Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog
Tragedy recently struck when a 32-year-old woman was instantly killed in a truck accident. According to a local news article covering the accident, the incident occurred when the victim, a 32-year-old woman, driving a Jeep failed to respond to oncoming traffic and ran directly into the rear of a semi-tractor trailer in front of her. She was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. While truck accidents occur all the time, this type of accident was a particular type called an “underride crash,” which can be especially fatal for Maryland residents.
An underride crash is a particular type of accident where a car slides underneath a large truck or semi-trailer. These crashes happen all across the country, including Maryland, and are often fatal, killing hundreds of people every year. While some large trucks have underride guards on them – large metal barriers at the back to stop vehicles from sliding under—research has found that these often fail to protect drivers. The guards tend to collapse and bend under when a car runs into them.
Congress has attempted to stop underride crashes. In March of 2019, the STOP Underrides Bill was introduced into Congress, which would allow engineers to put more effective protections on every truck, helping to end preventable tragedies. However, the bill has not been passed. In fact, according to a petition supporting the bill, it’s been 22 years since the last underride regulation was passed. In that time, more than 4,000 people have died in these tragic accidents.
While safety advocates wait for federal lawmakers to act, Maryland residents should be cautious when driving, especially while on the road with trucks and tractor-trailers. In the event that a crash does occur, the victim (if they survive) or the victim’s family members or estate may be able to file a civil negligence suit against the responsible driver. If the crash occurred due to the truck driver’s negligent driving—failing to signal before merging, for example—then plaintiffs may be entitled to financial compensation to cover medical bills, funeral and burial costs, pain and suffering, and lost wages. Handling cases like this in the aftermath of an accident, however, can be overwhelming. Unfortunately, even one small mistake may be the difference between winning and losing. Because of this, potential plaintiffs are encouraged to contact a personal injury attorney knowledgeable in this area of law before filing their case.
Contact a Maryland Truck Accident Attorney
Have you or a loved one recently been injured in a Maryland truck accident? If so, you may be entitled to financial compensation from the responsible party through a Maryland personal injury lawsuit. Contact Lebowitz & Mzhen, Personal Injury Lawyers, today to discuss your case free of charge with one of our dedicated attorneys. With years of experience representing truck accident victims in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia, our attorneys pride themselves on excellent client representation and will not give up when the case gets difficult. To learn more and speak with one of our attorneys, call us today at 800-654-1949.