Clinton Truck Accident Lawyer

Attorney for Truck Accident Injuries in Clinton, Maryland

Branch Avenue is one of the busiest freight routes stretching between the Capital Beltway and Southern Maryland. On this road and other local roads, tractor-trailer trucks, delivery trucks, and other commercial vehicles travel through Clinton at all hours. When one of these vehicles is driven carelessly or has not been maintained correctly, dangerous truck accidents can occur, and people in other vehicles may pay the price.

Truck crashes often happen because truck drivers or trucking companies cut corners. Truck drivers may stay behind the wheel long after becoming exhausted or violate speed limits to meet deadlines. Trucks may have faulty brakes or other equipment that should have been repaired. Other issues can affect the safety of trucks and lead to truck crashes. People injured because of the negligence of truck drivers, trucking companies, or other parties will need to understand their options for obtaining financial compensation.

At Kisner Law, our lawyer provides representation for people who have been hurt in collisions with commercial vehicles. He combines over 10 years of experience, a detailed understanding of federal trucking regulations, and strong investigative skills to ensure that clients will have effective legal help in these cases. He can take steps to show how a crash happened and determine who should be held responsible, and he will work to secure financial compensation that will fully account for a victim's injuries and losses.

Driver Fatigue and Truck Crashes

Long-haul trucking is demanding work. Drivers may spend most of their days on the road, sleep at irregular times, and face pressure to deliver loads quickly. This can lead to exhaustion and fatigue. When truck drivers experience serious fatigue, they may have slower reaction times, struggle to maintain concentration, and be more likely to make mistakes. In some cases, driver fatigue may cause a driver to fall asleep entirely.

Most trucks must use electronic logging devices to record driving time. Our lawyer can compare this data with fuel receipts, toll records, GPS information, and delivery schedules to find out whether a driver broke the rules and drove for longer than the allowed number of hours. He can also determine whether a trucking company may have encouraged a truck driver to continue driving while they were fatigued.

Speeding and Other Violations by Truck Drivers

A large truck that is traveling at a high speed will need a great deal of room to stop. At higher speeds, trucks can be harder to control on curves and ramps. Truck drivers may violate speed limits to meet deadlines, and this may cause them to lose control and cause truck accidents.

Other common violations committed by truck drivers include:

Distracted Driving

Commercial drivers may use their phones for texting or making calls, and these distractions can cause them to miss important details and collide with other vehicles. Dispatch messages, navigation devices, and other activities may also pull a driver's attention away from the road at a critical moment.

Impaired Driving

Commercial drivers have stricter limits on blood alcohol concentration than other motorists. They may be charged with driving under the influence when driving at half the legal limit that would apply to a person operating a personal vehicle. When truck drivers drink alcohol or use drugs, operating a commercial vehicle safely can become impossible, and dangerous truck crashes can occur.

Unsafe Lane Changes and Tailgating

Tractor-trailer trucks have large blind spots. Truck drivers who change lanes without checking carefully or who follow other vehicles too closely can cause rear-end accidents, sideswipe accidents, or other types of dangerous accidents.

Improperly Secured Cargo

Truck drivers are required to make sure their cargo is properly secured and will not move while a truck is in motion. Shifting loads can affect a driver's control over their truck, potentially leading to rollover accidents or other types of accidents. When items have not been secured correctly, falling cargo can strike other vehicles and cause severe damage.

Mechanical Failures That Lead to Truck Accidents

A truck is only as safe as its equipment. Trucking companies must inspect, repair, and maintain their vehicles, and drivers are also required to complete inspection reports that note any defects. When the proper maintenance is not performed, serious mechanical failures can occur that can prevent a truck driver from being able to drive safely.

Brake failure is one of the most dangerous defects that can occur on commercial trucks. Worn or poorly adjusted brakes can prevent a truck driver from being able to stop. Tire blowouts can cause a driver to lose control. Steering problems, faulty turn signals, and defective trailer coupling equipment can also lead to collisions.

Mechanical failures rarely come out of nowhere. They are often caused by issues such as:

• Skipped Maintenance: Trucking companies may delay repairs to keep trucks on the road and avoid downtime.
• Ignored Inspection Reports: Drivers may report problems, but they may never get fixed by trucking companies.
• Overloading: Excess weight can cause strain on a truck's brakes, tires, and suspension system.
• Poor Repair Work: A mechanic may install parts incorrectly or fail to repair defective equipment.
• Defective Parts: A manufacturer may sell faulty brakes, tires, or other components.

Contact Our Clinton, MD Commercial Truck Accident Attorney

A truck crash involving a fatigued driver, speeding, inadequate maintenance, or other types of negligence can result in injuries that will affect every part of a victim's life. At Kisner Law, our attorney can investigate a truck accident, uncover safety violations, and take steps to obtain compensation from all parties who were responsible. Contact our Clinton, Maryland commercial truck accident lawyer at 240-459-0097 to discuss your case in a free consultation.