Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog

Types of Injuries in Maryland Hazmat Accidents

October 11, 2023 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

In 2022, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics recorded nearly 25,000 highway accidents involving hazardous materials that led to injuries, deaths, and property damage. These “hazmat” accidents often cause toxic materials to leak from the truck carrying them. Hazmat spills require significant clean-up operations on a highway. More seriously, they can cause severe injury to accident victims and residents near the spill, who may become sick after inhaling hazardous waste. Due to the high risk of injury, truck drivers must properly secure their cargo to avoid a spill. When drivers fail to exercise reasonable care, a court may require them to pay monetary damages to accident victims.

For example, a recent news article reported that five people lost their lives in a hazmat truck accident. The accident occurred on the highway as a semi-truck was traveling with about 7,500 gallons of ammonia. As the article explained, the semi-truck collided with multiple vehicles on the highway, causing it to begin leaking approximately 4,000 gallons of toxic ammonia. At least five people were airlifted to local hospitals, but they sadly died from their injuries. Additionally, 500 residents within a one-mile radius of the crash evacuated their homes due to the potential ammonia exposure.

What Types of Injuries Occur in Maryland Hazmat Accidents?

Victims of Maryland hazmat truck accidents often experience severe physical injury due to the large size of a typical truck. Accident victims may suffer from purely physical injuries, such as broken bones, or injuries that impair mental functioning, such as head injuries or concussions. A hazmat truck accident can also lead to emotional and psychological harm. Finally, accident victims may suffer property damage to their vehicle. When a car and a truck collide, the much smaller car often bears the brunt of the crash. In addition to typical truck accident injuries, hazmat accident victims may also suffer harm from contact with the hazardous substance. Direct contact with toxic materials can lead to severe burns or blisters on the skin. Even if accident victims do not make direct contact with the hazardous material, they could suffer negative health effects from inhaling toxic waste. As the news article explained, inhaling ammonia can cause difficulty breathing and may burn the skin, mouth, throat, lungs and eyes. At high levels, toxic gas can even cause death. Following a hazmat accident, you should consult a Maryland personal injury attorney to develop a plan to recover the compensation you need.

Civil vs. Criminal Cases in Maryland DUI Truck Accidents

September 23, 2023 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol (DUI) is even more dangerous when the driver is operating a large truck. Due to the size of a commercial truck, DUI accidents can lead to severe, multi-vehicle injuries on a busy road. When truck drivers cause a DUI accident, they may face both criminal and civil liability for their actions.

According to a recent news article, an intoxicated semi-truck driver killed one person in tragic DUI accident. The accident occurred at a busy intersection when the driver, who was also speeding, crashed into three cars stopped at a red light. The impact of the crash sent two of the vehicles flying into a nearby parking lot. The truck and one of the vehicles then caught on fire. Another vehicle crashed into a boulder. Sadly, one person died at the scene. Several others suffered serious injuries. Police believe the semi-truck driver was driving under the influence during the crash.

What Are the Differences Between Civil and Criminal DUI Cases?

Truck drivers who operate their vehicle under the influence may face criminal and civil cases against them. If they are convicted in a criminal case, they may serve time in prison or pay a fine. They may also be liable for damages in a civil negligence lawsuit. Victims of a DUI truck accident should know that a criminal case against the driver does not bar them from pursuing monetary damages. Criminal and civil cases are separate proceedings, and the outcome of one case does not bear on the other.

Two Killed in Crash with Firetruck, Speed Suspected as Primary Cause

September 13, 2023 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

According to a recent news article, a man and a woman were killed after their car crashed into a fire truck that was responding to a local emergency. Just after midnight on Wednesday, September 5, at South Avalon Boulevard and East Compton Boulevard, two people in a PT Cruiser crashed into the fire truck. Surveillance footage shows the moment of the collision as the PT Cruiser impacted the fire truck. Initially, witnesses believed that street racing was the cause of the crash, but family members of the deceased stated that they were being chased at the time of the crash. Officials have stated that speed was a factor in the crash. Four firefighters were inside the truck at the time of the collision and were taken to the hospital with non-critical injuries. The fire truck was on the way to a traffic collision at the time of the crash.

The danger of not wearing your seatbelt is compounded when a truck or other large vehicle is involved in the crash. That goes for people in the truck as well as others on the road. Large commercial vehicles like trucks are on the road to transport heavy items over long distances. That means that trucks can become difficult to maneuver in emergency situations, preventing truck drivers from turning or stopping suddenly due to the weight of their vehicle and cargo. Even without heavy cargo or large trailers, trucks are heavy, making accidents involving them inherently dangerous. Additionally, truck drivers are under extreme pressure to spend long hours on the road, as they need to meet delivery deadlines. This can lead to exhaustion and impaired judgment on the roads. Tired drivers are more likely to make mistakes when driving, increasing the likelihood of accidents. A recent news article discussed a serious truck accident.

What Are the Car Insurance Requirements in Maryland?

Maryland maintains minimum insurance requirements for drivers in the state. Minimum insurance requirements are designed to ensure sufficient compensation is available to victims of car accidents should it be required. As a result, Maryland drivers are required to purchase at least $30,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person, $60,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per accident, and $15,000 in property damage liability coverage.

Tractor-Trailer Crashes, Scattering Truck Pieces Across the Highway

August 31, 2023 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

The danger of any vehicle crash is compounded when a truck or other large vehicle is involved in the accident. Large commercial vehicles like trucks are on the road to transport heavy items over long distances. That means that trucks can become difficult to maneuver in emergency situations, preventing truck drivers from turning or stopping suddenly due to the weight of their vehicle and cargo. Even without heavy cargo or large trailers, trucks are heavy, making accidents involving them inherently dangerous. Additionally, truck drivers are under extreme pressure to spend long hours on the road, as they need to meet delivery deadlines. This can lead to exhaustion and impaired judgment on the roads. Tired drivers are more likely to make mistakes when driving, increasing the likelihood of accidents. A recent news article discussed a serious truck accident.

According to the news article, an out-of-control trailer became dislodged from the tractor around 10 am on Wednesday, August 2. The crash occurred on the highway near the New York State border according to Mahwah Mayor Jim Wysocki. During the crash, the rig split into multiple pieces, with a huge container landing on a passing SUV on the other side of the divider and thousands of lemons from the truck’s cargo spilling onto the highway. Additionally, an overhead sign was struck and had to be replaced, which kept the northbound highway closed for several hours. The driver, who’s from Ontario, Canada, said he felt the load shift, tried to correct it, and dislodged the container, according to law enforcement officials. The container then flew off of the trailer, landing on an Audi SUV, and split open, dumping hundreds of crates of lemons across the highway. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries reported with the truck driver and the SUV operator taken to a local hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening.

What Are the Minimum Insurance Requirements in Maryland?

Maryland maintains minimum insurance requirements for drivers in the state. Minimum insurance requirements are designed to ensure sufficient compensation is available to victims of car accidents should it be required. As a result, Maryland drivers are required to purchase at least $30,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person, $60,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per accident, and $15,000 in property damage liability coverage.

Types of Damages in Maryland Intentional Truck Accidents

August 22, 2023 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Due to the size of a typical truck, Maryland truck accidents often result in serious injuries or fatalities. These consequences are all the more dire when a truck driver intentionally hits someone. Many truck drivers understand that their vehicles would cause life-threatening injuries to anyone they hit. When a truck driver intentionally strikes another person, they act with disregard for another person’s life. After these senseless accidents occur, the victim or the victim’s loved ones may sue the driver under Maryland personal injury law.

As a recent news article tragically reported, a man died after another man allegedly hit him deliberately with a tri-axle dump truck. According to local investigators in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, the incident occurred in the evening on a local road. The victim was transported to the hospital, where he passed away from his injuries. Police arrested the truck driver and charged him with third-degree murder, homicide by vehicle, and other offenses.

What Damages Can You Pursue in an Intentional Truck Accident?

After an intentional Maryland truck accident, a victim or their loved ones may bring a negligence lawsuit to recover damages against the responsible driver. In a negligence lawsuit, a plaintiff can seek two main types of damages. The first and most common are compensatory damages, which place the victim in the same position they were in before the accident. Compensatory damages can include economic damages and non-economic damages. Economic damages are easier to quantify and often include lost future earnings, hospital bills, and medical expenses. Non-economic damages intend to compensate the plaintiff for harm that is harder to quantify with a specific dollar amount. Emotional harm, such as pain and suffering, is a primary example.

Truck Driver Was Actively Using TikTok During Fatal Accident

July 30, 2023 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

While many people intuitively understand the greater risks involved in heavy truck accidents, they may not know that according to the statistical analysis organization Policy Advice, truck accidents have increased by 52% since 2009, and 74% of all fatal passenger vehicle accidents include large trucks.

Are Truck Accidents Responsible for More Deaths Than Car Accidents?

Crashes involving trucks, campers, and other large-sized vehicles are more dangerous than other types of collisions for a number of reasons. Trucks, especially very heavy ones such as semi-trucks inherently result in more serious accidents when they are involved in crashes due to their weight, size, and speed. Additionally, the conditions that many truck drivers operate under force them to drive extreme distances, resulting in fatigue. Further, large emergency response trucks, such as fire trucks, are often driving at extremely high speeds and operating under different driving rules than ordinary traffic, creating more opportunities for accidents. Finally, commercial trucks are also potentially carrying heavy cargo, complicating truck crashes and accidents. A recent news article discussed a local fatal truck accident.

According to the news article about a fatal truck crash, the accident occurred in January 2023 and resulted in a massive six-vehicle collision. According to investigators, the commercial truck driver who was responsible for the fiery crash was “actively using the TikTok application” when the collision occurred. A report released by the Arizona Department of Public Safety found that the driver, a 36-year-old man, failed to stop for traffic, and wedged two passenger vehicles into a second commercial truck, which then lurched forward and hit two other cars. Traffic at the time was already congested due to a prior incident. The truck driver stated that he “received a message on his electronic work tablet and acknowledged the message” according to a news report. He further stated that when he looked up traffic was stopped and he could not stop his truck in time to avoid the collision.

Runaway Truck Crashes into Multiple Buildings in Dangerous Incident

June 30, 2023 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

The danger of not wearing your seatbelt is compounded when a truck or other large vehicle is involved in the crash. That goes for people in the truck as well as others on the road. Large commercial vehicles like trucks are on the road to transport heavy items over long distances. That means that trucks can become difficult to maneuver in emergency situations, preventing truck drivers from turning or stopping suddenly due to the weight of their vehicle and cargo. Even without heavy cargo or large trailers, trucks are heavy, making accidents involving them inherently dangerous. Additionally, truck drivers are under extreme pressure to spend long hours on the road, as they need to meet delivery deadlines. This can lead to exhaustion and impaired judgment on the roads. Tired drivers are more likely to make mistakes when driving, increasing the likelihood of accidents. A recent news article discussed a serious truck accident.

According to the news article, an out-of-control semi-truck slammed into multiple condominium garage units around 7 pm on Friday, June 2. The crash occurred near the intersection between US-89 and Bear Lake Boulevard. Highway Patrol Troopers reported that the semi-truck was northbound along US-89 when it reportedly lost its breaks. As a result, the truck was unable to turn at the intersection with Bear Lake Boulevard, crashing directly onto the properties and going through several garages. Officials also reported that a 100-gallon propane tank was hit, forcing evacuations of nearby homes and businesses.

Firefighters and paramedics reported to the scene and were able to extricate a female passenger and a female driver from the truck. The passenger was flown by medical helicopter to a hospital in critical condition. The driver was transported by ambulance to a hospital in stable condition. Photos from the scene showed extensive damage to property caused by the crash. Fortunately, nobody else was injured during the crash, and law enforcement officials stated that impaired driving was not suspected.

Maryland Pedestrian Fatally Struck by Truck on I-95 Shoulder

May 31, 2023 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Shoulder lanes are emergency stopping lanes that are reserved by the verge of a road and on the right side of the road. Shoulder lanes are typically not used by moving traffic, but instead used in the event of an emergency, such as a vehicle malfunctioning or becoming disabled. In some cases, tow providers may be en route to assist a driver of a disabled vehicle, or working on moving a disabled vehicle from the shoulder. Shoulder lanes also may be used by emergency vehicles, such as an ambulance or police cars, in order to bypass traffic. However, in some unfortunate incidents, shoulder lanes may become the scene of accidents.

According to a recent news report, a 22-year-old was fatally struck by a vehicle on I-95 in Maryland. A vehicle drove on the right side of the shoulder and struck a pedestrian who was outside of their tractor-trailer on the shoulder. The vehicle was disabled and parked on the shoulder with hazard lights on. It is unclear what caused the driver to travel out of lane three onto the shoulder.

AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety data found that among drivers who do not comply with Move Over laws at all times, 42 percent thought the behavior was somewhat or not dangerous at all to roadside emergency workers. In some instances, these shoulder lane accidents may occur because of distracted driving.

New Details Emerge About Contributing Factors in Fatal Fire Truck Crash

April 27, 2023 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

A recent news article discussed a local fatal fire truck crash. According to the news article about a recent fire truck crash, the fatal accident occurred in December 2021 and new details have recently emerged about the conditions that fueled the incident. The 23-ton fire truck left a devastating path of destruction behind it. The fire truck was speeding and ran a red light when it crashed into a car, continuing on before knocking a pedestrian into a building, killing her. The building collapsed shortly after.

The building collapse trapped a car, killing both the driver and the passenger. A 323-page report on the incident outlined multiple contributing factors to the crash. (1) The fire department is suffering from acute staffing shortages, (2) there is a lack of training for drivers, and (3) there were communication failures in the lead-up to the crash. The report mentioned that at the time, it was not against department policy to run red lights or go above the speed limit. Fire department policy has been updated to require fire trucks to stop at red lights.

What Makes Truck Accidents so Danegrous?

Crashes involving large-sized vehicles such as trucks or campers are inherently more dangerous than other types of collisions for a number of reasons. Trucks, especially very heavy ones such as fire trucks or semi-trucks result in more serious accidents when they are involved in crashes. Additionally, the conditions that many truck drivers operate under force them to drive extreme distances, resulting in fatigue. Further, large emergency response trucks, such as fire trucks, are often driving at extremely high speeds and operating under different driving rules than ordinary traffic, creating more opportunities for accidents. Finally, commercial trucks are also potentially carrying hazardous cargo, complicating truck crashes and accidents. While many people intuitively understand the greater risks involved in truck accidents, they may not know that according to the statistical analysis organization Policy Advice, truck accidents have increased by 52% since 2009, and 74% of all fatal passenger vehicle accidents include a large truck.

Maryland Teen Driver Dies after Train Collides into Car at Crossing

March 31, 2023 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, every three hours, a person or vehicle crashes with a train in the United States. It is important to have protocols and measures in place for train crossings to help keep everyone safe. Some causes of train accidents include mechanical or electrical failures, communication failures, human error, and driver fatigue or inexperience. Furthermore, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), over 2,000 train-vehicle collisions have occurred at railroad tracks every year since 2013. With these statistics in mind, it is important for drivers of vehicles, pedestrians, and for train operators to practice extreme care and caution.

A recent news report revealed the devasting details of a train crash in Linthicum, Maryland that resulted in the death of a high school football star. A light rail operator was charged with negligent manslaughter, criminal negligence, and reckless endangerment in the death of the teen. The teen was driving a car along Maple road when the train began to approach, blew its horn before approaching, and the gates’ red lights began flashing. At first, authorities believed the driver failed to obey traffic control devices which resulted in the collision. However, authorities reviewed a video of the accident, which revealed that the train entered the intersection while the gates were still lowering, meaning that the roadway was not completely blocked when the crash happened. The teen driver was pronounced dead on the scene.

How Can Drivers Safely Navigate Train Crossings?

For drivers, it is important to be alert at train crossings. This means paying attention to signage, never driving around lowered gates, and recognizing that trains cannot stop quickly. Furthermore, determining who is liable when a car and train collide can be tricky. It can be hard to determine who is at fault, and in some instances, both the train operator and the vehicle driver may share some of the faults. In addition, when thinking about possible personal injury lawsuits, you may also want to consider who to sue. This may include, but not always, the train operator or engineer, the train company, the manufacturer of the train, and even the local government. Because these accidents are not easy to navigate, connecting with an experienced personal injury lawyer who can help you navigate your case may be essential.