Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog
Earlier this month, a Nevada court denied a motion filed by a trucking company for a new trial after the court determined that the company’s driver was responsible for a 2011 accident that killed six people, including the driver of the truck. According to one local news source, the court ordered the trucking company to pay roughly $4.5 million in damages.
The Truck Driver Slams into a Moving Amtrak Train
The fatal accident occurred back in 2011, in Nevada’s high desert, near the intersection of Interstate 80 and U.S. Highway 95. Evidently, the truck driver was driving an empty truck when he approached a railroad crossing. Evidence showed that the crossing was marked and that the engineer on the train was engaging the train’s whistle prior to reaching the crossing. However, the truck driver failed to slow down in time and ended up crashing into the second car of the train. The impact between the semi-truck and the train killed the truck driver, the train’s engineer, and four passengers aboard the train.
It also came out in evidence that the truck driver began to apply the brakes about 300 feet prior to the crossing, but he was still unable to stop in time. The National Transportation Safety Bureau conducted an investigation into the fatal accident and determined that the cause was an inattentive truck driver with a history of speeding violations, as well as the fact that the truck he was driving had faulty brakes.
After a jury trial, the court ordered that the trucking company employing the driver pay roughly $4.5 million. In the most recent news, the company sought a motion for rehearing. That motion, claiming that the trucking company did not receive a fair trial, was denied by the court. The court explained that the jury’s verdict was supported by the evidence, and there was no indication any of the presented evidence was problematic.
While the trial court has refused to revisit its decision, there is still the possibility that the trucking company could appeal the decision to a higher court. But for now, the decision of the trial court will be final.
Have You Been Involved in a Maryland Truck Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been involved in a Maryland truck accident, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. As noted above, truck drivers owe a duty of care to those with whom they share the road, and this duty requires that they remain attentive throughout their routes. Truck driver fatigue is an increasingly common cause of serious and fatal truck accidents, and while new regulations aim at addressing the problem, they may have come too late for some. Call 410-654-3600 today to set up a free consultation with a dedicated Maryland truck accident attorney to discuss your injuries and the accident that caused them. Calling is free and will not result in any obligation on your part unless we can help you recover compensation for your injuries.
More Blog Posts:
Tracy Morgan’s Tragic Accident Brings Truck Driver Fatigue to Center Stage, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published January 20, 2016.
Truck Drivers Will Be Required to Use Electronic Recording for Drive and Rest Times, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published January 13, 2016.