Articles Posted in Fatal Trucking Accidents

A recent news article discussed a local fatal fire truck crash. According to the news article about a recent fire truck crash, the fatal accident occurred in December 2021 and new details have recently emerged about the conditions that fueled the incident. The 23-ton fire truck left a devastating path of destruction behind it. The fire truck was speeding and ran a red light when it crashed into a car, continuing on before knocking a pedestrian into a building, killing her. The building collapsed shortly after.

The building collapse trapped a car, killing both the driver and the passenger. A 323-page report on the incident outlined multiple contributing factors to the crash. (1) The fire department is suffering from acute staffing shortages, (2) there is a lack of training for drivers, and (3) there were communication failures in the lead-up to the crash. The report mentioned that at the time, it was not against department policy to run red lights or go above the speed limit. Fire department policy has been updated to require fire trucks to stop at red lights.

What Makes Truck Accidents so Danegrous?

Crashes involving large-sized vehicles such as trucks or campers are inherently more dangerous than other types of collisions for a number of reasons. Trucks, especially very heavy ones such as fire trucks or semi-trucks result in more serious accidents when they are involved in crashes. Additionally, the conditions that many truck drivers operate under force them to drive extreme distances, resulting in fatigue. Further, large emergency response trucks, such as fire trucks, are often driving at extremely high speeds and operating under different driving rules than ordinary traffic, creating more opportunities for accidents. Finally, commercial trucks are also potentially carrying hazardous cargo, complicating truck crashes and accidents. While many people intuitively understand the greater risks involved in truck accidents, they may not know that according to the statistical analysis organization Policy Advice, truck accidents have increased by 52% since 2009, and 74% of all fatal passenger vehicle accidents include a large truck.

When driving next to a semi-truck, it may be common to feel nervous – to grip the wheel tighter, speed up, slow down, or change lanes to avoid being directly next to the truck. This may be for good reason, because of the very large size of the vehicles for one. In addition, the semi-trucks we see every day on the road also may be transporting hazardous materials.

The Hazardous Material Transportation Act of 1975 empowered the Secretary of Transportation to designate hazardous materials as “any particular quantity of form” of a material that “may pose an unreasonable risk to health and safety or property” (https://www.osha.gov/trucking-industry/transporting-hazardous-materials). Additionally, the Hazardous Materials Transportation Uniform Safety Act of 1990 requires the Secretary of Transportation to regulate the safe transport of hazardous materials in intrastate, interstate, and foreign commerce. All drivers who are transporting hazardous materials are required to undergo training and follow protocols while transporting these materials to ensure safety. Although these protocols and regulations are in place, accidents may still occur and can have devasting impacts. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has also identified different hazardous materials, requiring that a vehicle transporting such materials display a clearly visible card around the trailer to ensure that other drivers on the road are aware.

A recent report revealed the dangers. According to the news report, two people died after a fatal crash on US-12 in Berrien County, Michigan. The driver of a liquid-propane hauler was traveling eastbound when the driver crossed the median and struck a gasoline hauler head-on. Although some liquid propane leaked from the truck, it was quickly contained. The driver of the liquid-propane hauler was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the gasoline hauler was transported to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries. Initial investigations revealed that both drivers appeared to be wearing seatbelts, although the cause of the accident is still being investigated.

A woman died earlier this month after her vehicle was struck by a semi-truck while she was traveling along a Georgia highway. According to a local news report discussing the accident, the 43-year-old woman was killed when her Hyundai Sonata was hit by a semi-truck as she attempted to make a left-hand turn at an intersection. The article notes that the intersection was controlled by a traffic signal device and that the semi-truck appeared to have the right of way when the accident occurred.

Although semi-trucks and other large commercial or industrial vehicles can be especially dangerous to other drivers involved. When drivers are using roads with heavy semi-truck traffic, they should be extra vigilant to ensure their safety and prevent an accident. If another driver is injured or killed when failing to yield the right-of-way to a semi-truck, that driver or their family may face difficulties in obtaining compensation for any damages incurred in the crash.

Police and media reports made after an accident may appear to tell the entire story of an accident, however, the fault as allocated by a police officer, or stated in a news report, is not a final determination. It is not uncommon in Maryland for a personal injury case to be resolved with findings that are not consistent with initial police or media reports. Because of this, anyone involved in a Maryland, DC, or Virginia semi-truck accident should seek legal counsel to perform a full investigation of the crash and determine if the police reports were accurate.

When a motor vehicle accident occurs, it is common for those involved, including drivers, passengers, and witnesses, to exchange information for any insurance claims and legal claims. However, in the case of hit-and-run accidents, a driver who flees may face both civil and criminal liability. In the state of Maryland, under the Maryland Transportation Code, there are penalties that perpetrators face for leaving the scene of an accident that causes serious bodily injury. If someone leaves the scene of an accident resulting in serious bodily injury, this is a punishable felony by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.

According to a recent news report, a Philadelphia man was killed in a hit-and-run crash involving a tow truck driver. Police say that the crash happened around 2 a.m. when a tow truck ran a red light and crashed into the car of a 51-year-old man, resulting in the 51-year-old’s death. The impact from the collision resulted in damage to three additional cars parked along the road, including the force of the crush pushing at least one car down the street. Witnesses say that they saw the tow truck driver running from the scene. Police are still working to locate the driver.

Does Car Insurance Cover a Hit and Run Accident?

Yes, depending on your insurance coverage, your policy may cover a hit and run accident. If you are a victim of a hit-and-run accident, you may have questions about what next steps to take. Typically, you exchange insurance and contact information with those involved in the accident, but in the case of a hit-and-run accident, you are not able to exchange this vital information.

Crashes involving large seized vehicles such as trucks or RVs and campers are inherently more dangerous for a number of reasons. Trucks, especially semi-trucks or 18-wheelers are heavier and larger than standard passenger vehicles, resulting in more serious accidents when they are involved in crashes. Additionally, the conditions that many truck drivers operate under force them to drive extreme distances, resulting in fatigue. Finally, shipping trucks are also potentially carrying hazardous cargo, complicating truck crashes and accidents. While many people intuitively understand the greater risks involved in truck accidents, they may not know that according to the statistical analysis organization Policy Advice, truck accidents have increased by 52% since 2009, and 74% of all fatal passenger vehicle accidents include a large truck. A recent news article discussed a local fatal truck crash.

According to the news article about a recent local truck crash, the accident occurred in the evening around 8:26 p.m. on Thursday, September 8, when an RV and a tractor-trailer collided on Interstate 66. A preliminary investigation by the Virginia State Police has resulted in the arrest of the RV driver, a 25-year-old male from Houston, on charges of reckless driving and driving without a license. The authorities have further stated that the crash reportedly caused the RV to slide down an embankment into several trees after driving off the road and hitting a guardrail. Two passengers in the RV died at the scene, with an additional passenger suffering life-threatening injuries, and the driver and four other passengers suffering minor injuries. It is reported that none of the passengers in the RV were reportedly wearing seatbelts. The driver of the tractor-trailer was also transported to the hospital for treatment for minor injuries sustained in the crash. The police have stated that there is an active investigation into the accident.

Does Negligence on My Part Affect My Maryland Case?

Contributory Negligence is a legal concept that potentially prevents plaintiffs in an accident case from receiving recovery for injuries resulting from a crash if their negligence contributed to the accident to any degree. Essentially, even if the negligence of the operator of another vehicle is largely responsible for the accident, if the plaintiff was even a little negligent, it is possible they will not be able to recover compensation. In Maryland, contributory negligence is interpreted very broadly, allowing minor negligence by the plaintiff in personal injury cases to defeat even very strong claims.

Because of the severity of truck accidents, dealing with the aftermath of a truck-related collision can often be an overwhelming experience. Every year, thousands of people are involved in serious truck accidents. Many of these people are frequently injured or killed because collisions involving passenger vehicles and trucks are often deadly.

Following a major truck accident, the financial impacts of the crash can often be devastating and significant for survivors because of medical bills, property damage, or time taken off from work because of the severity of injuries. This is why Maryland residents should understand what steps to take following a major truck accident and how to recover compensation for their injuries.

According to a recent news report, a local woman died after she crashed her SUV directly into a tractor-trailer truck. Authorities located the 25-year-old woman’s Subaru pointed east and partially pinned under the trailer of an Amazon truck, which had just left a nearby truck stop and was turning west onto the highway. The crash’s impact into the side of the tractor-trailer shaved off the top of the Subaru from the front of the windshield to the middle of the passenger compartment, and the driver was pronounced dead at the scene. Local police confirmed that the accident remains an active investigation.

When driving, we expect other motorists we share the road with to abide by road signs in a reasonable manner. After all, all drivers share a certain amount of responsibility to each other to operate their vehicles with reasonable safety. Sometimes, however, whether the driver is distracted or simply careless, negligent driving takes place and can result in devastating consequences. When an accident takes place because of the negligence of the at-fault party, it may give rise to a personal injury lawsuit.

According to a recent news report, a woman died after her car was hit by a large truck. Local police pronounced the 55-year-old woman dead at the scene because of injuries she sustained in the accident. The woman was driving her Buick when it was struck by an 18-wheeler log truck at an intersection. According to reports from the highway patrol and other local authorities, the truck driver ignored a stop sign and crashed into the Buick. An autopsy is scheduled for the woman and the local highway patrol is still investigating the circumstances of the accident.

In Maryland, like other states, the state code of transportation establishes certain rules of the road, including laws about stop signs and other yield signs. Drivers are expected to stop at a clearly marked stop line and to do so before entering any crosswalk. Similarly, Maryland has requirements for drivers to stop when approached with yield signs, and to stop at the near side of an intersection if there is no clearly marked stop line.

Among the various types of accidents, truck collisions are among the most dangerous. After all, there is a reason that smaller vehicles—and vehicles of all sizes—avoid large trucks on the road, especially when traffic is heavy. As a proactive driver, leaving additional space between yourself and large vehicles is important, but sometimes, accidents still take place because of circumstances beyond your control. When truck accidents happen because of negligence or recklessness of the driver, the consequences are often significant and can have serious impacts on everyone involved.

According to a recent news report, a four to seven-month-old baby died after a major tow truck accident. Local authorities reported that a Nissan sedan was at a stoplight facing eastbound when the tow truck collided with the Nissan. The tow truck driver has been charged with vehicular manslaughter and is currently in police custody. The district attorney’s office believes that the tow truck driver was speeding and that there were no signs he attempted to use his brakes before the accident took place. Deputies said the baby was rushed to a local hospital for treatment, where he later died. The accident remains under investigation.

Truck accidents are widely considered to be more dangerous than regular car accidents for a number of reasons. First, trucks are typically much larger and significantly heavier than the average passenger vehicle. This, coupled with additional factors such as a truck driver’s dexterity, driving abilities, and the vehicle’s maintenance could also contribute to a significant collision.