A single vehicle accident closed Route 113 near Berlin earlier this week, when a truck pulling a trailer crashed and dumped 80 gallons of hydrochloric acid on the roadway.
According to reports, Maryland State Police officers responded to a single vehicle accident on Route 113 at Dee Park Drive near Berlin, shortly after 9 a.m. Tuesday morning. They discovered that a 2007 truck pulling a trailer had driven off of the left side of the road, struck a guardrail, and came to rest near the center median.
The truck’s trailer contained approximately 80 gallons of hydrochloric acid, which was punctured during the accident. As a result, relevant fire and state and local hazardous waste management agencies responded to the scene. Additionally, the Maryland State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division conducted a thorough inspection of the truck and trailer, in order to investigate the potential cause of the accident.
The driver of the truck, who was later charged with negligent driving, was transported via ambulance to a local hospital for treatment of unreported injuries. His passenger was unharmed.
Trucking accidents are not like accidents involving other types of vehicles. For example, under Maryland law, commercial drivers are held to specific standards regarding the manner in which they drive, and any attorney who is handling a trucking accident case must be familiar with Maryland’s commercial vehicle law. A violation of those rules alone may be enough to hold a driver liable if something goes wrong while they’re out on the road.
In this case, for example, there are not only the typical requirements for the truck driver, but probably also additional requirements, considering he was transporting highly dangerous chemicals. Therefore, the potential negligence of the driver could mean the difference between safety and causing a catastrophic accident. While there wasn’t a report that it was the case, things such as drug or alcohol use, sleep deprivation, use of a handheld cellphone, and any other number of factors can play a part in distracting a truck driver. Because truck drivers need more time than regular cars to stop, the delay of a few seconds could be all that it takes to cause a collision that shuts down the highway, and potentially takes lives.
If you have been injured in a car accident, depending on the circumstances of your case, you may have a claim against the truck driver himself, and in some cases against the trucker’s employer as well. Recoverable expenses include things such as any medical bills arising out of the injuries you suffered as a result of the accident, physical or other therapies, lost wages, disability, etc. An experienced truck accident lawyer can thoroughly discuss your accident, and inform you regarding your legal rights and potential claims.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a trucking accident that occurred in Maryland or Washington D.C., you should consult with a personal injury law firm that has the skills and experience to handle tractor-trailer and semi-truck accident cases. Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers is a full service personal injury law firm. Our Maryland truck accident attorneys have extensive experience in helping victims of trucking accidents recover the damages they are entitled to. We have helped many clients who have been the victims of truck accidents, and who have suffered the interruption of their lives due to physical and emotional injuries, the imposition of hospital and medical bills, and financial losses, including lost wages and property damage. Contact us today in order to schedule your free initial consultation. You can reach us through our website, or by calling 1-800-654-1949.
More Blog Posts:
Elderly Maryland Woman Driving Wrong Way on Route 50 Crashes Head on into Tractor-Trailer Truck, Maryland Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, published May 7, 2013
Traffic Accident Investigation Suggests Commercial Bus Driver was at Fault in Fatal Charter Bus Crash, Maryland Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, published April 23, 2013