College Park, Maryland Truck Accident Lawyer

Commercial Vehicle Accidents in College Park

Truck accidents take many dangerous forms, mainly along heavily traveled routes in College Park, Maryland,:

• Underride accidents occur when smaller vehicles slide beneath a truck’s trailer, often due to sudden stops near the University of Maryland campus.
• Jackknife accidents happen when trucks brake suddenly, causing the trailer to swing out at a 90-degree angle, which is especially hazardous on the curved sections of the Capital Beltway.
• Rollover crashes are common on exit ramps and tight turns, particularly when trucks are carrying heavy loads to local businesses or construction sites.
• Wide-turn accidents frequently occur at busy intersections like Route 1 and University Boulevard, where trucks need extra space to maneuver.
• Rear-end collisions are particularly devastating when fully loaded trucks fail to stop in time during rush hour traffic near the College Park Metro station.
• Blind spot accidents happen when trucks change lanes without seeing smaller vehicles, especially during heavy commuter traffic between Washington, DC, and Baltimore.
• Cargo spills are also common, creating additional hazards when improperly secured loads fall onto busy roads, which is hazardous given College Park’s mix of student pedestrians, cyclists, and local traffic.

Truck Accident Claims in College Park

Truck accidents differ from regular car crashes in College Park because semi-trucks weigh up to 80,000 pounds—about 20 times more than a regular car. This considerable weight difference means crashes often cause severe injuries or death, and trucks can destroy other vehicles on impact. These accidents cause significant traffic delays and can spill dangerous cargo onto the roads.

When a truck crashes, many parties might be responsible: the truck driver, the trucking company, the cargo loading team, or the truck manufacturer. The driver might have fallen asleep after driving too long, the company might have pushed drivers to skip needed truck repairs, or workers might have overloaded cargo. These problems happen often in College Park, especially on busy roads like Route 1 and Interstate 495.

Truck drivers must follow strict safety rules. They can only drive for 11 hours and must take regular rest breaks. They must also keep detailed logs of their driving time and have their trucks inspected regularly. The company must ensure that its trucks meet safety standards and that its drivers are adequately trained.

In College Park, truck accidents often happen because:

• Drivers work too many hours and fall asleep while driving
• Companies skip truck maintenance to save money
• Cargo isn’t secured properly and falls onto the road
• Trucks carry more weight than they should
• Drivers don’t check their blind spots when changing lanes
• Bad weather makes it hard to stop such a heavy vehicle

If you’ve been in a truck accident, evidence like driver logs, truck maintenance records, and cargo loading documents can help prove who was at fault. A lawyer who knows truck accident cases can help gather this evidence and deal with trucking company lawyers who will try to avoid paying for damages.

Regan Zambri Long offers free consultations to discuss your accident case and explain how you can get compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other crash-related expenses.