Earlier this month in Orange County, New York, three teens were killed and another seriously injured in an accident that occurred while they were out on the road with a driving instructor for their driver’s education class. According to one local New York news source, the accident occurred when a tractor-trailer entered the intersection and T-boned the teens’ vehicle.
Evidently, the intersection gives red flashing signals to one direction and yellow flashing signals to the other. The teens stopped at the red signal and then proceeded through the intersection. The truck driver drove through the yellow flashing signal and was unable to stop in time, colliding with the teens’ vehicle.
A 16-year-old girl was driving the vehicle at the time, and the instructor was in the front passenger seat. There were three teenage males in the back seat. Two of the males in the back were pronounced dead at the scene by emergency responders. The driver and third back-seat passenger were airlifted to a nearby hospital and admitted in critical condition. While the teenage driver was ultimately released, the third male teen succumbed to his injuries and passed away a few days after the accident. Both the driving instructor and the driver of the truck were also admitted to the hospital with serious injuries. However, they are both are expected to make full recoveries.
The intersection where the fatal accident occurred is known as a “difficult” intersection among locals. In fact, officials have discussed putting in a fully functional stop light rather than the blinking red light that is now in use. The accident remains under investigation, and charges may be filed depending on the result.
Determining Fault in Maryland Truck Accidents
The tragic accident above illustrates how difficult it can be to determine who is at fault in a serious or fatal truck accident. Flashing red lights require a driver to stop and yield to the traffic. However, a flashing yellow light also requires a driver to proceed through the intersection with caution. It seems that more information is required to make a decision as to who was at fault in the accident.
This fault determination will be very important, not only to any potential criminal investigation, but also to any civil lawsuit brought on behalf of the teens’ family members seeking financial compensation for their loss. While the police will certainly conduct a preliminary investigation into who was at fault, it may be an attorney’s job to complete the in-depth investigation necessary to really get to the bottom of what happened in the moments before the fatal accident.
Have You Been Injured in a Maryland Truck Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been the victim of a truck driver’s negligent driving, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. However, as the above discussion illustrates, determining fault in Maryland truck accidents is rarely straightforward and often requires the assistance of a skilled attorney experienced in truck accident cases. To learn more about Maryland truck accidents, and to speak with an attorney about your case, call 410-654-3600 today to set up a free consultation.
More Blog Posts:
Tracy Morgan Settles with Wal-Mart Regarding Last Year’s Truck Accident, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published June 4, 2015.
Construction Worker Killed in I-95 Beltsville Truck Accident, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published July 7, 2015.