Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog
Earlier this month in Smithsburg, a two-vehicle head-on collision took the life of one man when his car crossed the center median and collided with a dump truck. According to one local news report, the accident occurred on Mapleville Road, where the driver of a Ford SUV was heading southbound. The driver of the dump truck was heading northbound.
Evidently, around 4:30 in the afternoon the SUV crossed over into the lane of oncoming traffic, colliding head on with the dump truck. The collision caused the Ford to overturn. The driver of the SUV was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the dump truck was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
An investigation was still underway at the time of the article’s publication, but it does not seem that the driver of the dump truck will face any criminal charges. It is unclear what caused the SUV to drift over into oncoming traffic.
Head-On Collisions
With the miles and miles of winding country roads across the state, it doesn’t come as a surprise that there are a large number of head-on collisions in Maryland. The vast majority of head-on collisions occur on smaller, rural roads. In fact, one study suggests that up to 75% of all head-on collisions occur on rural, two-lane roads.
Causes of Head-On Collisions
There are two main causes of head-on collisions; inattentive driving and aggressive driving, specifically aggressive passing. Inattentive drivers may accidentally cross over into oncoming traffic while not paying attention to the road ahead of them. They may be paying more attention to talking or texting on the phone, or talking to a passenger. These collisions often involve glancing contact between the approaching cars, since the encroaching vehicle is often not fully in the oncoming lane.
The other main cause of head-on collisions is aggressive passing. When a driver believes that he or she has the opportunity to pass a slower-moving vehicle but is wrong in his or her assessment, a head-on collision often results. In these cases, the collision often involves full head-on contact between the two vehicles and is likely to involve serious injury or death.
In either case, head-on collisions are some of the most dangerous types of accidents we see on a routine basis. If you have been involved in a serious Maryland accident, such as a head-on collision, call a dedicated Maryland accident attorney.
Have You Been Involved in a Head-On Collision?
If you or a loved one has recently been involved in a Maryland head-on collision, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for your injuries based on the negligence of the other driver. However, keep in mind that in order to recover, you will likely need to deal with both your insurance company as well as the other driver, and neither is likely going to be willing to pay you fairly for your injuries. To speak to an attorney about how to get full and fair compensation for an accident you have been involved in, call 410-654-3600 today to set up a free initial consultation with a dedicated Maryland personal injury attorney.
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.