Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog
If you have been paying attention to the news media in the past few weeks, you have certainly heard about a fatal truck accident in New Jersey that claimed the life of one comedian and sent several others to the hospital. Comedian Tracy Morgan was with several of his friends heading north on the New Jersey Turnpike late at night when the limo they were riding in slowed down due to slowing traffic ahead.
As the limo began to slow, the truck that was behind the limo failed to do the same. Eventually, the truck slammed into the rear end of the limo. The crash killed one man and sent four others to the hospital. Four other cars were also involved, but none of their occupants was seriously injured.
According to a recent report by the LOHUD, the truck driver may have been on the road without sleep for the past 24 hours. The driver of the truck has been charged with several criminal offenses for his role in the tragic accident, including assault by automobile and vehicular homicide. Just last week, the driver of the truck—a Wal-mart employee—entered a not guilty plea to all charges. He has posted $50,000 bond and is currently out of custody.
Reckless Operation of the Tractor-Trailer
The driver of the Wal-mart truck is facing charges based on his reckless operation of the tractor-trailer he was in charge of operating. In fact, not only is driving without sleep against all common sense, it is also against federal regulations.
Since semi-trucks and tractor-trailers operate in interstate commerce involving many states, the federal government is able to regulate the industry. One of the regulations that truckers must heed is the resting requirement. While there are several resting requirements in place, the one most applicable to this case is the one that requires long-haul truck drivers to get at least seven hours of sleep for every 11 hours of driving time. Another applicable regulation is the one that states that no trucker should drive more that 14 hours per day.
When a truck driver chooses to disregard these regulations, that decision may be evidence of negligence in not just a criminal case but also a civil case filed by the accident victims or their families.
Have You Been Injured in a Maryland Truck Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been the victim of a Maryland truck accident, you should speak with a dedicated Maryland truck accident attorney as soon as possible. Depending on the circumstances surrounding the accident, you may be entitled to a substantial monetary award to compensate you for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and lost wages. In some egregious cases, there may even be punitive damages imposed by the court. To learn more about the Maryland laws that allow accident victims to recover for their injuries, click here, or call 410-654-3600 today to schedule a free initial consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney.
More Blog Posts:
Maryland Residents Forced to Evacuate After Propane Tanker Accident, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published May 9, 2014.
Trucker Gets into DUI Accident on 301, Another Trucker Gets Hit on the Detour, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published June 6, 2014.