Earlier this month in Kindred, North Dakota, a school bus was involved in an accident with three semi-trucks, seriously injuring the driver and three students on board the bus. According to one local news report, the accident occurred at around nine in the morning as the school bus was on its way to a field trip.
Evidently, the school bus was heading eastbound on the highway and was approaching an intersection with another highway when a semi-truck traveling on the other highway failed to see the school bus and slammed into the side of it. Two other semi-trucks then crashed into the two disabled vehicles before they were able to be moved from the highway.
The driver of the school bus needed to be extricated from the badly damaged front end of the bus. This task took emergency workers nearly 45 minutes. However, the driver was eventually removed and taken to the hospital, where she was admitted in serious but stable condition. Three other students on board the bus were also taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The driver of the semi-truck that initially collided with the school bus blamed the fog, explaining that he likely would have been able to stop in time had conditions been clear. An investigation is continuing, but so far the driver of the truck is not facing any charges.
Weather-Related Trucking Accidents
As we enter the fall season, the weather in Maryland is bound to change and the driving conditions along with it. Whether it be fog and rain in the fall, or sleet and snow in the winter, the road conditions can be a major factor in many Maryland truck accidents.
While the weather can make driving more difficult for truck drivers, it is ultimately the truck driver’s responsibility to ensure that they are operating their vehicle in a safe manner. If this means that they need to pull off the road during times of extremely inclement weather, that is what they should do.
When semi-truck drivers push their limits and try to stay on the road despite obvious dangers, they are much more likely to cause a serious or fatal accident. In these cases, the driver of the truck as well as the truck’s owner may be held liable for any injuries or fatalities that result from the truck driver’s negligence.
Have You Been Injured in a Maryland Truck Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been injured in a Maryland truck accident, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for your injuries or losses. However, as with most personal injury lawsuits, the named defendants will not likely offer fair compensation without convincing. The skilled attorneys at the Maryland-based personal injury law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers have decades of experience litigating and settling cases arising from all kinds of accidents, including those with semi-trucks. To learn more, and to speak with a dedicated personal injury advocate, call 410-654-3600 today to set up a free consultation.
More Blog Posts:
Laurel Bus Accident Claims One Man’s Life, Injures Seven Others, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published September 17, 2015.
Two Dead, One Injured in Late-Night Maryland Truck Accident, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published August 11, 2015.