Maryland roads are often always busy. However, during rush hour, the concentration of vehicles increases dramatically. Along with the increase in vehicles, there also comes an increase in the potential for a motor vehicle accident. Even a seemingly minor mistake could lead to catastrophe.

However, a big mistake led to man’s death in a recent crash that took place on a Maryland road at approximately 5:30 p.m. The driver of a pickup truck somehow allowed his vehicle to cross over into oncoming traffic directly into the path of another vehicle. The driver of the second vehicle, a pickup truck as well, was unable to avoid the resulting head-on collision. The mail truck behind the second pickup could not stop in time to avoid becoming involved in the accident.

Can you really sue if you are injured on someone else’s property? Yes and no. The legal doctrine of premises liability makes property owners responsible under certain circumstances.

If you were trespassing or caused your own injury, you would be out of luck. But if the property created or ignored a safety hazard, you may be able to bring a claim for damages.

Recent research indicates that a concussion can impair driving skills long after the person has “recovered.”

Among other findings, a study at the University of Georgia indicated that post-concussion drivers lacked vehicle control. This could contribute to a car crash causing serious injury to you or a family member.

The collapse of the newly constructed pedestrian bridge at Florida International University is a horrifying example of the unexpected failure of a massive structure.

Within 24 hours of the incident, the number of fatalities was still unclear. The bridge collapse not only posed danger to people in the immediate vicinity, but also to rescue workers and emergency responders who arrived on the scene.

Meeting OSHA standards

In accordance with the Occupational Safety and Health Act, employers must meet hazard-specific health and safety standards and provide employees with a work environment that is not likely to cause serious injury or death. This is not always easy in the construction world. The pedestrian bridge at FIU was meant to provide students with a safe walking route over the busy highway below. Instead, the bridge crashed onto the eight lanes of traffic, leveling several vehicles. Reportedly, two workers were on the bridge when it fell.

A rollover is possibly the most frightening type of crash you could ever have. The vehicle suddenly flips, and you are powerless to stop it. You can only hope to ride it out as you are bounced around and upside down.

There are various reasons for rollover accident. One of the most common causes is that the vehicle may have “tripped” on something.

In car will roll, but some are more prone

Any kind of vehicle can roll over in the perfect storm of circumstances. However, vehicles that are narrower and taller – such SUVs, vans and pickups – are the most prone to rollovers. In a curve, a vehicle with a higher center of gravity will lean. As speed increases, the lateral forces will cause it to tip. Making too sharp a turn can trigger a rollover. Another common scenario is overcorrecting after a suddenly swerve, creating a pendulum or wobble effect that the vehicle cannot sustain.

The term “crashworthiness” is frequently used when manufacturers test vehicles for safety.

There are many reasons that a car crash might occur (including automobile defects). But even when the collision results from human error, a vehicle defect can directly cause serious harm (such as a brain injury) or make injuries worse than they should be. Crashworthy refers not to the vehicle’s sturdiness but to the vehicle’s ability to protect the occupants.

TBI (traumatic brain injury) is not always visible

More than half of all vehicle crashes include a report of traumatic brain injury TBI. (Concussions are a common form of brain injury.) At impact your head may strike something hard like your steering wheel or windshield, causing brain hemorrhaging or bruising. But there is not always a visible wound or direct impact. Brain injury can occur from the whiplash force of the crash, as the brain “collides” with the inside of the skull.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration conducts inspections of facilities in a variety of industries throughout the year. Unfortunately, some of them are prompted by workplace accidents in which an innocent life was lost. Each year, too large a number of workers across the country, perhaps including some here in Maryland, die before a company is forced to take the safety of its workers seriously.

For instance, OSHA recently completed an investigation into the death of a worker in a plastics company last year. OSHA found that the company willfully violated a regulation requiring machine guards on its equipment to prevent injuries to workers. Investigators also found that the company failed to implement proper shut down and lock out/tag out procedures.

As a motorist on the highways and byways in and around Baltimore, you are accustomed to seeing big rigs. What you do not want to see, let alone be involved in, is a truck-related crash.

Unfortunately, there has been a sharp increase in large truck accidents in recent years. What is causing these crashes, and where are they happening?

The FMCSA weighs in

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, fatalities involving trucks peaked at 6,702 deaths in 1979. During the ’80s and ’90, the number hovered around 5,500 annual truck-related deaths on the nation’s roads. In the new millennium, the number edged down steadily, reaching a historic low of 3,380 truck fatalities in 2009 – half the number of three decades earlier.

A woman in another state recently claimed that she suffered injuries after slipping and falling at a Subway restaurant. She asserted that the fast food restaurant’s negligence led to her injuries and has therefore filed a lawsuit against the eatery. Anyone in Maryland who suffers injuries in a slip-and-fallaccident resulting from a property owner’s carelessness has the right to take legal action.

The recent out-of-state incident took place in July 2017. According to the woman’s lawsuit, the woman was ordering food at the Subway restaurant. All of a sudden, she slipped and fell on the floor.

It’s normal to feel shaky after a car accident, from the unexpected jolt of a rear-end collision or simply the commotion of a fender-bender. But as the shock wears off, you may feel OK, even relieved it wasn’t worse. You’ll probably be more concerned about the damage to your car.

Take the time to seek medical care (or to make sure that a loved one does). There could be hidden injuries such as a fracture or internal bleeding or concussion. It is also important to establish a doctor’s report that clearly ties any injuries to the car accident.