Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog
Earlier this week just north of the Fort McHenry Tunnel, a semi-truck overturned and dumped its load of huge stone slabs on the roadway. According to a report by the Baltimore Sun, the truck was driving southbound on I-95 near the Eastern Avenue exit when it was involved in a single-vehicle accident. When the truck toppled over, it dumped its load of giant stone slabs all across I-95.
Clean-up crews had a difficult time getting the slabs off the roadway due to their size and weight. However, after a few hours the crew was able to clear off the roadway and open it back up for regular traffic.
Investigators are not clear exactly what happened to cause the semi-truck to overturn, but an investigation is ongoing. Thankfully, there were no injuries.
Weight Restrictions on Semi-Truck Loads
While there is no indication at this time that the semi-truck was overloaded, it is possible that a combination of an overloaded truck plus negligent driving caused the truck to topple over and spill its load.
Semi-trucks and their loads are regulated by both the state and federal governments. Trucking regulations require that trucks only carry a certain amount of weight, according to the size and type of truck carrying the cargo.
When a truck is overloaded, it becomes more difficult to control, takes longer to stop, and also takes longer to accelerate. This begs the question, why would a truck driver intentionally overload the truck?
Overloading of Semi-Trucks
Trucking companies are notorious for cutting corners when it benefits them. In some cases, the trucking company will save a significant amount of money if it can load all the cargo onto one truck, rather than use multiple trucks. While this may be economical for the trucking company, it is dangerous for the public.
You may have seen weigh stations on the side of the road. Truck drivers are required to pull over at these stations and register their weight to ensure that they are in compliance. However, through crafty route planning, a semi-truck driver may be able to avoid detection of an overloaded truck by using roads that do not have weigh stations. While it is not illegal for a truck driver to do this, if the truck driver causes an accident and it is discovered that the truck was overweight, that truck driver and trucking company may be held liable for the injuries caused in the accident.
Have You Been Injured in a Maryland Truck Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been involved in a Maryland truck accident, you may be entitled to recover a substantial monetary sum to compensate you for your injuries and property damage, as well as for any pain and suffering related to the accident. To learn more about the laws in Maryland that allow for truck accident victims to seek recovery based on a truck driver’s negligence, contact the Maryland truck accident law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers. The dedicated attorneys at Lebowitz & Mzhen have been working on Maryland personal injury cases for years and know how to bring a successful case. Click here, or call 410-654-3600 today to schedule a free initial consultation.
More Blog Posts:
Truck Driver Side Swipes Police Cruiser on Capital Beltway, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published June 27, 2014.
Maryland Man Dies After Rear-Ending Broken Down Truck, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published July 15, 2014.