Archives for May 2014

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.

When automobile manufacturers began implementing “backup camera technology” into vehicles a few years ago most people marveled at the latest advance on our already quite impressive in-car experience. However, most people probably did not realize the tremendous safety implications, and even fewer, likely would have the guessed the technology may become mandatory on all cars.

Well that once far-fetched reality seems to be exactly what is happening. Drawing on recent studies, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has decided to mandate that the majority of new cars, minivans, and SUVs in the United States must have backup cameras installed by 2018. Originally NHTSA had only recommended the cameras, but after reconsideration, decided to make it a formal rule that manufacturers had to follow. According to the NHTSA the safety benefits far outweigh the costs, which the agency estimates at about $140 per unit.

The NHTSA ruling comes on the heels of a comprehensive study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). IIHS concluded that backup cameras are superior to parking sensor technology using radar. Also, Consumer Reports released data showing approximately 300 people are killed and 18,000 suffer injuries annually as a consequence of drivers backing up without being able to properly see behind them. The dangers of these “back-over” accidents are particularly acute for children who are often unseen and unaware of the risks that drivers may be negligent in backing up. Overall, this is a positive development as no one-child or otherwise-should become the victim of driver negligence if there are practical ways to avoid it.