In a tragic accident earlier this week in West Hagerstown, one man lost his life in a semi-truck accident when the truck he was driving drifted off the right side of the road, struck a guardrail, and then ran into a bridge support beam. According to one local news report, the truck was carrying recyclables and was heading northbound on Interstate 81 when the fatal accident occurred.
Evidently, when the truck crashed into the beam, it exploded. Investigators believe that a saddle fuel ruptured on impact and that was the cause of the explosion. The driver of the truck was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. Thankfully, no other cars or trucks were involved in the accident, and the truck driver was the only person injured.
One witness to the accident told reporters that she was about 13 car lengths back at the time of the collision, and that initially she didn’t think that it was a very serious accident. It wasn’t until the loud “boom” that she realized the seriousness of the accident. Engineers were called in to assess the structural integrity of the bridge after the explosion. It is not yet clear what the situation is regarding the bridge’s stability.
Maryland Truck Accidents
Although the cause of this accident is undetermined, since we don’t know what caused the driver to veer off the road in the first place, this accident raises other concerns about big rig accidents, namely the possibility that they can explode upon impact. While it is possible for any vehicle to explode after it is involved in an accident, semi-trucks are both more likely to explode upon impact and also pose a greater threat once they do explode, due to the amount of fuel carried in their tanks.
The bottom line when it comes to semi-truck accidents is that they are much more dangerous than other kinds of accidents. Because of this, we would hope that semi-truck drivers take extra precautions to avoid getting into an accident, but that is unfortunately not always the case. If you have been injured in a Maryland truck accident, you should speak with a dedicated attorney today about what rights you may have to recover for your injuries.
Have You Been Involved in a Maryland Truck Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been involved in a Maryland truck accident, you may be entitled to monetary compensation to help cover your medical expenses as well as any pain and suffering you experienced as a result of the accident. However, in most cases truck companies have dedicated teams of lawyers that defend them against all kinds of suits brought against them. To learn more about Maryland accident law, and to set up a free initial consultation with a skilled personal injury attorney, call 410-654-3600 today.
More Blog Posts:
Truck Driver’s Negligent Driving Causes Serious Accident in Hagerstown, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published September 2, 2014.
Williamsport Bicyclist Injured When Hit By Dump Truck, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published October 10, 2014.