Middletown Truck Accident Lawyers
100 years of combined experience fighting for the victims of Delaware truck accidents
Every hour of every day, trucks of all shapes and sizes drive in and through Middletown to deliver consumer and business goods. These trucks include large tractor-trailers, rigs, and other commercial trucks as well as smaller delivery trucks that deliver Amazon products, everyday needs, and food and drink. At Silverman, McDonald & Friedman, we have the experience and working relationships with truck safety professionals, investigators, and others to show how truck accidents happen and who is responsible. Due to their size and weight, truck accidents often cause permanent and catastrophic injuries. Many truck accidents are fatal.
Our Middletown truck accident lawyers have helped many people like you obtain full compensation for their injuries or the death of a loved one. Our record of recoveries in truck accident cases includes:
- $1.25 million for a truck accident victim who suffered post-concussion syndrome
- $1.25 million in a truck collision/work injury case
How can we help?
- How dangerous are truck accidents?
- What types of truck accidents do you handle in Middletown?
- Why do truck accidents happen in Middletown?
- Who is responsible for Middletown truck accidents?
- What laws govern truck driving in Delaware?
- What injuries do truck accidents cause?
- How do you fight for truck accident victims in Delaware?
How dangerous are truck accidents?
The Delaware State Police report that in 2023, truck accident deaths and injuries occurred as follows:
- Pickup trucks. 26 people died and 1,012 crashes caused injuries.
- Semis and tractor-trailers. 6 people died and 124 crashes caused injuries.
- Other truck combinations and commercial vans. There were 7 fatal crashes and 245crashes caused injuries.
Nationally, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) states that in 2021, 5, 904 large trucks and buses were involved in deadly crashes.
When trucks and cars collide, the occupants of the cars will suffer the most. Cars are simply no match for the length, height, width, and weight of a tractor-trailer or any heavy truck.
For example, Semi-trailer trucks weigh about 10,000 pounds (5 tons) and have a large load capacity of about 26.4 tons. The average weight of a car in 2022 is 4,094 pounds.
What types of truck accidents do you handle in Middletown?
At Silverman, McDonald & Friedman, we handle all types of truck accidents including accidents with multiple victims and multiple defendants. Many of the truck accidents we handle are similar to car accidents. These accidents include head-on crashes, broadsides, rear-end collisions, single-vehicle accidents, and multi-vehicle crashes.
Many truck accidents are fairly unique to trucks. These accidents include:
- Jackknife accidents
Truck rollovers - Blind-spot accidents
- Wide-turn accidents
- Underride collisions
- Override collisions
- Backing out accidents
- Excess cargo and improperly loaded cargo accidents.
Why do truck accidents happen in Middletown?
Our Middletown truck accident lawyers have the skills to show that truck drivers and trucking companies failed to use proper caution – causing your injuries or the death of a loved one. Trucks need much more time and distance to stop than cars.
Some of the common causes of truck accidents include:
Truck driver causes. These include:
- Truck driver fatigue
- Impaired driving
- Distracted driving
- Speeding, tailgating, reckless driving, and other violations of Delaware’s traffic laws.
- Failing to manage blind spots.
- Failing to inspect the truck before each trip.
Trucking company causes. These include:
- Failing to vet the driver
- Failing to educate the driver about possible dangers
- Failing to inspect and repair the truck (or truck fleet) on a regular basis
Other causes. These include:
- Defective truck parts
- Dram shop violations
- Faulty road design and maintenance
Who is responsible for Middletown truck accidents?
Our personal injury and wrongful death lawyers file claims against every person and every company that caused or contributed to your accident. The defendants in your case often include one or more of the following:
- The truck driver
- The truck driver’s employer
- The owner of the truck – if different than the driver
- The trucking broker who arranges the shipment
- Any other companies involved in the shipment
- Truck manufacturers
- Truck repair and maintenance companies
- The Delaware Department of Transportation and other state and local entities/agencies – for failing to properly design and maintain the roads around Middletown
- A seller of alcohol such as a tavern or hotel if they sell alcohol to a patron who is visibly intoxicated who then causes an accident
- Any other responsible parties such as a car driver
What laws govern truck driving in Delaware?
At Silverman, McDonald & Friedman, we understand the federal and Delaware laws that regulate truck driving. Some of these laws include:
- Hours of service rules. The FMCSA regulates how many hours during a day and during a 7/8 day period truck drivers can operate their trucks before they must take a rest. Drivers and trucking companies are required to keep electronic logs of the times their trucks are in operation.
- Loading and unloading rules. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulates how different types of cargo are required to be loaded.
- Size and weight requirements. Delaware regulates the size and weight of trucks, truck trailers, trailers and semitrailers, and any other truck combinations.
There are also truck equipment rules that regulate rear underride safety guards and other parts of all types of trucks.
Violations of these rules can help show that a truck driver or trucking company is responsible for your Middletown truck accident.
What injuries do truck accidents cause?
Trucking accidents often cause fatal, catastrophic, and permanent injuries. Our Middletown truck accident lawyers handle all types of serious injuries including:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Traumatic amputation/loss of limb
- Spinal cord injuries including paralysis
- Broken bones/fractures
- Burns
- Lung, kidney, and other organ damage
- Crush injuries
- Muscle and nerve injuries
- Neck, shoulder, and back pain
- Scarring and disfigurement
- All other types of serious injuries
How do you fight for truck accident victims in Delaware?
Our Middletown truck accident lawyers work with investigators and the police to determine how accidents happen. We also work with trucking industry professionals, truck product safety experts, and others who also help to establish the liability of the driver and trucking companies.
We question the defendants in writing (interrogatories) and question the defendants and witnesses orally (depositions). Our lawyers also review all relevant records which may include the hours of service electronic logs, black boxes, phone records (if a driver was texting or talking on a cell phone), inspection and record documents, insurance policies, training records, and prior litigation.
We also review what technology such as blind spot mirrors, sensors, and cameras the driver uses.
Our personal injury lawyers review your injuries, the medical care you need, and every way your injuries are affecting your life with your treating doctors. We work with your employers and financial professionals to verify your financial losses.
Once our investigation, questioning, and review are complete; we negotiate with the insurance companies to try to achieve a settlement. If we can’t negotiate a settlement, we argue your case before a jury. We’re seasoned trial attorneys.
Speak with our Middletown personal injury lawyers today
At Silverman, McDonald & Friedman; we understand the unique challenges involved in representing truck accident victims. We demand compensation for all your current and future medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, property damage, and other financial and personal damages. We also file wrongful death damages when a truck accident takes the life of your loved one. Our Middletown truck accident lawyers have the experience and resources to fight trucking companies and their high-priced lawyers.
Please call us or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation. We have offices in Seaford, Newark, and Wilmington, Delaware. We represent clients on a contingency fee basis.