Truck Accident Statistics in Maryland
Truck accidents happen every day in Maryland and across the country. When it happens, the occupants of passenger vehicles can be severely injured. Unfortunately, tractor-trailer accidents are rising in Maryland and more people are being hurt.
Learn about Maryland truck accident statistics below. If you have been a victim of a Maryland truck accident, you aren’t alone. A Baltimore, Maryland, truck accident lawyer is ready to fight for your legal rights.
Truck Accident Statistics In Maryland and Nationally
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports 4,761 people were killed in truck accidents in 2017 across the United States. In Maryland that year, there were 49 commercial trucks involved in fatal accidents. More revealing statistics on truck crashes for 2014 in Maryland:
- Tractor-trailer accidents in 2014 caused seven fatalities among truck drivers in Maryland.
- Deaths involving large trucks were 49 in 2014, with 59 in 2013.
- There were 48 light utility truck deaths and eight light truck van deaths.
- There were no fatal bus accidents in Maryland that year, but about 21 die annually in bus accidents nationally.
Nationally, there are about 388,000 tractor-trailer accidents every year. This is about 6.5 percent of all accidents. About 28 percent of truck accidents cause injuries, and 11 percent, or 40,000, are fatal. About 50 percent of these big rig crashes kill passenger vehicle occupants.
In 2020 alone, there were 4,842 tractor-trailers involved in fatal accidents. This was 9 percent of all vehicles in fatal crashes and 4 percent of all registered vehicles.
Legal Considerations About Maryland Truck Accidents
While pickup truck and SUV accidents can usually be handled like any auto accident, a tractor-trailer crash is another matter. Maryland has many laws that were written to help the victims of large truck crashes.
That’s why Maryland personal injury attorneys should be familiar with the state’s many details of commercial vehicle laws. Money could be left on the settlement table if your attorney doesn’t know Maryland law and the finer details of truck crashes.
Truck accident attorneys in Maryland also focus on unique aspects of commercial vehicle crashes. For instance, most tractor-trailers are required by federal law to carry data recorders (black boxes) that track many parameters that help to determine how a truck crash happened.
Further, many state and federal laws deal with how big trucks are used and maintained. So, truck accident plaintiffs have plenty of information to mine about the truck and driver that are usually unavailable in other accidents.
There is a tendency in truck crashes for drivers and employers to destroy evidence that incriminates the driver or the company. Parties in these cases are supposed to retain proof of a crash if there is a chance of a lawsuit. To ensure valuable evidence is preserved, your attorney should send correspondence to the trucking company as soon as possible.
What Causes Maryland Truck Accidents?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reported about 141,000 truck crashes yearly. In about 75,000 of those, the truck driver was at fault. This is worth mentioning because the American Trucking Association frequently claims that truck drivers don’t cause truck accidents.
The FMCSA 2006 reported these were the top 10 causes of tractor-trailer accidents when the trucker was at fault:
- Prescription drug use
- Speeding
- Not knowing the roadway
- OTC drug use
- Poor surveillance
- Driver fatigue
- Illegal maneuvers
- Distraction
- Improper evasive action
- Aggressive driving
Distracted Driving in Maryland Truck Accidents
Statistics show more distracted driving accidents in Maryland, which also applies to truck crashes. However, experienced truck accident lawyers in Baltimore know how to investigate a collision to learn if the trucker who hit you was distracted behind the wheel. Some of the things your attorney can do to prove the case include:
- Hire a truck crash reconstruction expert to recreate the accident and report if driver distraction was a factor.
- Interview truck crash witnesses who may have noticed driver distraction.
- Subpoena security camera footage of the truck crash.
- Review cell phone records that could prove the driver was texting or talking during the crash.
- Access the truck’s data recorder, indicating if the driver was paying attention just before the incident.
The data recorder is usually erased within a month of the accident. So, your attorney must send the trucking company a spoliation letter asking that the black box data be retained for a truck accident claim.
Maryland Personal Injury Statute of Limitations
Remember to contact an attorney soon after your truck crash. In Maryland, you have only three years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit.
Contact a Maryland Truck Crash Attorney Now
If you are in a Maryland truck crash, you may be unsure what to do or where to turn. With a severe truck injury, you may be unable to work or pay your bills. Fortunately, our Baltimore truck accident attorneys know how to help. Call Pinder Plotkin today for a complimentary consultation on your truck crash case.
