Maryland Accident Law Blog

Nearly one week after a tragic Maryland truck accident on Route 32 killed her 13-year-old son and injured her 5-year-old daughter, 51-year-old Kyong Hae Kim has died.

Kim, her son Vincent, and her daughter Jacqueline were headed to a riding lesson on June 12 when the Sykesville family’s Mazda 5 minivan collided with a flat-bed tow truck driven by truck driver Tymothy Thatcher.

Vincent was pronounced dead at Howard County Hospital. His 5-year-old sister was treated at Children’s Hospital in Washington and released two days later. Kim was pronounced dead at Maryland Shock Trauma Center on Monday night. Thatcher was not injured in the truck accident.

Police are investigating the cause of the Sykesville truck collision.

Maryland Truck Accident Lawsuits
Pursuing your Maryland truck crash claim without the help of a Baltimore personal injury law firm representing you can get tricky. Trucking companies are equipped to combat liability claims filed against them, which is why you need your own truck crash legal team to look out for your best interests and protect your legal rights.

One common argument that a trucking company might use to combat a Maryland personal injury case is to place the blame on the injured party. The truck crash defendant may accuse the motor vehicle of unsafe passing, driving into opposing traffic, drunk driving, failing to stop, failing to yield, following too closely, speeding, distracted driving, or improperly merging. The trucking company might also claim that the truck driver was an independent contractor (rather than an employee) or blame the manufacturer of a specific truck part for a defect that caused the truck collision.

It is also not uncommon for a trucking company, a leasing company, the company that owns the cargo being transported, or another involved party to blame the other parties for the motor vehicle accident.

This is why you need to contact an experienced Maryland truck crash law firm as soon as possible.

Mother dies after crash that killed son, The Baltimore Sun, July 1, 2009

Route 32 crash claims 2nd life, mother of 13-year-old, Howard County Times, June 30, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Teen killed in Howard crash remembered as inspiration, Baltimore Sun, June 26, 2009

FMCSA

Continue reading "Sykesville Mother Dies from Injuries Sustained in Tragic Maryland Truck Accident that Killed Her Teenage Son and Injured Her Daughter" »

The family of John Short, the 57-year-old tractor-trailer driver that died when his truck fell into the Chesapeake Bay during a deadly motor vehicle crash last August, is suing 19-year-old Candy Lynn Baldwin for his wrongful death. Their Maryland civil lawsuit is seeking $7 million from the teenager, who swerved into the lane that Short’s truck was in, causing him to drive his truck through a bridge wall before it fell into the water.

Short’s relatives contend that the deadly Maryland truck accident happened because Baldwin had been drinking prior to getting into her car. Just six months ago, prosecutors decided not to criminally charge the teenager with auto manslaughter because her blood alcohol content two hours after the car-truck collision was .036%. Maryland’s legal BAC limit is .08%.

The Maryland wrongful death lawyer representing Short’s family, however, says Baldwin’s BAC would have been higher if she had been tested right after the Maryland truck accident. He also provided a photo taken from the teenager’s MySpace page that shows her holding a bottle of alcohol while seated behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.

Baldwin told police she drank four beers on the night of the crash. The 19-year-old says she was very tired while driving early on the morning of August 10 but there was no place for her to pull over. She fell asleep while on the bridge and her car swerved across the center line into Short’s path. Baldwin says she woke up just as she saw herself driving toward the truck.

She pled guilty to negligent driving, violating a license restriction, and failure to drive right of center. Baldwin paid a $470 fine.

Short’s family also plans to sue the state of Maryland for his wrongful death. Poor maintenance and improper operation may be cited. Their wrongful death lawyer says the bridge is not up to today’s standards and that the state should not have allowed two-way traffic on the bridge when there is a lot of traffic. 70% of fatalities on the bridge have occurred when two-way traffic was allowed on one span.

$7M civil lawsuit filed in Bay Bridge crash, Hometown Annapolis, June 17, 2009

Md. to be sued over fatal Bay Bridge crash, WTOP, June 17, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Maryland Transportation Authority

Chesapeake Bay Bridge

According to AAA Mid-Atlantic, about 83% of the 609,000 Marylanders traveling 50 miles or more over the Memorial Day weekend will travel by car—that’s 508,000 motor vehicle riders. A decrease in local gas price is one of the reasons cited for an increase in road travelers from last year. Air travel is also expected to increase this year by 7%. Another reason cited for this rediscovered travel bug is that a poor economy has forced hotels, cruises, airlines, and car rental companies to lower their prices.

With more people getting into their cars and heading toward vacation destinations and family reunions, the roads will likely be more crowded this weekend. Traffic and the excitement and rush to arrive at a specific location can create a less relaxed travel climate that can increase the chances that a motorist might become involved in a catastrophic Maryland car accident.

Here are a number of safe driving tips to help you navigate your way through the Memorial Day weekend:

• Make sure you have your maps organized and travel routes planned before leaving.
• Check the Internet, listen to the radio, or watch TV to see where there may be traffic backlogs that you can avoid.
• Make sure that your car is in proper working condition before you head out.
• Have a roadside emergency kit with you.
• Get plenty of rest before you drive.
• Give yourself plenty of time to arrive at your destination.
• Take periodic breaks while driving so you don’t get lethargic or drowsy.
• Don’t speed.
• Obey traffic laws.
• Don’t talk on the cell phone or text message or read maps while driving.
• Drive defensively.
• Don’t drive drunk.
• Keep emergency numbers at your disposal.

More Marylanders to hit the road this weekend, Baltimore Sun, May 21, 2009

Related Web Resources:
AAA Mid-Atlantic
MD Roads

Continue reading "Maryland Car Accident Lawyers: 508,000 Marylanders Will Drive 50 Miles or More This Memorial Day Weekend, Says AAA" »

The Cambridge Health Alliance is reporting that there could be up to 3.9 million licensed commercial truck drivers who are suffering from obstructive sleep apnea. This condition is the number two cause of fatigue during the daytime, which means that truckers with OSA may be more prone than other drivers to engage in drowsy driving or fall asleep behind the wheel of their trucks—two common causes of Maryland truck accidents.

As a matter of fact, sleep apnea in general reportedly increases the chances of being involved in a motor vehicle accident by up to seven fold. The consequences of falling asleep behind the wheel of a large truck can be catastrophic.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea
A person with this sleeping disorder may have trouble breathing and sleeping well at night, which can lead to excessive sleepiness during typical waking hours, a tendency to fall asleep during the daytime, and psychomotor deficits. While about 20 million people in the US are believed to be afflicted with sleep apnea, many individuals don’t even know they have the disorder.

With long, irregular hours already taking a toll on a truck driver’s health and ability to drive lucidly, OSA further compounds the concern that exhausted and overworked truckers could cause fatal motor vehicle crashes because they’ve fallen asleep while driving. The Cambridge Health Alliance, which conducted a 15-month study, recommends making it mandatory for commercial truckers to test for OSA.

The Cambridge Health Alliance OSA-Trucker Test
456 commercial truck drivers were tested. 17% of them met the criteria for possible OSA. These truckers tended to be older, more obese, and had above average blood pressure. Only 20 of the participants that satisfied the OSA screening criteria took part in the sleep studies, and all of them were diagnosed with OSA. Unfortunately, only one of the truckers followed treatment recommendations. According to Dr. Philip Parks, the study’s lead author, most truckers seemed to underreport or minimize symptoms for OSA, and there could be up to 14 million US truck drivers with untreated or undiagnosed sleep apnea.

Truck drivers must be alert anytime they are behind the wheel of their commercial truck. Not only is their vehicle likely larger and significantly heavier than the other vehicles on the road, but often, trucks may be carrying large loads or toxic substances. Unfortunately, in the rush to meet deadlines and fulfill delivery orders, truckers have been known to drive while exhausted. This can make them drive carelessly or recklessly, resulting in fatal truck crashes.

Obesity Linked To Dangerous Sleep Apnea In Truck Drivers, Science Daily, March 12, 2009

Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Sleep Disorder Channel

New Study Links Obesity to Dangerous Sleep Apnea in Truck Drivers, 24-7 Press Release, March 27, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Hours of Service Regulations, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Continue reading "Truckers with Sleep Apnea May Cause Maryland Truck Accidents" »

This week, the Maryland Senate approved by a 43 to 4 vote a bill banning drivers from text messaging whenever they are operating their motor vehicles. If the bill becomes law, it would make reading, composing, sending, or receiving text messages a misdemeanor crime punishable by a $500 fine. Maryland would also join a growing list of states and jurisdictions, including Virginia and Washington DC, that are banning text messaging—whether on a cell phone, PDA, or IPod Touch or another device—while operating a motor vehicle.

Sending short messages via cell phone or other electronic devices is a bad habit that has grown more popular in recent years—especially among younger, more inexperienced drivers. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, one of its studies last year found that about 50% of young drivers, ages 18 – 24, text message while driving. The study found that among drivers ages 45 and older, less than 5% engaged in text messaging while operating a motor vehicle.

Text messaging is a type of distracted driving, and like all other forms of distracted driving, including talking on a handheld cellular phone, applying making, or reading the newspaper, can lead to deadly auto accidents. ABC News says that a 2006 study showed that 65% of near-motor vehicle collisions and 80% of auto crashes occur because of distracted driving.

For example, one Maryland child lost her right forearm in a catastrophic bus accident that occurred while the bus driver was texting on his cell phone. 30 people were injured in this Maryland motor vehicle accident. In another traffic accident, a 26-year-old woman died last year in a truck accident when she was struck by a tractor-trailer while the truck driver had been texting.

These kinds of catastrophic motor vehicle collisions could have been avoided if the drivers had not been engaged in distracted driving.

Md. Is Latest State to Target Text Messaging by Drivers, Washington Post, March 18, 2009

Texting While Driving Could Spell Trouble, ABC News, May 8, 2007

Driving and Dialing Bus Drivers May Case Accidents, ABC News, Feb 7, 2007

Related Web Resources:
Examination of Maryland Senate Bill 98 (PDF)

Cell Phone Driving Laws, Governors Highway Safety Association

Continue reading "Maryland Senate Votes for Text Messaging While Driving Ban" »

Three of the victims of a Maryland motor vehicle accident involving a passenger van and a tractor-trailer are suing the van driver for wrongful death and personal injury. Robin Poffenberger was transporting a group of seniors to a softball tournament in Olney, when he drove a 2003 Chevrolet Custom van into the path of a tractor-trailer.

One van passenger, 72-year-old Clifford J. Rice, died from his injuries. He was sitting in the front passenger side of the vehicle when the May 21, 2008 crash happened at the intersection of Interstate 70 and Md. 66. Six other people suffered serious injuries. The impact of the collision left the truck’s cab embedded in the side of the van.

Now, three Maryland car accident lawsuits have been filed against Poffenberger. Rice’s widow is seeking $4 million for medical costs, loss of her husband’s income, funeral expenses, his pain and suffering, wrongful death, her mental anguish and emotional trauma, loss of companionship, society, protection, attention, comfort, care, counsel, love, and advice.

Another accident victim, Hagerstown resident Jack Finniff, and his wife are seeking $2 million from the van driver. Finniff was so seriously injured that he had to be flown by Medevac to Baltimore, where he was treated at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center.

The couple’s Maryland personal injury lawsuit is accusing Poffenberger of negligent driving, which resulted in Finiff’s serious injuries. The complaint also contends that the van driver’s negligence resulted in injury to their marital relationship, loss of companionship and physical relations, and loss of society, assistance, and affection.

A third motor vehicle crash victim, Gardner L. Stewart, is seeking $3 million. Stewart says the defendant’s negligence lead to his permanent injuries, debilitating pain and suffering, severe mental trauma, serious emotional anguish care, and his need for medical attention, hospital care, and rehabilitation.

Poffenberger says he is not liable and wants to go to trial.

Lawsuits filed in fatal 2008 crash, The Herald-Mail, March 8, 2009

Several People Still In Serious Condition From Wednesday’s Route-66 Accident, Your4State.com, May 22, 2008

Related Web Resources:
Car Accidents Overview, Justia

Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration

The winter time can be a deadly time for Washington DC and Maryland motorists if they aren’t careful. Poor visibility and icy roads can only make the outcome of an auto accident, caused by negligent or careless driving, worse. To help prevent fatal auto accidents from occurring in snowy weather and icy conditions, Forbes.com offers a list of 10 common driving mistakes that can prove fatal in the wintertime:

1) Not checking the weather before you get in the car.
2) Driving too fast under current weather conditions. This can cause a driver to lose control of the vehicle on slippery roads.
3) Following too closely behind the vehicle or snowplow equipment in front of you. Allow greater distance between you and the other motorist than you would when there isn’t snow on the road. Do not drive using cruise control when the conditions are wet.
4) Overcorrecting your car on ice.
5) Driving while you’re tired.
6) Driving when there’s poor visibility.
7) Failing to get the car winter ready. Also, make sure you have an extra key that is easily accessible in the event that you get locked out of your vehicle.
8) Driving on back roads.
9) Not carrying an emergency tool with you, such as jumper cables, a spare tire, water, dried food, a cell phone, and warm clothing.
1) Leaving your vehicle if your car stops, which could be the warmest place for you to be.

According to a University of California, Berkeley, School of Public Health study:
• Poor weather is a factor in 1.5 million of the car accidents that occur every year, resulting in 800,000 injuries and 7,000 deaths.
• Almost 20% of highway deaths involved poor weather as a factor.
• Driving the day after the year’s first winter storm is the most dangerous day of the year to operate a motor vehicle.

The National Safety Council recommends a number of safety tips for winter driving, including:
• Tune your engine.
• Check your battery.
• Make sure the fluids in your car are at the correct levels.
• Make sure your car is equipped with the proper equipment, including tire chains, a snow scraper, and a snow shovel.
• Have first-aid supplies and a compass with you.

In Depth: 10 Deadly Mistakes Of Winter Driving, Forbes.com

Safe Winter Driving

Related Web Resources:
All-Weather Driving Tips, Road & Travel Magazine

Baltimore, Maryland Weather, Maryland Weather

Continue reading "Maryland and Washington DC Drivers Should Watch Out for 10 Fatal Winter Driving Mistakes" »

A bill that is calling for a Maryland reckless driving law would make it easier to prosecute reckless drivers if passed. The proposal calls for drivers who were responsible for causing a motor vehicle fatality because they exhibited negligence leading to “substantial risk” of safety to be charged with a misdemeanor crime. The penalty would be up to three years in jail.

Maryland Delegate Luiz R.S. Simmons (D-Montgomery) has been pushing for this law for five years. He claims that the state’s standard for proving vehicular homicide is too high.

Currently, some 30 US states have laws that allow reckless driving charges even if the driver did not exhibit “gross negligence.” The bill has died every year so far because the House Judiciary Committee chairman, Del. Joseph F. Vallario, has not called for a vote on the matter.

This week, Mary Gray, the mother of a 20-year-old man who died after he was hit by an off-duty Prince George’s County police officer, testified in Annapolis in support of the reckless driving bill. Officer Mario Chavez, who admitted to drinking on the night before the deadly Maryland auto crash, was not charged in her son's death.

The state’s attorney for Prince George’s County found that there was insufficient evidence to charge the police officer with vehicular manslaughter, which is an offense that requires proof that the driver was grossly negligent. Instead, Chavez was issued a traffic ticket for the deadly December 2007 accident.

Now Brian’s family is suing Chavez and Prince George’s County for his wrongful death.

Reckless Driving
While state laws can vary in terms of how incidents of “reckless driving” are defined and criminally prosecuted, there is no doubt that driving carelessly or recklessly can lead to serious motor vehicle accidents resulting in personal injury or wrongful death. Driving at excessive speeds, drunk driving, and other reckless acts can be grounds for a Maryland wrongful death lawsuit if someone else dies as a result.

Reckless Driving Law Is Urged, Washington Post, January 29, 2009

Mother Waits For Answers In Crash That Killed Son, WUSA9.com, May 17, 2008

Related Web Resources:
Wrongful Death, Justia

Maryland State Highway Administration

A 21-year-old Baltimore County woman is dead after a tire that broke off from a truck being towed landed on her car on Wednesday. The deadly motor vehicle accident took place on Interstate 495 in Prince George’s County.

According to Maryland State Police, tow truck driver Roger Smith was towing a delivery truck when one of the tires with a metal wheel broke off the vehicle, rolled across lanes, struck two guardrails, rolled across a grassy median, and hit a tractor-trailer. The impact of this collision caused the tire to fly back across the median and land on Channing Quinichett’s Honda Civic, crushing the windshield and roof of her vehicle. The 21-year-old Maryland resident was pronounced dead at the crash scene.

If you have been injured in a Maryland traffic accident because a party’s negligence caused flying or falling debris to strike you and/or your motor vehicle, you may have grounds to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit.

For example, last September, the family of 39-year-old Milena Del Valle, who died after part of the Big Dig tunnel ceiling in Massachusetts fell on her car, received a $28 million wrongful death settlement. In another personal injury lawsuit, the wife of Pawel “Paul” Swierczynski sued five companies after her husband was struck by a 250-pound grate that crashed through his windshield. Swierczynski sustained numerous injuries, including a traumatic brain injuries.

Just this month, a 6-year-old boy died and a man sustained injuries after they were struck by flying metal chunks at a monster truck rally. The catastrophic accident occurred when a truck's driveline malfunctioned, causing the fragments to fly toward the crowd. Witnesses have expressed anger that the show was not stopped even after both victims started bleeding.

While freak accidents do happen, there may have been steps that a liable party could have taken to prevent the personal injury accident or wrongful death.

Tire kills Baltimore Co. woman on Capital Beltway, Baltimore Sun, Associated Press, January 22, 2009

Boy, 6, killed by flying debris at Tacoma monster truck rally, Komonews.com, January 17, 2009

Boy, 6, killed by flying debris at Tacoma monster truck rally, Komonews.com, January 17, 2009

Settlement Reached In Big Dig Death Suit, CBS News, September 30, 2008

Related Web Resource:
Wrongful Death Overview, Justia

Continue reading "Baltimore County Woman Dies After She is Struck by Flying Truck's Tire on Capital Beltway" »

A deadly multi-auto collision on I-70 in Washington County on Monday has resulted in multiple injuries and at least two fatalities. Maryland State Police say at least 7 tractor-trailers and 35 passenger cars were involved in the midday accident.

About 45 people were taken to a Red Cross shelter following the crash, which police are partially attributing to the snowy weather. Many of the accident survivors sustained bumpers and bruises. Some 12 people who were seriously injured were transported to Washington County Hospital.

The 40-plus auto pileup was just one of several Maryland multi-vehicle accidents to occur on icy roads. In Harford County, some 20 auto accidents had occurred by yesterday night, including a four-auto collision and another accident involving a car striking a guardrail.

Multi-Vehicle Accidents
Filing a claim for injuries you sustained during a multi-motor vehicle crash can be a complicated process and one that may require the insight of an experienced Maryland motor vehicle attorney with the knowledge and resources to pursue your compensation.

There may be multiple liable parties. There may be key evidence that can only be properly examined by accident reconstructionists and medical experts. A good personal injury attorney will have access to these experts.

Driving in Snow, Ice, or Rain
Even though poor weather conditions can contribute to causing a Maryland auto crash, there are steps that motorists can take to prevent auto accidents from happening.

• Decrease your speed
• Brake gently
• Turn on your lights during times of poor visibility
• Don’t activate your cruise control when the roads are icy

At least 2 killed, 12 hurt in I-70 pileup in W. Md., Baltimore Sun, January 20, 2009

Survivors say they're lucky to be alive, The Herald-Mail, January 19, 2009

Related Web Resources:

Car Accidents Overview, Justia

Driving in Snow and Ice, The Weather Channel

The National Safety Council wants all US states to ban motorists from using cell phones while driving. NSC CEO and President Janet Froetscher noted that talking on the phone while driving increases a driver’s chances of becoming involved in an auto crash by four times more than if he or she were driving without using one.

Currently, six US states have laws banning the use of hand held cell phones while driving:

• District of Columbia
• Washington
• California
• Utah
• New Jersey
• Connecticut

Seven US States have a ban on text messaging while driving:

• District of Columbia
• Connecticut
• Alaska
• New Jersey
• Washington State
• Minnesota
• Louisiana

While some localities within US states that do not have statewide bans have imposed their own cell phone restrictions, including bans on hand-held phones and text messaging and bans affecting teen drivers and school bus drivers, the states of Kentucky, Florida, Nevada, Louisiana, Oregon, Mississippi, Utah, and Louisiana prohibit their localities from imposing any such bans.

The NSC is quick to point out that just because someone is using a hands-free phone does not mean that he or she is now operating the vehicle safely. According to a Harvard Center of Risk Analysis 2003 study, cell-phone use while driving is a contributing factor in 6% of auto accidents each year. Some 2,600 deaths and 330,000 injuries result from such collisions.

According to a Nationwide Insurance public opinion poll, 81% of US drivers use a cell phone when driving. Froetscher notes that cellular phone use while driving is more dangerous than talking to a passenger who is in the same vehicle. While talking to a real person makes the driver aware that lives are at stake if he or she doesn’t drive safely, talking on the cell phone places the motorist’s attention not on the road and in the present moment but elsewhere.

In addition to pushing for a change in current driving laws, the NSC is advocating more education about the dangers that come from driving with a cell phone, as well as better training.

National Safety Council Calls for Nationwide Ban on Cell Phone Use While Driving, NSC.org, January 12, 2009

Safety council urges ban on cell phone use while driving, CNN.com, January 12, 2009

Related Web Resources:

Maryland Cell Phone Law, DMV.org

Washington D.C. Hands-Free Law, Driving Laws.org

Cell Phone Driving Laws, Governors Highway Safety Association

Continue reading "National Safety Council calls for nationwide ban on cell phone use while driving" »

In Anne Arundel County, Maria J. Lizama-Sanchez, 31, died last week after the minivan she was riding in was struck by a tractor-trailer. Lizama-Sanchez, was about 7 months pregnant, and doctors at Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore had to deliver the baby because of the seriousness of her injuries.

The child died soon after delivery. Doctors say the injuries from the multi-vehicle tractor-trailer crash were the baby’s cause of death. Lizama-Sanchez died about 90 minutes later from her catastrophic injuries.

The accident occurred near Glen Burnie. Maryland State Police say that traffic had slowed on southbound Interstate 97 so that a funeral procession could move through. An approaching tractor-trailer failed to stop, and the truck hit the Dodge minivan that Lizama-Sanchez was a passenger in.

Four other motor vehicles were struck in the collision. Lizama-Sanchez’s husband Walter was driving the van, and he also sustained injuries from the tractor-trailer accident. Five other people were injured in the crash, which involved six-vehicles, as one motor vehicle slammed into another.

The investigation is ongoing. Maryland State Police say that the funeral procession that shut down the roads onto Interstate 97 was for the father of an Anne Arundel County police officer.

Anne Arundel County police say that shutting off roads for funeral processions is a common practice but that the department would review its policies to make sure the shutdown on Friday was performed safely.

If you or someone you love was the victim of a car collision caused by another party’s negligence, contact our Maryland motor vehicle accident law firm immediately. You may be entitled to personal injury or wrongful death compensation, including medical costs, lost wages, funeral or cremation or burial expenses, and other damages.

Procession was for police officer's father, Baltimore Sun, May 27, 2008

Pregnant Woman, Baby Fatally Injured When Truck Hits Van, Washington Post, May 24, 2008

Related Web Resource:

Summary of State Wrongful Death and Intestacy Statutes (PDF)

Continue reading "Pregnant Maryland Woman and Her Baby Sustain Fatal Injuries in Tractor-Trailer Accident" »

About 30 truck carriers, manufacturers, and shippers are in Washington D.C. this week. They are trying to persuade the US Congress to adopt a “Demonstration Project” that would allow larger trucks to operate in certain U.S. states.

The coalition of truck companies believes that the US is at a competitive disadvantage because larger trucks are allowed in Mexico and Canada. They want to give certain ports in the US the option of handling larger truck containers. They claim that allowing larger trucks weighing as much as 100,000 pounds to operate on US roads would decrease the number of trucks because less vehicles would be able to haul more freight.

On Wednesday, truck crash victims, a number of US Congress members, and several truck safety groups, including the Parents Against Tired Truckers, the Truck Safety Coalition, Public Citizen, and Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety held a press conference to speak out against allowing larger trucks on any US roads.

Speaking at the conference, Public Citizen President Joan Claybrook pointed to evidence that the larger the trucks have become, the more dangerous they’ve become to motorists and pedestrians.

2006 Statistics:

• 5,000 people died in truck accidents
• 106,000 others were injured
• 98% of truck-related deaths involve occupants of other vehicles.
• Large trucks wreak far more damage to roads and bridges than regular vehicles

She also pointed out that every time the federal government has allowed larger trucks onto US roads, the number of trucks have not decreased.

If you or someone you love was seriously injured in a truck crash in Maryland or Washington D.C., contact our trucking accident law firm today.

Trucking-shipper group lobbies for larger trucks, Todaystruckingcompany.com, May 15, 2008

Larger Trucks Will Lead to More Deaths, Damage to Roads, Bridges; Risks, Costs Far Outweigh Claimed Productivity, Common Dreams, May 14, 2008

Related Web Resources:

New National Poll Shows Americans Dislike Larger, Heavier Trucks on U.S. Highways, Common Dreams, May 14, 2008

Continue reading "Truck Carriers and Manufacturers Go to Washington DC to Push for Larger Trucks" »

In Washington D.C. on Thursday, truck safety advocates asked a federal court to block a ruling by the Transportation Department that lets commercial truckers work longer hours.

The Bush Administration had upped the number of hours that truck drivers could work without going on a break to 11 hours (prior to this rule, truck drivers were required to stop and rest after 10 hours). They are also allowed to drive up to 70 hours a week.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Web site lists the Hours-Of-Service Rules for Truck Drivers:

• Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers can only drive 11 hours maximum after 10 hours off duty.
• CMV Drivers cannot drive after the 14th hour on duty.
• CMV Drivers cannot drive after 60/70 hours on duty within 7/8 workdays in a row.
• CMV drivers with a berth in their truck have to take 10 hours off. They can split the time in the berth in two, although both times must not last less than two hours.

Truck safety advocates convinced a federal court to block the implementation of this rule. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, however, was still able to implement an interim rule, which places the maximum number of hours a day that a trucker can drive at 11 hours. Advocates now want a federal court to block this rule.

Driver fatigue is a primary cause of truck accidents that can lead to serious injuries and the wrongful death of innocent motorists, motorcyclists, passengers, and pedestrians.

Lawsuit seeks to limit truckers' hours, CNN.com, December 21, 2007

Hours-of-Service Regulations, FMCSA

Related Web Resource:

Truck Safety Coalition

Continue reading "Truck Safety Advocates’ Lawsuit Wants to Limit the Number of Hours Truckers Can Work" »

The Los Angeles Times says that there have been some 540 serious motor vehicle accidents involving runaway trailers in the United States since 2000. Hundreds of people have sustained injuries in these crashes, which usually involve at least one helpless victim getting caught in the wake of an out-of-control trailer. At least 164 fatalities have occurred in runaway trailer crashes in the last seven years—although statistics may be higher because news sources don’t always report these types of accidents.

The Times reviewed runaway trailer accidents involving trailers for transporting boats, gardening tools, horses, cars, and household goods. Many of these trailers were medium- or light-duty in size and owned by businesses or individuals.

Causes of runaway trailer crashes included failure to properly secure the trailer or follow other safety precautions due to ignorance, negligence, or carelessness.

Recent tragic trailer accidents include:

• In September, a motorist died in Florida when a runaway trailer struck her car.
• A Montana man was killed in August when a runaway trailer hit his pickup in a head-on crash.
• In 2006, Spencer Morgan and two of his 4-year-old triplets died when a 3-ton wood-chipper on wheels crashed into his mini-van. The third triplet, Ethan, survived his injuries, including a fractured skull.

The Federal Highway Administration says that there were 15.9 million light-duty trailers on U.S. roads in 2005. The Times says that the United States does little to prevent runaway trailer accidents from happening. A driver’s license is all that is required to tow a small or medium-sized trailer. No special training is required.

Accidents involving any kind of truck or trailer can lead to catastrophic injuries. The size and weight of a truck or trailer and the speed that it is going at the time of the collision can result in spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, massive internal injuries, and wrongful death. Drivers whose carelessness or negligence caused a trailer to come loose are liable for any injuries caused to other motorists, car passengers, bicyclists, or pedestrians.

Runaway trailers leave random victims, Los Angeles Times, December 9, 2007

Related Web Resources:

Personal Injury in Maryland

Questions To Ask A Personal Injury Lawyer During Your Consultationw, Buzzle.com

Continue reading "Runaway Trailers Cause Catastrophic Injuries and Accidents in the United States" »

Silver Spring resident Norma Almeraya-Soria, 35, died on November 21 after she was hit by a tractor-trailer in Montgomery County, Maryland. Almeraya-Soria was on the curb near the sidewalk at the intersection of Columbia Pike and Stewart Lane in Silver Spring when the axle of a tractor-trailer trying to make a turn broke.

Almeraya-Soria ended up under the trailer and died at the accident scene. Her body remained under the truck for a number of hours before it could be recovered. Police in Maryland are investigating whether a mechanical failure was responsible for the freak accident. The tractor-trailer, owned by Pet Valu, a Canadian pet store with branches in Maryland, was carrying pet supplies.

If you were injured in a tractor-trailer crash caused by another party’s negligence or carelessness or if someone you love died in a motor vehicle accident that was someone else’s fault, you should contact a Maryland or Washington D.C. truck collision lawyer right away to find out of you have grounds for filing a truck accident or wrongful death claim or lawsuit.

Mechanical failures and defective truck parts are among the most common causes of accidents involving large trucks. It is important to hire an experienced truck accident lawyer who knows how to determine whether a personal injury or wrongful death accident occurred because the breaks, the steering wheel, a tire, the engine, or another vehicle part was defective.

The owner of the truck is liable for making sure that the vehicle is properly maintained and operational before taking it out on the road.

A mechanical failure may be the fault of the truck driver, the truck owner, the maintenance shop, or the manufacturer. There may be more than one party that can be held liable for the truck accident injury or death.

2006 Truck Accident Statistics:

• 4,732 large trucks were involved in deadly accidents.
• 4,995 people died in accidents involving large trucks.
• There were 57,213 big trucks involved in injury accidents.
• 85,984 people were injured in accidents involving huge trucks.

Woman Hit, Killed In 'Freak' Tractor-Trailer Accident, MSNBC.com, November 22, 2007

2006 National Crash Facts, Ai.volpe.dot.gov

Related Web Resource:

Trucking Industry Statistics and Causes of Truck Accidents, Road Safe America.org

Continue reading "Maryland Woman Dies in “Freak” Tractor-Trailer Crash in Montgomery County" »

A multi-truck collision in a Southern California freeway tunnel left at least 10 people dead and 3 people (two men and a baby) injured. The collision pile up started when two trucks crashed into each other and caused a multi-truck collision in one of I-5S’s freeway tunnels. The wreckage stretched as long as half a mile. 30 commercial vehicles and one passenger car have been pulled from the tunnel. Many of the trucks had been burnt down to skeletal frames and molten debris.

The huge fire, rising as high as 100 feet, shut down a major connection between San Francisco and Los Angeles until early Monday. The tunnel is currently being inspected to review the extent of damage. Parts of the concrete wall have reportedly peeled away. Visible steel reinforcement bars appear askew. Twenty people were able to leave the fiery tunnel on foot.

Trucks have long considered the 550-footlong tunnel as a dangerous area because of its dim lights, which can make visibility challenging—especially when there is rain on the roads. There is also reportedly a blind curve in the tunnel.

If you are a truck driver who was injured in a truck collision because of another negligent driver, a truck defect, or because of a faulty or defective bridge or tunnel, you should also contact an experienced personal injury attorney who can determine whether you have grounds to file a personal injury or premises liability claim or lawsuit against the party responsible for your accident.

U.S. shippers are being warned about trying to squeeze too much cargo on trucks, which can increase the chances of collisions or falling objects onto roads.

If you are a truck driver who was injured in a truck collision because of another negligent driver, a truck defect, or because of a faulty or defective bridge or tunnel, you should also contact an experienced personal injury attorney who can determine whether you have grounds to file a personal injury or premises liability claim or lawsuit against the party responsible for your accident.

Large trucks, 18-wheelers, and semi-trucks are massive in size and can be very dangerous to collide with on a road or freeway. Many trucks have blind spots, which makes it difficult for a truck driver to see smaller cars and motorcycles nearby. Truck drivers need more room to stop and turn. Common causes of truck collisions include driver fatigue, drunk driving, failure to inspect or properly maintain a truck, cell phone use while driving, and speeding.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a truck crash because of a negligent truck driver in Maryland or Washington D.C., you should contact an experienced personal injury attorney right away.

Interstate 5 is back in business, LA Times, October 15, 2007

At Least 3 Dead, 10 Injured After Massive Tunnel Fire on California Freeway, Fox News, October 14, 2007

Passenger Safety, Big Rigs and Sharing the Road

Center for National Truck and Bus Statistics-CNTBS, UMTRI

Continue reading "At Least 10 People Injured and 3 People Killed in Fiery Multi-Truck Collision in California Tunnel" »

Brian Boyle, a Maryland swimmer who was critically injured when his car was struck by a speeding dump truck three years ago is continuing his remarkable recovery from his catastrophic injuries. The 21-year-old will be competing in this weekend's Ironman World Championship in Hawaii.

In 2003, Boyle had been returning to his home in Welcome, Maryland after swimming practice when the devastating traffic collision occurred. The impact of the crash caused his heart to be knocked across his chest. He also shattered his pelvis and broke his clavicle and several ribs. Boyle also sustained head injuries and nerve damage to one of his shoulders. His kidney and liver failed, and his lungs collapsed. He experienced 60% blood loss and lost his gall bladder and spleen.

Boyle was placed in a chemically induced coma. He underwent 14 surgeries, 13 plasma treatmentsm, 36 blood transfusions. He lost 100 pounds.

Doctors said Boyle would never function normally again. Through hard work and proper medical and recovery care, however, Boyle has regained his ability to walk and talk. One year after the accident, Boyle enrolled in St. Mary’s College in Maryland where he is an honors student and a swim team member.

Now, Boyle is also getting ready to compete in the Ironman Triathlon World Championship, which is a 140.6-mile race that involves riding a bicycle, swimming, and running. He has already completed a half-Ironman race ( 70.3-mile triathlon).

Catastrophic Injuries
Catastrophic injuries are injuries that occur unexpectedly. They are categorized as catastrophic because when they happen the ramifications on a person's life are catastrophic.

Common kinds of catastrophic injuries include:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Serious burns
• Accidental amputation
• Serious eye injuries
• Neurological problems
• Multiple fractures
• Multiple broken bones

If you or someone you love is suffering from catastrophic injuries because of an accident that was caused by someone else’s carelessness or recklessness in Maryland or Washington D.C., you should contact an experienced personal injury lawyer right away.

A person who has sustained catastrophic injuries can increase his or her chances of recovery with the proper medical care and rehabilitation treatment. Costs for this type of care and recovery can be very expensive—possibly even unaffordable—without additional financial resources. A family whose primary financial caretaker has become incapacitated because of a catastrophic injury could find themselves in dire straits without help.

A good personal injury attorney will know how to assess your injuries so that he or she can determine how much recovery you and your family will need. Additional reconstructive surgery, ongoing prescription medication, and other special considerations will also have to be taken into consideration. A personal injury lawyer can work with the negligent party's insurance company to reach a settlement agreement or, if necessary, file a personal injury lawsuit to recovery damages.

Boyle meeting another goal in recovery from near-fatal accident, USA Today.com, October 11, 2007

Related Web Resources:

Brian's Story; Miracles Do Happen proving "Anything Is Possible", Cannondale.com, October 6, 2007

2007 Ironman World Championship

Continue reading "Maryland Swimmer Seriously Injured in 2004 Car-Truck Collision Will Compete in 2007 Ironman World Championship " »

Ellicott City residents David Destino and his 13-year-old son Michael died on Friday in a traffic collision involving a dump truck and three cars. David’s wife, Mary, was taken to Baltimore Shock Trauma where she was checked in under reportedly critical condition.

Mary was among four people that suffered personal injuries when the dump truck rear-ended the Destino family’s Ford Explorer on route 404 close to intersection 309. She was in the passenger seat while their son rode in the back.

The impact of the collision pushed the SUV’s backseat into the front of the car. The Explorer then stuck a Jetta and a Road Ranger. A Baltimore couple and their one-year-old baby had been riding the Jetta and they sustained minor injuries in the truck accident.

Prior to the accident, other motor vehicle drivers reportedly had contacted Maryland State Police to complain that the dump truck was driving on the road erratically. At least 9 people died in traffic accidents in Maryland between Wednesday and Friday of last week.

Statistics show that a dump truck is involved in one out of every nine motor vehicle accidents. 94% of these accidents result in the other parties that were not in the dump truck being seriously injured or dying.

Common reasons for dump truck accidents where the truck driver is responsible:

• Negligence by the dump truck driver
• A faulty or defective dump truck or dump truck part
• Mechanical failure
• Driver fatigue
• Carrying a load that is too heavy
• Speeding

Dumptrucksguide.com offers the following safety tips for dump truck drivers:

• Check and oil bushings and pins regularly.
• Check erect cylinders daily. Damaged cylinders should not be exchanged with cylinders charged at inferior operating pressure or smaller cylinders.
• Examine the pressure of the tires regularly. The pressure of the tires should be same on each dump truck’s side.
• Necessary tools should always be kept in the dump truck for safety.
• Check deferral systems under load to make sure that they are working properly or not and offer suspension. Fragile suspension should be exchanged instantly.
• Safety should also be provided on the construction sites while loading and dumping of materials.

Dump truck drivers are upheld to more rigorous safety standards on the road than the drivers of cars and motorcycles. Failure to uphold these safety standards could result in serious personal injuries and wrongful deaths of drivers and passengers of other vehicles and pedestrians.

2 dead, 4 hurt in Queen Anne's crash, Hometownannapolis.com, September 1, 2007

Dump Truck Accidents, Dumptrucksguide.com

Related Web Resources:

Maryland Commercial Vehicle Safety Regulations

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations

Continue reading "Two People are Killed and One Person is Injured in Queen Anne’s County During Multi-Vehicle Crash Involving Dump Truck " »

Anthony Rice, a tow-truck driver has been arrested following the deadly collision on June 12 that killed MetroAccess driver Emmanuel Toshe, 50.

Toshe, a Silver Springs resident, died when his vehicle crashed into Rice’s tow-truck, which Rice had just made an illegally turn with on Interstate 495’s inner loop in Glenarden.

Rice then fled the accident scene, but police found him after his damaged truck was discovered at a tow lot in Capitol Heights.

Rice is being charged with leaving a fatal accident scene, making an illegal U-turn, and other offenses.

If you have been hurt in an accident involving a tow-truck, big rig, semi-truck, or tractor-trailer, you may want to speak with a personal injury lawyer.

Truck accident claims tend to be more complicated than car accident claims. Injury victims may have to deal with the truck company, the truck driver’s insurance company, and other parties that may be held liable for the accident.

A good truck accident lawyer can also refer you to the proper medical experts that you may need to treat your injuries.

Continue reading "Maryland State Police Arrest Truck Driver After Deadly Collision" »

Roger Scofield, Jr., the man involved in a March 19 accident in Prince George’s County that injured two people and killed one man apparently had traffic citations in Virginia, Maryland, New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Delaware. Citations included speeding, inattentive driving, careless driving, driving on a suspended license, and driving with defective breaks. He also had at least two convictions and was driving with a suspended license at the time of the March 19 accident.

A $20 million wrongful death suit has already been filed against Scofield and his employer. Scofield also faces charges of driving with a suspended license and reckless driving—and possibly, vehicular homicide. According to police, Scofield’s tractor-trailer struck a 1995 Honda Accord and then hit two other cars that were in front of the Honda. One of those two vehicles was being driven by Jose Marcos Portillo Villalta, who died at the accident scene. The drivers of the other two vehicles were injured.

According to an executive from B.K. Trucking, the company that hired Scofield to deliver bananas to Virginia on March 19, the truck driver did not know that his license was suspended and that the accident had more to do with being at a bad place at a bad time than his driving record.

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, truck companies are obligated to check the driving record of all truck drivers before hiring them.

Because tractor-trailers are large in size, anyone involved in an accident with a tractor-trailer or any other kind of truck stands a good chance of being seriously injured. Truck drivers tend to have limited visibility when driving trucks and commercial truck drivers are required by law to drive only for a certain amount of hours before stopping to rest. Many accidents on the road have occurred because a truck driver was tired. In personal injury lawsuits involving a commercial truck driver, the truck company that hired the truck driver may also be found liable.

Because of this, truck companies are well-equipped to handle personal injury claims and combat them. This is way it is important if you have been injured in an accident involving a truck driver that you hire an experienced personal injury attorney right away. A skilled personal injury lawyer can make sure that all avenues of recovery are explored and all parties that can be held responsible for your accident are held liable so you don’t have to pay for your recovery.

Continue reading "Beltway Trucker Involved In Fatal Collision That Killed One Man And Injured Two Others Had Multiple Traffic Citations In Maryland And Six Other States" »

Maryland police say that seven people were injured on the Capital Beltway yesterday, after a tractor-trailer hit the back of a fire truck and then collided with two other vehicles.

According to a witness, the fire truck was decreasing its speed to take an emergency lane when the tractor-trailer rear-ended the fire truck, which then flipped over.

Prince George’s Fire and Rescue spokesperson says four firefighters from the Allentown Road Volunteer Fire Department were injured. Three others were also injured.

Personal injury claims involving truck accidents can be much more complicated, because of the many laws that govern the trucking industry. If you have been injured in an accident where a truck driver was negligent, it is important that you retain the services of a personal injury lawyer who is familiar with the different trucking regulations, the kind of evidence that needs to be brought to make your case, and the different remedies that are available to you.

Possible Defendants:

Depending on the nature and of the accident, who was at fault, and the kind of truck involved, an injured person may be able to claim compensation from a number of parties:

• Truck driver
• Tractor-trailer owner
• Truck leasing companies
• Trucking company
• Manufacturer of the truck or a defective truck part that led to the accident
• Truck Shipper

If there are other parties or vehicles that were negligent, your attorney can file claims against them also. Recovery damages can include damages for injury, pain and suffering, medical bills, lost wages, and lost future income.

Statistically, 99% of the people that are killed in accidents involving tractor-trailers are the passengers that were riding in the other vehicle(s) when a collision occurred.

Continue reading "Seven People Injured On Capital Beltway After Tractor-Trailer Rear-Ends Fire Truck" »

Five light rail train passengers and the train’s driver were hospitalized last week, after a tractor-trailer and the train collided with one another in Hunt Valley. The train was derailed in the accident, and service throughout the area was disrupted.

The truck driver, Marshall F. Hartsell, 65, was headed southbound on Gilroy Road near Schilling Circle when he turned left to cross the tracks, thereby colliding into the train. Hartsell is being blamed for failing to obey the sign prohibiting left turns when a train is approaching. He was given a citation for failing to yield to oncoming traffic while making a left turn. His truck is owned by T.S. Expediting Services of Toledo, Ohio.

Twenty people were riding on the train when the accident occurred. Two of the six injured persons were treated at Greater Baltimore Medical Center while the other four were treated at Joseph Medical Center. All of them reportedly had minor injuries.

Continue reading "Six People Are Injured In Hunt Valley, Maryland When Accident Involving Tractor-Trailer And Light Rail Train" »

Metro Networks, the largest traffic gathering and reporting operation in America, recently released its list “The Top Ten Worst Traffic Incidents of 2006.” An accident involving two tractor-trailers colliding on I-95 North in Massaponax, VA put the Washington D.C. area in the number 10 spot. The trucks ended up catching fire and damaging the roads so that they had to be repaved. There were major delays on the highway because of the collision.

Other traffic incidents on the list:
1) New York City, New York: A Tomahawk test missile fell onto I-95SB in the Bronx after a tractor trailer overturned last July.

2) San Francisco, California: A meatpacking truck traveling on 101N in San Mateo spilled cow body parts across the freeway.

3) Houston, Texas: A truck fell off the ramp that goes from 610N loop to the US59. The truck dumped frozen chickens onto the freeway.

4) Boston, Massachusetts: A 12-ton concrete ceiling panel from a “Big Dug” tunnel connecting the Massachusetts Turnpike to the Ted Williams Tunnel dropped onto a passing car.

5) Dallas, Texas: A big rig carrying oil refinery equipment smacked into an overhead bridge on northbound Loop 12 at the Highway 183 interchange next to Texas Stadium.

6) Detroit, Michigan: Two semis crashed into each other in Monroe on Northbound I-75. The semis caught on fire, and the flames spread across the freeway involving approximately six cars and four more semis.

7) Chicago, Illinois: Construction on Chicago Skyway, I-80/94, and the Dan Ryan Expressway created traffic delays for commuters.

8) Atlanta, Georgia: A collision involving a tractor-trailer and two cars during the morning commute resulted in the death of two people.

9) Los Angeles, California: A big rig truck flipped over, caught fire, and burnt to the ground.

Injuries that result because of vehicle-related truck accidents can be severe and life altering. You may have suffered whiplash or burns to your head or neck, have nerve damage or spinal chord paralysis, limb amputation, have broken or dislocated a bone or limb, or even lost the use of a limb. A personal injury to you can ocur on the road even if your vehicle was not directly involved in a collision. If you have been in an automobile accident due to the carelessness or negligence of another driver, you should obtain the advice of a lawyer with experience handling automobile accident cases.

Continue reading "Tractor-Trailer Accident In D.C. Named Among The 10 Worst U.S. Traffic Incidents In 2006 By Metro Networks" »

A 23-year-old Denton man died last week after the service truck he was driving crashed into a Perdue flatbed tractor-trailer loaded with chickens at the intersection of northbound MD 313 and eastbound Line Road last Wednesday morning.

According to Maryland State Police, Lee Albert Asbury III became trapped in his truck after his vehicle struck the left side of the Perdue truck. Roberto Cruz of Preston, Maryland, was a passenger in the service truck. He managed to evacuate the vehicle, as did the driver of the Perdue truck.

Police say a fire started right beneath Asbury’s seat not long after the accident. A FedEx tractor trailer driver and a Pave Master paving truck arrived at the scene to help. Asbury was taken by ambulance to Nanticoke Memorial Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Here are the following 2005 statistics for vehicle-related accidents involving large trucks .

· 57 large trucks Involved in fatal crashes.
· 60 fatalities in crashes involving large trucks.
· 1,624 large trucks involved in non-fatal crashes.
· 941 large trucks involved in injury crashes.
· 1,293 injuries in crashes involving large trucks.
· 683 large trucks involved in towaway crashes.

The DMV offers the following suggestions for reducing the chances of becoming involved in a large truck-related accident:

Braking
Large trucks take longer to stop than a car traveling at the same speed. The average passenger vehicle traveling at 55 mph can stop in about 400 feet. However, a large truck traveling at the same speed can take almost 800 feet to stop. Don’t move in front of a large truck and suddenly slow down or stop. The trucker will not be able to stop quickly enough to avoid crashing into you.

Turning
When any vehicle makes a turn, the rear wheels follow a shorter path than the front wheels. The longer the vehicle, the greater the difference. This is why big rig drivers must often swing wide to complete a right turn. When you follow a big rig, look at its turn signals before you start to pass it. If you think the truck is turning left—wait a second and check the turn signals again. The driver may actually be turning right.

Trucker's Blind Spots
Passenger vehicle drivers incorrectly assume that a trucker can see the road better because he or she is higher off the road. While truckers do have a better forward view and bigger mirrors, they still have serious blind spots and your vehicle can get lost in those blind spots. You block the trucker’s ability to take evasive action to avoid a dangerous situation if you stay in those blind spots. Generally speaking, if you can’t see the truck driver in his or her side mirror, he or she can’t see you. These blind spots are often called the “NO ZONE.”

Maneuverability
Trucks are designed to transport products and they are not as maneuverable as passenger vehicles. Large trucks have longer stopping and starting distances. They take more space for turns and they weigh more. On multilane highways and freeways, large trucks usually stay in the center portion of the lane to help the flow of traffic. This also increases the trucker’s options in case he or she must change lanes to avoid a hazard.

Mistakes To Avoid When Driving Around Large Trucks:
· Cutting off a truck in traffic or on the highway to reach an exit or turn. Cutting into the open space in front of a truck is dangerous. Trying to beat a truck through a single lane construction zone, for example, removes the truck driver’s cushion of safety and places you in danger.

· Don’t linger alongside a truck when passing. Always pass a large truck on the left side and after you pass the truck, move ahead of it. Don’t linger, because if you do you make it very difficult, if not impossible, for the trucker to take evasive action if an obstacle appears in the road ahead.

· Following too closely or tailgating. When you follow so closely behind a truck that you cannot see the truck driver’s side view mirrors, the trucker has no way of knowing you are there. Tailgating a truck, or any vehicle, is dangerous because you take away your own cushion of safety.

· Never underestimate the size and speed of an approaching tractor-trailer. A large tractor-trailer often appears to be traveling at a slower speed because of its large size. Many passenger vehicles vs. large truck accidents take place at intersections because the passenger vehicle driver did not realize how close the truck was or how quickly it was traveling.

The personal injury law firm of Lebowitz and Mzhen represents clients in the Maryland and Washington D.C. areas who have been injured due to someone else’s negligence. If you or someone you know has been injured in a truck-related accident due to someone else’s actions, contact Lebowitz and Mzhen for a free consultation.

Denton Man Killed In Wednesday Crash, WBOC.com, November 15, 2006

National Large Truck Crash Facts

Large Trucks and RV's, DMV

Related Web Resource:

Truck Safety Coalition

A 9-year-old boy and his mother have filed personal injury lawsuits against the Yellowbird Bus Company and the Cowan Truck Company after the school bus he was riding in collided with a tractor-trailer on I-95 in Aberdeen, Maryland on July 5. The bus had been returning from a field trip to the Baltimore Aquarium.

Manny Basco, who suffered a concussion, is one of just dozens of Kensington, Pennsylvania students attending the Norris Square Day Camp who were injured in the crash. At least 21 other people have filed lawsuits against the bus and truck companies.

According to Basco’s mother, Ruth, the boy is now too traumatized to ride a bus again.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration offers the following statistics related to

1) Bus accidents that took place in the state of Maryland in 2004:

· 231 buses were involved in fatal and nonfatal accidents.
· 9 accidents involved fatalities.
· 181 accidents involved injuries.
· 41 accidents required towaways.
· There were 11 deaths total.
· 293 people were injured.

2) Truck accidents that took place in Maryland in 2004:

· 1,576 trucks were involved in fatal and nonfatal accidents.
· 83 accidents involved fatalities.
· 921 accidents involved injuries.
· 579 accidents required towaways.
· There were 83 deaths total.
· 1310 people were injured.

According to news reports, the driver of the bus was 18 years of age, and therefore legally too young to drive a bus across state lines.

A person who has been injured in a bus or truck accident may be eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit. A minor who has been injured in a bus or truck accident and their parents may also be able to file personal injury lawsuits.

The personal injury law firm of Lebowitz and Mzhen can assist you in handling truck and bus accident injury cases. They are also experienced at handling injury cases involving minors . Contact them for a free consultation.

Lawsuits Filed In Serious School Bus Accident, kyw.com, August 21, 2006

Driver In Bus Crash Underage, 6ABC.com, July 6, 2006

Crash Statistics

Related Web Resourcess:

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

American Bus Association

Heavy freight traffic on Baltimore highways is causing the Baltimore Metropolitan Council to review whether there needs to be more rest facilities available to truckers. There are currently no designated rest stops between the Beltway and the Pennsylvania line, and the council wants to determine whether more truck parking areas need to be created. The council's Truck Parking Partnership Study is looking into this issue and will make a recommendation.

According to federal regulations, truck drivers:
-Must park and stop if they've been driving for 11 hours straight.
-Must rest for 10 consecutive hours before they are allowed to drive again.
-Can only drive up to 14 hours maximum each day.

Truck drivers are currently having to park on the shoulders at the Shawan Road exit in Hunt Valley and the Freeland Road exit located south of the Pennsylvania line. Maryland State Police are concerned that trucks parked along the freeway could pose a hazard to other vehicles on the road.

Maryland Truck Statistics:
-More than 12,000 companies have registered motor carriers in the state of Maryland.
-Approximately 90 percent of all goods moved in Maryland are moved by truck.

Because of their weight and size, truck-related crashes often impose injuries more serious than car crashes, and
driver fatigue is sometimes responsible for truck crashes. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident involving a truck, you should obtain the advice of a lawyer with experience in handling truck accident-related personal injury cases.

To avoid becoming involved in a truck-related (or any kind of vehicle-related) accident, here are the following driving tips:

1) Wear a seatbelt.
2) Keep your eyes moving.
3) Watch the road.
4) Check your mirrors.
5) Try not to follow any vehicle too closely.
6) Make sure you aren't being followed too closely.
7) Monitor your speed.
8) Be aware of how current weather conditions may change driving conditions.
9) Give yourself plenty of space between your vehicle and the vehicles around you.

For Truckers, It's A Long Way From Beltway to Pennsylvania Line, North County News.com, June 22, 2006

Doing Business In Maryland, Maryland Department Of Transportation

Defensive Driving Tips

Related Web Resources:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations

Unsafe Driving Acts Of Motorists In The Vicinity Of Large Trucks (PDF

Truck accidents involving smaller vehicles or pedestrians often result in more deaths and serious injuries than other vehicle accidents.

- There are over 500,000 truck accidents on US roads each year
- About 5,000 deaths result from truck-related accidents
- 12 % of all fatalities in the US are due to trucking accidents
- More than 75 % of truck accidents are caused, not by truck drivers, but by the drivers of the smaller vehicles involved

In the last few days, there have been a number of truck accidents in the Maryland and DC areas.

In Washington DC, on June 1, the driver of a pickup truck was killed on Md. 140 when his Toyota Tacoma crossed into the other lane and crashed into a school bus. The driver of the bus, Susan Schaffer, 52, had just dropped off several children at a nearby bus stop when the accident occurred. She suffered minor injuries but refused treatment. The driver of the truck, Brian Evans, 18, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.

Also in Washington DC on Thursday, a truck that had been carjacked and was being pursued by Prince George’s County police crashed into several cars on New York Avenue NE. Four people were arrested in connection with the carjacking and sent to a hospital for evaluation.

Interstate 295 in DC had to be closed down for most of the day when a tractor trailer was rear ended by a tanker truck that then burst into flames on northbound Kenilworth Avenue near Eastern Avenue. The driver of the tanker, Stanley Bowler, 46, was treated at the Washington Hospital Center for minor burns and bruises.

Just two days before in in Maryland, a Padasena man was killed in Anne Arudel County when his pickup truck struck a guardrail and overturned after veering off the westbound side of Route 100 near Lake Waterford Road. The driver Travis Stephen Dyer, age 26, was not wearing a safety belt.

Also that day in Anne Arudel County, a dump truck heading north on Interstate 97 between Route 32 and the Benfield Boulevard exit spilled hot asphalt onto the roadway after colliding with a car. The truck driver was treated for minor injuries at Baltimore Washington Medical Center, while the driver of the car was taken to Maryland Shock Trauma Center as a precautionary measure.

18-year-old Killed After Truck Collides With Bus, Carroll County Times, June 2, 2006

What A Mess! The Washington Times, June 2, 2006

Pasadena Man Killed In Crash Of Pickup, Baltimoresun.com, May 31, 2006

Truck Accident Statistics, Lawcore.com

Related Web Resources:
Car/Auto Accidents And Personal Injury Statistics, Personal Injury FYI.com

Truck Accidents, Lawcore.com

If you have been involved in a truck accident and have sustained injuries or have lost someone who was in a truck accident, you may be entitled to receive legal compensation and damages under US laws. Lebowitz & Mzhen are injury attorneys who handle truck accident cases. Contact us online or call us at 1.888.311.4878 for a free consultation.