Recently in Delaware, an accident involving two cement trucks and a passenger car injured two people. According to a report by Delmarva Now, the accident occurred just after 9:15 in the morning near the intersection of Woodpecker Road and Butler Branch Road in Seaford, Delaware.
Evidently, a woman was heading south on Woodpecker Road and was approaching a narrow bridge. At the same time, two cement trucks were approaching the bridge from the opposite direction. Before the first truck entered the bridge, he slowed down in order to allow the driver of the car to cross the bridge first. However, the driver of the second cement truck, which was directly behind the first, was unable to stop in time and needed to make a last-minute decision whether to run into the truck in front of him or try and avoid a collision.
The driver of the second truck attempted to avoid the collision but ended up rolling the truck instead. As the driver of the car crossed the bridge, she crashed into the overturned cement truck. After the accident, both the driver of the cement truck and the driver of the car were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
Police are still conducting an investigation into the accident, and charges are pending at the moment.
Cement Trucks Are Some of the Hardest to Drive
All big trucks can be difficult to maneuver, but cement trucks can be some of the most difficult to operate due to their extreme weight. Indeed, when a cement truck is fully loaded with cement it can weigh up to 70,000 pounds. A full 40,000 pounds of that come from the cargo alone.
This can create a situation when it is extremely difficult for a driver to stop quickly, as well as turn quickly. An experienced driver understands the limitations of the truck he or she is driving and allows room for stopping and turning. However, an inexperienced driver may think that the rig operates more like a car than it does a truck, and fail to leave adequate room to come to a complete stop.
It seems as though this is what happened in the accident above. The driver of the second truck was following closely and could not come to a safe and complete stop in the amount of room he had left.
Have You Been Injured in a Maryland Truck Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been involved in any kind of Maryland truck accident, you may be entitled to monetary damages to help compensate you for your injuries or loss. Truck drivers all owe other motorists on the road a duty to operate their rig in a safe and responsible manner. When they fail to live up to their duty, people are more likely to get hurt as a result. In these cases, the accident victim can look to the driver for answers. To learn more, contact an experienced Maryland truck accident attorney at 410-654-3600 and schedule a free initial consultation.
More Blog Posts:
Truck Driver’s Negligent Driving Causes Serious Accident in Hagerstown, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published September 2, 2014.
Truck Accident in Frederick County Kills One Motorcyclist, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published August 19, 2014.