A chain-reaction accident involving multiple vehicles on a Mississippi highway took the life of one man and left two others injured after a semi-truck driver failed avoid a collision with a slower-moving vehicle ahead of him and was subsequently struck by an 18-wheeler from behind. A local news outlet reported that the crash occurred in the early morning hours of August 11 on Interstate 20 in Newton County, Mississippi. According to the article, the man who was killed in the crash was driving the vehicle at the back of the chain, although the exact cause of the crash remains under investigation.
The Elevated Dangers of Rear-End and Chain-Reaction Accidents Involving Semi-Trucks
It appears that all three of the vehicles involved in the fatal Mississippi accident earlier this month were 18-wheel tractor-trailers. Rear-end collisions and chain-reaction accidents involving tractor-trailers present a significant danger to all drivers on the road, especially on interstate highways and other high speed transit routes. Although commercial drivers are professionally trained and licensed to drive larger vehicles, rear-end accidents involving one or more of these vehicles are frighteningly common. Since a single semi-truck can be used to tow several different trailers, accidents can occur if a driver fails to ensure the brake lights on the back of a new trailer are functioning properly before entering a highway. Additionally, the functionality of braking systems between different trailers may not be consistent, and an overloaded trailer can dangerously increase a truck driver’s stopping distance.
In addition to the increased risk for semi-trucks to be involved in rear-end accidents, accidents involving one or more tractor-trailers are also more likely to cause serious injuries or death to the occupants of the other vehicles involved. Even an empty semi-truck weighs more than several smaller vehicles combined, and a trailer that is is fully loaded has an even greater destructive potential. Drivers of smaller vehicles have a serious safety disadvantage when they are involved in a crash with a large commercial vehicle, making the prospect of an unavoidable chain-reaction accident especially frightening.
Legal Recourse for Accident Victims and Their Families
Victims of accidents involving semi-trucks and other large vehicles can seek legal recourse from negligent drivers and the companies that employ them. Truck drivers have a legal duty to members of the public to confirm that their vehicles are in working order before operating them on public roadways, and they are required to operate the vehicles in a safe manner, considering their cargo and the current road conditions. Accident victims who are injured and the families of those who are killed can seek legal assistance to pursue a semi-truck accident personal injury claim against the responsible parties and their insurers.
Finding a Qualified Maryland Semi-Truck Accident Attorney
If you or a family member has been injured or killed in a Maryland truck accident, the negligence of one or more truck drivers may be the cause of the accident. Accident victims should consult with a Maryland truck accident attorney to discuss making a claim for compensation. The Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia semi-truck accident attorneys at Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers represent accident victims in all types of negligence cases, including chain-reaction and rear-end collisions involving large commercial vehicles. Our skilled accident lawyers have experience successfully pursuing claims for our truck accident clients, and we can help you seek the compensation that you deserve. At Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers, we accept car and truck accident cases in Maryland, Northern Virginia, and the entire Washington, D.C. area. Call us toll-free at 1-800-654-1949 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation today.
More Blog Posts:
Traffic Laws May Bridge the Gap to Proving Legal Liability in Accidents with No Discernible Cause, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published August 3, 2016.
Deadly Accidents With Semi Trucks and Commercial Vehicles Are Too Common In Maryland, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published July 14, 2016.