Silver Spring Truck Accident Attorney

Silver Spring Truck Accident Lawyers

Protecting the rights of Montgomery County tractor-trailer crashes

When a truck driver gets behind the wheel, they have a responsibility to drive their vehicle safely. Commercial vehicles can weigh as much as 40 tons. And if you’ve ever been unfortunate enough to see the aftermath of a Maryland truck accident or, worse, been involved in one, you know how much more catastrophic they can be than car accidents.

The Silver Spring truck accident attorneys at Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A. are here for you if you’ve been involved in a truck accident. We can help you bring a personal injury claim against the negligent party for your losses – things like medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses. Our firm has decades of experience fighting for the rights of people just like you. We’re not afraid to take on the trucking and insurance companies.

Maryland truck accident statistics

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 48 people were killed in truck accidents in Maryland in 2017. Maryland is a major trucking route due to its location on the Eastern seaboard, as well as the Beltway and its various connections to highways and local roads.

Locally, Silver Spring sees a lot of truck traffic on I-95 and I-495, and you may find 18-wheelers or smaller delivery trucks on Route 97, Route 29, Route 193, and Route 390, Route 410, and Route 650.

Truck Accident Lawyer Silver Spring MD

Common causes of Silver Spring truck accidents

Whatever you call them – tractor-trailers, 18-wheelers, semi-trucks – these vehicles are bigger, heavier, and much more dangerous than passenger vehicles. When a truck collides with a car, unfortunately the truck will win just about every time.

When our legal team takes your case, we immediately start researching and investigating to determine how your accident occurred and who (or what) is responsible. Truck accidents happen for many reasons, including:

  • Driver fatigue. Truck drivers especially are prone to fatigue due to their long hours on the road. Federal law requires them to rest after a specific number of driving hours, but many drivers will push themselves past their limits to get deliveries made on time or early. Some unscrupulous companies may urge drivers to work around federal regulations as well.
  • Distracted driving. Although distracted driving is an issue for all drivers, because of the size of a commercial truck, it can put even more people on the road at risk. The monotony of long-distance driving can tempt truck drivers to perform dangerous behaviors behind the wheel, like using their phone, adjust a GPS or radio, eating, or grooming.
  • Careless driving. Truck drivers must respect Maryland traffic laws just like everybody else. Speeding, failing to yield, or running stoplights or stop signs can lead to tragic accidents. Drivers also need to pay attention to ensure they stay on truck-approved roads and highways only.
  • Drunk or impaired driving. If a trucker gets drunk behind the wheel of a vehicle as large as a tractor-trailer, any accident is sure to be catastrophic. Impaired drivers have bad judgment, slowed reaction times, drive recklessly, and put other drivers and pedestrians in life-threatening danger.
  • Improper maintenance. Both state and federal law require that commercial trucks undergo routine maintenance and repairs. Any safety problems must be addressed and repaired before a vehicle can go back on the road. Sometimes an accident cause can be traced directly back to an improper or neglected repair.
  • Defective truck parts. Some accidents may be caused by mechanical issues like defective tires or faulty brakes, which can cause a truck to go out of control. In cases like these, your Silver Spring truck accident lawyer will hold the manufacturer responsible when their defective truck parts cause you harm.
  • Overloaded or unbalanced trucks. Unfortunately, there are companies out there that put profit before safety and will attempt to load their trucks beyond maximum cargo limits. Overloaded or unbalanced trucks are harder to control because of their weight, and have a higher risk of rolling over. Overloaded trucks can more easily spill their cargo, too, which can cause a chain reaction of accidents.
  • Inadequate driver training. Driving a truck requires a special license and many hours of training – how to load and unload, safety and emergency procedures, traffic laws and rules of the road, and basic maintenance. The trucking industry is currently experiencing a driver shortage, and some companies settle for unqualified and inexperienced drivers.

Compensation for your Silver Spring tractor-trailer accident

Every truck accident and its circumstances are unique. Depending on what happened and on the severity of your injuries, you may be entitled to a few types of compensation:

  • Medical expenses (including future expenses)
  • Lost wages
  • Pain and suffering

Medical expenses can include things like your emergency room visit, surgeries, treatments, physical therapy, and prescriptions. We will also fight for you to be compensated for your pain and suffering from the emotional and physical pain resulting from the accident. Pain and suffering from a Maryland truck accident could include:

  • Chronic pain
  • Depression and anxiety
  • Limited daily activity
  • Scarring and disfigurement
  • Potential shortening of life

Silver Spring Truck Accident Resources

After a crash with a tractor-trailer, delivery truck or other commercial vehicle in Silver Spring or elsewhere in Montgomery County, these official agencies and facilities can help you get records, check a trucking company and find care. If anyone is hurt, call 911 first.

Trucking Safety Agencies and Records

Commercial trucks must follow federal and state safety rules. These agencies keep the records that can show whether a carrier or driver followed them.

  • Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Maryland Division: George H. Fallon Federal Building, 31 Hopkins Plaza, Suite 750, Baltimore, MD 21201, (443) 703-2360. See FMCSA field offices.
  • FMCSA SAFER Company Snapshot: look up a trucking company by USDOT number, MC number or name to see its identification, size and safety record. Search SAFER.
  • FMCSA Complaint Center: report safety problems with a truck or bus company at complaint.fmcsa.dot.gov.
  • Maryland State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division: inspects commercial vehicles and enforces state and federal commercial vehicle laws, and operates 11 weigh and inspection facilities in Maryland. 410-579-5959. See CVED.
  • Federal hours-of-service rules (49 CFR § 395.3): a property-carrying driver may drive up to 11 hours within a 14-hour window, after 10 consecutive hours off duty. The driver needs a 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving, and may not drive after 60 or 70 on-duty hours in 7 or 8 days. Read the rule.
  • Federal minimum insurance (49 CFR § 387.9): for-hire interstate carriers hauling non-hazardous property in vehicles of 10,001 pounds or more must carry at least $750,000 in public liability coverage. Some hazardous loads require $1 million or $5 million. Read the rule.

Police and Crash Reports

The crash report comes from the police agency that responded to your crash.

  • Montgomery County Police Department. Request a collision report online through the MCPD Records Center ($10 per report), by mail to Public Safety Headquarters, Records Division, 100 Edison Park Dr., Gaithersburg, MD 20878, or in person. Reports usually take about three to five days to process. Records Section: 240-773-5330. Non-emergency: 301-279-8000. 3rd District Station (Silver Spring): 1002 Milestone Dr., Silver Spring, MD 20904, 240-773-6800.
  • Maryland State Police (if a state trooper handled your crash). Wait at least 10 days after the crash, then request the report from the barrack that took it or from the Central Records Division, 410-281-2700. There is a $4.00 non-refundable search fee. See how to request an MSP crash report.

Hospitals and Trauma Centers

Hospitals in Silver Spring include Holy Cross Hospital, 1500 Forest Glen Rd., Silver Spring, MD 20910, (301) 754-7000, and Adventist HealthCare White Oak Medical Center, 11890 Healing Way, Silver Spring, MD 20904, (240) 637-4000. Neither is on the MIEMSS list of designated trauma centers. Trauma centers in the region include (see the MIEMSS list):

  • Suburban Hospital (Level II adult trauma center, and the only Montgomery County hospital on the MIEMSS trauma list): 8600 Old Georgetown Rd., Bethesda, MD 20814
  • University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center (Level II adult trauma center): 901 Harry S. Truman Dr. N., Largo, MD 20774
  • MedStar Washington Hospital Center, which MIEMSS lists among its out-of-state trauma centers: 110 Irving St. NW, Washington, DC 20010

Courts

  • Circuit Court for Montgomery County: 50 Maryland Ave., Rockville, MD 20850, 240-777-9400. See the court's contact page.
  • District Court of Maryland, Silver Spring: 8552 Second Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910, 301-563-8500. See the court directory.

In civil cases, the District Court of Maryland has exclusive jurisdiction over claims of $5,000 or less and shares jurisdiction with the circuit courts over claims above $5,000 up to $30,000 (Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 4-401 and § 4-402(d)). The District Court does not hold jury trials (Maryland Judiciary). You can look up a case on Maryland Judiciary Case Search.

State and Local Agencies

  • Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office (if the crash leads to criminal charges): 50 Maryland Ave., 5th Floor, North Tower, Rockville, MD 20850, 240-777-7300. See victim services.
  • Maryland Insurance Administration (complaints about how an auto insurer handled your claim): 200 St. Paul Place, Suite 2700, Baltimore, MD 21202. Consumer hotline for auto and other property and casualty insurance: 410-468-2340. File a complaint.
  • Criminal Injuries Compensation Board (help for crime victims). Maryland law lets the Board consider injuries from certain driving crimes, including impaired driving and leaving the scene of a crash that injured someone (Md. Code, Crim. Proc. § 11-801). 6776 Reisterstown Rd., Suite 209, Baltimore, MD 21215, 410-697-9338. See CICB.

Disclaimer: We list these agencies, hospitals, courts and offices for general information only. Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A. is not affiliated with any of them. Listing them is not an endorsement, recommendation or referral, and none of them endorse our firm. We last verified the contact details in October 2026. They can change, so please confirm with the agency or facility before you visit. In an emergency, call 911.

Contact our reliable Silver Spring injury attorneys today

If you’ve been injured in a Maryland truck accident, get in touch with the lawyers at Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A. as soon as possible. The faster we can act, the more quickly we can start collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses. We’ll work to get you the compensation and the justice you deserve. To set up a consultation in our Silver Spring office, call 410-730-7737 or fill out our contact form.