Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog

A 22-year-old woman died in Washington DC on Tuesday morning while riding her bicycle to work. Alice Swanson was run over by a garbage truck on R Street NW close to Dupont Circle.

The truck belongs to KMG Hauling Inc. The driver of the truck, Marco Rosendo Flores Fuentes, reportedly did not see Swanson, who was making a left turn. No charges have been filed against him, and the Metropolitan Police Major Crash Investigation Unit is continuing to investigate the fatal bicycle-truck crash.

Swanson was a program associate at the International Research and Exchange Board. Her death is the first bicyclist fatality in Washington DC this year.

According to research found on Massbike.org’s Bicycle Crash Statistics page, common bicycle-motorist crash scenarios involve:

• The driver merging into the path of the bicyclist.
• The bicyclist merging into the motorist’s path.
• The driver trying to overtake the bicyclist.
• The driver neglecting to yield the right of way.

• The bicyclist failing to yield the right of way.

Common causes of bicycle collisions:

• Speeding
• Driver inattention
• Defective bicycle or motor vehicle
• Drunk driving
• Negligence

Our Maryland and Washington DC bicycle accident lawyers are experienced in proving when a bicycle accident is caused by a negligent motorist or another liable party. You may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries, pain and suffering, medical expenses, or the loss of your loved one.

Bicyclist killed in garbage-truck crash, Examiner.com, July 9, 2008
Bicycle Crash Statistics, Massbike.org

Related Web Resources:

Bicycle Crash Facts, Bicyclinginfo.org
General Pedestrian Statistics, Walkinginfo.org

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A 26-year-old Maryland motorcyclist is reportedly in critical condition at Baltimore Shock Trauma center after being run over by a tractor-trailer. Jeff Vilkas, a television production assistant, was riding a motorcycle going westbound on Halfway Boulevard near Stotler Rd. in Hagerstown when the accident happened.

Vilkas, who has two children, was initially transported to Washington County Hospital before being flown to Shock Trauma. The tractor-trailer driver has been charged with several citations, in addition to negligent driving.

2006 Maryland Truck Crash Statistics:

1,978 fatal crashes
907 injury crashes

Common Causes of Truck Accidents:

• Driver fatigue. Despite the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s mandate that truck drivers operate their trucks for a set amount of hours a time, not all drivers abide by this ruling
• Drunk driving
• Truck Driver Mistakes and Negligence, including speeding, failure to properly maintain the truck, and carelessness

Many truck companies will send people to the accident scene right away to act to limit liability. They may even persuade an injury victim to sign documents that could affect his or her ability to file an injury lawsuit later on.

It is important that you work with a Maryland truck crash law firm that knows how to deal with the complex issues that arise with tractor-trailer accident claims and lawsuits, and our truck collision lawyers will protect your right to recovery.

NBC25 Production Assistant Hit And Run Over While Riding Motorcycle; Sent To Shock Truama, MSNBC.com, June 26, 2008

Crash Statistics

Related Web Resources:

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Truck Safety Coalition

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