Tailgating 18-Wheelers—A Cause for Concern for Drivers

                        A new phenomenon on the highway—Tractor trailers, tailgating other tractor trailers. Experts say this “platooning” phenomenon for 18-wheelers saves trucking companies millions, but at what cost to other drivers on the road? 18-wheelers already account for a large percentage of fatal accidents due to their size, blind spots, and inability to stop quickly. 

             What happens when 18-wheelers tailgate one another back to back—we believe other drivers on the road won’t have space to maneuver on the highway, and cars will be trapped and will miss their exit. Platooning 18-wheelers may increase the risks for serious accidents on highways. Rear-end accidents happen every single day and the most common cause of those accidents is tailgating.18-wheelers that intentionally tailgate one another can only be a cause for concern. If you've been involved in an accident caused by a tractor trailer truck, you need a top rated attorney on your side. 

Maximizing Recovery for Truck Accident Victims in Catonsville

   ·         Injuries resulting from truck accidents are devastating

   ·         In many cases, injured victims are unable to recover enough money to cover the damages   

   ·         It is obvious to look to the negligence of the truck driver and motor carrier as the cause of the              accident, but the shipper of the load cannot be forgotten as another possible liable party 

   ·         It is important to seek recovery from all who are involved including the truck driver, the motor            carrier, and the shipper of the load

   ·         It is important to look for things like a higher duty of care for shippers transporting hazardous            materials or negligent hiring for having an incompetent driver transport goods in the tractor trailer

   ·         If you or someone you love has been injured in a tractor trailer accident or sustained an injury as a      result of a truck accident call Portner & Shure today for a free consultation (301) 854-9000 or

        (410) 995-1515

Maryland Truck Accident Lawyer: Fatal Tractor Trailer Accident in Westminster

            Last Friday, a tractor trailer collided with a car on Route 27 in Westminster.  Both vehicles quickly caught fire and the driver of the car could not make it out in time.  The truck hit the car in the intersection of Route 27 and Kate Wagner/Chapel Road. 

            

            Preliminary investigations do not reveal any alcohol involvement or defective maintenance of the tractor trailer as possible causes of the accident.  Although the truck initiated the collision, it still has not been determined who was at fault or the accident.

Truck-involved accidents will almost always result in serious injuries or death.  Due to the size and power of tractor trailers, it is difficult for truck drivers to bring their rigs to a quick stop.  All drivers on the roads and highways should always be extra cautious when driving near, next to, or in front of tractor trailers because there is a greater risk for a serious accident.

            

            Remember, the actions you take immediately after an auto accident will affect your personal injury recovery.  Most crash victims do not understand that an auto accident entails complicated issues, including:

   

   ·         What should never be discussed with the Adjuster;

   ·         The two critical guidelines to follow when seeking medical treatment;

   ·         The method to “get more” for your property damage and an immediate rental car;

   ·         The one document always needed for your lost wage recovery, and other critical accident related         proof;

   ·         The three essentials for building and evaluating the case for pain and suffering compensation.

If you or a family member has been injured or killed in a truck accident caused by the fault or negligence of another person and would like to consult an experienced Maryland personal injury attorney for free, contact us at (301) 854-9000 to schedule an appointment at one of our office locations in Westminster or throughout Maryland or visit us online at http://www.portnerandshure.com/Auto-Accidents/Truck-Accidents/

Deadly Carroll County Head On Collision

           Yesterday morning, a pick-up truck crashed head on into a dump truck after crossing over the double yellow lines on Route 27 near Mount Airy.  A Taneytown woman was driving the pick-up truck with a young child in the vehicle with her.  Police believe both passengers were wearing their seatbelts.  The young child did not survive the crash and the driver was taken to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center with serious injuries.  The dump truck driver only suffered minor injuries. 

            

           While police are still investigating the accident, they do believe that the pick-up truck driver attempted to pass a vehicle in front of her by crossing over double yellow lines into oncoming traffic.  The pick-up truck collided with the dump truck in a high-impact head on collision.  Attempting to pass another vehicle when there are double yellow lines is an example of aggressive driving behavior.  This week, Maryland State Police are patrolling roadways specifically targeting aggressive drivers.  Aggressive driving behavior oftentimes leads to serious injuries and even death, as evidenced in this tragic accident.  This could have been avoided if the pick-up truck driver had not tried to illegally pass the vehicle in front of her.

If you or a family member has been injured or killed in an accident that is caused by the fault or negligence of another person and would like to consult an experienced Maryland personal injury attorney for free, contact us at (301) 854-9000 to schedule an appointment at one of our office locations in Frederick or throughout Maryland or visit us online at http://www.portnerandshure.com/Auto-Accidents/Truck-Accidents/

Runaway Potatoes on 495 After Truck Overturns in Prince George’s County, Maryland

           Early this morning, a tractor trailer carrying thousands of potatoes overturned on the outer loop of the Capital Beltway in Prince George’s County.  The truck driver was injured in the accident that spilled the potatoes into the median of the highway.  Unfortunately, the driver needed to be flown to shock trauma in order to treat a significant arm injury.  This incident occurred just before the Pennsylvania Avenue exit in the Forestville area. 

            One lane was blocked during the morning rush hour creating a backup on the Capital Beltway.  Highway crews called in tractors to try and clean up the spill of potatoes and remove the overturned tractor trailer.  Police are investigating the cause of the crash and are considering the possibility that the driver fell asleep.  Drowsy driving is a serious problem, especially for truck drivers that are forced to drive through the night to meet deadlines.  To learn more about drowsy driving, take a look at our blog post on the topic.

            While it may be a little comical to see the pictures of potatoes all over the highway, we must remember that someone was seriously injured as a result of the accident.

If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident caused by the negligence of another driver, including truck drivers who have fallen asleep behind the wheel, please call us today at (301) 854-9000 to set up an appointment at one of our office locations located throughout Maryland for a free case evaluation or visit us online: http://www.portnerandshure.com/Auto-Accidents/Truck-Accidents/  

4 Things to Know About Leading Up to Trial in a Maryland Personal Injury Case

           While a majority of our personal injury cases are settled out of court, sometimes a deal cannot be reached between the attorney and the insurance company, or the settlement offer is too low and the attorney recommends and the client agrees to go to trial.  Most clients do not know what litigation or going to trial means.  Below, we discuss 4 steps to help better understand what to expect during this process.

1.      Filing a Complaint and Answer

First, you will meet with your lawyer to discuss what happened, including injuries, medical treatment, and damages sought.  Next, your lawyer files a complaint in the appropriate court.  As in every case, there is a plaintiff and a defendant.  In your situation, you are the plaintiff because you are bringing the suit.  The defendant will then file an answer to your complaint, and generally, the defendant’s attorney files a general denial to the allegations.

2.      Conducting Discovery and Filing Motions

Discovery consists of collecting information about the accident and the injuries.  The three most common forms of discovery include: interrogatories (questions that must be answered), document requests (requesting documents, such as medical records and police reports), and depositions (parties to the suit and witnesses give testimony that is video recorded at the lawyer’s office).  Oftentimes, motions will be made by both sides to ask the court to make a ruling on some issue of concern to that party.  For example, lawyers will make a motion to exclude certain evidence if it was collected illegally and is harmful to their client’s case.

3.      Settlement and Mediation

Once discovery is over and all motions are made, the two sides will work to try and negotiate a settlement.  However, sometimes the Court will order both parties to try and resolve the case before a neutral third party, known as a mediator.

4.      Trial

If a settlement or mediated agreement cannot be reached, the case will go to trial.  Before trial, your lawyer will prepare you for testifying in Court.  If the amount sued for is $30,000 or less, it will likely be a quick trial in district court in front of a judge.  If the amount sued for is greater than $30,000, the trial will be in front of a 6-person jury in circuit court.

           If you or a family member has been injured in a car, truck, or motorcycle accident in Maryland and would like a free case evaluation, please call us at (301) 854-9000 or visit us online at: http://www.portnerandshure.com/Auto-Accidents/

Tractor Trailer Collides with Car, Crashes into Maryland House

         Early this morning, a tractor trailer truck collided with a car on Honeygo Boulevard, near Cross Road in Perry Hall.  The car was making a left turn when the crash occurred.  The truck continued moving after hitting the car and eventually ran off the road into the back of a house.  The truck driver was trapped inside and firefighters were needed to pull him out.  The extent of the driver’s injuries is unknown, but he was taken to the hospital for treatment.  The house sustained minor structural damage as a result of the crash and nobody was injured inside the house.  The cause of the collision with the car, which started the chain reaction, is not known, but it is possible that strong winds this morning played a role.

Tractor trailer truck accidents often result in devastating injuries and catastrophic damage, but truck accident cases are often complicated and require experienced attorneys.  The size and weight of tractor-trailers and other large commercial vehicles make them very dangerous when on the road, especially in inclement weather.  Truck accidents often involve several other cars, thereby making it very important for someone involved in a truck accident to hire an experienced attorney. Injuries resulting from truck accidents can be devastating and many times injured victims are unable to recover enough money to cover the damages.  It is obvious to look to the negligence of the truck driver and motor carrier as the cause of the accident, but the shipper of the load cannot be forgotten as another possible liable party.  Therefore, it is important to seek recovery from all who are involved including the truck driver, the motor carrier, and the shipper of the load.  Keep in mind though, that the shipper will not always be liable in a truck accident, but should always be considered.

           One way to impose liability against a shipper is for negligent selection, which means that an employer can be subject to liability for its failure to exercise reasonable care in selecting a competent and careful contractor.  Courts will place a higher duty on a more experienced and prevalent shipper with frequent shipments to choose a safe and competent motor carrier to haul its goods.  Once it is proven that the shipper has a high duty of care to hire competent carriers, it needs to be proven that the carrier was incompetent.  Then, once incompetence has been proven, it must be established that the shipper knew or should have known of the incompetence.  Finally, in order to prevail under negligent selection, it must be proven that the deficient characteristics that rendered the carrier incompetent proximately caused the accident.  This means that if it is established that the carrier has a history of failing to properly maintain its fleet of vehicles and the cause of the accident is due to the driver falling asleep behind the wheel, there is no proximate cause between the incompetence and the cause of the accident.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a tractor trailer accident or sustained an injury as a result of a truck accident in Maryland, and would like more information, please call us at (301) 854-9000 for a free case evaluation or visit us online at: http://www.portnerandshure.com/Auto-Accidents/Truck-Accidents/

Maximizing Recovery for Truck Accident Victims in Silver Spring, Maryland

           Injuries resulting from truck accidents can be devastating.  However, many times injured victims are unable to recover enough money to cover the damages.  It is obvious to look to the negligence of the truck driver and motor carrier as the cause of the accident, but the shipper of the load cannot be forgotten as another possible liable party.  Motor carriers of nonhazardous materials are required to carry only $750,000 in single limit coverage, however, many times injuries sustained in a truck accident far exceed that amount.  Therefore, it is important to seek recovery from all who are involved including the truck driver, the motor carrier, and the shipper of the load.  Keep in mind though, that the shipper will not always be liable in a truck accident, but should always be considered.

            The shipper is the company that hires the motor carrier to haul its goods.  One way to impose liability against a shipper is for negligent selection, which means that an employer can be subject to liability for its failure to exercise reasonable care in selecting a competent and careful contractor.  When liability is being brought against a shipper, courts will look to the type of shipper that was used.  As a result, courts will place a higher duty on a more experienced and prevalent shipper with frequent shipments and large shipments to choose a safe and competent motor carrier to haul its goods.

            Once it is proven that the shipper has a high duty of care to hire competent carriers, it needs to be proven that the carrier was incompetent.  Then, once incompetence has been proven, it must be established that the shipper knew or should have known of the incompetence.  Finally, in order to prevail under negligent selection, it must be proven that the deficient characteristics that rendered the carrier incompetent proximately caused the accident.  This means that if it is established that the carrier has a history of failing to properly maintain its fleet of vehicles and the cause of the accident is due to the driver falling asleep behind the wheel, there is no proximate cause between the incompetence and the cause of the accident.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a tractor trailer accident or sustained an injury as a result of a truck accident in Silver Spring, and would like more information, please call us at (301) 854-9000 for a free case evaluation or visit us online at: http://www.portnerandshure.com/Auto-Accidents/Truck-Accidents/

5 Virginia Family Members Killed in Truck Accident

            While driving on Route 50 early Saturday morning in Wye Mills, Queen Anne’s County, Maryland, a family of 5 from Virginia was involved in an accident with a tractor-trailer.  State police said the truck was carrying a 22-ton load and “collided with the car at about 1:15am at Routes 50 and 213.”  Police believe that the tractor-trailer then rolled over the car with the Virginia family, killing everyone inside.  The truck driver was flown to Maryland Shock Trauma in Baltimore.  Police are still investigating the cause of this crash, but do not believe alcohol was involved.

            Truck accidents are common on highways because of increased traffic on the roadways.  This accident occurred on a lesser travelled highway and at a time when few cars are on the road.  Since the cause of the accident is still unknown, it is difficult to determine who was at fault.  In order to obtain large settlements or verdicts in truck accidents, it is necessary that you hire an attorney who knows and fully understands federal and state trucking regulations. The experienced attorneys at Portner & Shure have handled countless commercial truck accident cases resulting in large recoveries.

Some of the most serious truck accidents involve an override collision or an underride collision. An override collision involves a truck driving over an automobile. This type of accident usually occurs when a smaller car follows too closely behind a truck and drives under the truck when it suddenly stops. An underride collision involves a vehicle travelling under the truck where the roof of the car is crushed or stripped.  This accident does not appear to fit in to either of these categories of truck accidents, however, one of the following causes could explain why this accident happened.

Common causes of trucking accidents include:

·         A truck driver’s lack of training

·         Overloaded or oversized trucks

·         Dangerous driving conditions (rain, snow, ice, or fog)

·         Speeding, aggressive or reckless driving

·         Driver fatigue

·         Illegal maneuvers

If you or a family member has been injured or killed in a truck accident, contact Portner & Shure for a free legal consultation or if you would like more information on truck accidents at (410) 995-1515 or visit us on the web at http://www.portnerandshure.com/Auto-Accidents/Truck-Accidents/