Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog
Earlier this week, one man was killed and another two people injured in a U-turn accident in Sunderland, Maryland. According to one local news report, the accident occurred on 6200 North Solomons Island Road just after 5:30 in the afternoon.
Evidently, the driver of a Dodge Dakota was traveling southbound when a Ford truck that was heading northbound attempted to make a U-turn in front of the Dodge. The Dodge crashed into the rear-passenger side of the Ford truck as it was completing its turn. Both vehicles ended up on the road’s shoulder.
The driver and passenger in the Ford truck both suffered minor injuries, and they are expected to fully recover. However, the driver of the Dodge suffered more serious injuries that he eventually succumbed to. He was pronounced dead later on that day. He was not wearing a seatbelt, according to authorities.
Police told reporters that the truck driver’s failure to yield was a major contributing factor to the fatal car accident, as was driver error. The police are still investigating the accident, and charges are pending against the truck’s driver.
Failure-to-Yield Accidents in Maryland
Safe travel on public roads requires everyone to understand and adhere to the rules of the road. As long as everyone on the road follows the rules, they remain a fairly safe place to drive. However, when drivers fail to follow the rules, the danger of a serious accident greatly increases.
There are all kinds of rules that drivers instinctively follow each time they get behind the wheel. For example, a left-turning vehicle must yield to vehicles going straight or turning right. Most of us follow these rules each time we drive without thinking about them. However, sometimes a driver is careless or distracted and overlooks even one of the most basic rules of the road.
Liability in Careless Driving Accidents
Whenever a driver makes a careless error behind the wheel and causes an accident as a result, that driver may be held liable for any injuries caused as a result of the accident. In Maryland, the victims of the accident may wish to proceed with a negligence action against the at-fault driver.
To succeed in a negligence action, an accident victim needs to prove four main elements. First, there was a duty of care owed to the victim by the defendant. Second, the defendant violated that duty of care. Third, the defendant’s negligence directly caused the victim’s injuries. Finally, the plaintiff suffered some kind of compensable injury.
Have You Been Injured in a Maryland Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been injured in a serious Maryland car accident, you may be entitled to monetary damages. The dedicated attorneys at the Maryland personal injury law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen have decades of combined experience bringing a wide variety of negligence claims, including car accidents. To learn more, and to speak to an attorney about your potential case, call 410-654-3600 today to set up a free initial consultation.
More Blog Posts:
Sport Utility Vehicle Crashes into High-School Cafeteria, Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog, published December 2, 2014.
Single-Vehicle Accident Takes the Life of One Fifteen-Year-Old and Injures Two Others, Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog, published September 3, 2014.