Bobtail Truck Accidents in Columbia | Bobtail Truck Injury Lawyer
A bobtail truck is a truck without a trailer connected. Bobtail trucks are frequently used for the transport of liquid propane gas (LPG) and other types of liquid fuel. Driving a truck bobtail is different from pulling a trailer and it will make a difference in the handling. Driving a bobtail truck can be more challenging at times due to a lot of weight distribution in a relatively short wheelbase. A professional truck driver must learn how to operate a bobtail truck safely without a trailer.
When You Need to Hire a Columbia Bobtail Truck Accident Lawyer
In many cases, Columbia 18-wheeler accident attorneys must retain the services of scientific and medical experts to prove both the cause of the accident and the cause of your injuries. Additionally, a qualified semi truck accident lawyer will obtain all kinds of evidence concerning the scene of the crash, truck logs, and other important information to be used against the trucker, trucking company, or the company’s insurer. Arranging expert witness testimony and preparing important physical and documentary evidence is just one of many ways a Columbia bobtail truck accident injury lawyer can help you after you’ve suffered a truck accident injury from a major 18-wheeler truck wreck.
If you or a loved one have been involved in a serious bobtail truck wreck, semi crash or big rig accident, hiring a lawyer is the farthest thing from your mind when tragedy such as this strikes you, a family member, or a friend. However, this is when you need a Columbia truck accident lawyer most. Do yourself a favor by calling one of the qualified Columbia truck accident lawyers listed on this page. Hire a qualified Columbia tractor trailer accident lawyer to help protect your rights.
Hazardous Road Conditions for Bobtail Trucks in Columbia
A trucker driving a bobtail truck must be extra cautious when driving in hazardous road conditions in Columbia such as the US-29, SH-175, SH-108, SH-100, SH-103 or I-95. The trucker already has to be skilled just to handle a bobtail truck because he or she has to deal with a heavy load without a trailer. The danger already exists for making a sudden stop and losing control. Add hazardous road conditions on top of that and you have a recipe for disaster. A bobtail truck driver must be acutely aware of passenger cars darting in front of the truck. It may come down to a terrible choice of either rear-ending the car or spinning out by hitting the brakes too hard.
Bobtail Truck Accidents Caused by Hazardous Road Conditions in Columbia
According to the 2009 U.S. Census, Columbia has a population of 97,200 people in a 27.7 square mile area. Columbia also is the county seat of Howard County, Maryland. A lot of roadwork is necessary to maintain Columbia’s sprawling road and highway infrastructure, but these important repairs don’t always happen in time to prevent a roadway accident. Sometimes the situation is made even more dangerous due to severe weather conditions. Hazardous road conditions cause more fatalities than speeding or driving under the influence of alcohol and are one of the biggest reasons for Columbia truck accidents.
Local community health centers that will provide medical care to those with low incomes and/or no health insurance:
People's Community Health Center
3011 Greenmount Avenue, Baltimore, MD
(410) 235-2153
Ruscombe Mansion Community Health Center
4801 and 4803 Yellowwood Avenue, Baltimore, MD
(410) 367-7300
Mid Atlantic Association-Community Health
4483 Forbes Boulevard, Lanham, MD
(301) 577-0097
Columbia Motels are a Refuge When Road Conditions are Bad
Unsafe truck drivers make for unsafe roads. When driving conditions become too dangerous, truckers have a duty to pull over so that they don’t injure their fellow motorists. When road conditions are bad on Columbia highways and it is unsafe for the trucker to drive, the semi truck driver should pull off the road at a truck stop or sit it out at a motel such as the ones listed below until it is safe to drive.
Motels near Columbia, Maryland
Sheraton Columbia Town Center Hotel |
Map of Budget-priced Motels near Columbia, MD |
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Besides truck stops, roadside motels provide truckers with a place for rest and shelter to avoid fatigue. |
Columbia Highway Management
Columbia’s freeway system is monitored by a unique cooperative partnership of four separate agencies - Howard County, Maryland Department of Transportation, Metropolitan Transit Authority of Howard County, and the City of Columbia. The name of this cooperative is Columbia TranStar. Columbia TranStar is responsible for providing transportation and emergency management services to the region and was the first center of its kind in the nation to combine transportation and emergency management centers, and the first to bring four agencies together to share their resources.
Columbia TranStar is a national leader in freeway incident management and incorporates state-of-the-art technologies to reduce congestion on Columbia interstates, highways and roadways. With more than 730 regional Closed Circuit Television Cameras (CCTVs), the staff at the Columbia TranStar center monitors traffic incidents and dispatches vehicles to remove hazardous materials or debris. Plus it communicates with emergency vehicles about the most direct routes to an accident scene and sends tow trucks to stalled vehicles. Columbia TranStar also uses a Dynamic Message Signs (DMS) which it deploys from the center to alert travelers to traffic issues that may lie ahead and inform them about expected travel times. Columbia TranStar also incorporates speed sensors, Highway Advisory Radio, ramp meters, synchronized traffic signals and other devices to help keep the area’s traffic running smoothly.
Some of the causes of Columbia truck accidents due to hazardous road conditions may include:
- Potholes and poorly maintained roads
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Dangerous roads:
- Poorly designed roads
- Steep pavement drops
- Narrow lanes
- Sharp curves
- Bad weather (heavy rain, ice, snow and fog)
- Inadequate warning signs about road conditions
- Poorly marked construction zones
- Defective signals and signs
- Poor visibility of traffic signs
- Inadequate highway lighting
Bobtail Truck Accident Attorneys Serve Columbia and Surrounding Cities
Serving clients throughout Central Maryland, including Aberdeen, Alexandria, Annapolis, Arlington, Arnold, Aspen Hill, Baltimore, Bowie, Catonsville, Cockeysville, College Park, Columbia, Dublin, Dundalk, Edgewood, Eldersburg, Elkton, Ellicott, Essex, Fallston, Forest Hill, Franklinville, Frederick, Glen Burnie, Green Valley, Hagerstown, Hampstead, Laurel, Lisbon, Middle River, Milford Mill, Mount Airy, Olney, Parkville, Perry Hall, Randallstown, Severna Park, Silver Spring, South Gate, Tannytown, Thurmont, Towson, Walkersville, Washington DC, Westminster, Wheaton, areas in the vicinity of BWI Airport, and other communities in Howard County.
Columbia bobtail truck accident attorneys are experienced in handling serious injury truck collision cases and can help you fight the trucking company or its insurer in order to get you the compensation you deserve. Contact a Columbia bobtail truck accident lawyer today for a FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION.