A Baltimore truck accident lawyer at Furman Honick Law fights for fair compensation when commercial vehicle negligence causes serious injury or death on Maryland roads.
The size and weight difference between an 80,000-pound tractor-trailer and a passenger car leaves the people in the smaller vehicle with little protection. When a trucking company, driver, or carrier fails to follow the rules, the consequences are often catastrophic.
Furman Honick Law has recovered $80+ million for injured clients across Baltimore and Maryland. When a trucking company's insurer offered $216,000 to settle a truck crash brain injury case in Prince George's County, Founding Partner Allen Honick took the case to trial and secured a $470,000 jury verdict, more than double the pre-trial offer.
Let our proven truck accident attorneys help you and your family. Call 410-406-7890 for a free consultation about your truck accident case.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
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Why Do Baltimore Families Choose Furman Honick Law for Truck Accident Cases?}
Trucking companies and their insurers deploy corporate legal teams, rapid-response adjusters, and accident reconstruction firms within hours of a crash. Injured families need attorneys who match that level of preparation and resources.
Attorneys Who Take Cases to Trial
Insurance companies and trucking corporations track which law firms actually go to court and which ones settle every case.
Dustin Furman has tried hundreds of cases and worked on some of the largest verdicts in Maryland history, including outcomes of $55 million and $21 million. Within the last year and a half alone, he has won multiple jury trials exceeding $2 million, with each verdict averaging more than triple the insurer's pre-trial offer.
Allen E. Honick brings the same courtroom presence, with recognition from Super Lawyers Rising Stars, Best Lawyers Ones to Watch, and National Top 40 Under 40 Trial Lawyers.
That trial record is what gives the firm leverage long before a case reaches a courtroom. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
What Do Past Clients Say About Working With the Firm?
Furman Honick Law's 230+ 5-star reviews from clients across Baltimore reflect a consistent pattern: direct access to attorneys, clear communication throughout the case, and personal attention at every stage.
Truck accident cases may stretch over months or longer, and families dealing with serious injuries need a legal team that answers calls and explains what is happening.
Clients at Furman Honick Law work directly with their truck crash lawyer, rather than being handed off to support staff.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer?
Furman Honick Law charges no upfront fees for truck accident cases. The firm works on a contingency basis, meaning legal fees are a percentage of the recovery and are only collected if the case is successful.
This removes the financial barrier that might otherwise keep injured families from pursuing a claim against a trucking company with far greater resources.
How Is a Truck Accident Case Different From a Car Accident Case?
Truck accident claims involve layers of complexity that standard car accident cases do not. Multiple parties, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations, commercial insurance policies, and corporate legal teams all change the landscape of the claim.
Understanding these differences early matters because the trucking company and its insurer start building their defense immediately after a crash.
| Car Accident | Truck Accident | |
|---|---|---|
| Liable parties | Usually one at-fault driver | Driver, trucking company, cargo loader, maintenance provider, manufacturer |
| Insurance coverage | Maryland minimum $30,000/$60,000 | Federal minimum $750,000; often $1 million+ for hazmat carriers |
| Governing regulations | Maryland traffic law | Maryland traffic law plus FMCSA federal regulations |
| Evidence involved | Police report, photos, witness statements | Electronic logging device (ELD) data, black box records, driver qualification files, inspection reports, cargo manifests |
| Defense resources | Individual driver's insurer | Corporate legal teams, rapid-response adjusters, accident reconstruction firms retained within hours |
| Typical injury severity | Ranges from minor to serious | Frequently catastrophic or fatal due to weight and speed differential |
Each of these differences affects strategy, timeline, and potential compensation. Furman Honick Law approaches truck accident cases with the preparation and resources these claims demand.
Who May Be Held Liable After a Truck Accident in Baltimore?
A truck accident claim in Maryland may involve multiple defendants beyond the driver. The FMCSA regulates the trucking industry at the federal level, and violations of those regulations may help establish negligence.
Identifying each liable party is critical because it affects the total compensation available and the strength of the claim.
The Truck Driver
A truck driver who was speeding, fatigued, distracted, or impaired at the time of the crash may bear direct liability. FMCSA hours-of-service rules limit driving time to reduce fatigue-related crashes, but violations remain common.
Electronic logging devices (ELDs) record driving hours and rest periods, and that data may serve as key evidence in a Baltimore truck accident case.
The Trucking Company
A trucking company may share liability through vicarious responsibility when a driver causes a crash while working within the scope of employment. The company may also face direct claims for negligent hiring, inadequate training, pressure to violate hours-of-service rules, or failure to maintain a safe fleet.
Some companies attempt to classify drivers as independent contractors to limit their exposure, but FMCSA regulations define the motor carrier's responsibility broadly, regardless of the driver's employment classification.
Cargo Loaders and Shippers
Improperly loaded or unsecured freight may shift during transit, causing the driver to lose control. Federal regulations set weight limits and loading standards for commercial vehicles.
When a cargo company fails to follow those standards and a crash results, the loader or shipper may bear liability.
Maintenance Providers and Parts Manufacturers
Worn brakes, bald tires, defective steering components, and faulty lighting systems all increase the risk of a catastrophic crash. If a maintenance provider performed substandard work or a manufacturer produced a defective part, those parties may be held responsible for the resulting injuries.
Furman Honick Law traces the chain of responsibility when building a truck accident claim. Identifying potential liable parties strengthens the case and increases the potential sources of recovery. Contact a truck accident attorney in Baltimore today at 410-406-7890.
Ask Furman Honick Law
Q: How quickly do I need to contact a lawyer after a truck accident?
A: Reaching out to a Baltimore truck accident lawyer as soon as possible after a crash protects critical evidence. Companies may repair or replace damaged vehicles within days. ELD data, dashcam footage, and driver logs are subject to retention periods that allow destruction after a set time. An attorney may send a spoliation letter to put the company on notice to preserve it.
Q: What if the trucking company blames me for the crash?
A: Maryland's contributory negligence rule means the defense only needs to show you were partly at fault to potentially block your entire claim. However, the fact that a trucking company raises this argument does not make it true. Electronic data, witness statements, and accident reconstruction analysis may demonstrate that the truck driver or carrier caused the crash.
Q: Do trucking companies settle these cases, or do they go to trial?
A: Many truck accident cases settle through negotiation. However, trucking companies and their insurers sometimes refuse to offer fair compensation, particularly when liability is disputed or the injuries are severe. Having an attorney who is prepared and willing to take the case to trial often influences the insurer's approach to settlement discussions.
What Federal Regulations Apply to Baltimore Truck Accident Cases?
The FMCSA sets safety standards that govern nearly every aspect of commercial trucking. A violation of these regulations may serve as strong evidence of negligence in a Maryland truck accident claim.
Key federal regulations that frequently arise in truck accident cases include the following:
- Hours-of-service rules limit property-carrying drivers to 11 hours of driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty, with a 14-hour window from the start of the workday
- Carriers must maintain driver qualification files documenting CDL status, medical fitness, road test results, and driving history
- Pre-trip and post-trip vehicle inspection requirements apply to brakes, tires, lights, steering, mirrors, and coupling devices
- Cargo securement standards set weight distribution requirements and tie-down specifications to prevent load shifts during transit
- Drug and alcohol testing programs require pre-employment, random, post-accident, and reasonable-suspicion testing for commercial drivers
A trucking company's failure to follow these standards may form the basis of a negligence claim.
What Compensation May a Baltimore Truck Accident Claim Recover?
A successful truck accident claim in Maryland may recover both economic and non-economic damages. Truck accident injuries tend to be severe, and the financial consequences often extend far beyond the initial hospitalization. There is no cap on economic damages in Maryland personal injury cases.
Medical Expenses and Future Care
Truck crashes frequently cause traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, crush injuries, internal organ damage, and severe burns. Many of these injuries require emergency surgery, extended hospitalization, and months or years of rehabilitation.
A truck accident claim may include past medical costs and the anticipated cost of future treatment, therapy, and assistive devices.
Lost Income and Earning Capacity
Time away from work during recovery creates immediate financial pressure. Many truck accident victims face long-term or permanent limitations that reduce their ability to earn.
A claim may include wages lost during recovery, diminished earning capacity, and the cost of vocational retraining if the injured person is unable to return to their previous occupation.
Pain, Suffering, and Non-Economic Losses
Maryland places a cap on non-economic damages in personal injury cases. For causes of action arising between October 2025 and October 2026, that cap is $965,000 for a single claimant.
In wrongful death cases with two or more beneficiaries, the cap increases.