Bel Air Truck Accident Lawyer: Deadly Tractor Trailer Crash on I-95

           Wednesday night, a horrific accident occurred on I-95 near Bel Air in Harford County, Maryland.  A 21 year old Towson University nursing student tragically lost her life in the accident.  The young driver was changing lanes in her Honda when a tractor trailer rear-ended her.  The Honda then began to spin and lose control, and eventually ended up hitting a wall where a pickup truck crashed into her.  

            

           This accident goes to show the dangers involved when driving near tractor trailers, especially on the highway.  State police say that the 21 year old made an “erratic” lane change that may have contributed to the truck rear ending her.  However, investigations into the exact cause of the accident continue.  No one else was injured in the crash.

            

           As we often write about, rear-end collisions are some of the most dangerous and most common types of accidents.  When the vehicle that is rear ending another vehicle is a tractor trailer, the resulting injuries to the victim car tend to be very severe.  Due to the size and power of tractor trailers, it is difficult for truck drivers to bring their rigs to a quick stop.  Since we do not know the exact cause of this accident, we do not want to speculate who is to blame, but if the accident victim did make a sudden lane change in front of a tractor trailer, it was likely difficult for the truck driver to stop in time.  All drivers on the roads and highways should always be extra cautious when driving near, next to, or in front of tractor trailers because there is a greater risk for a serious accident.

If you or a family member has been injured or killed in a truck accident caused by the fault or negligence of another person and would like to consult an experienced Maryland personal injury attorney for free, contact us at (301) 854-9000 to schedule an appointment at one of our office locations in Bel Air or throughout Maryland or visit us online at http://www.portnerandshure.com/Auto-Accidents/Truck-Accidents/

Fatal Accident on ICC Near Gaithersburg, First Since 2011

          Last week, a Montgomery County dump truck hauling gravel skidded out of control across the eastbound lanes of the Intercounty Connector (ICC Route 200) and overturned along the median.  A second vehicle was also involved in the crash, but the driver only suffered minor injuries.  Unfortunately, the truck driver lost his life in the crash after being pinned underneath the truck.  He had been a county employee with the Montgomery County Department of Transportation for over 15 years.  The horrific accident scene shows gravel spilled all over the westbound lanes of the ICC and the truck completely smashed and crushed into the median guardrail.  The cause of the accident is unknown at this time and police continue to investigate why and how the truck lost control.

            Maryland Transportation Authority officials say this is the first fatal accident on the ICC since November 2011 when the highway first opened.  The lack of deadly accidents can probably be attributed to the fact that it is a toll road and very few vehicles use the road.  Therefore, with very little traffic, the risk of accidents is much lower than on major highways and roadways.

            Trucks are always at a higher risk of having accidents that result in catastrophic damage and injuries because of their power and large size.  Large trucks, including dump trucks like the one involved in this accident, have extreme difficulty stopping suddenly and have large blind spots which make it tough for truck drivers to see other vehicles around them.  One possible cause of this accident is that the second vehicle was driving next to the dump truck in the truck driver’s blind spot, and the truck driver all of sudden sees the car next to him and starts to lose control of the truck as he tries to steer away from the car he thinks he is about to hit.  Another major cause of truck-involved accidents is distracted driving (i.e. texting while driving, talking on a cell phone while driving, playing with the radio while driving, or adjusting the navigation system while driving). 

            Remember, if you are injured in a car, truck, or motorcycle accident, you should always remain calm and seek medical treatment as soon as possible for your injuries.  In addition, you should never admit liability, even if you are the one who caused the accident.

            If you or a family member has been injured or killed in an accident caused by the fault or negligence of another person and would like to consult an experienced Maryland personal injury attorney for free, contact us at (301) 854-9000 to schedule an appointment at one of our office locations in Rockville or throughout Maryland or visit us online at http://www.portnerandshure.com/Personal-Injury/

Maryland Transportation Statistics Show Decline in Accidents

           The most recent statistics compiled by Maryland’s Department of Transportation show a decrease in the number of car accidents between 2013 and 2014.  For FY2013, 3,456 car accidents occurred on Maryland’s roads.  However, in FY2014, that number decreased to 3,052 car accidents.  Another interesting statistic is the total ridership numbers in FY2013 versus FY2014 for public transportation.  In 2013, the number was 119,259,611, the highest it has ever been, but in 2014, that number dropped to 113,803,902.  The drop in car accidents cannot be attributed to fewer people driving cars and choosing to take public transportation because total ridership decreased significantly.

            Preliminary numbers from 2013 for traffic fatalities in Maryland show 466 highway deaths, the lowest since 1961. (Note: 2014 statistics still being compiled).  The 2013 number is a decrease of 45 deaths from 2012.  Maryland continues to improve safety on its roadways by passing new laws to combat distracted driving and constantly improving highways and bridges.  With a goal of zero highway deaths on Maryland roadways, Maryland’s transportation officials and law enforcement are “encourage by the drop in traffic-related fatalities, but [know] there is still work to be done.”  Maryland’s plan to reduce traffic fatalities is the Strategic Highway Safety Plan.  This plan focuses on five areas: aggressive driving prevention, distracted driving prevention, highway infrastructure, occupant protection, and pedestrian safety.

            As police crack down on distracted and aggressive drivers, officials continue to improve roadways, and auto manufacturers continue to make cars safer, these numbers should continue to decrease over the next several years.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a car, truck, or bus accident or has died as a result of their injury suffered in a Maryland crash, and would like more information, please call us at (301) 854-9000 for a free case evaluation or visit us online at: http://www.portnerandshure.com/Auto-Accidents/Car-Accidents/Fatal-Car-Accidents.shtml