Maryland State Police are investigating a Beltway collision between a tractor-trailer and an SUV that left two drivers injured. The auto accident happened after the SUV while attempting to switch into the slow lane so it could exit the highway, was hit by the tractor-trailer, which dragged the smaller vehicle over the jersey wall and into the Outer Loop lanes.
Tractor-trailer accidents can result in serious or even catastrophic injuries for the drivers of the smaller, lighter vehicles that collide with them. Truck driver fatigue, tailgating, or even a defective or missing rear-view mirror can cause these crashes. If a driver is injured in a crash with a tractor-trailer, that driver can recover compensation for injuries received in the crash if the driver can prove the truck driver was negligent in operating the truck.
A truck driver can potentially be found negligent when driving while fatigued or under the influence of drugs or alcohol, if a mirror is missing, or if driving without the reasonable level of care due under the circumstances by speeding or tailgating. In these circumstances, that driver may be found negligent and therefore at fault if an accident occurred and caused injury to someone else.
Drivers who are injured in a crash caused by the negligence of another can file a legal claim to receive compensation for expenses such as hospital bills, wages lost while recovering, and lost earning capacity if the injuries cause a permanent disability that interferes with the victim's ability to earn a living.
While the recent Beltway collision necessitated a road closure to clean up oil and fuel that spilled onto the highway, the injuries to both drivers were reportedly minor.