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Posted On: September 25, 2010

Baltimore Traffic Accident News: Maryland University Professor Killed in Fatal Multi-Vehicle Tractor-Trailer Crash

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Any time an individual dies it is a sad event in the lives of those who loved and respected that person. It is certainly an emotional time, even under the best of circumstances, such as death by natural causes. But for the family of someone killed in a senseless traffic accident the anger and upset can be blinding, especially when that death was likely caused by the negligence of another individual.

Regardless of the vehicles involved -- car, motorcycle or trucking-related crash -- these kinds of negligent accidents only serve to amplify the tragedy many times over. Truck drivers must adhere to numerous industry regulations designed for traffic safety, such as limiting a trucker’s hours on the road before a mandatory sleep break and maintaining the tractor’s and trailer’s safety systems, such as brakes.

Regardless of the reasons for a crash, spouses, children and other dependants can face an uncertain future. As Maryland personal injury attorneys, I and my colleagues understand the difficult times ahead for the family of a fatal traffic wreck. When negligence is involved, however, it may be time to file a wrongful death suit.

Such suits allow members of the family to receive compensation for their loss. This includes not only monetary loss, but also loss of comfort and companionship. Remember that death does not negate a family's right to be compensated for this ultimate and permanent loss.

Even so, when any community loses one of its bright lights, there is no value that can be set on that life extinguished too soon. Such was the case not long ago when a Stevenson University professor was killed in an out-of-state trucking accident. According to news reports, 47-year-old Susan P. Slattery was visiting family while on vacation in the Midwest.

Based on news articles, a semi tractor-trailer smashed into Slattery's car on a road in Ohio causing her vehicle to be thrown in front of another big rig, which then hit the woman's vehicle once more. Slattery, who was traveling with her two sons, aged 12 and 16 years, became trapped in her vehicle, which apparently was badly damaged in the wreck. Sadly, by the time paramedics arrived to rescue her, she had no pulse. The two youngsters survived and were transported to a local hospital. At the time of the article, both boys were in serious condition.


Stevenson University math professor killed in Ohio crash, BaltimoreSun.com, August 18, 2010

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Posted In: Fatal Trucking Accidents , Multiple-truck Accidents

Posted On: September 19, 2010

Maryland Man Killed by Semi Tractor-Trailer in Fatal Dundalk, MD, Pedestrian-Truck Accident

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As a Baltimore injury lawyer and trucking accident attorney, I’ve observed many times the various types of severe injuries that pedestrians receive when hit by a large motor vehicle. There is no comparison between the relatively fragile and delicate features of the human body and that of a passenger car, not to mention a commercial truck such as an 18-wheeler, or big rig.

It’s a fact that trucking accidents can cause horrendous injury to the occupants of an otherwise enclosed and protective steel-bodies passenger vehicle. But when a Freightliner or Peterbilt truck hits or clips a person on foot, there is no comparison. While drivers of smaller vehicles, such as compact cars and motorcycles, can be serious hurt when struck by a massive semi, commercial box truck or tanker vehicle, pedestrians have virtually no protection from the impact.

Fatal and life-altering injuries are typically the result of a direct impact with an unprotected human body. It is because of this that over-the-road heavy haulers must be piloted by professional and well-trained drivers at the very least. Outside of driver error or negligence, poorly maintained roadways or defective vehicle equipment may also be causes of these kinds of commercial truck accidents. Whatever the cause, however, the costs are always high for the victims due to extensive and costly medical care, lost wages and unmet financial obligations following a serious injury.

According to a news article, police finally identified the individual who was apparently struck and killed by a big rig tractor-trailer along a stretch of I-95 in Dundalk, Maryland. The accident, which forced police to shut down the northbound lanes for nearly three hours happened a little bit past 2pm on a Thursday afternoon.

Based on police reports, the tractor-trailer hit a 36-year-old man who was apparently walking along the highway on foot. The victim, Michael A. Coll of Drexel Hill, PA, was identified by Maryland Transportation Authority Police (MTAP) the next morning following his death on Interstate 95.

According to news reports at the time, an investigation was underway and authorities could not release any additional details about how the collision occurred or why the man was walking along the interstate in the first place. "Our goal is to conduct a thorough investigation,” said a spokesman for the MTAP.


Police identify man struck, killed by tractor-trailer on I-95 in Dundalk, BaltimoreSun.com, August 27, 2010


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Posted In: Fatal Trucking Accidents , Trucking-related Pedestrian Injuries

Posted On: September 10, 2010

Maryland Traffic Accident News: Charges Pending for Truck Driver Who Failed to Yield, Killed Bicyclist

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Late last month a Carroll County bicycle rider died when he was hit by a tractor-trailer that police said did not yield to the cyclist. As a Baltimore trucking accident attorney and personal injury lawyer serving Maryland and the Washington, D.C. area, I can attest to the fact that heavy commercial trucks and bicycles are a bad mix when it comes to traffic collisions.

The result of a bicycle-motor vehicle accident can vary widely, but it is not uncommon for a rider to fall and suffer broken bones and possible severe head injury. Even under the best of circumstances a cyclist may suffer cuts and bruises as well as road rash and other minor, yet painful bodily injuries.

A recent news story shows how dangerous and deadly a collision between a bike and a large commercial truck can be. According to reports, 51-year-old Arthur Martin Jr. of New Windsor, MD, was biking along Shepherds Mill Road on a Tuesday afternoon when a semi trailer made a right turn onto Route 75 directly in front of the cyclist.

The rider, a Carroll County man, was pronounced dead at the scene according to Maryland State Police. Based on a preliminary investigation, police said that the tractor-trailer driver, 37-year-old Anthony E. Woodie, apparently failed to yield the right of way to the bicyclist.

At the time of the news report, police had all but ruled out alcohol or high speed as possible factors in the accident. Charges were reportedly still pending against the truck driver in connection with the fatal crash.

This isn’t an isolated incident since Maryland cyclists and pedestrians are ofter involved in traffic accidents. Since 1999, the State Highway Administration estimates that an average of eight cyclists have been killed in Maryland annually in traffic-related bicycle accidents. In fact, earlier this year one rider died and another severely injured when the two cyclists were hit by the same car near Falls Rd. and Butler Rd. in Baltimore County.

As a result of that deadly crash, the Maryland General Assembly passed a new law clarifying the rights of cyclists in their use of travel lanes as opposed to only the shoulder of the road. That new law requires motorists to observe a three-foot “buffer zone” whenever passing a cyclist sharing the roadway.


Carroll Co. cyclist killed after collision with truck, BaltimoreSun.com, August 25, 2010

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Posted In: Fatal Trucking Accidents , Trucking-related Pedestrian Injuries

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