Earlier this month in Queen Anne, Maryland, a three-truck accident resulted in three fatalities when one of the trucks inexplicably crossed the center line. According to one local news report, the accident occurred on Maryland Route 404 in the morning hours.
Evidently, the semi-truck, which was being driven by a man from Tennessee, crossed over into oncoming traffic and side-swiped another semi-truck. After the initial collision, the truck continued on and then collided head-on with a third truck. The driver of the first truck was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.
The driver of the second truck, which was struck from the side, caught fire upon impact. Both the driver and the passenger inside died as a result of the injuries they sustained in the accident. The driver of the third semi-truck was not injured. Police are currently conducting an investigation into the accident.
Fatal Maryland Semi-Truck Accidents
Each year, roughly 40 people lose their lives in Maryland as a result of being involved in a fatal semi-truck accident. Nationwide, that figure is close to 700 people. While there is no data available indicating what percent of these preventable accidents was caused due to the negligence of the truck’s driver or the trucking company, logic dictates that it is at least a good portion.
Why Did the Truck Cross over the Middle Line?
Here, the accident was caused when the truck crossed over the middle line and into oncoming traffic. It seems obvious that no driver would intentionally put himself in such danger, leading to the question: how do these types of accidents occur?
While what occurred can’t be known for certain, since the driver of the semi-truck died in the accident, circumstantial evidence can be used to try and put together what could have happened in the moments leading up to the fatal accident. Indeed, this is how many personal injury lawsuits are proven in a court of law.
For example, if it turns out that the driver’s cell-phone records indicate that he was in a back-and-forth text message conversation with another person seconds before the accident, one may surmise that the driver was texting rather than paying attention to the road ahead of him. Alternatively, if the driver’s rest logs indicate that he had not slept for the past 24 hours, it may be inferred that his drowsiness was the cause of the accident.
Have You Been Involved in a Serious Maryland Truck Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been involved in a serious or fatal Maryland truck accident, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for your injuries or losses through a Maryland negligence or wrongful death lawsuit. In either case, in order to be successful in your claim, you will need to show that the other driver was somehow responsible for the accident. This can be done through direct evidence, such as eyewitness testimony explaining what occurred, or through circumstantial evidence similar to what was described above. In either case, discussing your case with an experienced attorney prior to filing is always the most prudent decision. Call 410-654-3600 to set up a free initial consultation with an experienced Maryland personal injury attorney.
More Blog Posts:
Maryland’s Winter Weather Partially Responsible for Cattle Truck Accident, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published March 27, 2015.
Maryland Truck Driver Facing Criminal Charges for 2013 Fatal Accident, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published February 25, 2015.