In a tragic three-truck accident that occurred on Interstate 80 earlier this month, one Virginia man lost his life and several others were injured when one truck crashed into two others that had stopped at a construction zone. According to a report by the Nebraska Radio Network, the accident occurred just before five in the afternoon around mile marker 348 on Interstate 80.
Evidently, two trucks were stopped and waiting at a construction site when the third truck—driven by the man from Virginia—slammed into them. The driver of the semi-truck that crashed into the other two was pronounced dead at the scene. His passenger was flown to the hospital for treatment of the injuries he received in the crash.
The other two semi-truck drivers fared better. One was uninjured, and the other was admitted to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries and was quickly released.
It is not clear what caused the Virginia man to crash into the two stopped trucks, but an investigation is underway.
Did Distracted Driving Play a Role?
While the official investigation has not yet been completed, judging by the facts of the accident, it seems as though distracted driving may have played a role. Distracted driving is any activity that a driver engages in that takes his or her attention away from the road. A few of the most common examples of distracted driving are:
- Talking on a cell phone;
- Texting;
- Talking to a passenger;
- Daydreaming;
- Eating or drinking;
- Grooming (shaving, painting nails, etc.); and
- Fiddling with the radio or music controls.
Each of these activities has the potential to remove the driver’s attention from the road, where it should be, and focuses on some other, extraneous object or person.
Distracted Driving Accidents
Some, but not all, distracted driving behaviors are illegal on their own, meaning that even if the conduct doesn’t result in an accident the driver can be cited. For example, Maryland has a texting ban in place prohibiting that conduct. However, there is no law against eating while driving, even though it is a bad idea.
While there is no law, generally, against distracted driving, those who engage in the conduct and cause an accident can be held liable for their actions through a negligence action. A negligence action is usually brought by a person injured in an accident that was caused by a distracted driver. The accident victim asserts that, but for the driver’s negligent actions, the accident that resulted in his or her injury would not have occurred.
Have Your Been Injured in a Maryland Truck Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been involved in a Maryland truck accident, it may have been caused by the truck driver’s negligence. If so, you may be entitled to significant monetary damages to help compensate you for your injuries. To learn more about the accident laws in Maryland, and to schedule a free initial consultation with a dedicated Maryland personal injury attorney, click here, or call 410-654-3600 today to schedule a free no-risk consultation.
More Blog Posts:
Semi-Truck Crashes on I-95, Leaving Huge Stone Slabs on the Highway, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published July 29, 2014.
Maryland Man Dies After Rear-Ending Broken Down Truck, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published July 15, 2014.