Commercial trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds with cargo and trailer. Their high center of gravity makes them especially prone to toppling over during an accident. When you are lucky enough to survive a wreck with one, your future will revolve around healing. Most truck accidents lead to catastrophic injuries, including paralysis, disfigurement, multiple broken and crushed bones, and head and neck injuries.
Depending on what caused the truck to roll, the trucking company, trucker, or manufacturer could be liable for your injuries. Federal law requires truck owners to carry substantial liability insurance, and an experienced truck crash attorney from our firm could help you pursue compensation. We are prepared to negotiate insurance settlements or file negligence lawsuits to help our clients obtain the best possible outcomes after rollover truck accidents in Prince George’s County.
What Causes Rollover Truck Accidents?
Several maneuvers cause truck wheels to rise above the pavement, leaving the driver with no control. This, in turn, may cause a rollover accident. Trucks are prone to rollovers because they have a higher center of gravity than automobiles, making them more unstable in some situations. Rollovers are often triggered by:
- Loading or securing cargo improperly
- Making a sharp direction correction by over-steering
- Traveling too fast for road and traffic conditions or exceeding a posted speed limit
- Driving in poor weather like torrential rain or in high winds that could topple an unloaded truck
- Driver inattention like texting and driving, drinking and eating, or falling asleep at the wheel
To litigate a negligence lawsuit after a Prince George’s County rollover, attorneys must find evidence to prove what happened and who is responsible for the truck accident.
Gathering Evidence
Many commercial trucks are equipped with black boxes similar to those airplanes use. In addition, truck drivers must keep logs that detail safety checks and mileage, which must align with the number of hours the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) permits a trucker to drive daily and weekly.
Driver fatigue has contributed to many accidents. Many truck drivers push themselves too hard and sacrifice sleep, especially when an employer offers bonuses for early deliveries. A Prince George’s County personal injury attorney who is knowledgeable about how rollover truck accidents happen could prove this by obtaining logbooks, police reports, and witness testimony to substantiate a negligence suit.
Federal Law and Liability Insurance
Trucking companies must carry liability insurance at minimum varying amounts depending on a truck’s weight, if it travels outside its home state, and if it carries hazardous cargo. Under the US Code of Federal Regulations § 387.9, liability insurance minimums range from $750,000 to $5 million.
If an injured party’s medical care will extend well into the future—such as when paralysis or brain injuries are involved—a personal injury attorney familiar with federal and state trucking rules could make a case for negligence and fight for an adequate damages award. By working with a local law firm, an injured individual could explore all possible insurance policies and avenues for recovering after rollover truck wrecks in Prince George’s County.
Seek Legal Guidance in Prince George’s County After Rollover Truck Accidents
Commercial truck accidents are among the deadliest because of the sheer bulk and force of a cargo-laden truck and trailer rolling over on, or smashing into, a passenger car or motorcycle. Survivors usually sustain life-threatening injuries that take time and money to get over.
Trucking companies carry substantial liability insurance by federal mandate. If your attorney negotiates but does not get a suitable settlement offer, a jury could decide how much to award you. With ample evidence to back your claims, insurance companies often do not want to take that chance.
Let us help you get your life back on track. After rollover truck accidents in Prince George’s County, seek legal guidance from our team at Price Benowitz.
