Mother of Three is Hit and Killed by Dump Truck in Arlington, VA

Dump trucks are among the most hazardous vehicles on the roads of Virginia.

I was saddened to read about an incident in Arlington in which police said a dump truck struck and killed a mother of three.

The Washington Post reported on how 39-year-old Jennifer Lawson, was struck by a dump truck soon after she loaded her young daughter into a car seat in her minivan.

See this video by my colleague Jim Hurley about the dangers of dump trucks and garbage trucks

The Post story reported no charges had been brought in the wake of the crash which occurred at the end of last month in front of Nottingham Elementary School on North Little Falls Road.

A man in a residence on the street said he heard the sound of metal on metal after the collision, which police said was so forceful it peeled off Lawson’s minivan door. My thoughts are with the family of this young woman.

In cases such as this it’s important to know who owned the truck. The dump truck was a privately owned commercial vehicle, and investigators said they would conduct a “full commercial-vehicle inspection,” according to The Washington Post.

If a defect contributed to a crash, the owners could be liable for its poor maintenance. The owners of a truck can also be responsible for the actions or inactions of a driver.

If you have lost a loved one, or been injured in a trucking accident, contact our experienced Virginia trucking accident lawyers at 757.455.0077. See our questions and answers about accidents involving trucks or big rigs.