Earlier this month in Baltimore, a truck accident on the Inner Loop shut down traffic for hours as hazmat crew members cleaned up the scene. According to one local news report, the truck flipped over on the ramp between I-95 southbound and I-695 westbound.
Evidently, the truck was fully loaded with hazardous cargo, including filled trash bags and other potentially hazardous materials. Hazmat crews worked diligently to clean up the mess caused by the accident and upright the truck. However, it was still several hours before the highway was able to reopen for regular traffic.
Hazmat Truck Accidents
As if a semi-truck accident isn’t serious enough, the accident above involved an overturned truck that was carrying hazardous materials, or hazmat as it is often referred to. Luckily, no one was seriously injured in the single-vehicle accident described above. However, with these types of accidents, that is rarely the case.
Hazmat carriers pose a heightened threat to the safety of all motorists due to the materials they carry. For this reason, the state and federal governments have enacted a strict set of rules and regulations that hazmat truck drivers must follow.
For example, truck drivers who carry hazardous materials must stop at all checkpoints along their route to ensure that their load is properly secured and safe for transport. Additionally, they are not permitted to let the truck out of their sight for more than a short period of time. Of course, hazmat truck drivers are also not permitted to smoke while driving either, for fear of catching flammable cargo afire.
Failure to follow these regulations may result in liability on the part of the truck driver, the trucking company, or both.
Liability in Truck Accidents
In Maryland, truck drivers all owe a duty of care to other motorists whom they share the road with. A part of this duty is to follow all the rules and regulations imposed on them by the government. When a driver or company fails to take the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of other motorists, he or it may be help financially liable for any harm that comes as a result through a negligence lawsuit.
Filing a negligence lawsuit against a truck driver or trucking company can, however, be a complicated and confusing endeavor, and it is best left to an experienced attorney.
Have You Been Involved in a Maryland Truck Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been seriously injured in any kind of Maryland truck accident, you may be entitled to monetary compensation based on the truck driver’s or trucking company’s negligence. To learn more about how you may be able to recover financially for your injuries, contact one of the dedicated personal injury attorneys at the Maryland law firm, Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers. With decades of combined experience, Lebowitz & Mzhen attorneys know how to effectively represent their clients in all kinds of Maryland accidents. Call 410-654-3600 to set up a free consultation today.
More Blog Posts:
Truck Driver’s Negligent Driving Causes Serious Accident in Hagerstown, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published September 2, 2014.
Williamsport Bicyclist Injured When Hit By Dump Truck, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published October 10, 2014.