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Posted On: December 22, 2008

Maryland Truck Accident Victim: Immediate Actions to Take

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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 | | Email This Post

Posted In: Truck Accidents

Posted On: December 16, 2008

Government Program Puts Marylanders at Increased Risk of Injury from Truck Accidents

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Currently, the Federal Government limits the areas in which trucking companies located abroad may travel within the United States. However, the U.S. Department of Transportation has recently begun a trial program allowing tractor trailers coming from outside the United States to travel without restrictions within the United States, including, of course, Maryland.

Why does this concern us? Because trucking companies located outside our borders are not subject to same safety regulations as trucking companies located in the United States. For example, American truck drivers are subject to limitations on the number of hours they may work per week, drug and alcohol testing, and commercial driver’s license requirements (CDL) before they are allowed to drive on the nation’s highways. In addition, American motor carriers are required to maintain certain levels of insurance to protect injured motorists.

The Federal Government has not published plans to require foreign trucking companies to comply with the federal regulations. We respectfully suggest that Congress take action to stop this trial program before the federal standards are watered down. If the federal rules and regulations are weakened, it seems clear that a greater number of injuries will follow to those who drive on this nation’s roadways.

It should be noted that on September 9, 2008, the U.S. House of Representatives passed House Resolution 6630 (H.R. 6630) in an effort to address issues like the ones raised above. The resolution has not been addressed by the U.S. Senate.


Posted by Jack D. Lebowitz | | Email This Post

Posted In: Trucking Legislation

Posted On: December 12, 2008

Drivers of Eighteen-Wheelers in Maryland Must Pay Extra Attention While Driving in Inclement Weather

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Under perfect road conditions, it takes an attentive and well trained truck driver 96 yards to stop an unloaded eighteen wheeler traveling at 55 miles per hour. Traveling at typical highway speed, 65 miles per hour, the same truck will take 129 yards to come to a stop. Unfortunately, conditions are hardly ever perfect, and truck drivers are not always attentive or well trained, and tractor trailers are often heavily laden with goods. In poor weather, a loaded eighteen wheeler can take over two football fields to stop. Poor weather and road conditions increase the distance necessary to stop a truck and also elevates the risk of death or injury to Maryland drivers.

Because of these considerations, federal law increased the level of care owed by truck drivers in Maryland during inclement weather. Through rain, sleet, snow, or fog, truck drivers must, by law, maintain a higher level of care. Extreme care requires, amongst other things, that large truck drivers reduce their speed and increase the distance between themselves and other drivers on the roads. Additionally, if the hazardous conditions persist, drivers of commercial vehicles must get off the road until the weather or road conditions improve.

Big rig operators in Maryland know what the law requires and many operate their eighteen wheelers professionally and responsibly through poor weather or road conditions. However, federal law and Maryland truck accident attorneys work to punish those who do not. In Maryland, poor weather caused 25% of the fatal eighteen wheeler accidents. Today, trucking companies are able to transmit up-to-date weather information to the truck drivers they dispatch across Maryland and the nation. Many eighteen-wheelers operating with major carriers have computers installed in their cabs to receive messages from their home offices. Maryland law, if not federal law, should require carriers to transmit information on weather and road conditions to their drivers and direct them to leave the highways during extreme weather. The attorneys at Lebowitz and Mzhen believe that this step could save the lives of drivers on Maryland’s highways.

Continue reading " Drivers of Eighteen-Wheelers in Maryland Must Pay Extra Attention While Driving in Inclement Weather " »

Posted by Vadim A. Mzhen | | Email This Post

Posted In: Legal Concepts in Truck Accident Cases

Posted On: December 9, 2008

Large Trucks in Maryland Must Carry a Minimum Amount of Liability Insurance

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In an EARLIER POST, we told our readers that we would briefly discuss some of the major laws that impact a victim’s suit against negligent truck drivers. Today, we highlight the minimum insurance coverage truck drivers must maintain to protect victims of truck accidents in Maryland. The Code of Federal Regulations requires motor carriers hauling different substances to maintain different levels of insurance to protect people injured in accidents.

Continue reading " Large Trucks in Maryland Must Carry a Minimum Amount of Liability Insurance " »

Posted by Vadim A. Mzhen | | Email This Post

Posted In: Trucking Legislation

Posted On: December 5, 2008

Expansive Maryland and Federal Statutes Govern Truck Drivers in the State

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Did you know that large trucks weigh between 10,000 and 80,000 pounds? If a large truck, weighing 50,000 pounds and traveling at 55 miles per hour strikes a car, it exerts a force of 4710 pounds per square inch into the car and its passengers. Large trucks, whether empty or fully loaded, have the potential to inflict severe injuries and are extremely dangerous when operated in a negligent fashion.

For that reason, the Federal government and the state of Maryland, have many laws in place designed to protect drivers. In the following series of posts, we explain some of the laws that govern truck drivers here in Maryland, and beyond.

Continue reading " Expansive Maryland and Federal Statutes Govern Truck Drivers in the State " »

Posted by Vadim A. Mzhen | | Email This Post

Posted In: Trucking Legislation

Posted On: December 2, 2008

Truck Accident in Elkridge, Maryland Injures Seven People

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Seven people were injured in a truck accident involving a tractor trailer and a commuter bus. Howard County Police responded to U.S. Route 1 at Dorsey Road in Elkridge, Maryland.

According to police, the driver of the tractor trailer made a wide right turn from the left lane and collided with the Howard County Commuter Bus. Paramedics transported the driver and six passengers, including one child, to Howard County General Hospital where they were treated for their injuries.

Continue reading " Truck Accident in Elkridge, Maryland Injures Seven People " »

Posted by Jack D. Lebowitz | | Email This Post

Posted In: Truck Accident News

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