Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog
Earlier this month in Montgomery County, an accident between a dump truck and a county bus sent 10 people to the hospital with various injuries. According to one local news report, the accident took place about five miles away from Silver Spring in the White Oak area.
Evidently, around two o’clock in the afternoon at New Hampshire Avenue and Tracey Drive, a dump truck crashed into the back of the county bus, which was carrying a total of 16 passengers and a driver. After the accident, emergency crews ended up taking nine adults and one child to the hospital for non-life threatening injuries. Both drivers were not injured in the accident.
A police investigation is underway, but at this point it seems as though the dump truck rear-ended the bus while the bus was stopped. Authorities are not sure why the dump truck was unable to or did not stop in time.
Trucking Accidents on Maryland Roads
Whether it is a dump truck, a big rig, a semi-truck, or a tractor-trailer, big trucks pose a serious threat when they are operated in a less-than-responsible manner. In fact, Maryland law requires that all trucks be operated within the bounds of the law at all times. This means not only obeying all posted road signs, but also paying complete attention to the road and safely operating the vehicle.
While there has not been an official determination as to the cause of the accident described above, it seems as though the driver of the dump truck may have been distracted at the time, which prevented him from seeing the stopped bus in front of him.
Maryland Laws in Distracted Driving
Like many other states, Maryland specifically forbids certain types of distracted driving, such as driving while texting or driving while talking on the phone. Distracted driving is very broad, and the law does not specifically prohibit all types of distracted driving. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that the driver cannot be held responsible for their actions.
Proving a case of negligence against a Maryland truck driver can be done in a number of ways. One way is to point to a specific law that the driver broke immediately preceding the accident. However, the accident victim can also show that the driver was otherwise distracted, even if the negligent driver’s behavior wasn’t per se against the law. To learn more about accidents caused by negligent truck drivers, contact a dedicated Maryland personal injury attorney.
Are You in Need of an Attorney?
If you or a loved one has recently been involved in a serious or fatal Maryland truck accident, you may be entitled to monetary compensation based on the truck driver’s negligence. However, in order to succeed in a case against a truck driver or trucking company, the injured party must be able to point to some action of the truck driver in order to establish the driver’s negligence. For help with the process, contact one of the dedicated Maryland personal injury attorneys at Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers. The skilled advocates at Lebowitz & Mzhen have decades of experience successfully bringing cases against negligent drivers, including truck drivers and trucking companies. Call 410-654-3600 to set up a free consultation with a dedicated attorney today.
More Blog Posts:
Maryland’s Winter Weather Partially Responsible for Cattle Truck Accident, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published March 27, 2015.
Maryland Truck Driver Facing Criminal Charges for 2013 Fatal Accident, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published February 25, 2015.