Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog
Anyone who has ever run out of gas or had a tire blow out on the highway knows how terrifying it can be to linger on or around the road’s edge. This is especially the case on any of Maryland’s many interstates. Indeed, it is estimated that nearly 20% of all Maryland car accidents occurring on the highway happen off the roadway. This includes both on the shoulder and in the median.
Not only are these accidents common, but they are also very likely to result in serious injury or death because high speeds are usually involved, and motorists are often caught entirely off guard. In fact, roughly 600 people lose their lives each year in roadside accidents. Many of these victims are emergency workers or other roadside workers who are struck while responding to the scene of an emergency or performing some other necessary task.
In an effort to protect roadside workers, Maryland lawmakers have enacted a “Move Over” law, which requires motorists to vacate the lane adjacent to a stopped emergency vehicle. As of October 2, 2018, the law applies to:
- Law enforcement vehicles;
- Fire and rescue vehicles;
- Department of Correction vehicles;
- State vehicles cleaning up hazmat spills;
- Utility vehicles;
- Waste management vehicles; and
- Transportation vehicles.The recent amendment puts Maryland law near the top of the list of states with a robust move over law.
Fire Truck Rear-Ended While Responding to Crash
Earlier this month, a fire truck was rear-ended by a motorist as it was responding to the scene of an unrelated accident. According to a local news report, after colliding with the fire truck, the motorist’s vehicle spun out and came to a rest in the middle of the highway. The driver was hospitalized, and no firefighters were injured in the accident.
In a tweet following the accident, a spokesperson for the fire department explained that “this is happening too often,” tagging #MoveOver. The crash came barely a month after one firefighter was killed and three others injured in an accident on I-295. That accident involved a semi-truck that rear-ended a fire truck that was responding to a crash that had occurred during Tropical Storm Michael.
Have You Been Injured in a Maryland Roadside Accident?
If you or someone you care about has recently been injured in a Maryland roadside accident, contact the dedicated Maryland personal injury lawyers at the law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen, LLC. With our decades of experience handling Maryland personal injury cases, we can assist you in pursuing a claim for compensation against the parties responsible for your injuries. We represent clients in all types of personal injury cases, including Maryland truck accidents and other roadside accidents. To learn more about how we can help you recover for the injuries you have sustained, call 410-654-3600 today.
More Blog Posts:
The Dangers of Driving in Maryland Construction Zones, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published November 12, 2018.
Court Rejects Truck Accident Victim’s Claim That Power Company Provided Inadequate Lighting, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published November 5, 2018.