Last week an accident on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge backed up traffic for seven miles and sent two people to the hospital, including one Maryland Transportation Authority police officer. According to a report by the Baltimore Sun, the accident occurred when a car heading eastbound on Route 50 drifted off the road and into the transit officer’s car, which was parked between the east-bound and west-bound lanes.
The collision sent the police car across all three eastbound lanes of Route 50, and left the other driver’s vehicle in the leftmost lane of Route 50 westbound. Both the driver as well as the police officer were flown to the hospital in critical condition. Both are expected to recover from their injuries.
Ironically, the accident occurred on the day that Maryland Transit Authority was conducting a crack-down on the new “Move Over” law that requires motorists shift lanes away from emergency vehicles when they are present on the side of the road.
Investigators are still investigating the cause of the accident and why the motorist’s car left the roadway.
Maryland’s New “Move Over” Law Requires More of Drivers
As the article above mentions, Maryland’s new Move Over law creates a rule that all drivers must change lanes when there is an emergency vehicle present. The passage of this law shows the Maryland Legislature’s serious concern for emergency workers and acknowledges the dangers inherent in road-side work.
Any time a vehicle is stopped on the side of the highway, whether it is an emergency vehicle or not, it is prudent to shift lanes away from that vehicle for both the other motorist’s safety and your own. Countless accidents occur nationwide each year involving a disabled vehicle on the side of the road. Everyone should do his or her part to decrease the frequency of this kind of accident.
The Law Creates a New Standard of Care
Since the law has embraced the policy that drivers should move over for emergency vehicles, there may be an argument to be made that an accident involving a driver’s failure to move over for any vehicle constitutes negligence. If that is the case, accident victims who were involved in road-side accidents may be entitled to recover from the driver who hit them.
Have You Been Injured in a Maryland Car Accident?
If you or a loved one has been injured in a Maryland roadside car accident, or any other kind of Maryland vehicle accident, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. Speaking to an experienced Maryland personal injury attorney will help you determine the strength of your potential case and whether filing a cause of action is something that you wish to do. The experienced attorneys at Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers have years of experience fighting for the rights of injured Marylanders and know how to bring a winning case for their clients. Click here, or call 410-654-3600 today to schedule a free initial consultation with a dedicated personal injury attorney.
More Blog Posts:
Girl Killed in Car Accident By Fleeing Murder Suspect, Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog, published June 2, 2014.
Fatal Car Accident in Fort Washington Under Investigation, Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog, published May 8, 2014.