Throughout Washington DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia, large commercial big rigs and semi-trucks cruise the interstates and highways. At any given hour of the day or night, truckers can be found operating their 80,000 lb. commercial trucks on our roads—often breaking federal trucking rules and regulations along the way. When a catastrophic trucking accident does occur, often the truck driver is to blame.
There are numerous ways a trucker can be liable for a trucking accident, including:
- Drinking and driving
- Speeding and aggressive driving
- Drug use
- Failing to properly secure the load
- Falsifying driving logs
- Driving fatigued
- Overloading the truck
- Leaving the scene of an accident
- Failure to maintain truck in single lane of traffic
- Running stop lights
- Tailgating
- Driving too fast for weather conditions
Inexperience and Truck Driver Negligence:
Truck drivers must be on top of their game every single hour they drive. They must be aware of their truck, the road conditions, the traffic, and whether their cargo is stable. Unfortunately, far too many truck drivers are inexperienced. When in the midst of heavy traffic, the driver must be aware of the weather conditions, the drivers around the truck, and the way the truck will react to a sudden stop or wide turn. Inexperienced truck drivers may disregard traffic rules, engage in excessive speed, drive recklessly or aggressively, or drive many more hours than the rules allow. Because truck drivers only get paid when they are on the road, many drivers ignore valued safety rules, in order to increase their paycheck.
Distracted Driving and Truck Driver Negligence:
Distracted driving is at an all-time high in the United States—even for truck drivers. Talking on the phone, texting, changing radio stations, watching what is happening on the side of the road, or even daydreaming are all behaviors, which take the truck driver’s attention from the road. While distraction is dangerous for all drivers, it is particularly dangerous for drivers of an 80,000-pound vehicle that is sometimes loaded with hazardous cargo. Even minor inattention behind the wheel of a semi-truck can result in a serious, even fatal, accident.
If you are the victim of a trucking accident in Washington DC, Maryland, or Northern Virginia, the single best step you can take—after attending to your health—is to speak to a knowledgeable truck accident attorney who can look out for your future. Proving that the truck driver was to blame for your accident is not an easy task. Valuable evidence must be collected quickly to establish liability. If truck driver negligence is the reason for your trucking accident, you deserve to be compensated fully.
Contact Reputable Trucking Accident Lawyers
At Patrick Malone & Associates, our trucking accident lawyers realize how serious truck accidents in the Washington, DC metro area, Virginia, and throughout the State of Maryland can be. We also know that truck drivers are often to blame for these serious and catastrophic accidents. As such, we work diligently from the very start to build a case that is designed to maximize compensation. Call us at 1-202-742-1500 or 1-888-625-6635 or fill out our confidential contact form for a FREE Consultation and review of your case.
The trucking accident attorneys at Patrick Malone & Associates have successfully represented injured individuals in Washington, DC, Arlington, Alexandria, Annapolis, Rockville, Baltimore, Richmond, Fairfax, Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and other locations throughout Maryland and Virginia.
