Earlier this month in Poolesville, Maryland, a head-on collision claimed one woman’s life and injured several others. According to a report by one local Maryland news source, the accident was caused when a pick-up truck veered out of its lane and into oncoming traffic, ultimately hitting the car the victim was driving.
Evidently, around 7:40 in the morning, a Ford F-250 truck was driving on the 20700 block of Darnestown Road when it began to creep into oncoming traffic. As it crossed the center median line, it collided with a Subaru Forester. After the initial collision, the pick-up truck rolled several times, crashing into a Kia Sorento. A fourth vehicle was also involved when it was hit by some flying debris from the previous collision.
The driver of the Subaru that was hit head on by the truck was taken to a nearby hospital, but later succumbed to her injuries. The driver of the pick-up truck was also taken to the hospital, although with non-life-threatening injuries.
The Collision Reconstruction Unit of the police department has begun a reconstruction of the scene in order to learn more about how the accident was caused. As of right now, there have been no citations issued as a result of the fatal accident. However, that may change once the result of the investigation comes back.
Head-On Collisions on Maryland Roads
Police are still in the midst of their investigation into what caused the fatal accident described above. However, it is very likely that the accident was caused by one of two things: the pick-up truck driver’s distracted driving, or the slick and icy conditions at the time of the accident. In either case, the truck driver may be responsible for the accident, pending the result of the police investigation.
Distracted Driving in Maryland
Distracted driving is one of the top reasons for Maryland car accidents that result in serious or fatal injuries. Any activity that removes a driver’s attention from the road may constitute distracted driving. For example, each of the following may be considered distracted driving:
- Talking on the phone,
- Engaging a passenger in an in-depth conversation,
- Arguing with a passenger,
- Reading,
- Fiddling with the radio or GPS, or most commonly,
- Texting
The Maryland legislature understands the dangers of engaging in these activities while driving and regulates much of the behavior that constitutes distracted driving. For instance, it is against the law in Maryland to use a cell phone while driving. This includes texting and also talking on the phone. In addition, novice drivers are prohibited from using even hands-free devices while operating a motor vehicle.
Have You Been Injured By a Distracted Driver?
If you or a loved one has recently been involved in a serious or fatal Maryland car accident that you believe was due to the negligence of another driver, you may be entitled to monetary damages. Proving negligence in a court of law is often as easy as showing that the driver at fault was engaging in some activity that was specifically proscribed at the time of the accident, such as talking on the phone or texting. To learn more about how you may be able to recover for an accident you have been involved in, call 410-654-3600 to set up a free consultation with an attorney today.
More Blog Posts:
Personal Injury Plaintiffs Lose on Appeal Due to Inadmissible Expert Testimony, Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog, published February 17, 2015.
One Man Dead after Fatal Howard County Accident Involving Snow Plow and Icy Roads, Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog, published February 24, 2015.