Posted on March 16, 2020 in Truck Accidents

A wrongful death claim for damages can help loved ones who have suffered the unexpected, and wrongful, loss of their loved one. The loss of a loved one in a fatal accident can, of course, be difficult and traumatizing which is why there are legal options, such as a wrongful death claim for damages, available to protect loved ones.

A wrongful death claim is a type of legal claim that is brought on behalf of the lost loved one’s estate for the benefit of surviving family members. When a loved one has been killed by the careless or negligent behavior of another, a wrongful death claim for damages can help surviving family members with some of the challenges they face through a wrongful death claim for damages.

Wrongful death legal protections can apply in a variety of circumstances and can help surviving family members with the financial and emotional damages they may unexpectedly find themselves facing as they struggle to cope with the unanticipated loss of their loved one. The specific damages available through a wrongful death claim depend on the characteristics of the victim and circumstances but can include damages for medical and funeral expenses; loss of support and services and lost prospect of inheritance.

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 Posted on March 05, 2020 in Truck Accidents

A personal injury judgment against a negligent driver is only as valuable as the negligent driver’s ability to pay it. This can be problematic, especially if you’ve suffered extensive damages in the form of medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering, as is often the case with truck accidents.

If that has you concerned, you shouldn’t worry. If a negligent trucker caused your injuries, then you might also be able to seek compensation from his or her employer. To do so, you’ll need to file a vicarious liability claim against that employer. The logic behind vicarious liability is that employers maintain control over who they hire and the performance and duties of those employees. Therefore, if you can show that a negligent trucker was performing his or her job duties at the time of the accident, he or she was on the clock at the time, and the employer was receiving some sort of benefit from the employee’s actions, then you might be able to succeed on one of these claims.

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 Posted on March 02, 2020 in Truck Accidents

Getting into a car accident can be terrifying, no matter the reason. And if the accident causes an injury, it can be even more upsetting and often traumatic. On top of all of that, the last thing you want to worry about is whose insurance will cover the costs of your physical injury and damages to your vehicle.

So, when you get the insurance information of the other driver, what happens if that driver works for a Maryland rideshare company like Uber or Lyft?

Understanding third-party insurance coverage

Companies like Uber and Lyft have third-party liability insurance coverage that comes into play in the case of an accident. If one of their drivers causes the accident, the amount of coverage that is available will depend on two general factors:

• The driver is logged onto the app but hasn’t accepted a trip request. In this case, the coverage is $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage.

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 Posted on February 24, 2020 in Truck Accidents

Ridesharing platforms such as Uber and Lyft are a new and large presence in Maryland, Virginia and across the nation, especially in large cities. Questions about rideshare safety, and their role in motor vehicle accidents, have grown with this industry.

Ridesharing is a safer option than driving while impaired or with a drunk or inexperienced driver. The United States had 1.17 traffic deaths per 100 million miles traveled in 2017. By comparison, Uber had roughly half the national average with a reported 0.57 fatalities per 100 million traveled.

Uber drivers, according to the company’s safety report for 2017 and 2018, were still involved in 97 fatal accidents that led to 107 deaths. Traveling by bus is the safest transportation mode with only .01 deadly accident per 100 million miles.

Rideshare companies impose safety standards on their drivers. According to Uber’s report, it disqualified over one million drivers and 76% of these prospective drivers were rejected because of their driving histories.

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 Posted on February 21, 2020 in Truck Accidents

Everyone who has driven on the interstate highways crisscrossing Montgomery County knows that the biggest, most dangerous vehicles rolling on those roads are the mammoth 18-wheelers. Tractor-trailers are slow to bring to a stop and difficult to maneuver – especially in critical situations that can arise without warning.

The sheer size of commercial trucks requires truckers to be constantly alert and cautious. When truck drivers are distracted, fatigued, speeding, impaired or impatient, the result can be violent truck crashes, serious injuries and fatalities.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recently announced a new study of the causes of large truck crashes, research the federal agency says that will provide data for regulators, lawmakers and law enforcement to use to make our roads safer for everyone.

The new study will be the first of its kind in more than 15 years. The previous truck crash study was conducted from 2001 to 2003, before iPhones, in-cab fleet management systems, Google Maps and other technological innovations that come with a mix of positive and negative attributes.

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 Posted on February 07, 2020 in Truck Accidents

If you find yourself anxious when driving around semi-trucks, you’re not alone. These massive rigs pose a serious threat to everyday motorists, especially when they aren’t safely driven. Yet, the sad reality is that truckers often take to the road when they are distracted, drunk, or tired, which can significantly decrease their driving abilities.

Federal regulators have attempted to curtail dangerous trucking in a number of ways. One of the most prevalent is the implementation of hours of service regulations. These rules limit the number of hours a trucker can operate his or her rig without taking a federally mandated rest. For example, a trucker is only allowed to driver for 11 hours after taking off 10 consecutive hours. Additionally, a trucker cannot drive beyond the 14^th hour following that 10-hour rest period.

But the regulations pertaining to hours of service don’t stop there. A trucker can only drive if there have been less than eight hours since his or her last rest period of at least 30 minutes in the trucks sleeper section. Lastly, a trucker is disallowed from driving for more than 60 hours in a period of seven consecutive days or 70 hours in eight consecutive days.

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 Posted on February 04, 2020 in Truck Accidents

A spinal cord injury represents one of the most devastating and life-changing injuries you can suffer in a motor vehicle accident. Unfortunately, auto and motorcycle accidents account for nearly 50% of all traumatic SCIs that occur each year in the U.S.

Signs that you suffered an SCI in your car or bike crash include the following:

• You feel extreme pain and/or pressure in your neck or back.
• You notice that your neck or back has become twisted or lies in an unnatural position.
• You cannot feel your hands, fingers, feet and/or toes.
• You cannot move your legs and/or arms.
• You may have difficulties breathing.

Lasting paralysis

By definition, paralysis means the loss of voluntary movement and sensation in some part(s) of your body. When you suffer an SCI, you become partially or totally paralyzed below your point of injury. If your car or bike crash results in what health care professionals call a complete SCI, you will no longer be able to move or feel the affected parts of your body. Conversely, if you suffer an incomplete SCI, you likely will retain limited feeling and the ability to move your affected body parts.

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 Posted on January 31, 2020 in Truck Accidents

When a driver approaches an intersection and the traffic light turns yellow, there are two choices the motorist can make. Accelerate and possibly make it through before the light turns red or quickly hit the brakes in order to stop before the intersection. Because of light enforcement cameras, more and more drivers are compelled to stop with fear that they could get ticketed for traveling through the intersection when the light turns red. The same concept, if approved, could occur for those using their phone while driving on Maryland roadways.

CELL PHONE ENFORCEMENT CAMERAS

While many motorists have not considered this use of technology to curb this form of distracted driving, it is a proposed legislation in the state of Maryland. The vice president of the Montgomery County Council has urged state lawmakers to take action to reduce accident caused by cell phone use by drivers by implementing cell phone enforcement cameras.

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 Posted on January 31, 2020 in Truck Accidents

A cute cuddly puppy often ignites many positive thoughts and emotions. Whether it is in a movie, social media or in person, an individual is likely to associate a dog as being a trusting, loyal companion because society has come to terms that dog is man’s best friend. While most domesticated canines are friendly and well cared for, others may present concerns and even dangers to those that interact with it. It is a shocking event to be bit by a dog, and bite victims should be aware of the laws that protect them in these matters.

DOG BITE LAWS

Maryland law states that a dog owner is liable for damages stemming from personal injury or death by the dog. It further states that when there is evidence that the dog caused the alleged harm, this creates a rebuttable presumption that the owner of the dog either knew or should have known that their dog had vicious or dangerous propensities.

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 Posted on January 30, 2020 in Truck Accidents

The luxury of on-line shopping means that the items that were purchased last night could arrive at your home the next day. Behind this almost instant gratification is the high demand of commercial truck drivers to get these goods from the warehouse to your doorstep. This not only leads to an increase in large trucks and other commercial vehicles on the roadways but also presents concerns when it comes to overworked and fatigued truck drivers.

IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT BEING TIRED

Truck driver burnout is a very real concern in Maryland and other states across the nation. This is not just about a truck driver being tired. It is a culmination of factors, such as being overworked, fatigued, bored and unhappy. It is something that a good night’s sleep cannot alleviate, and it is something that can present major risks to travelers on the roadways.

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