Earlier this month in Thurmont, Maryland, one man was hit and killed by a hit-and-run driver as the man was pulled off to the side of the road to assist another motorist whose car had broken down. According to one local news report, the man was a Marine who had served since 2013 and was recently promoted to the rank of corporal.
Evidently, the Marine had pulled over on the side of Route 15, near where it meets Auburn Road, at around 10:50 in the evening, to help a stranded motorist. While he was on the side of the road, not far from where his vehicle was parked, a truck towing a car veered off the highway and into the median, striking the Marine and his vehicle.
While the driver has yet to be located, and an investigation is still underway, police believe that the driver of the truck came to a stop about 100 yards from the scene of the accident. However, as good samaritans arrived to help the accident victim, the driver of the truck sped off. Police told reporters that they found track marks in the grass near the scene that they believe belonged to the truck, and they are confident that the vehicle is a dual axle truck that was towing a smaller vehicle.
Hit-and-Run Accidents in Maryland
Each year, hundreds of Marylanders are seriously injured or killed in serious or fatal car accidents. In fact, according to recent data compiled by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, there are about 430 fatal accidents annually in Maryland, resulting in about 470 deaths.
While motorists involved in a serious or fatal car accident usually stop after the accident to see if the other party needs assistance, in some cases the motorist acts out of fear and flees the scene of the accident, hoping to escape any potential liability. This is often the case when the at-fault driver is intoxicated, has an outstanding warrant for their arrest, or has other reasons to flee from police.
Of course, fleeing the scene of a serious accident is morally reprehensible because the driver’s assistance could mean the difference between the accident victim living or dying. Moreover, it is more than just morally wrong. It is also illegal. In Maryland, it is against the law to flee the scene of an accident, and doing so can create liability when there was none to begin with. In other words, even if the driver who eventually flees the scene was not at fault for the accident, they may still be in violation of the law and could potentially be held civilly liable as well.
Have You Been Involved in a Maryland Hit-and-Run Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been involved in any kind of hit-and-run accident, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for all that you have been put through, both physically and emotionally. The skilled and compassionate personal injury lawyers at the Maryland-based law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers have decades of experience recovering compensation on behalf of injured Marylanders and know what it takes to be successful in Maryland courts. Call 410-654-3600 today to set up a free consultation with an attorney today.
More Blog Posts:
Family Brings Suit Against Department of Transportation in Failure-to-Maintain Case, Maryland Accident Law Blog, September 15, 2015.
Federal Appellate Court Reverses Lower Court’s Evidentiary Ruling, Allowing Plaintiff’s Expert Witness’ Testimony, Maryland Accident Law Blog, August 10, 2015.