Many Maryland truck accidents involve multiple vehicles, and determining which parties to name in a Maryland truck accident lawsuit is a critical decision that must be made early in the process. While courts will allow for plaintiffs to amend their complaint to add additional parties for a short period of time after the complaint is filed, plaintiffs have a limited amount of time to join parties. Additionally, plaintiffs normally must obtain the court’s permission to add additional defendants once the complaint has been filed.
Of course, plaintiffs should only name defendants if there is a good-faith basis for believing that they may be liable for the plaintiff’s injuries. However, it is important to conduct a thorough investigation to make sure that all potentially liable parties are included in the lawsuit. A plaintiff’s failure to include all necessary parties may result in decreased compensation in the event of a favorable verdict.
It is important that Maryland truck accident victims keep in mind that plaintiffs get one chance to file a lawsuit after an accident, and they will not generally be permitted to file a subsequent lawsuit based on the same underlying accident. Additionally, if a potentially liable party is not named in the plaintiff’s complaint, the plaintiff risks the chance that the named defendants will successfully shift the blame for the accident onto a non-present party. If this occurs, the jury may be persuaded that the named defendant is not at all liable for the plaintiff’s injuries, completely precluding a plaintiff’s chance of recovering damages for their injuries.
Multi-Vehicle Bus Accident Results in Several Injuries
Earlier this month, an accident involving a public transportation bus and another vehicle resulted in the bus crashing into a nearby mobile home. According to a local news report, the accident occurred when the other motorist ran a stop sign, causing the bus driver to swerve in hopes of avoiding a collision. As the bus driver swerved, he lost control of the vehicle, and the bus crashed into the side of the mobile home. Luckily, not one person was in the mobile home at the time. The passengers aboard the bus were taken to the hospital with minor injuries. The driver of the bus sustained major injuries but is expected to make a full recovery. The driver who ran the stop sign was ticketed by police.
Have You Been Injured in a Maryland Truck Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been injured in a Maryland truck accident, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. The skilled Maryland personal injury attorneys at the law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers have extensive experience handling all types of Maryland truck and bus accident cases, including those with multiple defendants and complex legal issues. We pride ourselves on providing a unique form of client-centered representation to ensure that each of our clients gets the representation they deserve. Call 410-654-3600 to schedule a free consultation with an attorney today.
More Blog Posts:
Driver Charged in Fatal 2016 Rear-End Truck Accident, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published October 25, 2017.
Truck Accidents Caused by Drivers’ Medical Emergencies, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published November 10, 2017.