Deadly Accident on I-95 in Catonsville, Maryland

               Just a few weeks ago, a terrible accident occurred on I-95 near Catonsville, Maryland.  A man was driving a pick-up truck that had become disabled and pulled onto the shoulder on southbound I-95.  In addition to the driver, there were three other people in the truck.  The driver was standing behind the truck to try and figure out what was wrong.  In the meantime, another vehicle had drifted across all lanes of southbound I-95, crashed into the concrete wall, and continued driving several hundred feet along the shoulder until crashing into the disabled truck and the truck’s driver.  Unfortunately, the truck driver was killed, and the three passengers were injured.  Additionally, the driver of the other vehicle was injured and transported to Shock Trauma.  The cause of the accident is still unknown.  Police are still trying to figure out what caused the driver of the car to veer across all lanes and crash into the wall and then into the truck.

            

              Since police have not determined a cause of the accident, everything is only speculation at this point.  One possibility is that the driver of the car fell asleep behind the wheel, which caused him to lose control of the car.  Another possibility is that the driver was under the influence of alcohol, and his impaired judgment led to the crash.  There are many possibilities that could have caused this crash.  In terms of the victim of the crash, it appears that he pulled his vehicle completely onto the shoulder and was not standing in a lane of travel.  Any negligence on his part does not appear to have contributed to this accident, and thus contributory negligence would not apply.  If the truck driver had been standing in a lane of travel and then was hit, he would not be able to recover compensation for his injuries because he contributed to the accident.  As a reminder, it is always dangerous when on the shoulder of a highway.  Anyone who pulls onto the shoulder of a highway should always be very cautious, and if possible, wear bright-colored clothing so that other drivers can see you.

If you or a family member has been injured or killed by a negligent driver and would like to consult an experienced Maryland personal injury attorney for free, contact our office at (301) 854-9000 to schedule an appointment at one of our office locations throughout Maryland or visit us online at http://www.portnerandshure.com/Auto-Accidents/Car-Accidents/Fatal-Car-Accidents.shtml