Earlier this month in Arbutus, Maryland, a truck driver was killed when the trailer he was towing inexplicably detached from the truck and sent the truck careening over a bridge embankment. According to a report by WBALTV 11, the truck driver was heading south on Interstate 95 near the Patapsco River bridge around 11:30 in the morning when the trailer he was towing became detached from the truck.
The truck driver lost control of the truck and crashed into the side of the bridge embankment, going right over it. The truck fell to the ground and landed in a park below before it caught fire. The truck driver was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. He was the only person in the truck, and no other people were injured in the accident.
Police are not sure what caused the trailer to separate from the truck, and they are investigating the accident in hopes of finding out more information. Investigators are unsure how fast the truck was traveling when the trailer separated from the truck.
Stray Trailers and Mechanical Failures Can Cause Serious Accidents
The accident described above shows what kind of carnage can be caused when a trailer separates from the truck that is towing it. The same carnage can be caused any time a truck driver loses control of the vehicle. Common problems that may result in a temporary loss of control in semi-trucks are:
- Brake malfunction;
- Improper loading or securing of cargo, resulting in weight shifting;
- Poorly secured rear-hatch doors;
- Ignition problems; and
- Tire blow outs.
Driver error can also result in a loss of control or an inability to keep the vehicle in control. For example, the following are all possible causes of truck driver error that can result in a fatal truck accident:
- Distracted driving, such as talking on the phone, texting, watching television, or talking to a passenger;
- Drowsy driving;
- Intoxicated driving;
- Speeding;
- Failing to yield the right of way;
- Running a red light; and
- Failure to check blind spots.
Liability in Maryland Truck Accident Cases
Any time a truck driver is at fault for an accident, the accident victim is entitled to recover damages to compensate him or her for medical expenses, as well as any pain and suffering caused by the accident. Generally, this requires that the accident victim prove that the truck driver was in some way negligent. This can be done by showing negligence in the maintenance of the truck, as well as negligence in the operation of the truck.
Have You Been Injured in a Maryland Truck Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been involved in a Maryland truck accident, you should speak with a dedicated Maryland truck accident attorney at the personal injury law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers. The dedicated lawyers at Lebowitz & Mzhen have years of collective experience recovering on behalf of injured Marylanders and know what it takes to bring a winning case. Click here, or call 410-456-3600 today to schedule your free initial consultation.
More Blog Posts:
Maryland Residents Forced to Evacuate After Propane Tanker Accident, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published May 9, 2014.
Trucker Gets into DUI Accident on 301, Another Trucker Gets Hit on the Detour, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published June 6, 2014.