The driver of a tanker truck was killed earlier this month when he was involved in a serious accident with another vehicle on the New Jersey Turnpike. According to one local news source, the accident resulted after a semi-truck slammed into the rear of another vehicle that had begun to slow down due to mattresses that were in the roadway.
Evidently, after the initial collision with the vehicle in front of it, the tanker truck then crashed through the guard rail and drove off the right shoulder of the road. The tanker slid over onto its right side and then burst into flames. The truck burned for nearly two hours before emergency personnel were able to control the fire, which could be seen for miles.
The driver of the truck was unable to make it out of the truck alive and passed away from his injuries at the scene. The driver of the other vehicle, thankfully, suffered only minor injuries and is expected to make a full recovery.
Police are conducting an investigation into the fatal accident but have not yet determined where the mattresses that caused the accident came from.
Roadway Debris and Driver Responsibility
While police have not yet determined the ultimate cause of the fatal accident discussed above, the likely causes are twofold. First, the fact that there were mattresses on the roadway certainly contributed to the traffic jam that caused the accident. If the police are able to locate the person who left the mattresses on the roadway, they may be cited for their negligence in improperly securing the mattresses to their vehicle.
The other potentially liable party here is the driver of the truck. Depending on the specific facts of the accident, the truck driver may have had ample time to avoid the accident, had he been paying closer attention to the road in the moments before the fatal accident. While the truck driver was ultimately the only person who lost their life in the wreck, this would not prevent another injured party from seeking compensation from the truck driver’s insurance company.
In most cases of a serious or fatal accident, the at-fault party is not the party who ends up paying the lion’s share of the damages. More often than not, an insurance company ends up writing the check at the end of the day. Therefore, insurance companies are quick to send their attorneys out to try and settle cases quickly with injured accident victims. However, these early settlement offers are often “low ball” offers and are rarely made in the accident victim’s best interest.
Have You Been Injured in a Maryland Car or Truck Accident?
If you or someone close to you has recently been involved in any kind of serious or fatal Maryland car or truck accident, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for the injuries or losses you sustained as a result of the accident. The skilled attorneys at the Maryland-based personal injury law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers, have decades of experience bringing cases on behalf of injured Marylanders, and we know what it takes to be successful in a Maryland personal injury case. Call 410-654-3600 today to set up a free consultation.
More Blog Posts:
Laurel Bus Accident Claims One Man’s Life, Injures Seven Others, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published September 17, 2015.
Weather Blamed for Recent Semi-Truck Accident, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published October 7, 2015.