring here, especially side-swipes that happen when vehicles try to rush through the area at high speed.
#3: Jones Falls Expressway/Northern Parkway
This is another Jones Falls Expressway exit where truckers often get confused and frustrated with traffic. As the expressway and parkway meet, speeds vary. Lanes of traffic come together and drivers fail to merge smoothly. More than 35 crashes happen here in a typical year.
#2: Gwynns Falls Parkway/Reisterstown Road
The NHTSA rates this the #1 most dangerous intersection in Maryland for passenger cars and it’s also quite risky for truckers. You know what we’re talking about: People ignore the traffic signals, rev their cars at traffic lights and grow impatient with the congestion that inevitably occurs. About 45 crashes per year happen here.
#1: Any Exit/Entrance Ramp On the Jones Falls Expressway/Interstate 83
An investigation by the Baltimore Sun finds that, while most roadways in Baltimore are about as hazardous for passenger cars as truckers, the Jones Falls Expressway/Interstate 83 had a rate of crashes more than twice as high as any other comparable Maryland highway primarily due to truck-involved crashes. In the year studied, there were 38 crashes per mile and the risk was elevated at the entrance and exit points. As a passenger vehicle driver, if you can avoid the expressway, it’s a good idea. But if you can’t avoid it and are injured in an accident with a trucker, report it to the state of Maryland and sue the trucking company to get the reimbursement you deserve.
Possible Damages Awarded for a Semi-Truck Accident
After a semi-truck accident, you may have extensive injuries and property damage. You may be eligible to receive an array of damages. Consider whether you have suffered any of the following damages and discuss them with your trucking accident attorney.
Medical Expenses Due to a Trucking Accident
Maryland uses a rule called the collateral source rule to allow plaintiffs who have been injured in auto accidents to recover damages for medical expenses. Even if insurance covered your costs, you can still use the collateral source rule. You may be able to recover damages for past and future medical expenses that can be attributed to the collision with the semi-truck.
Property Damage Caused by the Semi-Truck
Trucking accidents cause extreme damage to the vehicles involved. While the big rig may survive mostly intact, there is a high likelihood that a passenger car will be destroyed due to the forces involved. Sue to recover the cost of your vehicle and possibly other property that was destroyed inside the vehicle at the time of the collision.
Lost Income After the Truck Collision
Semi-truck accidents can cause the drivers to need long periods of recovery time. Your injuring could be extensive and prevent you from working. If you missed workdays or lost business as a result of the accident, hold the trucking company responsible for what you’ve lost. A lawsuit can help you recover both past and future lost wages/income.
Pain & Suffering Since the Accident
After coming close to losing your life in a trucking collision, the pain and suffering you experience can be deeply emotionally damaging. The accident itself is traumatic, but the effects don’t end there. You could have mental and physical effects for a lifetime. Your lawyer can help you seek compensation for your suffering, so you have the resources you need to move forward with your life.
Defendants Commonly Involved in Maryland Semi-Truck Accidents
Trucking accidents can be complex and involve multiple parties. After an accident, stay on the scene and contact the police. Gather information from the trucker, including the name and contact information for their employer and insurer. You’ll need this information later to pursue a lawsuit against the trucking company. Common types of drivers and other enterprises involved in a semi-truck accident include:
Individual Drivers
In a collision with a semi-truck, you are the individual (passenger car) driver. Your insurance company may be involved to investigate the incident and draw a conclusion about where the fault lies. They will ask you for evidence, including the other driver’s contact information. Never assume even your own auto insurance has your best interests in mind without talking to your lawyer.
Commercial Vehicle and Semi-Truck Drivers
The truck driver is sometimes known as a commercial vehicle operator if they are driving on behalf of a commercial company. They may also be driving on behalf of a different type of enterprise, like a church, nonprofit organization or school. Maryland has specific laws for heavy-duty trucks, including nationwide companies that run thousands of trucks across Maryland roads. The driver’s employer and their insurance company are usually responsible for damages you suffer as the result of an accident.
Owner/Operators
Sometimes the truck driver is an independent driver who owns the truck they drive and doesn’t work for a trucking company. In this case, you may be able to hold them personally liable for your damages. Unfortunately, independent truck company driver/owners are more likely to be some of Maryland’s 12% of all citizens who are uninsured. These situations can quickly become complex to manage and you should consult a Maryland truck accident attorney for advice.
Government Drivers
State and local governments can be sued for accidents their employees cause while driving government-owned trucks and vans. It’s also possible that the government can be held liable for poorly-maintained roads, walkways, traffic devices and so forth that contributed to the accident. Under Maryland law, the state has a duty to keep its citizens reasonably safe.
What is the Deadline to File a Semi-Truck Accident Lawsuit in Maryland?
If you’re injured in a semi-truck accident, your injuries are likely to be quite severe. Your top priority will be healing and recovering from your injuries – but don’t wait too long before contacting a lawyer, or you may lose your chance to file a lawsuit.
Maryland has a statute of limitations on personal injury claims of three years from the date of an injury, including those involving truck accidents. As stated in Maryland Code Ann. Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101: “A civil action at law shall be filed within three years from the date it accrues unless another provision of the Code provides a different period of time within which an action shall be commenced.”
This means unless a different law makes an exception, you have three years to file your claim. That might sound like enough time but the statute of limitations will pass faster than you might expect. Within three years, you must try to heal from your injury, secure medical and financial documentation, retain any evidence gathered at the scene and handle all of the legal ins-and-outs with your lawyer.
Remember your three-year timetable is based on the date of the accident, not the date you reported it, the date an insurance company contacts you or the date of your medical bills. You may have lingering after-effects for many years, like psychological damage and emotional trauma. Nevertheless, the three-year limit applies.
If you allow the statute of limitations to expire, it is rarely extended by the court and would likely require special circumstances. Don’t gamble on your claim being barred from filing. Find an experienced truck accident lawyer to help as soon as possible after the crash.
We Can Provide a Helpful Hand in Your Case
In the moments after a truck accident, you’ll be overwhelmed by sounds, sights, pain and fear. Emergency responders will arrive to help. You’ll hear confusing messages from doctors and police officers and you might not even remember what happened. Despite all of this chaos, what you do in the next minutes, days and weeks is extremely important.
- Call 911 or contact emergency help immediately.
- Remember to preserve all evidence you can, like in-car video footage, accident reports and paperwork from your insurance company.
- Contact an experienced truck accident lawyer as soon as possible after the accident.
- Begin recording lost days from work.
- Request a copy of the police report or work with your attorney to do so.
- Keep track of all visits to the hospital and doctor, including physical therapy and other long-term treatments you pursue as a result of the accident.
- Document every out-of-pocket expense you make, including fixing damage to your vehicle, towing fees and the cost to replace personal property that was inside the vehicle.
- Use a Maryland licensed/authorized safety inspection repair shop to examine and repair your vehicle. Approval all repairs in advance while working with your insurance company and attorney.
- Never talk to the trucking company’s representatives, claims adjusters or other representatives without discussing it with your attorney first.
Today, trucking companies are paying less and less to the victims of trucking accidents. That’s outrageous. We’ll aggressively represent you and ensure you get every penny you deserve. Never settle for a quick check from a trucking company’s insurance company because it won’t even begin to compensate you fully. Zirkin & Schmerling Law will help you hold the right party responsible after your semi-truck accident. During this difficult time, we want to help you receive the compensation that helps you move on with your life.
Maryland Information Resources for Semi-Truck Accidents That Help You
What to Do If I’m in a Truck Accident in Maryland
Why Are Truck Accidents So Dangerous?
How to Calculate the Value of Your Truck Accident
Maryland’s Commercial Vehicle Code
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Trucking Rules
Federal Rules for Trucking “Black Box” Evidence
A List of Maryland Trucking Accident Attorneys
FREE Case Evaluation (Online Request Form)
Presumed Liability
In most cases, Maryland law presumes liability for rear-end collisions falls on the rear driver. In other words, if a stopped vehicle is struck from behind by a semi-truck, the semi-truck is automatically assumed to be at fault. There are exceptions to this general rule, so it’s important to document the accident as thoroughly as possible. Consult with a Maryland semi-truck accident lawyer as soon as possible to discuss liability.
Breach Of Contract Cases
It’s possible that you may have a breach of contract case against someone after your trucking accident. For example, this can happen if a party involved fails to perform within a certain timeframe or fails to come through at all. Of course, every situation is different. Work with your lawyer to discuss breach of contract related to truck accidents.
Wrongful Death and Survival Action
If the death of a loved one occurred as a result of the semi-truck accident, you have rights under two actions: the wrongful death action and the survival action. The wrongful death action allows relatives of the victim to seek compensation for the victim’s accidental death. The survival action seeks to reimburse the victim’s estate for all of the pain, suffering and other damages the victim experienced up to the moment of their death.
To pursue these claims, you’ll need to prove harm to the loved ones and harm to the victim themselves. Of course, pursuing this can be a difficult and emotional process. That’s why Zirkin & Schmerling is here to help. We handle the legal action so you can focus on healing from your experience.
Contact an Experienced Maryland Semi-Truck Accident Attorney
After a semi-truck accident in Maryland, you’ll need to act fast to select an attorney who can truly work as your advocate. Here are some important factors to consider.
Experience. Do they have the credentials to represent you? Are they experienced with serious semi-truck collisions and knowledgeable about a situation like yours?
Results. A good attorney has a solid history of getting high-dollar results for their clients. Can your attorney name high-dollar verdicts they have received for their clients in semi-truck lawsuits? We can.
Reputation. The insurance companies and trucking companies are very familiar with the names of prominent Maryland lawyers. You need a name that will get them shaking in their boots and ready to give you the best deal possible. That name is Zirkin & Schmerling.
To learn more, get in touch with a qualified, experienced semi-truck accident attorney in Maryland. Please review our Maryland auto accident FAQ article and call Zirkin & Schmerling Law today at 410-753-4611 for a free consultation. Our personal injury lawyers can provide an initial evaluation of your case entirely free of charge. We can’t erase the damage done by a truck driver, but we can give you the representation and advocacy you deserve going forward.
Video Transcript
Hi, my name is Bobby Zirkin of Zirkin and Schmerling Law. And if you’ve been involved in an accident with a semi truck, you need a team of experienced attorneys to handle that type of a case. They often have very large injuries since you’re dealing with a very large vehicle and you need attorneys who are experienced to deal with the insurance companies, to deal with the attorneys on the other side. These are trucking companies that have very large firms often that are working with them while you focus on your recovery. These are cases that have big injuries, they often take many months if not years to get through.
And at Zirkin and Schmerling Law, whether your case is big or small, we handle them all with the same energy, the same degree of hard work. We treat every client like they’re a member of our family. We have a team of attorneys that will work on these cases to make sure and get good results for you while you focus on your recovery. It’s important that you have attorneys that have experience in these matters. At Zirkin and Schmerling Law we’ve handle many of these cases. And so while you are getting better and getting back to where you were before the accident, you know that you have attorneys that know what they’re doing, that are willing to go toe to toe with these law firms. And we’ll get you the best result we possibly can.
