Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog

A New Trailer Recall Puts the Spotlight Back on Dangerous Underride Crashes

May 28, 2026 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

You have probably driven behind a tractor-trailer hundreds of times without thinking about the steel bar hanging off the back. It has a formal name — a rear impact guard, sometimes called an underride guard — and its only job is to stop a car from sliding underneath the trailer in a rear-end crash. When it works, it can save your life. When it fails, the consequences are among the most horrifying things that can happen on a highway.

That is why a recent federal action matters. In a round of commercial-vehicle safety recalls issued in early May, regulators flagged a batch of trailers built over several model years because their rear impact guards were missing welds, which reduced the guards’ structural strength. According to the recall, a guard with inadequate strength may not protect the vehicle behind it and increases the risk of injury in a rear-end crash.

It helps to picture what an underride crash actually looks like, because most drivers never have. Your car’s safety systems — its crumple zones, airbags, and reinforced cabin — are designed to absorb a frontal impact at bumper height. But when you rear-end a high-riding trailer and the guard gives way, your car keeps moving forward and slides beneath the trailer. The trailer’s edge passes over your hood and into the passenger compartment. The very safety features that should protect you in a normal collision never get the chance to do their job.

Who Is Liable After a Tractor-Trailer Fire Like the I-270 Express Lane Crash?

April 30, 2026 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Around 1:54 a.m. on April 15, 2026, the Maryland State Highway Administration confirmed that the I-270 express lanes near the MD 927 Montrose Road exit in Montgomery County were closed in both directions. Officials reported that a tractor-trailer collided with several vehicles on southbound I-270 between Route 28 and Montrose Road, caught fire, and spilled fuel onto the roadway. Four people were taken to area hospitals. HazMat personnel responded alongside the State Highway Administration and Maryland State Police.

For drivers in the region, the closure was disruptive. For the people in those four ambulances, and for whoever loved them, it was something else entirely.

Truck crashes that involve fire and fuel are among the most complicated injury cases that come out of Maryland’s highway system. Burns, smoke inhalation, secondary impacts as nearby vehicles try to avoid the scene, and the destruction of physical evidence by the flames themselves all change how a claim has to be built. Below are some of the questions that come up most often after a crash like this one.

When Trailer Brake Problems Create Avoidable Dangers

March 28, 2026 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

A February 2026 recall report filed with NHTSA states that certain 2025 and 2026 Ram vehicles equipped with a trailer tow module may experience a loss of trailer lighting and trailer brakes. The recall affects a large group of Ram and related vehicles, and the defect creates an obvious crash risk because following drivers may not get proper visual warning while the trailer itself may not brake as expected.

This is an important reminder that not every serious towing collision starts with reckless driving. Some begin with a piece of equipment that should have worked but did not. When a pickup, work truck, or heavy-duty vehicle loses trailer brake function, the danger is not abstract. Stopping distances change, control can be reduced, and a driver behind the rig may have no idea that a turn or slowdown is happening until it is too late.

In Maryland, that kind of problem matters on highways, contractor routes, and job-related travel where trucks tow equipment, utility trailers, and commercial loads every day. A crash involving a trailer is often treated as a basic traffic event at first. It may actually require a much deeper look at the vehicle, the trailer connection, the braking system, recall history, and whether the owner or operator continued towing after a known safety issue emerged.

Truck Accident in Prince George’s County: Liability, Damages, and Your Legal Options

February 24, 2026 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

A collision with a commercial truck on the Capital Beltway or the Baltimore-Washington Parkway can cause catastrophic injuries that a typical car accident never would. The size and weight difference between an 80,000-pound tractor-trailer and a passenger vehicle means truck accident victims in Prince George’s County frequently suffer traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, multiple fractures, and fatal injuries. Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers represents truck accident victims throughout Prince George’s County, including crashes in Upper Marlboro, Bowie, Hyattsville, College Park, and Largo, and has recovered over $90 million for injured clients across Maryland.

Who Is Liable for a Truck Accident in Maryland?

Truck accident liability in Maryland frequently extends beyond the driver. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations and Maryland law allow injured victims to pursue claims against multiple parties, depending on what caused the crash.

School Bus Crash Sends Bus Into A Creek

January 31, 2026 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

A school bus crash can scare a whole community, even when the students are physically okay. On February 2, 2026, a school bus with students inside went off Raley Boulevard in Sacramento and ended up in a creek, according to reports. The update said the students were accounted for and not injured, while the driver went to the hospital with a complaint of pain.

Stories like this also hit close to home for Maryland families, since school-day crashes raise the same practical questions anywhere: who might be responsible, which insurance pays first, and what happens if injuries show up later.

What The Reported Details Suggest About How These Crashes Happen

When A Truck Hits A Disabled Vehicle What Liability Can Look Like In Maryland And D.C.

December 22, 2025 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

A recent interstate crash involving a tractor-trailer and a disabled vehicle shows how quickly a routine breakdown can turn into a life-changing event. When a commercial truck strikes a stopped or disabled car, families usually want the same answers right away: who may be responsible, how insurance works, and what steps actually help. Those questions come up in Maryland and Washington, D.C. truck cases as often as they do anywhere else, because the core issues stay the same.

In many of these collisions, the disabled vehicle becomes the center of the story. That detail matters, yet it does not automatically shift blame away from the truck driver or the trucking company. Fault typically turns on what the driver saw or should have seen, how they reacted, and whether company practices created avoidable risk.

Why Disabled Vehicle Crashes Are So Dangerous With Commercial Trucks

Maryland Truck Accidents After Recent Box Truck Fatalities On Route 13

November 28, 2025 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Recent Maryland news reports describe a fatal box truck crash in Somerset County, where a southbound Freightliner on Route 13 left the roadway and struck a tree near Peggy Neck Road. The driver did not survive. Incidents like this highlight how quickly a truck trip can turn deadly, even without another vehicle directly involved. For families, the key question is what legal options exist when a commercial truck driver dies or suffers serious injuries in a single-vehicle crash.

Maryland law still allows a careful investigation into maintenance practices, cargo loading, employer oversight, and roadway conditions. Even when no other driver appears to share fault, trucking companies and others may face liability if their conduct contributed to the crash.

How Single-Vehicle Maryland Truck Crashes Still Raise Legal Issues

A truck leaving the roadway often appears to be “driver error” at first glance. Fatigue, distraction, or speeding certainly cause many crashes. However, commercial trucking involves multiple players whose decisions affect safety, including dispatchers, mechanics, and freight loaders. A single-vehicle crash can stem from:

Defective brakes or tires that should have been inspected;
Improper cargo loading that shifts weight and destabilizes the box truck;
Unreasonable delivery schedules that encourage speeding or drowsy driving; or
Poor roadway design or inadequate warnings in construction zones

For injured drivers, passengers, or grieving families, a thorough investigation into these factors may reveal negligence that supports a personal injury or wrongful death claim.

Maryland Truck Accidents Involving Emergency Vehicles and the Legal Challenges Victims Face

October 11, 2025 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Collisions involving tractor-trailers are inherently dangerous, but the risks escalate when the crash involves an ambulance or fire truck responding to an emergency call. A recent accident on Interstate 795 in Baltimore County highlighted these dangers when a fuel truck struck a Carroll County ambulance, leaving paramedics seriously injured and several other people hurt. For victims, including first responders, these cases often involve unique legal issues, and consulting with an attorney can be a crucial step in protecting your rights.

The Dangers of Trucks Colliding with Emergency Responders

Emergency personnel are trained to move quickly, and ambulances often travel through intersections or stop in hazardous locations to provide life-saving care. When a large truck collides with an emergency vehicle, the size and weight of the commercial truck can cause devastating injuries. In the I-795 crash, witnesses reported the tractor-trailer traveling at high speed before broadsiding the ambulance, which was then forced into other vehicles.

Maryland Truck Accidents and Toxic Spills Put Nearby Residents at Risk

September 30, 2025 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Truck accidents involving hazardous materials do more than block highways. When a crash spills fuel or other chemicals onto a busy roadway, the risk extends beyond the immediate collision. Nearby residents, commuters, and workers may face exposure to fumes or contaminated water and soil. If you live near the Beltway in Montgomery County, the recent tractor-trailer collision on I-495 shows how a single truck crash can trigger widespread consequences.

In July 2025, two tractor-trailers collided on the Inner Loop of the Capital Beltway near Georgia Avenue. According to reports, the impact caused a fuel spill that closed all lanes of traffic for several hours. Drivers sat in backups that stretched for miles, and emergency crews spent hours containing the leak and clearing the scene. While most news coverage focused on traffic, few are talking about the public health risk that follows a spill like this.

If you live or work near a highway where toxic materials spill, you need to know what rights you have under Maryland law. Exposure to hazardous substances, even for a short time, can lead to real harm. A truck crash can become a community health crisis, and the trucking company may be liable for the damage.

Pursuing a Wrongful Death Claim After a Rear-End Truck Crash in Charles County

August 22, 2025 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

A fatal crash occurred on July 15, 2025, along US-301 in Charles County when a vehicle rear-ended a stopped tractor-trailer. The driver of the smaller car died after becoming trapped beneath the freight truck. If your family is facing the sudden loss of a loved one after a similar collision, Maryland law may allow you to pursue a wrongful death claim. Legal action can help you hold the responsible party accountable and recover compensation to support your household. You do not have to handle the aftermath alone. Speaking with a personal injury attorney can help you understand your rights and take steps to protect your family’s future.

Understanding Liability in Rear-End Collisions Involving Commercial Trucks

People often assume the driver in the rear holds full responsibility in these cases. That assumption does not always hold when one of the vehicles is a commercial truck. Tractor-trailers are required to follow strict federal and state safety guidelines. These rules govern how and where they may stop, what markings they must display, and how quickly they must respond to traffic.