On April 21 along the Eastern Shore, two tractor trailer trucks collided while traveling on Maryland Route 404. This collision and resulting vehicle accidents led to three deaths.
Brian Hutcheson of Ramer, Tennessee, was driving one of the semi-trucks when he crossed the line near Queen Anne. When this happened, his truck side-swiped a tractor trailer driven by Terry Coward of Culpepper, Virginia. This caused both trucks to be engulfed in flames. A third tractor trailer then became involved in the accident when he could not stop.
The Deaths
The driver of the third tractor trailer was not injured even though his vehicle was severely damaged. Hutcheson also had a passenger in his vehicle. Because of the severity of the collision, Hutcheson, Coward, and the passenger were all pronounced dead at the scene.
There was also a large diesel fuel spill that required clean-up efforts by the Maryland Department of the Environment. The Maryland State Patrol is requesting information from anyone who may have seen the accident.
The Results
Because the accident is still being investigated, the actual results are not yet known. However, the surviving families will likely have civil cases due to wrongful death. This would apply to Coward, as well as Hutcheson’s passenger. The driver of the third semi may have a case as well due to the damages to his rig.
Some may assume that there would be no wrongful death or personal injury case in this situation, since the offending driver perished. However, the claim can be brought up to the insurance company that covered the vehicle, or even the company that Hutcheson was driving for. There is a great deal of information that will need to be gleaned before a case can be made. That’s because there could be several different people at fault. For example, if something malfunctioned on Hutcheson’s semi, then the claim could come against whoever maintained it, the manufacturer of the parts, or the company that owned the truck. It is not a cut and dried situation.
That’s why the surviving family will need to hire experienced wrongful death and personal injury attorneys. The right legal representation will know how to do the needed research in order to prove who was at fault and whether negligence was involved. Then, they will be able to make a stronger case.
No matter what, if you have been injured in a vehicle accident, and someone else was at fault, you will need to contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. You will likely have a personal injury case against that person or their insurance company, and you need to pursue this to cover your medical bills, damages to your vehicle, and other expenses. Do not just ignore the case, and do not try to handle it on your own. You do need an attorney, and it is best to always choose one who has experience with personal injury specifically. They will best know the law and how to handle your situation.
