It can happen to anybody, and the results are tragically similar no matter who the individual may be. Auto accidents can take a person’s life as quickly as a blink of an eye. Injuries are more likely, but the root cause is always suspect. In the recent case of the untimely death of a Maryland law enforcement professional, the question of driver error versus defective equipment comes into play. As a Maryland automobile accident attorney, my firm runs into situations like this all of the time.
According to reports, a Baltimore police officer died following a terrible single-vehicle accident on Black Rock Road. The 32-two-year-old off-duty patrolman was apparently on his way to work, driving his pickup truck eastbound just before 2pm in the afternoon of September 24.
Jason Simons, who was a seven-year veteran of the Baltimore Police Department and assigned to the Towson precinct, apparently lost control of his vehicle in a sharp turn on a wet section of roadway. Investigators said that the vehicle hit a guardrail and then flipped onto its top, trapping the officer. When emergency crews arrived they extricated Simons from his truck and treated him. He was flown to Shock Trauma, however he died before doctors could save him.
This crash was still under investigation at the time of the news report. The wet road may have played a role in the accident however, as a veteran police officer on his way to work it is hard to imagine that driver error was to blame. Only time will tell, but crashes such as this can many times be linked to defective equipment.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a automobile accident due to poorly designed parts or components, or because of someone else’s negligence, I recommend that you consult with an experienced auto injury attorney to determine your options.
Officer dies after car crash, WTOP.com, September 24, 2009