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Summer,
2001
BIG TRUCK SAFETY! The Hoffman Case
FACTS:
After leaving his infant son with the baby-sitter, and en
route to a nearby local college to teach his tennis class,
Mr. Hoffman, who was traveling in the far left lane on northbound
I-695 near Hammonds Ferry Lane (Baltimore Beltway Inner
loop), was suddenly and forcefully struck by an 18-wheel
tractor-trailer. The driver of the 18- wheeler,
who was traveling in the next lane in the same direction,
lost control of his truck and collided with Mr. Hoffman's
small car. The 18-wheel tractor-trailer continued out of
control, as it completely occupied both lanes and forced
Mr. Hoffman into the jersey wall, this pinning his vehicle
against the concrete barrier. The forceful nature of the
impact also caused Mr. Hoffman's vehicle to be dragged continuously
for approximately 100 yards against the concrete barrier
before coming to a rest against the jersey wall on the fast
should of I-695.
CASE OUTLINE:
While the wreckage was being dismantled by the Maryland
State Police Department, Mrs. Hoffman (wife) was on her
way home from work, traveling southbound on the outer loop
of I-695, when she observed the wreckage from the left lane.
When she approached the scene of the collision, Mrs. Hoffman
immediately recognized the mangled, wrecked hunk of metal
as her husband's vehicle! Mrs. Hoffman came to a stop in
the congested traffic and approached a State Police Officer
and informed him that the vehicle involved in the collision
belonged to her husband and requested to go with him. However,
she was denied that request and was ordered to move on by
the state Police Officer. Mrs. Hoffman, in a frantic state-and
assuming the worst(death)-shortened her trip home and traveled
to her mother's residence, which was nearby. Subsequent
investigations revealed that her husband was severely injured
in the collision and taken to the University of Maryland
Shock Trauma Unit for medical treatment.
CASE RESOLUTION:
Mr. Hoffman sought the legal services
of the Law offices of Addison-Darden. Our law firm has determined
that the driver of the tractor-trailer was negligent in
his operation of the 18-wheeler when he improperly changed
lanes, failed to maintain proper speed, failed to keep a
proper lookout for other vehicles, and failed to keep his
vehicle under control.
This
serious accident case was resolved by Mark
Darden through pretrial negotiations for a substantial
amount. Client and family are quite pleased with the resolution.
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