Distracted Driving Truck Accidents in Prince George’s County
Every person who operates a motor vehicle in Maryland has an implicit legal obligation to keep their focus on the road and the various other vehicles and people on it. This particular duty is especially important for commercial truck drivers since fully loaded tractor-trailers weigh up to 80,000 pounds. Even half that weight can cause colossal damage if it collides with a smaller commuter car.
When a distracted driving truck accident in Prince George’s County causes you physical injury, you may have legal options for pursuing fair financial recovery. A conversation with a seasoned truck accident attorney could provide the answers and clarification you need to proactively seek the restitution you deserve.
Proving a Truck Driver Was Distracted
Distractions on the road can come in manual, visual, or cognitive forms. Manual distractions have to do with physical motions like eating or reaching for someone in a passenger seat and are unrelated to controlling a vehicle in motion. Visual distractions—as the term suggests—involve a driver looking at something other than the road ahead, like a billboard, passengers, or their phone or personal electronic device. Cognitive distractions are purely mental and, such as stress, fatigue, and alcohol or drug intoxication.
Regardless of exactly how distracted driving led to a truck accident in Prince George’s County, the behavior of the truck driver involved generally counts as legally negligent since it entails a failure to operate their vehicle the way a reasonable person would. However, establishing distraction as the primary cause of a truck accident can be a uniquely challenging endeavor since there is often little concrete evidence available to prove a trucker was distracted immediately before a wreck.
Relevant evidence in claims like these may include truck cab camera footage, testimony from witnesses and other people involved in the crash, assistance from accident reconstruction experts, and even subpoenaed message logs from cell phones. Support from experienced legal counsel is often essential to finding, compiling, and effectively presenting important evidence following a distracted driving truck crash.
How State Law Could Inhibit Recovery Efforts for a Truck Crash
Unfortunately, Maryland is not a particularly plaintiff-friendly state when it comes to enabling the pursuit of civil compensation by personal injury victims. For example, Maryland Code, Courts & Judicial Proceedings § 3-2A-09 sets a cap on how much compensation one individual can recover for “pain and suffering” damages in a single case, regardless of how severe or long-lasting their injuries are.
Additionally, Maryland’s “pure contributory fault” standard prohibits all financial recovery by any civil plaintiff found partially liable for their own damages to any degree. Finally, MD Code, C&JP § 5-101 allows most prospective plaintiffs just three years after sustaining an injury to file suit over ensuing losses, which is a deceptively short period in which to build a comprehensive claim. Retaining legal counsel as early as possible following a distracted driving commercial vehicle accident in Prince George’s County allows the attorney to get to work immediately to ensure all restrictions are met.
Contact a Prince George’s County Attorney After a Distracted Driving Truck Accident
The aftermath of a motor vehicle collision caused by a distracted driver can present many financial, physical, and personal challenges for everyone involved. Handling those challenges without support from a qualified legal professional could leave you in a position where you have to pay for all your accident-related losses yourself, even if someone else was primarily to blame.
A capable attorney could be an essential ally after a distracted driving truck accident in Prince George’s County. Call today for a consultation.
