Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog

Maryland truck accident litigators recently read about a truck accident on Davis Drive in Apex, North Carolina that could be repeated on some of Maryland’s smaller roads.

Earlier this week, a dump truck driving down a narrow two lane road that lacked a shoulder, overturned and landed on top of a Honda Civic. The driver of the Civic, Kara Walden Benton, was seriously injured and was flown from the scene to an area hospital. The passenger, Mrs. Benton’s husband, 26 year-old Chad Benton, was less seriously injured.

The driver of the dump truck told investigators that another driver forced the dump truck off the road and onto the grass. According the dump truck driver, his truck overturned when he attempted to get back onto the solid roadway. Other drivers and area residents believe that the lack of a shoulder on Davis Drive poses a safety concern and was the likely cause of this accident. The two lane road is lined by grassy ditches on both sides and if a vehicle’s wheel leaves the roadway, the driver may lose tire traction and be unable to control the automobile. According to residents in the area, this is not the first time the narrow nature of the road has caused accidents. Wake County officials, however, have no plans to widen the road to provide a better shoulder.

Maryland, particularly in rural areas, has a number of narrow roads similar to Davis Drive. Drivers, particularly those in large trucks, have little or no room for error while traveling on these narrow roads and could easily cause similar accidents. Maryland truck accident attorneys suggest that our readers pay close attention when driving near large vehicles on narrow roads particularly in poor weather conditions. A truck whose tire leaves a solid roadway and hit softer earth is susceptible to losing control, and due to its high center of gravity, may overturn, putting drivers near it at risk for serious injury.

External Links

WTVD ABC 11 News Story

Continue reading "In Maryland: Narrow Roads May Put Drivers at Increased Risk for Truck Accidents" »

Posted by Lebowitz & Mzhen | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Dump Truck Accidents , Truck Accident News , Truck Accidents

Bookmark:

In a prior post, we reported how many truck companies attempt to rush people injured in Maryland big rig accidents to accept low settlements. Recently, a potential client came into my office and explained that she had been involved in a Maryland truck accident while traveling on Interstate 95 in Howard County, Maryland. This lady explained that she had sustained what she considered “serious, but not life threatening injuries.”

This individual went on to describe how the insurance company for the truck company had called her a week after the accident, one thing led to another, and she agreed to settle her case for an amount that she now realizes was far too law. She wanted to know if she had any legal rights to go back and undo her mistake. She does.

In Maryland, if a person settles her case within 30 days after a truck accident (evidenced by the signing of a legal release within 30 days of the incident), without being represented by a lawyer and without the advice of an attorney, the victim may void the release within 60 days after the date the release was signed. The voiding of the release must be done in writing, and it must be accompanied by the return of the money paid in settlement.

It should be noted that an insurance company may not obtain a settlement, or try to negotiate a settlement, within 15 days of an automobile or truck accident, if the person injured is confined to a hospital.

These protections for Maryland accident victims became law in 2007. The law reinforces my view that individuals need protection from insurance companies, and others, who aggressively pursue a quick settlement (and almost always a low settlement) before the victim knows what hit them.

Posted by Lebowitz & Mzhen | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Maryland Driving Laws , Truck Accidents , Trucking Legislation

Bookmark:

Due to this weekend’s snow storm in Maryland, our Maryland truck accident attorneys have spoken to many potential clients regarding accidents caused when the driver of a motor vehicle, or in one case, the driver of a tractor trailer, hit a patch of ice, or compacted snow, lost control of the vehicle driven, and caused an accident. After a snow storm, potential clients call us and ask a question like this, “Do I have a case: I was injured when another driver lost control of his vehicle on ice and slammed into the front of my car?”

In Maryland, a driver of a motor vehicle must control his or her vehicle in all weather conditions. The Maryland Transportation Article, Section 21-801 states that:

“At all times, the driver of a vehicle on a highway shall control the speed of the vehicle as necessary to avoid colliding with any person or any vehicle or other conveyance.”

In short, the failure to control a vehicle due to snow or ice does not excuse the act of losing control of a tractor trailer, an SUV, or an automobile. A driver is responsible for injuries or damages caused when his or her motor vehicle goes out of control and strikes another driver, even if the accident was caused by ice or snow on the roadway.

Continue reading "All Maryland Drivers Must Maintain Control of Their Vehicles, Even When Driving on Snow and Ice" »

Posted by Lebowitz & Mzhen | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Legal Concepts in Truck Accident Cases , Maryland Driving Laws , Truck Accidents

Bookmark:

The attorneys at Lebowitz & Mzhen, LLC have developed the following list of things to do directly after an accident with a commercial vehicle. We suggest that our readers print out this list and place it in their glove compartment. We also suggest that you store a camera in your glove box in order to take photographs if you are involved in an accident.

1. STOP your car, no matter how minor the accident.
2. CALL THE POLICE to investigate the accident.
3. DO NOT DISCUSS THE ACCIDENT with anyone except the police officer on the scene.
4. GET INFORMATION ABOUT THE OTHER DRIVER AND THE TRACTOR TRAILER before leaving the scene of the accident. Make sure that you have the following information: (a) full name of the driver, (b) name of the trucking company, (c) Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) license number from the side of the cab of the commercial vehicle, (d) telephone number of the trucking company, (e) insurance company and policy number for the tractor trailer, and (f) license plate number of the tractor trailer.
5. GET NAMES, ADDRESSES AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS OF ALL WITNESSES.
6. DRAW A DIAGRAM of the accident.
7. TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS of the damage to your vehicle and, if possible, the tractor trailer, and any skid marks left on the roadway. Additionally, take photographs of your injuries if they are visible.
8. NOTIFY YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY.
9. DO NOT DISCUSS THE ACCIDENT WITH ANY INSURANCE COMPANY until you have talked to your lawyer.
10. IF YOU ARE INJURED, contact a doctor or go to the nearest emergency room as soon as possible.

Continue reading "Maryland Truck Accident Victim: Immediate Actions to Take" »

Posted by Vadim A. Mzhen | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Truck Accidents

Bookmark:

As the temperature drops and the nights grow longer, Maryland drivers prepare to travel to holiday celebrations around the state and around the country. Remembering holiday seasons past, drivers on Maryland highways should be prepared to confront a sea of tail lights and slow moving bumpers this year as well. However, while the kids play license plate bingo, Maryland personal injury lawyers urge our readers to drive safely so that they can enjoy holiday celebrations.

Lebowitz & Mzhen would like to take this time to offer some safe driving tips to make sure that all of you are able to have a very happy holiday surrounded by family and friends.
• Plan your route based on traffic information
• Always appoint a designated driver if you plan to drink alcohol
• Leave early and allow yourself extra time to reach your destination
• Do not follow too closely—the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration recommends a three second interval between you and the car in front of you
• Know the location of Maryland roadwork protects that may delay your travel
• Spot and protect yourself from aggressive drivers frustrated by heavy traffic
• After indulging in the requisite large holiday meals, never driver drowsy

Additional web resources
Maryland State Highway Administration
Maryland Department of Motor Vehicles Safety Programs

Posted by Vadim A. Mzhen | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Truck Accidents

Bookmark:

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 20% of Marylanders killed in truck accidents in 2006 were between the ages of 16 and 25, and speed or failure of the young driver to stay in their proper lane caused nearly 53% of these fatalities. According to the NTSB, young drivers represent less than 7% of this country’s driving population, but make up 13% of drivers involved in fatal car accidents. 66% of passengers killed when teens are behind the wheel are between the ages of 15 and 19 years old. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety young drivers need 500 hours of practice in order to be considered safe drivers.

Continue reading "Younger Maryland Drivers are at a Higher Risk for Serious Automobile Accidents" »

Posted by Jack D. Lebowitz | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Truck Accidents

Bookmark:

A 78-year-old woman was killed and her 74-year-old husband sustained serious injuries when they were hit by a dump truck in Germantown last Thursday. The deadly Maryland motor vehicle crash occurred around 12:50pm on Route 118 in an area of the road that was under construction.

The dump truck struck the elderly pedestrians as it was backing up. Yushu Li died at the accident scene. Her husband, Xiufeng Wang was admitted to Suburban Hospital in serious but stable condition.

According to police, who are conducting the investigation, the backup alarm on the truck was working and the truck doesn’t appear to have any code violations. Dump truck driver Jack Bowers did not sustain injures.

A backhoe operator who saw the couple walking prior to the accident stopped his equipment because he believed the two of them were too close to the debris.

Common kinds of truck accidents that can lead to injuries and deaths include:

• Trucks striking pedestrians
• A collision between a truck and car, motorcycle, or another vehicle
• A truck striking a nonmoving object

Trucks that have been involved in traffic accidents include:

• Dump trucks
• 18-wheeler trucks
• Tractor-trailers
• Van trucks
• Garbage trucks
• Logging trucks
• Livestock vehicles
• Cement mixers
• Bobtail units

Senior Pedestrians Facts
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, senior pedestrians made up 16% of the 4,654 pedestrians that died and the 6% percent of the 70,000 pedestrians that were injured in traffic crashes in 2007.

Woman Killed After Dump Truck Strikes Her, WJZ.com, October 10, 2008

Woman Dies in Truck Accident, WashingtonPost.com, October 10, 2008

Pedestrians Hit by Dump Truck in Germantown , MyFox, October 9, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Pedestrian Traffic Safety Fact Sheet, NHTSA

Continue reading "Dump Truck Accident in Germantown Kills One Elderly Pedestrian and Seriously Injures Her Husband" »

Posted by Vadim A. Mzhen | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Truck Accidents

Bookmark:

Four people sustained injuries in Harford County, Maryland, after a tractor-trailer hit a pickup truck, turned over, and spilled a flammable chemical onto Interstate 95 (southbound). The crash occurred past the Aberdeen exit close to the Maryland House Travel Center.

Maryland State Police say the trucking accident occurred soon after 2am soon after Juan Moyorga, a pickup truck driver slowed down his vehicle in the wake of the crash scene from an earlier collision. He was rear-ended by a tractor-trailer, which then turned over onto the center median’s guardrail.

Investigators say that fluid began leaking from the semi-truck onto the ground. They have identified the flammable chemical as acetone.

A part of the highway was shut down for eight hours, while firefighters managed to contain the acetone leak. The Maryland Department of the Environment says about five gallons had leaked out.

Edgewood resident Deanna Moyorga, a passenger in the pickup, was transported by air to Maryland Shock Trauma Center with critical injuries. Juan Moyorga and another passenger, Andreas Juarez, suffered serious injures and were also taken to the center.

Baltimore tractor-trailer driver Carroll Quarles suffered non fatal injuries and was transported to Harford Memorial Hospital.

Chemical Spills
Trucking accidents resulting in chemical spills can be a potential hazard not just to the motor vehicle crash victims but to other people in the area—depending on the type of chemical that is leaked and the injuries that can result.

4 hurt, chemical spilled in I-95 crash in Harford, BaltimoreSun.com, October 5, 2008

Interstate 95 Reopens After Hazmat Spill, WBALTV.com, October 4, 2008

Related Web Resource:

Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry, CDC.gov

Maryland Department of the Environment

Continue reading "Four People Injured in Maryland After Tractor-Trailer Strikes Another Vehicle, Causing Chemical Spill in Harford County" »

Posted by Jack D. Lebowitz | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Truck Accidents

Bookmark:

Following its findings that the cause of a 2005 semi-trailer– bus crash in Wisconsin that claimed five lives and injured over 30 people happened because the truck driver had fallen asleep while driving, the National Transportation Safety Board is recommending that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration implement new technology to fight trucker fatigue.

The deadly crash occurred when a bus carrying a high school band rammed into Kozlowski’s overturned large truck. The agency says that Kozlowski failed to get enough sleep during his off-time and nodded off right before his truck jackknifed.

While the jury for Kozlowski’s criminal trial acquitted the trucker of 12 felony and 21 misdemeanor charges and placed blame on the 78-year-old bus driver for not wearing his glasses, the agency’s findings conclude that even if he had worn his glasses, the motorcoach operator would have had a hard time seeing the truck in the dark.

The NTSB is recommending that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration:

• Put together a plan to install anti-fatigue technology in commercial carriers.
• Create a methodology to evaluate how well a motor carrier’s fatigue management strategy is working.

The NTSB is recommending that the National Highway Traffic Administration figure out whether it makes sense to install active braking and electronic stability control systems in commercial trucks. It also wants trucking companies to more closely monitor truck log books and make sure that their drivers are getting enough sleep in between their driving shifts.

If you or someone you love was injured in a Maryland truck crash, this is not the kind of case that you want to handle without an experienced truck crash attorney by your side.

Truck Driver Fell Asleep, NTSB Says, School Transportation News

Truck accidents justify crackdown on fatal link to drivers' fatigue, DelawareOnline.com, September 19, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Hours-of-Service Regulations, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

National Transportation Safety Board

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Continue reading "NTSB Calls on FMCSA to Do More to FIght Trucker Fatigue and Prevent Deadly Truck Crashes" »

Posted by Vadim A. Mzhen | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Truck Accidents

Bookmark:

A Maryland woman who was going to get married on September 20 died a week before her wedding when the limousine that she and her friends were riding in on the night of her bachelorette party was struck by a tractor-trailer around 4:30 in the morning. Sunshine Royston, 28, suffered fatal injuries from the truck crash.

According to Baltimore police, a Freightliner tractor-trailer turned into the left side of the limousine, causing the limo to get knocked onto its side. Royston was later pronounced dead at Johns Hopkins Hospital and the other girls that had been in the vehicle with her were also treated for injuries. A Baltimore police spokesman says that preliminary reports indicate that the tractor-trailer driver appears to have failed to yield to the right of way but that the investigation into the crash continues.

According to family members, the girls rented the limousine for the party because they did not want to drink and drive. Royston leaves behind her finance and three children.

According to the Large Truck Crash Causation Study (a summary can be found on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Web site), associated factors for truck crashes include:

• Exhaustion
• Brake difficulties
• Use of prescription drugs or over-the-counter medication
• Road problems
• Driving too fast for current road conditions
• Interruptions to traffic flow
• Improper surveillance
• Work pressures
• Illegal maneuvering
• Driver distraction or inattention
• Jackknifing
• Illness
• Drunk driving
• Driving under the influence of drugs

Bride-to-be dies when tractor-trailer hits limousine, BaltimoreSun.com, September 14, 2008

Viewing Held For Bride-To-Be Killed In Accident, WJZ.com, September 16, 2008

Related Web Resource:

Large Truck Crash Causation Study, FMCSA

Continue reading "Baltimore Bride-To-Be Dies in Maryland Tractor-Trailer Accident " »

Posted by Jack D. Lebowitz | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Truck Accidents

Bookmark:

The NHTSA is reporting a decline in overall traffic fatalities in the US between 2007 and 2006. According to its 2007 Annual Assessment of Motor Vehicle Traffic Crash Fatalities and People Injured, the drop in total deaths from 42,708 deaths in 2006 to 41,059 fatalities in 2007 to was a 3.9% decrease. The report also reported a decline in the number of motor vehicle injury victims, from 2,575,000 injuries in 2006 to 2,491,000 injury victims in 2007.

Other 2007 US Traffic Accident Statistics:

• 28,933 passenger vehicle deaths.
• 2,221,000 passenger vehicle injuries.

• 802 large trucker deaths.
• 23,000 large trucker injuries (The same number of reported large truck injuries as in 2006).
• 4,808 killed in large truck accidents.
•
• 5,154 motorcycle deaths—an increase from the 4,837 motorcycle fatalities in 2006.
• 103,000 motorcycle injuries—an increase from the 88,000 motorcycle injuries in 2006.

• 4,654 pedestrian deaths
• 70,000 pedestrian injuries

• 698 pedalcyclist deaths
• 43,000 pedalcyclist injuries

• 12,998 Drunk driving-related deaths

Motor vehicle accidents can lead to catastrophic injuries for the victims as well as cause a great deal of pain, suffering, and loss for family members. For many auto accident victims, it can be difficult to determine what action to take next to take care of yourself after a crash. Do NOT reach a settlement agreement with the negligent parties without exploring your legal options.

Continue reading "NHTSA Reports 41,057 Motor Vehicle Deaths in 2007" »

Posted by Lebowitz & Mzhen | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Truck Accidents

Bookmark:

Preliminary statistics for the number of injuries resulting from truck accidents in the United States in 2007 have been published on the US Department of Transportation Web site.

According to the data source Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS), in 2007 there were:

• 54,961 injury crashes involving large trucks resulting in 80,752 injuries.
• 6,709 bus accidents resulting in 15,297 injuries.

These figure indicate an increase in truck accident injuries compared to the year prior. According to the MCMIS 2006 truck accident injury statistics, there were:

• 60,058 large truck collisions resulting in 90,087 injuries.
• 6,811 bus accidents resulting in 16,044 injuries.

The Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) says that: in 2006:

• 4,995 people died in 4,732 large truck accidents.
• 331 people died in 299 bus accidents.
• In 2007, large truck accidents resulted in 4,808 fatalities.

Pursuing an injury claim resulting in a truck accident requires the knowledge of an experienced Maryland truck crash lawyer. Injuries sustained in accidents involving tractor-trailers, garbage trucks, semi-trucks, and 18-wheeler trucks can be catastrophic--even fatal. It is important that your attorney is familiar with both state and federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations and knows the way truck companies and their insurers handle injury cases in order to successfully pursue your personal injury claim or lawsuit.

2007 Preliminary Crash Facts

US Department of Transportation

Continue reading "FMCSA Web Site Publishes 2007 Preliminary Truck and Bus Crash Facts" »

Posted by Lebowitz & Mzhen | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Truck Accidents

Bookmark:

Officials in Maryland have confirmed reports that the car that sideswiped the tractor-trailer that fell off the Chesapeake Bay Bridge on August 10 was driven by a 19-year-old woman that fell asleep at the wheel. The driver, Candy Lynn Baldwin, was also injured in the catastrophic auto crash, which killed truck driver John Short. The Maryland medical examiner’s office cited drowning and multiple injuries as the trucker’s cause of death.

Baldwin has undergone several surgeries since the accident and will likely undergo more. According to NBC4.com, she also faces a wrongful death lawsuit from the accident.

Baldwin’s Chevrolet Camaro struck the large truck after crossing the center line. The impact of the collision caused the 40,000 pound tractor-trailer to crash through the jersey wall and drop into the Chesapeake Bay. The accident happened at around 4am and when traffic moving in both directions were sharing the bridge’s eastbound span.

Meantime, the Maryland Transportation Authority is continuing to investigate the accident. Just last week inspectors were examining the bridge. According to Maryland Transportation Authority chief engineer Geoffrey Kolberg, “We have no doubt about the safety of the bridge, but we will do as thorough a job as possible.”

If you believe that you were injured in a motor vehicle accident because another party was negligent, you should speak with an experienced Baltimore personal injury lawyer right away. There may be more than one party that is liable for your injury accident, and our car crash lawyers can explore all avenues of recovery for you.

If someone you love has died in a truck crash, car collision, motorcycle accident, or bus crash that you believe occurred because someone was reckless, negligent, or careless, a Maryland wrongful death lawyer can speak with you.

Bay Bridge Lane Closes; State Inspection Follows Fatal Crash, BaltimoreSun.com, August 19, 2008

Woman Faces Civil Lawsuit In Fatal Bay Bridge Crash, NBC4.com, August 21, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Bay Bridge, Maryland Transportation Authority

Truck Driver Dies In Bay Bridge Crash, WashingtonPost.com, August 10, 2008

Posted by Lebowitz & Mzhen | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Truck Accidents

Bookmark:

In Anne Arundel County, Maryland, a man who sustained serious injuries after he was hit by a cement-mixer truck in 2005 has been awarded $1.95 million. Robert L. Howard, a truck driver for Goodwill Industries, lost 70% use of his left arm and suffered severe post-traumatic stress disorder because of the catastrophic truck accident, which happened while he was working on his disabled motor vehicle on the shoulder of the Baltimore-Washington Parkway. $1.83 million of the jury award for pain and suffering will be capped at $650,000, which was Maryland’s legal limit at the time of the truck crash.

The driver of the cement mixer truck was Richard Anthony Schulman, who left the crash scene. He later said that he did not know he had hit anyone until he read about the accident in the news. Schulman has an extensive criminal record, which includes convictions for theft and drug crimes.

Killed in the accident was Howard’s assistant, Errol Johnson, who was standing outside the truck with him. Schulman and Lafarge Mid-Atlantic reached a settlement agreement with Johnson’s family earlier this year.

Schulman was charged with leaving the scene and he pleaded guilty to one count of negligent driving. No criminal charges related to his truck striking the two men were filed against him.

Trucking Accidents
Truck drivers and trucking companies are upheld to a higher standards of care when driving on US roads. If you or someone you love was seriously injured in a truck collision, you may be entitled to personal injury recovery for your pain and suffering, as well as other damages. Even if the person or company responsible for your crash will not face criminal charges related to your injury accident, you can still hold them liable in civil court.

It is important that you work with a Maryland trucking accident law firm that is familiar with state and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations and knows how to negotiate settlements and win lawsuits against trucking companies.

Man struck by a truck awarded $1.95 million, BaltimoreSun.com, July 26, 2008

Jury awards driver struck by cement truck $1.95M, DailyRecord.com, July 24, 2008

Related Web Resource:

Rules and Regulations, FMCSA

Trucking Regulations and Guidelines, Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration

Maryland Personal Injury Law, Peoples-law.org

Posted by Lebowitz & Mzhen | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Truck Accidents

Bookmark:

Maryland resident John Robert Short, a tractor-trailer driver, died, in a deadly three-motor vehicle crash on the Bay Bridge on Sunday morning after his truck fell into the Chesapeake Bay. The Maryland Transportation Authority Police say that this is the first time in the bridge’s 56-year history that a motor vehicle has fallen off the bridge into the water. The deadly accident caused major traffic delays all day on Sunday on both sides of US 50, and traffic continued to be slow on Monday morning.

Also involved in the crash were a Toyota Prius and a Chevrolet Camaro. Two people in the Camaro were taken to Maryland Shock Trauma Center for treatment. The two people in the Prius did not sustain any injuries.

The deadly crash happened before 4am on Sunday when two-way traffic was being directed on the eastbound span (the westbound span was closed for repairs). Short’s tractor-trailer slammed into the jersey wall, leaving a 10-15 foot opening, before falling at least 30 feet into the water. Police have yet to give their account of what happened during the crash.

The driver of the Prius, Seung Won Hong, gave his account of the crash to the newspaper the Baltimore Sun. Hong says that the Camaro and the truck collided, causing the tractor-trailer to spin out of control and strike Hong’s car before it crashed into the wall.

Gary McLhinney, a former Transportation Authority Police Chief, says that two-way traffic on a single span “has the potential to be disastrous.” At this point, however, authorities have no way of knowing whether two-way traffic helped cause the deadly crash.

Regina Averella, an AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesperson says that most deadly crashes on the Bay Bridge have happened when two-way traffic was in effect. In May 2007, five people got hurt and three people died in a seven-vehicle collision that took place in two-way traffic on the westbound span.

Driver dies as truck plunges off Bay Bridge, BaltimoreSun.com, August 11, 2008

Truck Driver Dies In Bay Bridge Crash, Washington Post, August 11, 2008

Related Web Resource:

Bay Bridge, Maryland Transportation Authority

Please contact our Baltimore motor vehicle crash law firm if you or someone you love was injured in an auto accident that was caused by another party's negligence.

Continue reading "Maryland Tractor-Trailer Driver Dies in Multi-Vehicle Crash As His Truck Plunges Off the Bay Bridge into the Chesapeake Bay" »

Posted by Lebowitz & Mzhen | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Truck Accidents

Bookmark:

A new safety study is reporting that there are hundreds of thousands of tractor-trailer operators and bus drivers in the United States with commercial driver’s licenses even though they suffer from medical conditions that could cause them to have seizures, blackouts, heart attacks, or experience other major health issues while driving. As a result, hundreds of injuries and deaths have occurred because some of these medically unfit drivers experienced health emergencies while on the road. The study was obtained and reported on by the Associated Press.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which is in charge of disciplining unfit drivers, says it hasn’t completed any of the recommendations that US safety regulators proposed 7 years ago. Recommendations included barring truck drivers from “doctor shopping,” which allows them to find a doctor that would ignore or not notice that the driver suffered from a health condition, and establishing a minimum truck standard that officials can work with to determine when a truck driver is no longer medically safe to get behind the wheel.

The latest information gathered by the Transportation Department in 2006 showed that there were 7.3 million commercial driver violations, and truckers in violation of federal medical rules were apprehended in every US State. Maryland was one of the 12 US states with drivers having the most sanctions for violating these rules.

A 2007 federal safety study found that drivers falling asleep or becoming physically impaired while on the road were among the leading causes of serious truck accidents.

A driver that experiences a seizure, a heart attack, or a fainting spell while behind the wheel can pose a serious danger to motorists and other pedestrians. That driver will likely be unable to stay in control of the vehicle, which can lead to serious motor vehicle collisions and pedestrian accidents.

A Congressional hearing is scheduled this week to examine recent findings related to why it is easy for many unfit truckers and bus drivers to continue working without having to deal with disciplinary repercussions. Prevention recommendations will be assessed.

The impact of being struck by an out-of-control bus or truck can lead to catastrophic consequences for victims. In Maryland and Washington DC, our truck crash lawyers can determine whether a truck driver or trucking company was negligent in causing the motor vehicle accident that resulted in your injuries.

Medically unfit truck drivers still on roads, AP, July 21, 2008

Center for National Truck and Bus Statistics

Related Web Resources:

Truck Safety Coalition

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Continue reading "Study Shows that Medically Unfit Truck Drivers Pose Serious Threat to Motorists and Pedestrians" »

Posted by Lebowitz & Mzhen | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Truck Accidents

Bookmark:

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

Continue reading "Garbage Truck Runs Over Bicyclist in Washington DC" »

Posted by Lebowitz & Mzhen | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Truck Accidents

Bookmark:

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

Continue reading "Maryland Motorcyclist Sent to Baltimore Shock Trauma Center After Being Run Over in Tractor-Trailer Crash" »

Posted by Lebowitz & Mzhen | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Truck Accidents

Bookmark: