Earlier this week in a fatal accident out of Prince William County, Virginia, a truck driver lost his life when he crashed into a disabled dump truck on Interstate 95. According to a report by a local CBS affiliate, the dump truck was stalled in the middle northbound lane of I-95 around mile marker 195.
Evidently, the dump truck driver notified authorities as soon as his vehicle became disabled. However, before authorities could get to the scene, the semi-truck driver crashed into the back of the dump truck. It was only a matter of minutes after the truck was disabled that it was hit.
After the accident, the driver of the dump truck was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. However, the driver of the semi-truck was killed in the accident and pronounced dead at the scene. Both drivers were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the accident.
For his involvement in the fatal accident, the driver of the dump truck was cited for operating a truck with defective equipment. Specifically, the power train and the lights were defective on the dump truck.
Operating a Truck with Faulty Equipment
All motorists, including truck drivers, have a duty to make sure that their vehicles are in safe working order before taking them out on the public roads. Most notably, these regulations come from state safety inspections that must be conducted every year or so, depending on the state.
When an accident is caused by a motorist’s defective vehicle, he or she may be held liable for any injuries that result from the accident. However, in order to prove that the other motorist was negligent, there must be some action or inaction that th plaintiff can point to.
For example, it is unlikely that an unexpected tire that blows out and causes an accident would result in liability on behalf of the driver. However, if the plaintiff can show that the driver knew that the tread on the tire was low, and the driver decided to drive on the worn tire anyway, a judge or jury may find that driver liable. In these cases, it is incumbent on the plaintiff to show that something the defendant did was negligent.
Have You Been Injured by a Negligent Driver?
If you or a loved one has recently been injured in a serious Maryland truck accident, you may be entitled to monetary damages based on the truck driver’s negligence. In some cases, both the truck driver and the trucking company can be held liable for the accident. However, keep in mind that insurance companies will likely be involved, and along with them come teams of attorneys who are paid to defend the actions of their insured. To make sure that you stand a fair shot at getting what you deserve, contact a dedicated Maryland truck accident attorney today at 410-654-3600 and set up a free initial consultation.
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.