A recent set of accidents involving dump trucks in Maryland highlight the particular risks these vehicles bring with them onto our roads. When people think of accidents involving large trucks (as opposed to personal pickups or SUVs), the typical image in ones mind is that of a tractor-trailer, “big rig,” or semi. Despite this thinking, dump trucks account for a sizable percentage of large truck accidents in Maryland and they come with their own set of specific risks to watch out for.
Recently , major dump truck accidents occurred in both Anne Arundel County and in Towson. In each case serious injuries resulted, necessitating hospital visits for the victims. Because of the variability in what dump trucks may be carrying they may actually be heavier than a semi or big rig. This has important implications for stopping capability and means that drivers need to be at least equally worried about dump trucks as they are about their supposedly larger counterparts.
However, the most critical difference between dump trucks and other large trucks is that many vehicle collisions involving dump trucks do not actually even involve the truck itself. What happens is more often is that thee contents from the truck end up on the road, where unprepared and surprised motorists are caught off guard. These road hazards can be sudden and exceptionally dangerous – there is no training or preparation for large foreign contents spilling out onto the highway while drivers are moving at tremendous speeds. Even though, it may be the contents of the dump truck involved, it makes no difference should an accident result. There may still be negligence. It is essential to remember that in that this situation you are still usually entitled to recover for damages, both personal injuries and property damage caused by the accident even if the truck itself is not involved in the crash. This is because had the driver not been negligent in making sure the load stayed in the truck you would not have been injured.