Trucking Accidents

Baltimore-Washington Area Truck Accident Attorney.

Fighting for Your Rights in the Local Community for Over 20 Years

Today, more than ever, highways, freeways and major thoroughfares are jam-packed with huge trucks. Big rigs, 18-wheelers, tractor trailers, tankers and construction vehicles… about 15.5 million of these monsters now hit the roads every day.

Sure, they serve an essential purpose – delivering goods and services to consumers nationwide. But, let’s face it, they can be downright dangerous.

In fact, The United States Department of Transportation estimates that over 500,000 truck accidents occur every year – and thousands of ordinary (non-trucking) motorists and pedestrians are catastrophically injured or killed because of them.

If a trucking accident causes you to suffer a serious injury – even broken bones, nerve damage or whiplash, you may be entitled to monetary compensation to cover your medical costs, as well as lost wages from missing work.

The law offices of Joseph H. Ostad is here to help.

For more than 20 years, we’ve been fighting for the rights of local citizens…and have represented dozens upon dozens of those injured by a truck.

Trucking companies typically have lots of money and power. And if you’re involved in an accident with one of their rigs, they’ll try to leverage that money and power against you.

That’s why you need a lawyer who understands how to go up against these “corporate entities” and protect your interests and deliver the compensation you deserve.

For example, an injury accident involving a truck is usually more serious than an accident involving two cars. For this reason, prompt investigation of the accident scene is crucial.

The trucking companies understand this very well.

That’s why they typically dispatch their own team of investigators who storm upon the scene immediately. They’re looking for skid marks, accident debris… even gas, radiator and oil stains. They’re also looking for eyewitnesses to favor their position.

A good truck accident lawyer has to beat them to the punch… and find evidence in your favor. Even if it isn’t possible to be at the scene, an attorney with extensive experience in these situations knows how to investigate the scene after the fact.

The second thing to understand is that drivers and their trucking companies have to follow a vast array of laws and regulations that don’t apply to ordinary motorists. These include maintenance and inspection procedures, loading and tie-down requirements, and special licensing requirements.

A good truck accident lawyer better know these rules and regulations like the back of his hand.

Finally, many truck accidents occur because of negligence on the part of the truck driver or company… negligence that may not seem apparent at first. A good truck accident attorney will be able to determine what actually happened.

For example, did you know that truck accidents are frequently caused by cargo shifts? Many times, the cargo is secured improperly…or it’s not tied down adequately… and once the truck hits the road, the cargo can spring loose and cause severe accidents.

Even shifting cargo inside a trailer can cause a driver to loose control of a big rig and cause an accident.

Here again, a good truck accident lawyer will be intimately familiar with the regulations issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to determine if negligence by the driver – or the trucking company itself – caused the accident and injury.

Here are the most frequent causes of tractor trailer accidents according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration:

1. The truck driver moves outside his lane of travel into another lane or travels off the road altogether.
2. The truck driver loses control of his vehicle because his cargo shifts; he is traveling at a speed faster than conditions allow; he has a vehicle systems failure; or the road conditions are poor.
3. The truck driver collides with the rear end of the vehicle directly in front of him because he is following too closely.

Make no mistake: Trucking companies will throw their full power, weight and money to protect their interests…

That’s why, if you’re injured in a truck accident, you’ll need to have a lawyer who has the experience to go head to head with these powerful interests… and fight to deliver the compensation you deserve. The law offices of Joseph H. Ostad will be your first line of defense.

Let Us Help You Today

When it comes to helping truck accident victims, experience matters most. The law offices of Joseph H. Ostad have been representing truck accident clients for more than 20 years. We’ll handle each step of the process professionally and quickly. We’ll work hard to protect your rights. Please contact us today at one of our conveniently located offices in Rockville or Baltimore for a free initial consultation. You can call 800-320-0080 and talk to us directly or click here to contact us online.