Fatal Traffic Accidents Resulting From Side-Impact Commercial Truck Crashes

In greater Baltimore, as with other metropolitan areas across Maryland, victims injured in roadway collisions may find that they have grounds to file a personal injury claim against certain negligent parties. The exact facts and circumstances surrounding a particular traffic accident, as well as the nature and extent of the victim’s injuries, will have a bearing on whether or not it is advisable to pursue compensation.

As automobile and commercial trucking accident attorneys, the legal staff at Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers, understands that traffic wrecks can happen quickly and with little advance notice, yet the results can be painful, if not altogether fatal. Car- and motorcycle-related roadway collisions can be serious enough, but as every driver surely can understand, any crash involving a large commercial motor vehicle (CMV) can only up the ante for bodily injury or even death.

Serious trucking-related accidents can inflict catastrophic injuries on the occupants of a much smaller passenger vehicle. Regardless of how large or heavy one’s personal vehicle -- be it a four-door sedan, a big passenger van, outsized SUV or seemingly well-built pickup truck -- the odds are that no private car or light truck will be able to stand up to the punishment from an impact delivered by a 30-ton CMV traveling at highway speeds. The laws of physics do not yield for families in minivans or newlyweds in a limousine; if the car in which you are traveling is struck by an 18-wheeler, there will likely be injuries.

As professional attorneys experienced in handling trucking-related injury claims, we know that commercial truck crashes that involve victims riding in smaller passenger vehicles will more than likely result in some serious and potentially life-altering injuries. Because of this, it is important for victims or their families to be prepared to hold the negligent truck driver, and/or other responsible parties, accountable for any injuries or deaths resulting from a collision.

It should be noted that severe bodily injuries often require extensive medical treatment and subsequent physical rehabilitation. Those individuals lucky enough to survive a collision with a commercial truck may face exorbitant doctor and hospital bills, not to mention lost income should they be unable to return to work for an extended period of time. Other victims -- those less fortunate to recover in large part from their injuries -- may end up facing a lifetime of chronic health issues as a result of permanent disability.

Depending on the circumstances, some traffic accidents may require more complex litigation. This is the situation with many commercial trucking accidents, which can often involve multiple defendants, such as the truck driver, fleet owner, service or maintenance facility, and other third parties such as part and component manufacturers, distributors and suppliers. The legal team at Lebowitz & Mzhen understands that by the time a trucking accident victim needs legal representation, the damage has likely already been done.

In such cases, for instance after a serious passenger side-impact collision from an 18-wheeler or other large commercial motor vehicle, any number of life-threatening bodily injuries can result. These injuries may include severe arm, leg or hip fractures, spinal column injury, closed-head trauma, or serious internal injuries. Following a side-impact collision -- also known as a T-bone or right-angle crash -- victims often require immediate and extensive medical treatment for their various injuries. In addition to medical help, victims and their families may wish to seek legal assistance when negligence is involved.

Perpendicular collisions, or T-bone wrecks, involving semi tractor-trailers, large box-type delivery vehicles, heavy construction vehicles and even motor coaches and city buses occur quite frequently at intersections all across Maryland and in the District of Columbia. These kinds of commercial vehicle crashes usually involve the victim’s vehicle being struck by a faster-moving truck, the force of which can result in serious injury or even death.

Some of the causes of T-bone collisions can include distracted driving, DWI-DUI, reckless or careless vehicle operation, and sometimes aggressive driving or road rage. While most people would expect professional truck drivers to maintain a high standard of professionalism behind the wheel of these large and potentially deadly machines, there are numerous instances where truckers have been found to be negligent in trucking-related personal injury cases.

Bodily injuries can occur with almost any kind of high-energy traffic accident; however, 90-degree impacts from large commercial vehicles can produce some of the more serious injuries, despite the modern airbag technology provided in many passenger cars. When a collision involving a semi tractor-trailer or other massive CMV takes place, the effect on the driver and passengers can turn out to be fatal, especially at high speeds. In fact, depending on the circumstances, even at low speeds, severe injuries can frequently be expected. This is often due to the limited amount of “crumple zone” provided on the sides of most any passenger car, SUV or light truck.

While there is no way to predict the ultimate outcome of a commercial vehicle accident, our Baltimore personal injury lawyers are ready to assist victims who have survived serious traffic wrecks. If you or someone you love has been badly injured by the careless actions of a commercial trucker, the Lebowitz & Mzhen legal team recommends that you contact a qualified trucking and automobile accident lawyer to discuss your options. We can help you better understand your rights and offer our years of courtroom experience in fighting for damages and financial compensation.

Our attorneys prepare each client’s case with the full intention of taking the lawsuit to trial. Although not every automobile injury case is settled out of court, our detailed legal preparation can make the difference between a long, drawn out courtroom trial and a more expeditious settlement. To better understand your rights under the law, please feel free to call Lebowitz & Mzhen toll-free at (800) 654-1949 in order to arrange for a free, no-obligation legal consultation. Or email either Jack Lebowitz or Vadim Mzhen to set up a meeting with one of our skilled attorneys to discuss your trucking injury accident case.