Founding Partner
After a serious truck accident, most people want answers. What went wrong? Who’s at fault? And more urgently—who’s going to pay for the damage?
If you were injured in a collision with a commercial truck in Maryland, you may assume that the truck driver is the only person responsible. But in reality, truck accident liability is often much more complicated. Multiple parties may share legal responsibility, and identifying each one is key to recovering the compensation you deserve.
Truck Accidents Are Different from Car Accidents
Commercial trucks—like semis, box trucks, or delivery vehicles—aren’t just bigger than cars. They’re also part of a larger business operation that involves many players behind the scenes. That’s why truck accident claims often involve more than just the driver.
In Maryland, several different parties may be held liable for a truck accident, depending on how it happened and what caused the crash. Let’s break down the most common ones.
The Truck Driver
The truck driver is often the first person considered after a crash. If the driver was:
- Speeding
- Driving while fatigued
- Distracted or texting
- Driving under the influence
- Ignoring traffic laws or road conditions
Then they can be held personally liable for the harm caused. But even if the driver made a mistake, they’re rarely the only one responsible.
The Trucking Company
Under a legal concept called respondeat superior, employers can be held liable for their employees’ actions, especially when the employee is working within the scope of their job.
In truck accident cases, this means the trucking company can often be held responsible for:
- Failing to train or supervise the driver properly
- Forcing unrealistic delivery schedules that encourage speeding or skipping rest breaks
- Neglecting maintenance or repairs
- Ignoring safety violations or red flags in the driver’s record
The company may also be liable if it hired someone with a history of dangerous driving or failed to ensure compliance with federal trucking regulations.
The Truck Owner or Leasing Company
Sometimes, the trucking company doesn’t actually own the vehicle. It may be leased from another company that’s responsible for maintaining it. If poor maintenance (like worn brakes or bald tires) contributed to the crash, the truck’s owner or maintenance provider may share fault.
The Cargo Loader or Shipper
Improperly loaded or unsecured cargo can make a truck harder to control—or cause it to tip over, spill, or jackknife. If a third-party company was responsible for loading the truck and failed to do so safely, they may be liable for the resulting accident.
This is especially common in cases involving:
- Shifting loads
- Overloaded trailers
- Hazardous material spills
The Truck or Parts Manufacturer
Sometimes a crash happens not because of human error, but because something on the truck fails. If a defective part—like a brake system, steering component, or tire—caused the accident, the manufacturer of that part may be legally responsible.
We work with mechanical experts and engineers to determine whether a product defect played a role in your crash.
Government Entities or Road Contractors
If the accident was caused by a dangerous road condition, such as poor signage, bad lighting, or lack of guardrails, a government agency or road contractor may be held accountable. These claims are more complex and follow different legal procedures, but they are sometimes necessary.
Identifying All Liable Parties Is Crucial
Truck accident injuries are often severe—spinal damage, brain trauma, broken bones—and the costs can be enormous. If you only pursue compensation from the driver, you may miss out on additional coverage from the trucking company, maintenance contractors, or insurers.
A thorough investigation can uncover:
- Logbook violations
- Maintenance records
- Black box data
- Dash cam footage
- Communications between drivers and dispatchers
At McGowan & Cecil, we don’t stop at the obvious. We dig deeper to make sure every responsible party is held accountable.
What to Do If You’ve Been Injured
After a truck accident, you need medical care and legal support, not pressure from insurance companies. Don’t give a recorded statement, don’t sign anything, and don’t accept a settlement without talking to a lawyer first.
Our team can:
- Preserve evidence before it disappears
- Coordinate with your medical providers
- Calculate the full cost of your injuries
- Negotiate aggressively with insurers
- Take the case to trial if needed
We handle these cases on a contingency basis, which means you don’t pay unless we win.
Talk to a Maryland Truck Accident Attorney Today
If you’ve been hurt in a commercial truck accident, you shouldn’t have to figure everything out on your own. Liability can be complex, but that’s where we come in. Call McGowan & Cecil today so we can start working on your claim.