Earlier this month in Prince George’s County, a semi-truck overturned and spilled its load of potatoes all over the Capital Beltway, causing major delays and injuring the driver. According to one local news source, the accident took place early on a Wednesday morning on the Capital Beltway, right before Pennsylvania Avenue in Forestville.
Evidently, the driver of the truck sustained a major injury to his arm and was flown to Shock Trauma in Baltimore. The accident also resulted in one lane of the Beltway being closed for most of the morning rush hour. Also inside the truck’s cab was a pit-bull belonging to the truck’s driver. She has yet to be found.
Police investigating the accident told reporters that it looks as though the driver of the truck may have fallen asleep prior to the accident. However, the investigation into the cause of the accident is still ongoing. Charges against the driver may later be filed, pending the outcome of the investigation.
Drowsy Driving and Truck Accidents
With the long hours on the road–sometimes for days at a time–it should come as little surprise that drowsy driving is a major cause of Maryland semi-truck accidents. In fact, it is so well known that drowsy driving causes accidents that the state and federal governments have enacted laws requiring truck drivers to only be out on the road for a certain number of hours per day, as well as per week. As a part of this legal requirement, truck drivers are supposed to keep “rest logs” to track the number of hours they are resting while on a trip.
Despite the known dangers of drowsy driving, and the potential legal implications of getting behind the wheel while tired, truck drivers continue to engage in the dangerous activity because they are often financially incentivized to do so by the trucking companies that employ them.
Legal Liability in Maryland Drowsy Driving Accidents
If a drowsy truck driver causes an accident because they were asleep or not alert because they had not gotten the required amount of rest, they may be held liable for any damages or injuries caused as a result. Additionally, in some circumstances the trucking company that employs the driver can also be named in the lawsuit, potentially increasing the likelihood of recovering fair compensation for what the accident victim has been put through.
Have You Been Involved in a Serious Maryland Truck Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been involved in any kind of serious Maryland truck accident, you may be entitled to monetary damages based on the truck driver’s negligence. Keep in mind that the accident needn’t be caused by drowsy driving in order for you to recover. Accidents caused by failures to obey traffic signals or laws may also result in legal liability. To learn more about Maryland truck accidents, and to schedule a free consultation with an attorney to discuss your case, call 410-654-3600 today.
More Blog Posts:
Tracy Morgan Settles with Wal-Mart Regarding Last Year’s Truck Accident, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published June 4, 2015.
Queen Anne Semi-Truck Accident Claims Three Lives, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published May 8, 2015.