Earlier this month in North Carolina, a five-year-old boy was killed when he was struck by an unattended dump truck. According to one local news report covering the tragedy, police investigating the accident believe that the truck was not properly secured when it was left unattended by the construction crew.
Evidently, the truck was parked on the side of a road in a residential neighborhood, near the top of a hill. A witness to the accident told reporters that a construction worker exited the truck, and then shortly afterward, the truck started rolling down the hill. The truck rolled for approximately 100 yards, taking down overhead power lines along the way, until it entered a resident’s driveway. The resident’s five-year-old boy was playing in the driveway and was struck by the unmanned dump truck. The young boy was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Police arrested one man, whom they claim was responsible for the dump truck before it began to roll away. While the police have not disclosed the evidence they are using to make their assessment, they believe that the dump truck was not properly restrained when the construction worker exited the truck. Police are also looking into the safety record of the construction company to determine if similar violations have occurred in the past.
Construction Accidents Involving Large Trucks
While no parent could ever imagine this kind of devastation occurring while a young child is safely playing in the driveway, the reality is that accidents happen, even ones with seemingly inexplicable causes. Construction trucks and equipment, in particular, present a heightened risk when parked in residential neighborhoods. Indeed, in too many cases, the operators of construction equipment are unskilled laborers who may not possess the legal qualifications to operate the heavy machinery or equipment.
While nothing can bring back a lost loved one, the laws in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. do allow for the victims of these senseless accidents to seek compensation for their loss through a wrongful death lawsuit. Usually brought by the spouse, child, or parent of the deceased, a wrongful death lawsuit can result in significant monetary compensation being awarded to an aggrieved family from the at-fault party. Depending on the nature of the accident, there may be multiple responsible parties other than the driver or operator of the truck or machinery. To learn more, call a Maryland personal injury attorney to discuss your case.
Have You Been Injured in a Maryland Truck Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been injured in a Maryland truck accident, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for your injuries or losses. The skilled accident victim advocates at the law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers have decades of experience representing clients in all kinds of personal injury cases, including those arising out of truck accidents. Call 410-654-3600 today to set up a free consultation to discuss your case. Calling is free, and we will not bill you for our time unless we can help you obtain the compensation you deserve.
More Blog Posts:
Weather-Related Truck Accident Involves 53 Vehicles, Claims Three Lives, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published December 19, 2016.
School Bus Accident Kills Six Children, Driver Arrested on Vehicular Homicide Charges, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published December 5, 2016.