Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog

Baltimore Commercial Trucking Accident News: Man Dies, Others Injured in Work Truck Crash

June 24, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

A commercial work truck carrying several people went out of control in a local neighborhood not long ago fatally injuring the driver and causing serious injury to the vehicle’s two other occupants. As Maryland personal injury attorneys and auto accident lawyers, I and my legal staff know all too well the potential dangers that commercial trucking accidents pose in densely populated areas such as Frederick, Rockville, Gaithersburg and Washington, D.C.

It is the responsibility of every truck owner and driver to maintain the safety of individuals riding inside a motor vehicle, not to mention the safety of any innocent bystanders or other drivers who may be close by. In this particular case, no definitive reason was given at the time of the news report as to the cause of the fatal motor vehicle crash.

While driver error may have played a part, there always remains the question of faulty safety equipment, such as the brakes or steering components, or perhaps poor maintenance procedures. Defective equipment or poorly followed maintenance procedures can in some cases lead to a third party being named in a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit.

According to police reports, this recent truck wreck occurred just before noon on a Wednesday in Baltimore County around the Lutherville-Timonium area. According to police, patrolmen responded to reports of a Ford F-350 work truck that had crashed into a tree near Meadowcroft Ct. and Dulaney Valley Rd.

Maryland Commercial Truck Accident Report: Washington County Motorist Injured in I-81 Traffic Collision

June 18, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Car, truck and motorcycle accidents happen for a variety of reasons, but not every traffic collision is caused by just one person or a single event. While a commercial truck or car crash can result in one person being charged with negligent driving, some traffic mishaps can precipitate from a mechanical problem, badly located traffic signage, or poorly maintained roadway.

Occasionally, a third party can be named in a civil suit when there is evidence that actions by that person or entity may have resulted in injury or death of an individual as a result of a traffic accident. As Maryland personal injury lawyers and automobile accident attorneys, I and my colleagues investigate the possible causes of car and commercial truck crashes in an effort to determine fault.

Defective vehicle equipment is one area that holds potential for injury and even death of vehicle occupants. Poorly designed or incorrectly manufactured parts, such as brake components, steering systems, tires and airbags, can have a contributory effect on a motor vehicle accident. Similarly, badly maintained or poorly designed intersections and highway ramps can even play a role in a severe or deadly road accidents.

Not long ago, a Washington County, MD, man was critically injured on a stretch of Interstate 81 where it crosses over the Potomac River. News reports indicate that emergency pothole repairs on a bridge span may have been a factor in the accident that sent a 45-year-old Funkstown resident to the hospital with potentially life-threatening injuries.

According to news reports, Thomas McDonald, Jr., was driving a Kia Rio southbound along I-81 near Cearfoss Pike when traffic ahead apparently came to an abrupt halt due to pothole repairs on that side of the roadway. Police reports showed that the Kia hit the back end of a semi tractor-trailer rig that was stopped in the right-hand lane of the interstate. According to police, traffic was also stopped in the fast lane when the crash occurred; just after 4:30pm.

Maryland Personal Injury News: Tanker Truck Driver Charged with Reckless Driving following I-495 Accident

June 7, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

As motorists we all hope that commercial truck drivers take the necessary care and caution when traveling on Maryland’s interstates and surface streets. Unfortunately, as they say, one bad apple can spoil the rest, and numerous trucking-related accidents make for bad press. The trouble is, tractor-trailers and other large commercial vehicles can and do kill and maim hundreds of people every year in this county.

As Baltimore automobile accident attorneys and Maryland personal injury lawyers, I and my staff are dedicated to representing traffic accident victims and their families. We understand that a collision between a passenger car and an 18-wheel big rig can result in serious and life-changing injuries. Sadly, many of these wrecks are fatal and leave no chance for families to see their loved ones again.

The reasons for trucking accidents are as varied as the types of trucks on the road. Box trucks, delivery vans, tow trucks and snow plows, gasoline tankers and auto haulers; each has potential for destroying a smaller less massive vehicle, such as a passenger car or motorcycle. Victims have ben know to lose limbs, sustain disfiguring burn injuries and even suffer from debilitating closed-head trauma and spinal cord damage, all because of another individual’s negligence.

Maryland Injury Accident News: Local HS Coach Seriously Hurt in Head-on Crash with Dump Truck

May 31, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Statewide, communities gain so much from those dedicated and involved individuals that contribute much of their time and energy to the growth and development of our young people. Unfortunately, when we lose one of these leaders the entire community grieves. When someone who has played a part in so many lives is injured, our hearts go out to them, their family and their community.

As personal injury attorneys, I and my colleagues can appreciate the sincere sadness that a car or trucking-related accident can bring to a family whose loved one is seriously injured in a car crash for no apparent reason. While a traffic accident can tragically ruin the life of a single individual, families must go on and try their lives as best they can. Communities, too, must also bear with the incident, trying to deal with the emotional scars and hoping to see that individual back on a path to better health.

A while back, a track coach from Francis Scott Key High School was injured in an unfortunate trucking-related crash. According to news reports, the vehicle that Timothy Walsh was driving was hit almost head-on by a dump truck during the early morning rush hour in Carroll County.

Anne Arundel Injury News: Maryland Man Dies in Fatal Commercial Truck Accident on Bay Bridge

May 26, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Traffic collisions can occur in a myriad of ways. And as varied as car, truck and motorcycle accidents are, the injuries sustained in these wrecks range from minor to severe. How people are injured, or killed, can also be affected by numerous factors, including being hit by debris thrown through the windshield, striking a hard surface within the vehicle upon impact, being tossed about (usually when a seatbelt has failed or not been used), being ejected from the vehicle during a rollover accident.

As Baltimore trucking accident attorneys and personal injury lawyers, our job is to help victims of automobile, truck and pedestrian accidents recover medical expenses, lost wages and other costs associated with a highway wreck or urban traffic collision. In some cases, when the victim has died as a result of the crash and is no longer able to speak from himself, we assist the victim’s family in recovering damages due to wrongful death.

Not long ago, an 70-year-old retired gentleman lost his life following a traffic accident along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge in Anne Arundel County. According to news reports, the victim was former sportswriter, Harry Blauvelt, who had worked for numerous news agencies over the years. Sadly, the history of the Bay Bridge caught up with this individual as it has with others before him.

Based on reports, Blauvelt was apparently returning home to Kent Island on Monday morning around 10:30am when his Honda experienced some kind of mechanical problem along the center span. There is no breakdown lane, which makes for an extremely dangerous situation whenever a car or truck becomes disabled on the two-lane bridge.

Just as Blauvelt was getting out of his stalled vehicle to investigate the trouble, a 2003 International commercial truck slammed into the rear of the man’s car and threw him over an adjacent barrier wall into the water 50 feet below the roadway.

Baltimore Traffic Safety News: Maryland Transit Authority Buses “Speak” to Help Pedestrians Avoid Potential Injury

May 16, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

As reported not long ago, pedestrians in Maryland’s urban areas are apparently some of the most at-risk groups in the nation. This is not a distinction that many would be proud of, but it is a fact that persons on foot and riding bicycles here in Baltimore, or over in Annapolis, Rockville or Washington, D.C., have a high likelihood of being struck by a car, SUV, pickup or commercial deliver truck than pedestrians in other states.

As Maryland personal injury lawyers, we can understand the pain and suffering that can occur following an pedestrian-automobile collision, much less a crash involving a bicycle and commercial truck, or city bus. And apparently the MTA (Maryland Transit Authority) also understands the risks.

No long ago, news articles reported that 10 so-called talking buses were being put into service here in Baltimore with the intent to reduce the chances of tragic pedestrian accidents. According to reports, the MTA is running tests of this talking bus technology, which is designed to warn people that one of these large vehicles is bearing down on them.

The idea is to alert individuals who might otherwise be distracted and not aware of the presence of a city bus amidst all the noise and activity in a metropolitan area. While the concept may seem a little silly to some, it’s no joke that many people have been seriously injured or even killed by commuter buses in the past.

According to the news reports, the “voice” of these buses is female and announces to everyone within earshot a repeating message of, “Pedestrians, bus is turning.” Bus drivers have apparently noticed a distinct difference in that way that people on foot react to the rather authoritative warning. The test buses are equipped with one of two different systems during the trial period.

Out of the 100-plus fatal pedestrian accidents in Maryland, the percentage of city bus-related pedestrian deaths in Maryland are rather small, however the MTA’s actions speak volumes. Back in February, publicity from the death of a spokeswoman for the state medical examiner’s office shined the spotlight again on the MTA.

Baltimore Commercial Trucking Accident Update: Passenger Car Occupants Most at Risk in Multi-Vehicle Truck Wrecks

May 9, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

As anyone who drives in the Baltimore area knows, heavy commercial trucks such as Peterbilts, Macks, Freightliners and Kenworths, among other makes, travel our roadways in large numbers. What few people remember, as they drive in and around metropolitan areas like Annapolis, the District, Gaithersburg and Bowie, is that the shear mass of these large, cross-country tractor-trailers can easily crush a sedan, minivan or SUV. Because of this, motorists live with the ever-present danger of a serious, life-threatening crash between these large trucks and the smaller and lighter passenger cars that share the road with them.

As potentially dangerous as these huge vehicles can be, they are important players in this country’s economic health and therefore not likely to disappear from the scene anytime soon. Traffic accidents involving autos and commercial trucks are frequent and can cause serious injury, permanent disability and death. The reasons for trucking accidents can vary as well, from defective vehicle and poor maintenance procedures, to distracted driving and operator fatigue.

As Maryland trucking accident lawyers and personal injury attorneys, I and my staff are experienced in the representing victims of commercial truck collisions. We understand how motorists in cars, light trucks or motorcycles can receive extensive injuries from a crash leading to broken bones, internal bleeding, collapsed lungs or closed head injuries.

Hundreds, even thousands, of 18-wheelers, box trucks, tankers, heavy construction vehicles, are involved in multi-vehicle accidents annually, causing millions of dollars in damage, medical treatment and physical therapy for thousands of people nationwide. Some of these wrecks are severe enough to cause death to passenger car drivers and other occupants.

If a fully-loaded tractor-trailer rig goes out of control, it can become a 40-ton battering ram with the impact force of more than 20 average-sized passenger cars. Based on research conducted over the years, safety experts know that many trucking accidents can be avoided. And while most commercial trucking firms are responsible enough to ensure that their fleets are safely maintained and driven, some companies are not so careful.

Cargo overloading is a common problem in the trucking industry and can result in operational problems for commercial truck drivers. Physics also plays a part when these heavy haulers are overloaded, causing the vehicle to travel farther even under maximum braking. Add the possibility of defective braking equipment and that could leave the driver unable to stop and possibly causing the operator to lose control especially under adverse weather conditions.

Baltimore County Trucker Injured in Single-Vehicle Harford County Traffic Accident on Maryland Rte 1

April 30, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

As mentioned here on several previous occasions, the causes of commercial trucking accidents are numerous and varied. According to a 2002 study conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), almost 5,000 people died in fatal trucking accidents across the U.S. In all, about 130,000 people were injured in trucking-related collisions on public roads. This is an amazing statistic, if only because commercial vehicle accidents account for just three percent of injury-related traffic wrecks.

What this shows is that of all motor vehicle collisions, those crashes that involve an 18-wheeler or commercial delivery truck typically result in some of the most serious injuries of any motor vehicle accident. The size and weight disparity between tractor-trailer rigs and everyday passenger cars and minivans is enormous, not to mention when a motorcycle is involved in an accident with a truck. That is why victims of these kinds of trucking-related traffic crashes face potentially serious challenges, such as prolonged recovery times and possible permanent disability due to head and spinal cord injuries.

Some of the more common causes for heavy truck accidents include driver error, mechanical failures, poor driving conditions, bad road design and traffic signal failures. There is also a preponderance of truck accidents stemming from brake system or tire failures. For example, some truckers or fleet owners will depower a truck’s front brakes to reduce brake wear and save on cost. This kind of illegal modification can cause a semi tractor-trailer rig to jackknife during emergency braking and result in loss of control. Should a driver also improperly hitch the tractor-trailer combination, this risk of a jackknife situation is made worse.

Truck Driver Headed North Through Maryland Crashes into Semi-Tractor-Trailer Rig Parked on Roadside

April 23, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

From the headlines these days, it sometimes may be forgotten that there are many qualified commercial truck drivers who take traffic safety very seriously. This should not come as a surprise, since most every trucker values his job and needs to keep it in order to support himself and his family. That said, there is also a small percentage of bad drivers on the road whose first thought may not be the safety and welfare of the driving public.

As Maryland personal injury lawyers and trucking accident attorneys, I and my colleagues know how easily an 18-wheeler can become a dangerous missile in the wrong hands. Even as a relatively slow-moving vehicle, these 30- to 40-ton behemoths can pose a huge danger on the road. This why we have laws such as the “hours-of-service” regulations (49 CFR Part 395) that put limits on when and how long a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) driver may operate his or her vehicle.

Whether you live or work in Cumberland, Hagerstown, Frederick or Washington, D.C., as a commuter you and your passengers are almost constantly exposed to potential injury from these tractor-trailer rigs and commercial delivery trucks.

With the advent of cellphones, many citizens are now reporting poor driving behavior and calling the police when they observe a truck driver operating his or her vehicle in an erratic or dangerous manner. More than one life has probably been saved thanks to concerned individuals out there.

Important too, because a traffic accident involving a commercial interstate hauler can result in serious injuries such as deep cuts and lacerations, broken ribs, fractured legs and arms, spinal cord injuries and closed-head trauma. In the worst cases, passenger car occupants have died because of the negligent actions of one person behind the wheel of a deadly machine.

According to news reports, at least one other driver observed a commercial truck being driven erratically prior to a multi-vehicle crash along a stretch of I-80. That driver said it was just a matter of time before the suspect trucker caused a major accident. Police reports indicate that numerous other truckers were talking by radio as they watched a driver for Webster Trucking apparently swerving all over the road. Most of the other truck drivers on the road that day said that they tried to avoid getting too close for fear of an accident.

Baltimore Commercial Truck Accident News: Propane Tank Truck Crashes along I-70 in Mount Airy, Maryland

April 16, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

To some people there is nothing quite so scary as the thought of being burned alive. While most people likely consider a house fire as one of the most frightening events, an automobile fire can be extremely terrifying and many times more dangerous because of the smaller space and the increased chances of the occupants being trapped in the vehicle following a serious traffic crash.

As a Maryland trucking accident attorney, I wouldn’t be the least surprised to learn that a healthy number of drivers in Baltimore, Frederick and Rockville, MD, do their best to steer clear of commercial tanker trucks carrying gasoline, fuel oil, propane as well as other flammable and potentially explosive substances. Although car fires are relatively few and far between when compared to the total number of highway collisions every year, those odds can be increased whenever a tank truck carrying flammable cargo is involved.

According to a news report a while back, a propane tanker crashed and overturned along a stretch of Interstate 70 in Mount Airy, MD. The accident, which took place on a Sunday morning a little east of Md 27, resulted in the roadway being closed off for nearly six hours as emergency responders and hazmat crews worked to clean up the crash site. Fortunately, no one was hurt in this particular instance, which is amazing in itself.