A pedestrian who may have been attempting to cross a highway was killed recently when he was hit by a tractor-trailer, according to the Maryland State Police. Because they are so large, heavy and unwieldy, tractor-trailers are an especially severe road hazard to anything and anyone they hit in motor vehicle accidents.
Since truck drivers are often under great pressure from their employers to travel as far as possible every day in as little time as possible, they often drive while severely fatigued or while under the influence of substances meant to keep them awake, both of which can affect their reaction times and alertness.
Tractor-trailer accidents can also occur when drivers speed or tailgate, or if the truck itself malfunctions somehow. Determining fault in such an incident is the key to finding who should pay damages for any injuries or wrongful deaths that occur as a result. Accidents can occur because something went wrong involving the truck, road conditions or with the actual driver. If a truck accident was caused by a driver's negligence, that driver is likely to be held financially responsible for the results of that accident.
When someone is killed by a negligent truck driver, it may be possible for the survivors of the victim to file a wrongful death claim against that driver, the trucking company or any insurance companies involved, in order to recover compensation for the victim's medical expenses, pain and suffering that occurred before death, future lost earnings and the loss of the victim's companionship and love.
