Earlier this week, two State Troopers in Indiana were lucky to walk away from a serious accident, when a semi truck suddenly landed on top of their patrol car.
In the early afternoon, two troopers were driving on the interstate, when the passenger noticed that the semi had begun to veer into their lane. After moving closer to the semi, he noticed that the driver had his head down. He then told the other trooper, who was driving, that he thought the semi driver was asleep, and that he was about to hit them.
The truck hit the patrol car’s back tires, which pushed them into the concrete barrier, which it then bounced off of, throwing both cars back into the lanes of traffic. The car was essentially dragged, and remained pinned under the truck. Miraculously, both troopers were able to extricate themselves from the vehicle. They reported that some good samaritans pulled the truck driver from his cab.
The driver of the truck, a 68 year old Maryland man, complained of chest pain, and was later transported to a local hospital. He was later listed as being in fair condition.
It remains unclear what led to the collision, though state authorities are undoubtedly continuing an investigation into the circumstances. For example, the driver reportedly complained of chest pain following the collision, but it remains unclear whether he was experiencing some sort of chest pain or incident while he was driving. The fact that his head was down, and that the trooper believed he was sleeping, suggests that driver fatigue may have been the cause of the crash.
Driver fatigue is one of the most common causes in commercial truck accidents. Even though professional truck drivers are regulated by both Maryland State and Federal laws, which set a maximum on the number of hours that they may drive before requiring a rest break, oftentimes companies offer incentives. These rewards for delivering loads within a shorter period of time can encourage drivers to ignore relevant regulations, causing drivers to put themselves and other motorists at risk of sleep deprived collisions.
When driver fatigue causes damage or injury to other drivers, the truck driver and his or her employer should be held accountable. If you have been the victim of a trucking accident, and believe it may have been the result of the driver’s sleepiness, you may be entitled to compensation for any injuries and related expenses you may have incurred. Consult an experienced trucking accident attorney in order to learn the full extent of your rights, and discuss the merits of your case.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a trucking accident that occurred in the Maryland or Washington D.C. areas, contact the experienced trucking accident attorneys at Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers today. We have extensive experience in handling trucking accident cases, and we will fight to ensure that you recover the damages that you deserve. Contact us today in order to schedule your free initial consultation, and learn how we can help you. You can reach us by calling 1-800-654-1949 or through this website.
More Blog Posts:
Truck Driver Sentenced to 8 Months Jail Time For Vehicular Manslaughter, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published October 25, 2013
Port of Oakland Trucker Strike Highlights Factors that can Influence Drivers, Maryland Trucking Accident Law Blog, published October 13, 2013