Any time a motorist is involved in a Maryland semi-truck accident, there is a potential for serious injury. However, some types of accidents present a higher risk of serious injury or death than others. Underride accidents in particular present an especially high risk of serious injury or death.
An underride accident occurs when a vehicle slides underneath a larger truck. These accidents often result in the passengers in the car being crushed as a result of the impact, and in some cases, passengers are even decapitated. A recent news article discusses underride accidents in the Maryland area, noting that there have been 21 deaths across the country over the past two months due to this specific type of accident.
The article goes on to detail several of the accidents and discusses options to reduce the prevalence of underride accidents. Given the nature of an underride accident, they almost always occur when a motorist rear-ends a truck that has unexpectedly stopped or slowed down on the highway. Thus, one potential solution to decrease underride accidents is to mandate heavier underride guards on more types of trucks. An underride guard is a steel bar that in many cases can prevent another vehicle from sliding underneath a truck in the event of an accident.
In fact, several bills are expected to be introduced on Capitol Hill in the coming months. The trucking industry, however, opposes additional regulations involving underride guards, claiming that the increased weight on the truck will decrease the total amount of cargo that a truck can carry, reducing efficiency. This, the Trailer Truck Manufacturer Association argues, will create a situation in which there are even more trucks on the road than there currently are. Those in favor of the bills have recently been conducting briefings in hopes of obtaining bipartisan support before formally introducing a bill.
Recovering Compensation After a Maryland Truck Accident
Truck drivers are responsible to safely operate their vehicles, and this includes making sure that all necessary safety equipment is properly installed. When a truck driver or trucking company puts a truck on the road without the required safety equipment, and an accident occurs, both the truck driver as well as the trucking company may be held responsible for any resulting injuries through a Maryland truck accident lawsuit.
Have You Been Injured in a Maryland Truck Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been injured in a Maryland trucking accident, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. The dedicated team of Maryland personal injury and wrongful death attorneys at the law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers has decades of combined experience handling all types of Maryland truck accident cases. We represent clients across Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia. Call 410-654-3600 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case with an attorney today. Calling is free, and we will not bill you for our time unless we are able to help you obtain the compensation you deserve.
More Blog Posts:
Truck Accident Case Dismissed Due to Plaintiff’s Late Disclosure of Expert Testimony, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published November 24, 2017.
Plaintiff’s Case Dismissed for Failure to Comply with Discovery Deadlines, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published December 5, 2017.