For a relatively small state, Maryland has a dense network of highways connecting several major cities on the eastern seaboard. As a result, Maryland gets a significant amount of semi-truck traffic throughout the year.
At the same time, it is not unusual for Maryland to receive snow for five months out of the year. And while many motorists may decide to stay home when road conditions become compromised due to the weather conditions, semi-truck drivers have added pressure to get to where they are going. It is no surprise, then, that during the winter months, there is a noticeable increase in the number of Maryland truck accidents.
It’s true that semi-truck drivers face pressure from employers to deliver goods as quickly as possible. In most cases, truck drivers are financially incentivized to complete their route quickly. However, this pressure often results in truck drivers deciding to drive during storms or when road conditions are unsafe. It is this same pressure that is also the root cause of many Maryland drowsy driving truck accidents.
One of the most dangerous aspects of weather-related truck accidents is that they rarely involve just one vehicle. More often than not these accidents occur on the highway, around other vehicles traveling at high speeds. Thus, when a Maryland weather-related truck accident occurs, there is a high likelihood that other motorists will end up getting wrapped into the mayhem.
Chain-Reaction Truck Accident Kills One, Injures Three
Last month, a weather-related truck accident claimed the life of one man and injured three others. According to a local news report, the accident took place on a Massachusetts highway at around 2:40 in the morning. It was snowing at the time of the accident and road conditions were icy. In fact, law enforcement had lowered the speed limit to 40 miles per hour due to weather conditions.
Apparently, the driver of a tandem tractor-trailer lost control of his rig heading eastbound on the highway. The truck crashed into another large commercial truck, a smaller box truck, as well as a pick-up truck. The driver of the box truck was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency workers. The three other drivers were taken to the hospital with various non-life-threatening injuries.
One truck driver told reporters that “I just look at the conditions and I feel if I can’t drive I pull over like I did last night went to sleep and wait until it clears up and keep it moving … I don’t get in a hurry.”
Have You Been Injured in a Maryland Truck Accident?
If you or someone you love has recently been injured in a Maryland truck accident, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for the injuries you have sustained. At the Maryland personal injury law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen, LLC we have decades of experience assisting injury victims and their families pursue claims for compensation. We handle personal injury cases in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. To learn more about how we can help you with your situation, call 410-654-3600 to schedule a free consultation today.
More Blog Posts:
Expert Witness Testimony May Be Necessary in Some Maryland Car Accident Cases, Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog, published February 19, 2019.
Maryland Employers Can Be Held Liable for the Negligent Acts of Their Employees, Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog, published March 4, 2019.