Earlier this week, a man was flown to a trauma center in Baltimore when he fell off his bicycle and was then hit by a passing dump truck. According to a report by one local news source, the 63-year-old man was riding his bike near the North Conococheague Street bridge when the accident occurred.
Evidently, the bicyclist was heading eastbound on North Conococheague Street when he lost control of the three-wheeled bicycle he was riding around 3:00 in the afternoon. After he fell off the bicycle, a passing dump truck struck the bicyclist, severely injuring him.
The man was immediately flown to R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, where he was treated for his injuries. Luckily, the bicyclist was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.
The dump truck driver stopped after the accident and called police. Police are still conducting an investigation into how the accident occurred, and whether the dump truck driver is at all at fault for the accident.
Dump Truck Accidents in Maryland
Dump trucks are dangerous vehicles. They are large, heavy, and difficult to control, and they take a long distance to come to a complete stop when they are traveling at a high speed. Each year, there are dozens of serious and fatal dump truck accidents. While most truck drivers are professionals, they are all human and suffer from lapses in judgment and carelessness.
Determining Fault in Maryland Truck Accidents
The accident described above is a prime example of the extent of the difficulty in determining fault in Maryland truck accidents. While some cases are black and white, others present a more fuzzy picture. For example, in the case above, there are additional facts that are necessary before fault could be determined, such as:
- Was the dump truck driving within his lane at the time of the accident?
- Was either party intoxicated at the time of the accident?
- Why did the bicyclist fall off the bike? (Was it a problem with the bike?)
Many cases fit into this category, and the accident victims in those cases are often rudely awakened to the reality of this after they receive a less-than-favorable verdict.
Have You Been Injured in a Maryland Truck Accident?
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, an accident victim may be able to also seek damages from the trucking company that employed the negligent truck driver. To learn more, you should contact one of the skilled Maryland personal injury attorneys at the law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers. The dedicated and experienced attorneys at Lebowitz & Mzhen have years of experience handling all kinds of personal injury suits, and will be happy to offer you guidance in whatever kind of personal injury you have suffered. Call 410-654-3600 today to schedule 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.
Truck Accident in Frederick County Kills One Motorcyclist, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published August 19, 2014.