Maryland Accident Law Blog

Several recent Maryland traffic accidents have led to a number of pedestrian deaths and injuries. In Ocean City, a 44-year-old pedestrian died while trying to cross the Coastal Highway. The man was reportedly not in the crosswalk when he was hit by a 2008 Nissan Altima operated by Russell Charles Mass, Jr. Mass, 18, was charged with drunk driving. Police are investigating whether the pedestrian, who sustained fatal head injuries, had also been drinking.

In Frederick, Maryland, three men were charged last week for the death of pedestrian Elizabeth DiNunzio. The Mount Saint Mary's University’s college senior was jogging last month when she was struck by a car driven by driver Joshua Cool on Old Emmitsburg Road. According to police, DiNunzio was running against traffic and in compliance with Maryland law.

While Joshua is charged with negligent driving, knowingly driving a vehicle that was uninsured, and not exercising the proper care to avoid striking a pedestrian, passengers Ann Cool and Joseph Cool were charged with knowing that they were riding in a vehicle that was uninsured.

Last month, a Clinton man sustained serious injuries in a Howard County pedestrian accident when he was hit by a car on Route 32 close to 95. Frank Trowell, Jr., 44, was taken to Shock Trauma in critical condition. Police are looking into the cause of the Maryland motor vehicle crash.

Also in May, a pregnant teenager and her friend were hit by a car in Crownsville. Police say that the driver of the vehicle, 23-year-old Karla Wagner, drove her 1999 Jeep off the road, striking the teens. One of the girls, who is 17, is from Crownsville. The other teenager, 19-year-old Melissa Truelove, was 7 weeks pregnant at the time of the Maryland traffic crash. Both pedestrians were knocked unconscious and later taken to a local hospital.

Following the Crownsville pedestrian accident, Truelove complained of bruising on her hip and back, pain in her left side, as well as vertigo. Her friend fractured her neck and both hips and also experienced bleeding in her kidney.

Pedestrian hit by car on Route 32 listed in critical condition, Explore Howard, May 29, 2009

Pedestrian Critically Hurt in Accident, WBAL.com, May 29, 2009

Three Charged In Accident That Killed Local Student, YourState, June 4, 2009

Pedestrian Injured In Late-Night Crash, MDCoastDispatch.com, June 5, 2009

Related Web Resources:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Pedestrian Safety, Maryland State Highway Administration

Continue reading "Recent Maryland Pedestrian Accidents Lead to Fatalities and Injuries" »

A number of catastrophic car accident victims and their families went to Capitol Hill in Washington DC on Wednesday to call on the Obama Administration and Congress to ensure their ability to obtain medical reimbursements from the now bankrupt General Motors and Chrysler. Both auto manufacturers have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcies, which places car accident victims waiting for medical reimbursements from products liability settlements and verdicts into the category of "unsecured creditor" waiting along with everyone else for their payouts.

On Monday, a bankruptcy judge overruled the Ad Hoc Committee on Consumer-Victims of Chrysler LLC when he approved the sale of the company to Fiat. The group had asked for a retroactive insurance policy or a fund that would cover the costs of medical treatment and lawsuits. Last year alone, Chrysler paid more than $250,000 in medical settlements. Now, anyone that gets involved in a catastrophic or fatal car crash while riding in one of the approximately 10 million Chrysler cars will not be able to pursue products liability compensation if a motor vehicle was responsible for causing the defect. The vehicle occupants of about 30 million General Motor vehicles are facing the same dilemma.

About 500 to 1,000 serious injuries or fatalities involving defective car parts occur every year. The bankruptcies filed by the two car manufacturing giants prevents injured parties from holding them financially accountable for making cars that are defective enough to cause catastrophic injuries or death.

Examples of common kinds of car defects that can lead to catastrophic injuries:

• Defective tires
• Faulty engine
• Defective windows
• Faulty seat belt or safety restraint system
• Structural defects
• Seat back defect
• Design defects

Car accident victims fight for payouts, Washington Times, June 4, 2009

Families and Severely-Injured Victims of Defective GM and Chrysler Cars Travel to Washington to Seek Urgent Help, RedOrbit, June 3, 2009

Related Web Resources:
GM and Chrysler's bankruptcy cases at a glance, AP, June 4, 2009

Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Basics

Continue reading "Catastrophic Car Accident Victims and Their Families Ask Capitol Hill to Guarantee Products Liability Payments from Bankrupt General Motors and Chrysler" »

Baltimore County police say that two people were sent to an area hospital after they were involved in an Owings Mills multi-vehicle collision on Friday that ended when one car drove into an M & T Bank branch. The Maryland traffic accident occurred when a Hyundai Sonata struck a Toyota RAV4 that was at a red light, which then hit a Lincoln Navigator. Meantime, the Hyundai drove over a curb and into the bank. Fortunately, no one inside the bank was hurt.

In a Baltimore car accident that also occurred on Friday, police are looking for the driver of a van that fatally hit a man riding a dirt bike on Chatham Road. The van’s driver failed to stop at the crash site. Police are asking for any information that could lead to the capture of the driver involved in the deadly hit-and-run Maryland motor vehicle crash.

Also on Friday, Clinton resident Franklin Trowell sustained critical injuries in Howard County when a car hit him on eastbound Route 32 close to Interstate 95. Trowell had been standing on the shoulder of the road examining another accident when the catastrophic Maryland car crash occurred. The driver of the car, Leonard Supsic, 55, reportedly lost control of the 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier that struck Trowell.

Maryland Personal Injury
It can take some time to determine how much financial recovery you are entitled to receive after you’ve been injured in a Maryland motor vehicle accident. This is why it is important that you don’t rush to settle your car accident claim immediately. Your injuries may be more serious than you think, which means they could cost significantly more to recover from than what original estimates suggest. There also may be other parties that can be held liable for your Maryland personal injuries.

Clinton man in critical condition after being hit by car, Baltimore Sun, May 30, 2009

Police seek van driver who fatally hit man on dirt bike, Baltimore Sun, May 30, 2009

Three-vehicle accident sends car into bank, Baltimore Sun, May 30, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Car Accidents Overview, Justia

Personal Injury, Nolo

Continue reading "Recent Maryland Motor Vehicle Accidents Cause Injuries and Deaths" »

According to AAA Mid-Atlantic, about 83% of the 609,000 Marylanders traveling 50 miles or more over the Memorial Day weekend will travel by car—that’s 508,000 motor vehicle riders. A decrease in local gas price is one of the reasons cited for an increase in road travelers from last year. Air travel is also expected to increase this year by 7%. Another reason cited for this rediscovered travel bug is that a poor economy has forced hotels, cruises, airlines, and car rental companies to lower their prices.

With more people getting into their cars and heading toward vacation destinations and family reunions, the roads will likely be more crowded this weekend. Traffic and the excitement and rush to arrive at a specific location can create a less relaxed travel climate that can increase the chances that a motorist might become involved in a catastrophic Maryland car accident.

Here are a number of safe driving tips to help you navigate your way through the Memorial Day weekend:

• Make sure you have your maps organized and travel routes planned before leaving.
• Check the Internet, listen to the radio, or watch TV to see where there may be traffic backlogs that you can avoid.
• Make sure that your car is in proper working condition before you head out.
• Have a roadside emergency kit with you.
• Get plenty of rest before you drive.
• Give yourself plenty of time to arrive at your destination.
• Take periodic breaks while driving so you don’t get lethargic or drowsy.
• Don’t speed.
• Obey traffic laws.
• Don’t talk on the cell phone or text message or read maps while driving.
• Drive defensively.
• Don’t drive drunk.
• Keep emergency numbers at your disposal.

More Marylanders to hit the road this weekend, Baltimore Sun, May 21, 2009

Related Web Resources:
AAA Mid-Atlantic
MD Roads

Continue reading "Maryland Car Accident Lawyers: 508,000 Marylanders Will Drive 50 Miles or More This Memorial Day Weekend, Says AAA" »

The Maryland State Highway Administration says that of the 589 Maryland traffic deaths that occurred in 2008, 124 of those fatalities took place in Prince George’s County. That’s almost twice as many fatalities than in Baltimore County, ranked number two with the most traffic deaths at 52 fatalities. Montgomery County came next with 52 traffic deaths. Baltimore had 49 traffic fatalities, and Anne Arundel County recorded 48 traffic fatalities. Officials from Maryland, Prince George’s County, and municipal police have vowed to address the issue of traffic safety and determine why so many Maryland traffic deaths occur in this county so they can fix the problem.

The county also recently registered the largest amount of Maryland pedestrian deaths over the past decade. For example, of the 111 Maryland pedestrian deaths that occurred in 2007, a significant number of the fatalities occurred in Prince George’s County:

Prince George’s: 28 pedestrian fatalities
Baltimore: 17 pedestrian deaths
Baltimore County: 17 pedestrian fatalities
Montgomery: 15 pedestrian deaths
Anne Arundel: 8 pedestrian fatalities

There were 115 Maryland pedestrian deaths in 2008—and the fatalities keep coming in 2009. Just last month, in Prince George’s County, two young pedestrians, 19-year-old LaRenta Vondale McFarland and 7-year-old Richard Young, died after a Jeep hit them while they were crossing Central Avenue in Upper Marlboro.

According to Maryland Highway Administration spokesperson David Buck, driver error seems to be the leading cause of traffic deaths in Prince George’s County. Common types of driver error include:

• Driver fatigue
• Speeding
• Drunk driving
• Driving under the influence of drugs
• Failure to obey traffic rules
• Talking on cell phone
• Failure to use seat belts
• Text messaging

More 2008 Maryland Traffic Facts:

• About 100,000 Maryland motor vehicle crashes occur annually.
• 196 drivers died in Maryland auto accidents last year.
• 65 of these motorists were not using seat belts or were riding in cars that lacked airbags.

Too Deadly a Place to Drive, Washington Post, May 10, 2009

Maryland State Highway Administration

Related Web Resources:
Maryland Traffic Information, Federal Highway Administration

Prince George's County, Maryland

Continue reading "Prince George’s County Logs the Most Maryland Motor Vehicle Accident Deaths in 2008" »

The US Department of Transportation has unveiled new roof strength standards that motor vehicle manufacturers must abide by beginning September 2012. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says that these newer, tougher standards should offer greater protection during rollover crashes.

Included in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s new regulations:
• Light weight vehicles weighing up to 6,000 pounds will have to be able to withstand a force equivalent to three times the weight of the vehicle. This doubles the current standard requiring that roofs withstand a force that is 1.5 times a vehicle’s weight.

• For the first time, vehicles weighing 6,000 to 10,000 pounds will have to have roofs that can withstand a force equivalent to 1.5 times the motor vehicle’s weight.

All motor vehicles that have to meet these standards must be in compliance by 2017. Secretary LaHood calls rollovers the “deadliest” type of motor vehicle crash that exists today. However, he also wants people to remember that wearing a safety belt can also increase the chances of surviving a rollover accident.

Rollover Accident Facts
About 10,000 people are killed in US rollover accidents each year. Poorly designed roofs can cause the roof to become deformed, decreasing the amount of protection that occupants can avail of during a rollover accident. Just last month, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its roof rating system for autos.

The rating system will hopefully help car buyers make informed decisions about how well certain vehicles ranked during IIHS testing. 12 SUV’s were tested and the ones that performed the best had roofs that were at least 2 ½ times stronger than the federal government’s current roof requirement standard.

Our Maryland motor vehicle crash lawyers are experienced in working on injury cases involving people hurt in rollover accidents. We understand the complex nature of investigating these kinds of motor vehicle crash cases and we have the experience and resources to successfully pursue your recovery.

U.S. DOT Doubles Roof Strength Standard for Light Vehicles, NHTSA, April 30, 2009

Roof strength is focus of new rating system; 4 of 12 small SUVs evaluated earn top marks, IIHS.org, March 24, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Roof Strength Rating, Status Report (PDF)

Continue reading "US Department of Transportation's Tougher Vehicle Roof Standards Should Provide Better Protection During Rollover Crashes " »

Many Maryland work zone accidents are avoidable, as long as workers, motorists, and contracting companies take the necessary precautions. For example, contractors need to make sure that construction zones are well marked and easily visibly. Workers should undergo safety training, be given the tools they need to make their work sites safer, and follow the safety rules. Motorists should pay attention and slow down when driving close to a work zone.

Driving too fast is the leading contributing factor of work zone accidents, with rubbernecking also another leading cause. Both workers and motorists are at risk of getting hurt in work zone accidents.

On June 26, 2007, Near Frederick, Maryland, state highway worker Rick Moser was killed when he was hit by a truck and thrown 175 feet while working in a highway work zone. Trucker Brian McCully was charged with negligent driving. He paid a $280 fine. The Motor Vehicle Administration gave him three points for the negligent driving charge. However, since this was a traffic citation, the truck driver didn’t have to go to court. The Moser family later filed a $2.5 million Frederick, Maryland wrongful death lawsuit against McCully for striking Rick with his Chevrolet truck.

Last February, Rick’s wife, Laurie, testified on House Bill 172 that calls for making it a misdemeanor to recklessly contribute to an accident in a highway work zone. The bill would impose a $1,000 fine and time in prison for up to 90 days. In 2007, Maryland police reported 2,250 highway work zone accidents in the state resulting in 11 deaths and 1,140 injuries.

Work Zone Awareness week was held earlier this month in the United States. Traffic safety officials want people to be especially aware of the dangers of careless driving in a work zone accident because spring is often the beginning of the construction season and the time when many motorists get back on the roads.

Work Zone Awareness Kicks Off, ABC2News.com, April 7, 2009

Widow requests tougher law for reckless driving, FrederickNewsPost.com, February 5, 2009

Family of highway worker killed in June files $2.5 million wrongful death suit, FrederickNewsPost.com, September 13, 2007

Related Web Resources:
National Work Zone Awareness Week 2009

US Department of Transportation

Continue reading "Work Zone Accidents Can Be Prevented if Motorists, Workers, and Construction Companies Exercise the Necessary Precautions" »

According to the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration, the state’s new driver’s license test requires new drivers to show off their driving skills on-road and off-road. This new test is reportedly tougher than the current version, and parents are especially are thrilled that their sons and daughters will have to prove they have the ability to pull off both kinds of road conditions before they can be fully licensed.

First-time drivers, experienced motorists who are licensed to drive abroad, and drivers who have to lost their license and have to take the test over again will all be required to take this new test. Drivers with licenses in other US States and Canada won’t have to take the driving test.

The new test, which is part of an on-road pilot project in Waldorf and Frederick, is expected to move to Baltimore and the Washington Metropolitan areas in the fall before being adopted throughout the state in 2010.

The MVA also says it will revise the written portion of the driver’s licenses test. The Maryland Highway Safety Foundation has been calling for changes to be made to the current test, which Foundation co-chairman David Nevis says puts too much emphasis on parallel parking and doesn’t pay enough attention to high-speed merging. MVA administrator John Kuo says the new test will emphasize defensive driving and test a driver’s actual driving skills.

It is important that all Maryland drivers understand the rules of the road so that they know how to drive safely. Negligent, careless, or reckless driving, driver ignorance, and other driving mistakes can lead to deadly Maryland car accidents and can be grounds for personal injury or wrongful death claims against the liable motorist.

Just recently, an 82-year-old Carroll County woman died in Sykesville when her car was in a collision with another vehicle. According to Police, Maggie Ringley Saylor ran a red light on route 26. She was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Continue reading "New Maryland Motorists Will Have To Pass Tougher Test to Prove They Are Ready to Drive On State Roads" »

The Maryland Senate has passed a bill that would allow speed cameras in school zones and construction zones. The approval of the legislation, by a 27-20 vote, came one day after the Senate had vetoed the bill authorizing the statewide use of speed cameras to apprehend violators. The House is expected to vote on the measure next week.

A number of Maryland senators had opposed the bill over concerns that the cameras were an invasion of privacy and were being used by local governments to generate revenue. In Montgomery County, where 54 speed cameras are in use, some 500,000 citations have been issued, resulting in over $16 million in fines after costs. However, supporters of the speed cameras are quick to note that they have helped reduced the number of Maryland motor vehicle crashes because they compel people to obey the legal speed limits.

Also, an examination of several locations where speed cameras have been in operation shows that the speeds that motorists operated their vehicles at dropped by 22% after cameras were installed. For example, in Chevy Chase, there are speed cameras installed in a heavily traveled area of Connecticut Avenue. Since the devices were put in place, the number of speeding motorists dropped by 73%, as did the number of auto accidents (from 67 during the last year when there were no cameras to 44). Other Maryland municipalities where speed cameras are already in use include Takoma Park, Gaithersburg, and Rockville.

The Maryland Senate bill calls for making driving 12 miles above the speed limit grounds for a speeding ticket.

In February, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety presented a number of research findings about speeding before the Maryland Senate Committee on Judicial Proceedings on Senate Bill 277. Among the findings:

• In 2007, speeding contributed to over 13,000 motor vehicle deaths.
• 24% of the deadly accidents that happened that year occurred on roads where the speed limit was 35 mph or lower.
• 88% of speeding-related deaths occur on interstate highways.
• Speeding can refer to going faster than the posted speed limit, driving faster than the weather conditions allow, or racing.

Maryland Senate Amends Speed Camera Bill to Include School Zones, WJLA.com, April 1, 2009

Senate Revives Bill to Allow Use of Technology Beyond Montgomery, Washington Post, April 3, 2009

Research on Automated Speed Enforcement, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, February 24, 2009 (PDF)

Related Web Resources:
Maryland Senate Bill 277

Analysis of Speed Camera Bill (PDF)

Continue reading "Maryland Senate Passes Speed Camera Bill" »

This week, the Maryland Senate approved by a 43 to 4 vote a bill banning drivers from text messaging whenever they are operating their motor vehicles. If the bill becomes law, it would make reading, composing, sending, or receiving text messages a misdemeanor crime punishable by a $500 fine. Maryland would also join a growing list of states and jurisdictions, including Virginia and Washington DC, that are banning text messaging—whether on a cell phone, PDA, or IPod Touch or another device—while operating a motor vehicle.

Sending short messages via cell phone or other electronic devices is a bad habit that has grown more popular in recent years—especially among younger, more inexperienced drivers. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, one of its studies last year found that about 50% of young drivers, ages 18 – 24, text message while driving. The study found that among drivers ages 45 and older, less than 5% engaged in text messaging while operating a motor vehicle.

Text messaging is a type of distracted driving, and like all other forms of distracted driving, including talking on a handheld cellular phone, applying making, or reading the newspaper, can lead to deadly auto accidents. ABC News says that a 2006 study showed that 65% of near-motor vehicle collisions and 80% of auto crashes occur because of distracted driving.

For example, one Maryland child lost her right forearm in a catastrophic bus accident that occurred while the bus driver was texting on his cell phone. 30 people were injured in this Maryland motor vehicle accident. In another traffic accident, a 26-year-old woman died last year in a truck accident when she was struck by a tractor-trailer while the truck driver had been texting.

These kinds of catastrophic motor vehicle collisions could have been avoided if the drivers had not been engaged in distracted driving.

Md. Is Latest State to Target Text Messaging by Drivers, Washington Post, March 18, 2009

Texting While Driving Could Spell Trouble, ABC News, May 8, 2007

Driving and Dialing Bus Drivers May Case Accidents, ABC News, Feb 7, 2007

Related Web Resources:
Examination of Maryland Senate Bill 98 (PDF)

Cell Phone Driving Laws, Governors Highway Safety Association

Continue reading "Maryland Senate Votes for Text Messaging While Driving Ban" »

Three of the victims of a Maryland motor vehicle accident involving a passenger van and a tractor-trailer are suing the van driver for wrongful death and personal injury. Robin Poffenberger was transporting a group of seniors to a softball tournament in Olney, when he drove a 2003 Chevrolet Custom van into the path of a tractor-trailer.

One van passenger, 72-year-old Clifford J. Rice, died from his injuries. He was sitting in the front passenger side of the vehicle when the May 21, 2008 crash happened at the intersection of Interstate 70 and Md. 66. Six other people suffered serious injuries. The impact of the collision left the truck’s cab embedded in the side of the van.

Now, three Maryland car accident lawsuits have been filed against Poffenberger. Rice’s widow is seeking $4 million for medical costs, loss of her husband’s income, funeral expenses, his pain and suffering, wrongful death, her mental anguish and emotional trauma, loss of companionship, society, protection, attention, comfort, care, counsel, love, and advice.

Another accident victim, Hagerstown resident Jack Finniff, and his wife are seeking $2 million from the van driver. Finniff was so seriously injured that he had to be flown by Medevac to Baltimore, where he was treated at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center.

The couple’s Maryland personal injury lawsuit is accusing Poffenberger of negligent driving, which resulted in Finiff’s serious injuries. The complaint also contends that the van driver’s negligence resulted in injury to their marital relationship, loss of companionship and physical relations, and loss of society, assistance, and affection.

A third motor vehicle crash victim, Gardner L. Stewart, is seeking $3 million. Stewart says the defendant’s negligence lead to his permanent injuries, debilitating pain and suffering, severe mental trauma, serious emotional anguish care, and his need for medical attention, hospital care, and rehabilitation.

Poffenberger says he is not liable and wants to go to trial.

Lawsuits filed in fatal 2008 crash, The Herald-Mail, March 8, 2009

Several People Still In Serious Condition From Wednesday’s Route-66 Accident, Your4State.com, May 22, 2008

Related Web Resources:
Car Accidents Overview, Justia

Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety says most of the victims killed in teen driving accidents are people other than the teen drivers. The AAA compiled this information based on its analysis of 10 years of crash information.

According to its findings:

• Between 1998 and 2007, 28,138 victims died in teen (Ages 15 – 17) driving accidents in the United States.
• Between 1995 and 2004, 30,917 people were killed in teen driving accidents.
• Approximately 1/3 of fatalities are the teen drivers, ages 15 to 17.
• Almost 2/3rd of the other teen driving accident victims are the passengers in the vehicle, other vehicle occupants, bicyclists, pedestrians, and other motorists.

AAA Western and Central New York President and CEO Tom Chestnut says that these findings show how important teen driving safety is not just to the teenagers but to everyone involved.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the leading causes of teen driving deaths and accidents include:

• Driver inexperience
• Immaturity
• Speeding
• Drunk driving
• Failing to wear a seat belt
• Talking on the cell phone
• Listening to loud music
• Talking to other teenagers in the vehicle
• Driving at night
• Drug use
• Drowsy driving

The NHTSA recommends ways to reduce motor vehicle accidents involving teen drivers including:
• Eliminating teen access to alcohol.
• Graduated driver’s licensing program.

Maryland had strict driving laws for teenagers including:
• A teen driver must have a provisional license for six months before he or she can apply for a provisional license.
• A Maryland teen driver must undergo at least 60 hours of driving practice with someone 21-years-old or older who has had a driver’s license for at least 3 years.
• 10 of the practice driving hours must happen at night.

Teen crashes more likely to kill others, WIVB.com, March 2, 2009

Maryland Teen Driving Laws, About.com

Related Web Resources:
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety

Maryland Website for Parents of Young Drivers

Continue reading "AAA Says Most Teen Driving Accident Victims are Other Motorists, Vehicle Occupants, and Pedestrians" »

The winter time can be a deadly time for Washington DC and Maryland motorists if they aren’t careful. Poor visibility and icy roads can only make the outcome of an auto accident, caused by negligent or careless driving, worse. To help prevent fatal auto accidents from occurring in snowy weather and icy conditions, Forbes.com offers a list of 10 common driving mistakes that can prove fatal in the wintertime:

1) Not checking the weather before you get in the car.
2) Driving too fast under current weather conditions. This can cause a driver to lose control of the vehicle on slippery roads.
3) Following too closely behind the vehicle or snowplow equipment in front of you. Allow greater distance between you and the other motorist than you would when there isn’t snow on the road. Do not drive using cruise control when the conditions are wet.
4) Overcorrecting your car on ice.
5) Driving while you’re tired.
6) Driving when there’s poor visibility.
7) Failing to get the car winter ready. Also, make sure you have an extra key that is easily accessible in the event that you get locked out of your vehicle.
8) Driving on back roads.
9) Not carrying an emergency tool with you, such as jumper cables, a spare tire, water, dried food, a cell phone, and warm clothing.
1) Leaving your vehicle if your car stops, which could be the warmest place for you to be.

According to a University of California, Berkeley, School of Public Health study:
• Poor weather is a factor in 1.5 million of the car accidents that occur every year, resulting in 800,000 injuries and 7,000 deaths.
• Almost 20% of highway deaths involved poor weather as a factor.
• Driving the day after the year’s first winter storm is the most dangerous day of the year to operate a motor vehicle.

The National Safety Council recommends a number of safety tips for winter driving, including:
• Tune your engine.
• Check your battery.
• Make sure the fluids in your car are at the correct levels.
• Make sure your car is equipped with the proper equipment, including tire chains, a snow scraper, and a snow shovel.
• Have first-aid supplies and a compass with you.

In Depth: 10 Deadly Mistakes Of Winter Driving, Forbes.com

Safe Winter Driving

Related Web Resources:
All-Weather Driving Tips, Road & Travel Magazine

Baltimore, Maryland Weather, Maryland Weather

Continue reading "Maryland and Washington DC Drivers Should Watch Out for 10 Fatal Winter Driving Mistakes" »

In Maryland, there is a new bill that proposes the automatic six-month driver’s license suspension of any underage driver who is convicted of the illegal possession of alcohol. It would also then take the offender six more months than usual to get his or her license back. According to Maryland State Highway Administrator Neil Pederson, there are studies that indicate that “use and lose” laws compel young drivers to change their behavior so they don’t risk losing their driving privileges.

Another bill addresses the issue of Probation Before Judgment, which lets someone avoid a conviction and accompanying penalty points if he or she fulfills the terms of probation or the required treatment. The proposal would let people arrested and charged with drunk driving to be eligible for probation before a court judgment every 10 years rather than the current every 5 years.

A third bill calls for making it mandatory for Maryland police to ask any driver involved in a catastrophic or fatal auto crash to take a drunk driving test. This information would not be admissible in court but it would allow researchers to determine the role alcohol or drugs play in deadly motor vehicle accidents. Motorists, however, would not be punished for refusing to take the test. Currently, law enforcement officers are supposed to conduct drunk driving tests following serious auto accidents only when they believe a motorist was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

According to Washington Regional Alcohol Program President Kurt Erickson, about 220 people a year died in drunk driving accidents between 2004 and 2007.

Drunk driving is a leading cause of motor vehicle deaths in the United States. The more state and federal governments can do to discourage people from getting behind the wheel and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs the better.

In the event that you or someone you love was injured by a Maryland drunk driver, you may be entitled to receive personal injury compensation for your injuries, pain and suffering, and other losses.

Safety Activists Hopeful About Drunken Driving Bills, Washington Post, February 12, 2009

Maryland Drunk Driving Fines and Penalties

Related Web Resources:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Maryland General Assembly

Continue reading "New Maryland Drunk Driving Bills Focus on Underage Drivers and Repeat Offenders" »

In a deadly Maryland motor vehicle crash that left the vehicle split in two, one Montgomery County high school student is dead and the other has serious injuries. The accident occurred on Sunday afternoon in Rockville.

The driver of the vehicle, 17-year-old Silver Springs resident Johvanny Garmendez, reportedly lost control of the vehicle, which raced down a hill and struck a tree. Garmendez survived the Maryland auto crash with critical injuries. His passenger, 17-year-old Rockville resident Thiago Andrade, was thrown from the 2003 Toyota Camry and pronounced dead at the accident site.

The Camry they were riding in split into two sections after striking a tree. Both parts rolled down the hill separately before landing in an apartment complex parking lot. Another car in the lot was damaged.

Police are trying to determine the cause of the auto crash. According to witnesses, the vehicle was driving at about 45 mph above the speed limit.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s 2007 Young Drivers (Ages 15 – 20) Traffic Safety Facts

• 6,982 young drivers were involved in auto accidents where there was at least one fatality.
• 3,174 young drivers died in auto accidents.
• 252,000 others were injured.
• 1,631,000 young drivers were involved in auto crashes in which the police became involved.
• 4% of young drivers involved in auto accidents resulting in injuries had been drinking.

Driver distraction, drunk driving, and driver inexperience are just some reasons why young drivers are involved in auto accidents.

According to the Choose Safety for Life Web Site:
• Nearly 20,000 Maryland auto accidents in 2006 involved young drivers.
• That same year, there were 102 auto accidents involving young Maryland drivers that resulted in fatalities.

1 Student Killed, 1 Hurt In Crash That Halved Car, Washington Post, February 2, 2009

Young Drivers, Traffic Safety Fact Sheet, NHTSA

Young Drivers, Choose Safety for Life

Related Web Resources:
Latest on New Driver Issues, NHTSA

Maryland Teen Drivers, DMV.org

Continue reading "As Maryland Motor Vehicle Collision Splits Car in Half, One Montgomery County Student Dies and The Other Teen is Critically Injured " »

A bill that is calling for a Maryland reckless driving law would make it easier to prosecute reckless drivers if passed. The proposal calls for drivers who were responsible for causing a motor vehicle fatality because they exhibited negligence leading to “substantial risk” of safety to be charged with a misdemeanor crime. The penalty would be up to three years in jail.

Maryland Delegate Luiz R.S. Simmons (D-Montgomery) has been pushing for this law for five years. He claims that the state’s standard for proving vehicular homicide is too high.

Currently, some 30 US states have laws that allow reckless driving charges even if the driver did not exhibit “gross negligence.” The bill has died every year so far because the House Judiciary Committee chairman, Del. Joseph F. Vallario, has not called for a vote on the matter.

This week, Mary Gray, the mother of a 20-year-old man who died after he was hit by an off-duty Prince George’s County police officer, testified in Annapolis in support of the reckless driving bill. Officer Mario Chavez, who admitted to drinking on the night before the deadly Maryland auto crash, was not charged in her son's death.

The state’s attorney for Prince George’s County found that there was insufficient evidence to charge the police officer with vehicular manslaughter, which is an offense that requires proof that the driver was grossly negligent. Instead, Chavez was issued a traffic ticket for the deadly December 2007 accident.

Now Brian’s family is suing Chavez and Prince George’s County for his wrongful death.

Reckless Driving
While state laws can vary in terms of how incidents of “reckless driving” are defined and criminally prosecuted, there is no doubt that driving carelessly or recklessly can lead to serious motor vehicle accidents resulting in personal injury or wrongful death. Driving at excessive speeds, drunk driving, and other reckless acts can be grounds for a Maryland wrongful death lawsuit if someone else dies as a result.

Reckless Driving Law Is Urged, Washington Post, January 29, 2009

Mother Waits For Answers In Crash That Killed Son, WUSA9.com, May 17, 2008

Related Web Resources:
Wrongful Death, Justia

Maryland State Highway Administration

A deadly multi-auto collision on I-70 in Washington County on Monday has resulted in multiple injuries and at least two fatalities. Maryland State Police say at least 7 tractor-trailers and 35 passenger cars were involved in the midday accident.

About 45 people were taken to a Red Cross shelter following the crash, which police are partially attributing to the snowy weather. Many of the accident survivors sustained bumpers and bruises. Some 12 people who were seriously injured were transported to Washington County Hospital.

The 40-plus auto pileup was just one of several Maryland multi-vehicle accidents to occur on icy roads. In Harford County, some 20 auto accidents had occurred by yesterday night, including a four-auto collision and another accident involving a car striking a guardrail.

Multi-Vehicle Accidents
Filing a claim for injuries you sustained during a multi-motor vehicle crash can be a complicated process and one that may require the insight of an experienced Maryland motor vehicle attorney with the knowledge and resources to pursue your compensation.

There may be multiple liable parties. There may be key evidence that can only be properly examined by accident reconstructionists and medical experts. A good personal injury attorney will have access to these experts.

Driving in Snow, Ice, or Rain
Even though poor weather conditions can contribute to causing a Maryland auto crash, there are steps that motorists can take to prevent auto accidents from happening.

• Decrease your speed
• Brake gently
• Turn on your lights during times of poor visibility
• Don’t activate your cruise control when the roads are icy

At least 2 killed, 12 hurt in I-70 pileup in W. Md., Baltimore Sun, January 20, 2009

Survivors say they're lucky to be alive, The Herald-Mail, January 19, 2009

Related Web Resources:

Car Accidents Overview, Justia

Driving in Snow and Ice, The Weather Channel

The National Safety Council wants all US states to ban motorists from using cell phones while driving. NSC CEO and President Janet Froetscher noted that talking on the phone while driving increases a driver’s chances of becoming involved in an auto crash by four times more than if he or she were driving without using one.

Currently, six US states have laws banning the use of hand held cell phones while driving:

• District of Columbia
• Washington
• California
• Utah
• New Jersey
• Connecticut

Seven US States have a ban on text messaging while driving:

• District of Columbia
• Connecticut
• Alaska
• New Jersey
• Washington State
• Minnesota
• Louisiana

While some localities within US states that do not have statewide bans have imposed their own cell phone restrictions, including bans on hand-held phones and text messaging and bans affecting teen drivers and school bus drivers, the states of Kentucky, Florida, Nevada, Louisiana, Oregon, Mississippi, Utah, and Louisiana prohibit their localities from imposing any such bans.

The NSC is quick to point out that just because someone is using a hands-free phone does not mean that he or she is now operating the vehicle safely. According to a Harvard Center of Risk Analysis 2003 study, cell-phone use while driving is a contributing factor in 6% of auto accidents each year. Some 2,600 deaths and 330,000 injuries result from such collisions.

According to a Nationwide Insurance public opinion poll, 81% of US drivers use a cell phone when driving. Froetscher notes that cellular phone use while driving is more dangerous than talking to a passenger who is in the same vehicle. While talking to a real person makes the driver aware that lives are at stake if he or she doesn’t drive safely, talking on the cell phone places the motorist’s attention not on the road and in the present moment but elsewhere.

In addition to pushing for a change in current driving laws, the NSC is advocating more education about the dangers that come from driving with a cell phone, as well as better training.

National Safety Council Calls for Nationwide Ban on Cell Phone Use While Driving, NSC.org, January 12, 2009

Safety council urges ban on cell phone use while driving, CNN.com, January 12, 2009

Related Web Resources:

Maryland Cell Phone Law, DMV.org

Washington D.C. Hands-Free Law, Driving Laws.org

Cell Phone Driving Laws, Governors Highway Safety Association

Continue reading "National Safety Council calls for nationwide ban on cell phone use while driving" »

In Maryland, the State’s Attorney for Prince George’s County says that police officer Mario Chavez will not be prosecuted for vehicular manslaughter in the Maryland car accident death of Brian Gray. The 20-year-old Bowie resident died in December 2007 when his vehicle was struck by the police car driven by Chavez, who did receive a speeding ticket for his role in the auto crash.

A police probe placed responsibility for the traffic collision on both Chavez and Gray. Their investigation concluded that Chavez was speeding, driving 50mph in a 20mph area zone, and that Gray, who was coming out of an intersection, pulled out in front of the police officer’s vehicle.

During his deposition, Chavez, 30, said he consumed several drinks the night before the deadly car accident and spent the night at a friend’s house. He was returning home to get ready for work when the auto crash happened early the next morning. Following the fatal motor vehicle collision, Gray’s family sued Prince George’s County and Chavez for wrongful death. They are seeking $2 million.

According to county state’s attorney Glenn F. Ivey, a person cannot be prosecuted for vehicular manslaughter just for speeding in Maryland and that another factor, such as drunk driving, purposely ignoring others’ safety, or speed racing, has to be present for there to be the possibility of gross negligence. Ivey says that although Chavez drank the night before, there was no evidence that he was intoxicated on the morning of the accident.

Ivey also reiterated that the fact that Chavez is a police officer is not the reason that he won’t be prosecuted. He expressed hope that the Maryland General Assembly would lower the state’s high standards for prosecution. New legislation, proposed by Del. Luiz R.S. Simmons, would allow for a misdemeanor charge to be filed if a driver causes an auto crash while engaged in actions that pose a “substantial risk” to the safety of others.

In October, another Prince George’s County police officer was acquitted following a 120mph pursuit of a motorcyclist. The high-speed chase left two people dead and 15 others injured. Meantime, Chavez continues to work as a Prince George’s County police officer.

Officer involved in fatal accident will not be prosecuted, Gazette.net, December 30, 2008

Md. Will Not Indict Officer in Car Crash, Washington Post, December 13, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Prosecutors fight for changes in traffic laws, SoMDNews.com, November 12, 2008

Beltway Chase Wasn't Called In, Sources Say, Washington Post, June 22, 2007

A new study shows that starting the school day a little later may reduce the chances of teen car crashes, personal injuries, and death. A later school start time allows teens to sleep more in the morning, which, researchers say, leads to more alert driving.

By moving the beginning of classes at local high schools by 1 hour from 7:30 am to 8:30 am, researches saw a 16.5% drop in teen auto accident rates.

Psychologist Fred Danner, who coauthored the study, says adolescents are biologically programmed to stay awake an hour later every night. Danner says teens in general need 8-9 hours of sleep. If teens gets an hour less sleep during school nights, by the week’s end, they can be as impaired as if they had stayed awake for 24 hours in a row.

The study surveyed 10,000 kids, in grades 6 through 12, to determine sleep habits, auto accidents, and daytime functioning. Surveys were conducted twice. In 1998, when the school start time was at 7:30am and in 1999, when school would start at 8:30am. The study appears this week in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.

According to the National Sleep Foundation:

• Driver fatigue is the cause of 100,000 motor vehicle crashes each year.
• More than 50% of the drivers involved in these crashes are young drivers, ages 16 to 25.
• 85% of teenagers get less than 8 ½ hours of sleep each night.
• Drowsy driving after not having slept for 18 hours is the equivalent of drunk driving with a BAC of .08% or more.
• Not getting enough sleep can impair a person’s ability to make decisions, think clearly, and pay attention. It can also impair one’s reflexes.

A 2006 survey found that 51% of high school students have driven a motor vehicle when they were drowsy. Out of 262 college students that were surveyed, 17% of them admitted to falling asleep while driving.

Later School Start Time Cuts Teens' Car Crash Risks, Washington Post, December 15, 2008

National Sleep Foundation

Related Web Resources:

Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine

NHTSA

Continue reading "Teen Car Accidents May Be Reduced with Later School Start Time, Says Study" »

According to AAA Mid-Atlantic, fewer Maryland motorists are expected to travel long distances this Thanksgiving than the number of Marylanders who traveled last year. While AAA estimates that 795,200 Maryland residents will travel no less than 50 miles, this figure is 1.5% lower than the number of travelers during Thanksgiving 2007. This is also reportedly the first time that there has been a drop in the number of people traveling for Thanksgiving since 2002.

Additional AAA figures involving Maryland motorists include:

• Some 650,000 Marylanders will travel by car.
• About 84,000 will ride in planes.
• Travel by bus and train are expected to be more popular modes of transportation this year than in 2007.

Even if the roads are less crowded this holiday weekend than they have been in past, many people are still expected on Maryland and other US roads. This is one reason why it is so important that drivers exercise caution to prevent motor vehicle accidents—especially if there is rain or snow on the roads.

The National Safety Council provides tips for safe driving in winter-like weather:

• Make sure your engine is tuned-up.
• Consider using winter-weight oil.
• Adjust your bakes.
• Check your vehicle’s battery.
• Ensure that your wiper blades are cleaned and working correctly.
• Carry tire chains in your vehicle—just in case.
• Drive slowly—especially in ice or snow.
• Know how to driver your motor vehicle if it skids.

In the event that you or someone you love is seriously injured in a Washington DC or Maryland motor vehicle accident, it is important that you seek legal counsel before trying to work out a deal with the other party’s insurance company.

AAA: Fewer Marylanders plan to travel for Thanksgiving, Baltimore Sun, November 25, 2008

Safe Winter Driving, Syracuse.com/The National Safety Council

Related Web Resources:

Maryland Weather

AAA Mid-Atlantic

Continue reading "Even Though AAA Mid-Atlantic Expects There To Be Less Maryland Drivers Traveling This Thanksgiving, Motorists Should Still Exercise Caution to Prevent Motor Vehicle Accidents " »

A Delmar woman died in Dorchester County on Friday evening after the car she was riding in was pushed into the back of a tractor-trailer by a Maryland state trooper’s car on Eastbound Route 50. Kristin Underkoffler was taken to Dorchester General Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

The 34-year-old driver was sitting in traffic in her 2008 Hyundai when Trooper First Class Paul Zimmerman’s patrol car slid on a patch of ice and struck her vehicle. Zimmerman’s sirens and emergency lights were activated as he headed to an accident scene at the Vienna Bridge.

Underkoffler’s car rotated clockwise before hitting the tractor-trailer’s rear. Zimmeran’s vehicle also struck the truck, but he only sustained minor injuries. He got out of his car to assist Underkoffler until emergency workers arrived at the auto crash scene.

The tractor-trailer driver was not hurt. The Maryland State Police says they still do not know what speed Zimmerman was driving when the crash happened, but a complete investigation is under way. Several other motor vehicle crashes had occurred that day because of ice on the roads.

Speeding and driver distraction are two of the leading causes of United States traffic accidents, and it is the responsibility of all motorists, including working police officers, to make sure that they do not endanger other motorists and pedestrians. Failure to obey the rules of the road and pay attention to pedestrians and other drivers can be grounds for a personal injury claim or wrongful death lawsuit if someone gets hurt or dies.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 314 people died during police chases in 1998. 2 victims were cops, 198 victims were the objects of pursuit, and 114 victims were not directly involved in the police chase.

Md. state police: Woman dies in crash with trooper, Examiner.com, November 22, 2008

Delmar woman dies after state trooper strikes her idling car, Baltimore Sun, November 22, 2008

High-speed police pursuits: dangers, dynamics, and risk reduction, Bnet.com, July 22, 2002

Related Web Resources:

Maryland State Police

Car & Driving Safety Tips, Nationwide.com

Continue reading "Maryland Woman Dies After State Trooper Hits Her Car, Pushing the Vehicle into a Tractor-Trailer" »

A Maryland car crash that led to the deaths of Katherine Brady and her son Wilson in Harford County last Friday could have been prevented if police had arrested the driver accused of causing the accident for fleeing the scene of another motor vehicle collision less than two hours prior, reports the Baltimore Sun.

While police maintain that they acted appropriately when they issued Christopher Lentz a summons after he failed to stop at the scene of the first auto crash he was involved in that day (leaving a traffic crash scene is not a mandatory arrestable offense in Maryland), others are questioning why he wasn't arrested.

The first auto accident took place on Route 152 in Joppa at around 3:30pm when Lentz allegedly drove across the center line and struck a minivan. Seven children who were in the minivan at the time of the traffic crash were transported to a hospital for evaluation.

The 37-year-old Glen Arm motorist then reportedly kept driving for half a mile until his vehicle became disabled. Police charged him with failure to stop at an accident scene, failure to drive right of center, failure to provide the other motorist with insurance information, and failure to control the speed of his car to avoid a crash.

Some 90 minutes later, Lentz, who was driving another motor vehicle, crashed a 2004 Jeep Cherokee SUV head-on into a mini-van on the Bel Air Bypass. Katherine Brady and Wilson, 8, died in the accident. Her husband Stephen, 2-year-old son Ian, another motorist, and Lentz were taken to hospitals for treatment of their injuries.

Lentz has a record of previous driving offenses. He has been issued a number of speeding tickets and his license has been revoked once and suspended at least twice. Thirteen years ago, he was convicted for driving under the influence.

Police say that they will likely charge Lentz for his involvement in the second crash.

Driver could have been arrested before fatal crash, Baltimore Sun, November 13, 2008

Maryland Mother and Her Son Are Killed and Four Others Are Injured in Multi-Vehicle Crash on Bel Air Bypass in Harford County, Lebowitz & Mzhen, November 9, 2008

Related Web Resources

Wrongful Death, Justia

Continue reading "Deadly Maryland Car Crash Could Have Been Prevented if Police Had Arrested the Driver for Leaving Another Accident Scene Less than Two Hours Prior" »

A deadly multi-vehicle accident in Maryland on the Bel Air Bypass in Harford County on Friday afternoon has left two people dead and four others injured. Maryland State Police have identified the deceased as Perry Hall resident Katherine S. Brady and her 8-year-old son Wilson.

Katherine and Wilson were riding in a minivan with her husband Stephen and their other son, 2-year-old Ian, when their vehicle was hit head-on by a Jeep. While Katherine and Wilson were pronounced dead at the crash site on US 1, north of the Vale Road overpass, Stephen, who had been driving the Saturn Relay minivan, was transported by medevac to Maryland Shock Trauma Center where he was admitted in critical condition. Ian was flown to Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, where he was treated and later released.

Police say that the driver of the Jeep Cherokee, Glen Arm resident Christopher Lentz, was driving on the should of the road when he lost control of the vehicle, crossed over the median, and crashed into the minivan before also striking a 2004 Ford van.

Lentz was flown to Maryland Shock Trauma for treatment of his injuries. The driver of the Ford was admitted to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center where, on Friday, he was listed in good condition.

Maryland State Police say they plan to press charges against Lentz for his involvement in causing the deadly auto crash on the bypass. Residents that live near the Bel-Air Bypass have called the road “risky.” Last year, one person died and another sustained injuries in another head-on crash on the bypass.

Charges likely in fatal crash, Baltimore Sun, November 9, 2008

2 die, 4 hurt in rush-hour crash on Bel Air Bypass, Baltimore Sun, November 7, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Motor Vehicle Related-Injuries, CDC

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Continue reading " Maryland Mother and Her Son Are Killed and Four Others Are Injured in Multi-Vehicle Crash on Bel-Air Bypass in Harford County" »

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1,670 of the 41,059 traffic fatalities that occurred in the United States in 2007 were child victims, age 14 and younger. 22 of those fatalities occurred in Maryland. 3 of the child traffic deaths occurred in Washington DC.

The National Center for Health Statistics says that auto crashes are the number one cause of death for children ages 8 to 14 and 3 to 6. Last year, 385 child vehicle occupants, age 4 and under, died in motor vehicle crashes.

More 2007 NHTSA Traffic Accident Statistics About Children, Age 14 and Under:

• 245 of the 1,670 child motor vehicle deaths involved at least one drunk driver.
• 130 of the 245 children that died in drunk driving accidents were riding with a drunk driver.
• Children, age 14 and under, made up 306 of the 4,654 pedestrian deaths last year.
• Drunk drivers killed 29 of these child pedestrians.
• 14,000 child pedestrians sustained injuries in traffic accidents.
• Young pedestrians were most likely to sustain fatal injuries between 4 and 8pm and noon and 4pm.
• 80% of pedestrian deaths involving this age group took place at non-intersections.
• 91 child pedalcyclists died last year.
• 10,000 child pedalcyclists were injured in motor vehicle crashes.
• Each day last year, 5 children in this age group were killed in traffic accidents, with 548 others injured.

Children are prone to catastrophic injuries anytime they are involved in a serious auto collision. While there are steps that parents can take to protect their young children from the impact of colliding with a motor vehicle—whether as an auto occupant, a pedestrian, or a pedalcyclist—accidents caused by negligent drivers or because an auto manufacturer designed a defective car or motor vehicle part do happen.

Children, 2007 Data Traffic Safety Facts, NHTSA

Related Web Resources:

Preventing Injuries to Children in Motor Vehicle Crashes, Safe Kids Worldwide

Kids and Cars.org

Continue reading "NHTSA Reports That 22 Children, Age 14 and Under, Died in Maryland Traffic Fatalities in 2007" »

US Transportation Secretary Mary Peters announced the latest national drunk driving-related death statistics. Peters noted that while the number of total DUI deaths has dropped significantly in 32 US states, half of the states experienced an increase in drunk driving-related motorcycle fatalities.

Overall, almost 13,000 people died in accidents involving motorists with a blood alcohol concentration of .08% or more—a drop from the almost 13,500 DUI victims that died in 2006. Peters noted that 1,621 motorcyclists that died in alcohol-related collisions last year—a 7.5% increase from the year prior.

Of the 12,998 drunk driver-related deaths that occurred last year:

• 7,283 of the victims where drunk drivers.
• 2,067 victims were riding with the drunk driver.
• 1,361 fatalities were motorcyclists that were intoxicated.
• 81 of the deaths were passengers of intoxicated motorcyclists.
• 1,431 victims were occupants of other motor vehicles.

The state that experienced the greatest drop in alcohol-related deaths was California, with 1,155 alcohol-impaired deaths in 2007 compared to the 1,272 fatalities in 2006.

States that experienced an increase in drunk driver-related deaths in 2007 included North Carolina, South Carolina, Massachusetts, Alabama, Maine, Montana, Alaska, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Delaware, North Dakota, West Virginia, Minnesota, Virginia, Nebraska, Ohio, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.

The number of drunk-driving deaths in Maryland for 2007 was 179.

DUI Fatalities Down Nationwide and in 32 States, Says U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters, NHTSA, August 28, 2008

2007 Traffic Safety Annual Assessment - Alcohol Impaired Driving Fatalities (PDF)

Continue reading "US Department of Transportation Releases 2007 DUI Death Statistics" »

In Prince George’s County, Maryland, three people were taken to local hospitals yesterday after a purse-snatching incident began a police pursuit that led to a multi-vehicle collision. The robbery took place early in the afternoon when a man jumped out of a Toyota Camry and grabbed a purse from the car of a woman who was pumping gas into her vehicle at a Largo service station.

The man then fled in the vehicle, which two other men were riding in. The woman contacted police. A police car that was chasing the suspects crashed into a motor vehicle close to Balboa Avenue and Gunther Street. The vehicle was seriously damaged in the crash and the two people riding in the car and the police officer were taken to the hospital for “a routine checkup.”

The cruiser also struck at least one car on Balboa and possibly two more. The suspects abandoned their vehicle close to Clovis Avenue before running off.

If you or someone you love was injured in a Maryland motor vehicle crash or if your vehicle or other property sustained damages in an auto accident that was another party’s fault, you may be entitled to personal injury recovery from the negligent party and his or her insurer. You may also seek medical attention for what initially appears to be a minor injury, but symptoms may later appear to indicate that your injuries are more serious than you thought.

Some injuries may require x-rays, surgeries, prescription medication, physical therapy, rehabilitation care, follow-up visits, and other costly medical care that you may not be able to afford without help. Your injuries may also keep you from work and affect your ability to earn a living.

5 Vehicles Damaged In Chase After Theft, WashingtonPost.com, September 1, 2008

Related Web Resource:

Maryland State Bar Association

Continue reading "Three People Injured in Prince George’s County After Police Pursuit Leads to Multi-Vehicle Crash" »

In Howard County, one person died and five others were hurt in a head-on crash on Thursday in Lisbon. Mt. Airy resident Milton Stanley Bowens Sr., 64, was declared dead at the scene on Frederick Road close to East Daisy Road. Three of the passengers that had been riding in his Ford Explorer with him, 44-year-old Adrienne Jones, and her teenage daughters Corin and Jasmin Disney, were sent to hospitals in serious or critical condition.

According to Howard County police, a speeding BMW crossed a double line a number of times in an attempt to pass other cars before crashing into the SUV. The driver of the BMW was 22-year-old Joel Nathaniel Wareham. Wareham and his passenger were admitted to Maryland Shock Trauma Center and were released on Friday.

Following Wareham’s release, he was arrested at his home. He has been charged with drunk driving and speeding.

If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident in Maryland or Washington DC, it is important that you speak to an experienced Baltimore personal injury lawyer first before trying to negotiate a settlement agreement with the responsible party’s insurance company. A good Maryland car crash lawyer can work with accident reconstructionists who can investigate the accident scene and determine who and what caused the collision.

Accident Reconstructionists
Accident reconstructionists are experts at taking physical evidence and examining clues from the accident site to reconstruct what happened before, during, and after the accident. Motor vehicle accident reconstructionists can determine who was speeding or whether the crash was caused by poor weather conditions, a defective product, or another factor.

The more evidence that your Maryland motor vehicle lawyer can gather proving the other party’s liability, the greater your chances of recovering the maximum recovery that you are owed.

1 killed, 5 injured in head-on collision in Howard Co., BaltimoreSun.com, August 15, 2008

Man charged in Howard crash, BaltimoreSun.com, August 17, 2008

Related Web Resource:

What is Accident Reconstruction?

Continue reading "Head-On Crash In Howard County, Maryland Leaves One Man Dead and Five Others Injured" »

On Sunday, two people died and two others sustained serious injuries in a two-vehicle collision in Montgomery County, Maryland at Lori and East Randolph Drives. Residents in the area say this fatal crash is a dangerous corner especially when motorists are driving too fast or speeding.

The deadly crash this weekend happened when a Honda Accord crossed a concrete median and crashed into a Toyota Camry. The driver of the Accord, Jose Reyes-Argueta, and one of his passengers, 19-year-old Kimberly Diaz, were declared dead at the accident scene. The other passenger was taken to a hospital with serious injuries. The driver of the Camry, Silver Springs resident Jabari Demessa, also sustained serious injuries.

Neighbors in the area want the government to do more to prevent such deadly accidents from happening. In 2003, the Maryland government spent about $500,000 to install median strips. Local residents want more median strips installed and they also want the speed limited reduced from 40 mph to 35 mph.

At least six people have died on the stretch of rode where Sunday’s accident occurred. Police are investigating the cause of the crash.

Speed Limits
Regardless of what the speed limit is for a road, motorists are expected to pay attention to the weather and road conditions and adjust their speed in order to drive safely. The proper speed limits are also supposed to be set for each road. While there are basic speed limits designated for Maryland’s streets and highways, the limits can be adjusted, however, depending on the actual road design and other conditions, such as whether there is a school nearby or motor vehicle crashes continue to occur.

In Maryland and Washington DC, our car crash law firm will send a team to the accident scene to determine the cause of the crash.

Two Killed in Montgomery County Crash, News8, August 4, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Speed Limits, Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

Continue reading "Two-Vehicle Crash in Montgomery County Claims Two Lives and Leaves Two Injury Victims" »

In Maryland, a grand jury has indicted Tavon Taylor and Darren James Bullock on eight counts of vehicular manslaughter, as well as charges of engaging in a speed contest and reckless driving. Eight people died in the deadly motor vehicle accident last February in Prince George’s County, while eight others sustained injuries.

The two men are accused of illegally racing each other on Indian Head Highway before they ran into the crowd that was watching another illegal race. The victims were among the many spectators.

While Maryland authorities have accused Bullock of driving his car into the crowd, they have refused to say whether Taylor struck anyone with his car. A surveillance camera shows Bullock and Taylor speeding with their headlights off at speeds as high as 110mph. At Taylor’s bond hearing this week, the prosecution accused Taylor of “repeatedly deceiving” authorities about what happened. The defense attorneys for both men say that their clients never meant to hurt anyone.

If you or someone you love was seriously injured in a motor vehicle crash because a motorist or someone else was negligent or reckless, an experienced Maryland car crash lawyer can investigate the crash scene to determine whether you are entitled to financial compensation for injuries, pain and suffering, and other losses incurred.

Speeding Facts

• According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 13,192 people died in speeding-related accidents in 2004.

• The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that after a number of states increased their speed limits in 1996, the number of motor vehicle deaths on Interstate highways increased by about 15%.

Driver Who Hit Crowd, Killing 8, Is Charged, WashingtonPost.com, July 30, 2008

Related Web Resources:
Speeding, Saferoads.org

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Continue reading "Motorist that Crashed into Crowd at Illegal Street Race in Maryland Charged with Vehicular Manslaughter" »

In Maryland’s Anne Arundel County, six people were injured on Monday morning in an accident involving a Ford pickup truck and a Honda Accord. Police say the driver of the Accord lost control of the motor vehicle and swerved into the opposite lane where it became involved in a head-on crash with the truck.

Edward Lawrence Paquette, the driver of the Honda, sustained life-threatening injuries. Rescue crews had to extricate him from the wreckage before he was transported to Anne Arundel Medical Center and later to Maryland Shock Trauma Center.

The truck’s front-seat passenger, Christine Oakes, also sustained life-threatening injuries. Gary Oakes and three children, also in the pickup, were taken to Johns Hopkins Hospital for their injuries. Police are investigating the cause of the crash.

According to the National Cooperative Highway Research Program, head-on collisions are happening more often and resulting in fatalities.

Data gathered from 2003 shows that there were 366 fatal cross-media collisions on US freeways that year. 2002 statistics report that there were 680 deaths related to these kinds of accidents.

There is no leading cause of head-on crashes. Driver fatigue, driver inattention, speeding, incorrect lane changes, and drunk driving have all been known to result in cross-over accidents.

Other Kinds of Vehicle-Related Crashes:

• Single car crash
• Rear-end collision
• Rollovers
• Multi-vehicle accidents
• Side collisions

In Maryland and Washington DC, our car crash lawyers have helped many motor vehicle crash victims obtain recovery for the injuries and losses they have suffered.

6 injured in accident on Ritchie Highway, BaltimoreSun.com, July 14, 2008

Freeways: Severe, head-on crashes and deaths are increasing

Related Web Resource:

National Cooperative Highway Research Program

Continue reading "Six People Are Hurt in Anne Arundel County Car Collision" »

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is taking a closer look at 21 General Motors truck and SUV models that were made between 2006 and 2008 over concerns of a potential fire hazard.

Over 2.7 million GM vehicles are part of the probe to see if a fire might ignite inside the engine when the ignition is turned on. According to the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), there have been 41 reports of non-crash engine compartment fires, with 8 of these incidents resulting in substantial property damage.

Investigators are looking at the engine, the electrical system, the battery cables, the circuit breakers, the fuses, wiring, and the engine cooling system as part of their probe.

Car Fires
Car fires can be deadly. In 2004, 520 people died as a result of a car fire in the United States, and there were 266,000 motor vehicle fires overall. While poor maintenance or involvement in a traffic collision can sometimes cause a car fire, fluid leaks, loose wiring, cracked insulation, or other defects can also lead to auto fires.

The burn injuries that can result when someone is hurt in a car fire can be excruciatingly painful, and a fire victim may need to undergo painful surgeries to recover.

If you were injured or your property was damaged in a car fire, our Maryland products liability lawyers can determine whether your injuries were caused by a defect in the car. A product can become defective if its design was defective or because of mistakes made during manufacturing. Your product also may have a defect as a result of negligent marketing.

Feds Investigating Engine Fires in GM Trucks, SUVs, US News and World Report, June 19, 2008

NHTSA Investigates 2.7 Million GM Trucks, SUVs, Consumer Affairs, June 17, 2008

New Warning to Be Issued About Deadly Car Fires, ABC News, October 12, 2005

Related Web Resource:

General Motors

Continue reading "NHTSA Examines 2.7 Million General Motors SUVs and Trucks for Potential Fire Hazard" »

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration needs more time to revise its auto roof standards. The deadline to toughen the current regulation setting standards, which are 35 years old, is July 1, but the NHTSA is allowed to ask the US Congress for an extension.

The NHTSA’s current proposal, introduced in 2005, requires new roofs to be able to endure a force equal to 2.5 times the weight of a vehicle, while allowing for enough head room protection for the average adult male. It also calls for testing both sides of a roof. The current standard calls for a roof to withstand 1.5 times it’s vehicles weight and the testing of only one side of the roof.

The auto strength regulations are designed to provide safety protection for people that are involved in rollover accidents, which account for 1/3rd of all motor vehicle fatalities. About10,000 people are killed in rollover accidents each year.

The NHTSA has said that increasing the weight standard to the proposed regulations should save 13-44 lives and prevent some 800 injuries annually. Opponents of the current proposal, however, say that the new proposed standard is not enough. Some critics also want the NHTSA to get rid of a provision in the new proposal that prevents injured plaintiffs from filing state injury lawsuits if the vehicle involved in the accident had met the new roof safety standards.

While motor vehicle rollover accidents can happen because of driver negligence, there are rollover crashes that do occur because of defects in the design or manufacture of a motor vehicle, including a poorly designed roof structure, an auto designed with a gravity center that is too high, and defective tires.

Our Maryland and Washington DC law firm has helped drivers and passengers injured in accidents obtain compensation from negligent auto manufacturers. We have the resources and experience to successfully take on your case.

New auto roof rules delayed, DetNews.com, June 23, 2008

`Roof Crush' Rule for Rollovers Faces Deadline, Bloomberg.com, June 17, 2007

Related Web Resource:
Roof Crush Resistance Proposal, NHTSA

Continue reading "NHTSA Wants to Delay Deadline for New Auto Roof Standards" »

In a South Laurel neighborhood in Prince George County, Maryland, residents are renewing their efforts to get officials to install speed bumps after a 7-year-old bicyclist was hit by a speeding motor vehicle earlier this month. The boy sustained serious head trauma.

According to the Montgomery County, Maryland Web site, 214 people died in speeding-related accidents in 2005—accounting for 35% of all Maryland motor vehicle deaths. That same year, 85% of all speeding-related deaths in the United States occurred roads other than US highways.

Residents say that this injury incident is just one more example of why measures need to be taken to slow down speeding drivers. They want speed bumps installed close to the residential areas—especially because so many pedestrians are students going to and from school. In some areas where there is heavy student traffic, there are no sidewalks to keep kids safe.

Briarwood Civic Association President Katrina Meza says that her efforts to have speed bumps installed have been rejected by the Department of Public Works and Transportation.

A Public Works department spokesperson says that a 2004 survey found that no speed bumps are necessary even after taking into consideration the amount of pedestrian traffic, the general speed of traffic, rush hours, and the hours of student commute.

If you or someone you love was seriously hurt in a Maryland injury accident, do not hesitate to contact our personal injury law firm right away. We can prove if a driver, a property owner, your municipal or state government, a doctor, a nursing home, a product manufacturer, or anyone else was negligent and could have prevented the injury accident from happening.

Accident revives push to slow speeding cars, Laurel Leader, May 22, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Speeding Facts

Speed Bumps

Continue reading "Prince George County Residents Calling for Speed Bumps After Car Hits Child Bicyclist " »

A survey by Vlingo, the voice recognition software company, found that one out of every three drivers in Maryland text messages when driving.

Maryland ranks fourth among US states with the worst text messaging driver offenders. 36% of all Maryland drivers reportedly send and receive messages via their cell phones while on the roads. Washington DC was not ranked in the survey.

According to University of Utah psychology Professor Frank Drews, motorists have a 50% greater chance of becoming involved in a motor vehicle accident while talking on cell phones and driving at the same time. A driver has a six-fold chance of getting into a car accident when text messaging. Professor Drews’s study involved college students in controlled driving situations.

Across the United States, 28% of people that use cell phones say they send text messages when driving their automobiles. 50% of teen drivers say they text message while on the road. 52% of 20 to 29-year-olds are also guilty of this bad habit.

Currently, Maryland bans teen motorists from using cell phones at all while driving. The Insurance Information Institute Report cites that the two dangers associated with cell phones while driving is that 1) people inevitably take their eyes off the road and 2) their driving ability is seriously impaired because they are not concentrating on the road or observing the other vehicles and pedestrians.

A 2006 study released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that driver inattention within three seconds of an accident affected 80% of motor vehicle crashes and 65% of near collisions.

Please contact our Maryland auto accident law firm if you or someone you love was seriously injured in a car collision involving driver negligence.

More than 1 in 3 Md., Va. drivers text message while on the road, Examiner.com, May 22, 2008

Cell Phones and Driving, Insurance Information Institute, May 2008

Related Web Resource:

State Cell Phone Driving Laws, Governors Highway Safety Association

Driving While Texting: A Clear Danger, CBS News, November 22, 2006

Vlingo

Continue reading "Survey Shows that 1 out of every 3 Motorists in Maryland Text Message While Driving" »

A deadly Maryland car accident during yesterday’s rush hour on US 1 in Jessup involving a truck and a Nissan Altima has left four people dead and a 4-year-old girl and two adults injured. The fatalities are an infant girl, two women, and the driver of the car.

The 4-year-old was reportedly in critical condition when she was transported by air to Johns Hopkins Children's Center in Baltimore. The truck driver and his passenger, both employees of a liquor company, sustained minor injuries and were transported to Howard County General Hospital for medical attention.

According to witnesses, the Altima crossed over the double yellow-line in the middle and ran head-on into the truck. Howard County Police say they do not expect to file criminal charges against the truck driver.

Residents in the area say that this stretch of US 1 is a common site for car accidents. One Brentwood Manor resident says that at least seven motor vehicle crashes have occurred in less than two years. Others in the area say that crashes and rear end accidents occur monthly.

Other residents cited heavy traffic and the 50 mph speed limit as reasons for why the strip of freeway is a common scene for auto collisions. Other residents say that installing a traffic light could decrease the number of motor vehicle accidents at the intersection.

The State Highway Administration says that it has not received any requests to examine the stretch of road.

If someone you love has died in Maryland or Washington D.C. in an auto accident that you believe was caused by a negligent driver or because the proper traffic signs and signals or other safety measures were not put in place, one of our Maryland auto accident lawyers can explore the merits of your case. You may be entitled to personal injury compensation.

Examples of hazards on a road that can be remedied:

• Fixed objects on a road, such as trees and open culverts
• Potholes
• Roads that need resurfacing
• Confusing traffic signs
• Improperly designated construction zones

Jessup crash on U.S. 1 kills 4, Baltimore Sun, April 23, 2008

Howard Co. Police Investigate Fatal Jessup Crash, WJZ.com, April 23, 2008

Related Web Resource:

Howard County, Maryland

Continue reading "Howard County Residents Says Stretch of US 1 in Jessup Where Four People Died in Car-Truck Collision is Scene of Many Maryland Auto Accidents " »

An 11-month girl was injured after she was struck by a van that collided with an MTA light rail train on Thursday in Downtown Baltimore, Maryland. She was taken to Johns Hopkins Hospital’s pediatric center.

The driver of the van was a U.S. Naval Academy midshipman. He also was taken to a local hospital but did not sustain any serious injuries. Several light rail passengers are reporting injuries from the accident.

The motor vehicle collision occurred early in the morning. The van reportedly ran a red light and was struck by the MTA light rail train. The force of the collision caused the van to spin onto the sidewalk and strike the stroller with the toddler in it.

If you believe that someone you love was seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident, you should contact our Maryland personal injury law firm right away. Our motor vehicle accident attorneys also handle cases involving injuries to minors.

Running a Red Light
Running a red light is a commonly occurring traffic violation that can lead to serious injuries for other drivers and pedestrians and cause serious property damage to motor vehicles involved in any related collisions.

According to the NHTSA, there were over 3,500 traffic accidents in Maryland involving red light violations in 1995—resulting in 34 fatalities and 4,256 injuries. Maryland is one of a handful of U.S. states that use red-light cameras in a few areas—including Montgomery and Prince George’s counties—in an effort to prevent people from running red lights.

Types of Accidents from Running a Red Light, include:
• Colliding with cars coming from the left or ride side of the driver’s path that now have green light authorization to move forward.
• Striking a pedestrian.

Rail commute delayed, several injured in downtown collision, Baltimore Sun, March 20, 2008

Red Light Violations in Maryland, NHTSA

Related Web Resources:

D.C. Red-Light Cameras Fail to Reduce Accidents, Washington Post, October 4, 2005

Red Light Running, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

Continue reading "1 Toddler and Several Others Injured When MTA Train and Van Collide in Baltimore, Maryland" »

General Motors Corporation will pay an undisclosed settlement amount to California resident Michael Samardzich, whose left eye was ruptured and became permanently blind when the GMC Yukon that he was a passenger in collided with another motor vehicle on July 7, 2006. The teenager filed a products liability claim against the auto manufacturing giant for his injuries.

The force of the crash shattered the side passenger window of the SUV and the pieces of glass damaged Samardzich’s eye. Police reports indicate that he was wearing a seatbelt when the auto accident occurred.

Personal injury attorneys for Samardzich say that the teenager would not have suffered the permanent loss of vision if GM had made the passenger window with laminated glass instead of tempered glass, which is less costly and is known to break and shatter more easily.

The fragility of tempered glass can be a problem when a motor vehicle crash occurs. Not only can pieces of glass cut the victim’s skin or get into their eyes or other organs, but passengers in a vehicle have a greater chance of being thrown from the vehicle if the glass in the side windows is shattered.

Auto manufacturers know that laminated glass is the stronger glass, which is why this type of glass is used in the windshields of all motor vehicles sold in the United States.

In Maryland and Washington D.C., our personal injury law firm represents clients that have been injured in motor vehicle accidents caused by negligent drivers, defective auto parts, and other negligent parties.

Defective auto parts cases may involve:

• Defective tires
• Seat back failure
• Auto recalls
• SUV rollovers
• Faulty air bags
• Roof crushes
• Gasoline tank explosions
• Defective door latches
• Defective seat belts

General Motors Agrees To Settle Automobile Defect Claim For Undisclosed Sum, RTT News, February 20, 2008

General Motors Settles in Auto Defect Claim; Plaintiff Claimed Laminated Sidelites Would Have Protected Him, GlassBytes.com

Related Web Resource:

Coalition for Auto Glass Safety and Public Awareness

Continue reading "General Motors Settles Auto Defect Injury Claim Involving GMC Yukon" »

Test results conducted by the Insurance Institute For Highway Safety found that the stronger the SUV’s roof, the lower the risks of serious injury or death.

The IIHS tested 11 sport utility vehicles and found that the stronger roofs had a 39%-57% lower injury risk than SUVs with weaker roofs.

The IIHS says that over 200 lives could have been saved in 2006, during rollover accidents, if the SUVs had better roofs. 35% of motor vehicle deaths involve rollover crashes, with 60% of these rollovers involving SUVs.

The SUV’s roof that received the highest strength rating was the 2000-2004 Nissan Xterra. The SUV’s roof that received the lowest strength rating was the 1999- 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

A roof that crushes in during a rollover can cause serious injuries to passengers, who can sustain traumatic brain injuries or traumatic brain injuries when struck by the crushed roof.

Examples tragic SUV rollover accidents involving crushed roofs:

• Tyler Moody, 18, died of "positional asphyxiation “during an SUV rollover crash. His family’s wrongful death attorneys said the crushed roof cut off his breathing.

• Recently, a California appeals court ordered Ford to pay a paralyzed woman $82.6 million for injuries sustained during an SUV rollover also involving a crushed roof.

A trade group that represents Toyota, GM, Chrysler, and a few other auto makers, called the study flawed.

SUV Accident Facts from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

• Over 90% of SUV rollover crashes are single-car accidents.
• The most common kind of injury sustained in rollover crashes is head trauma.

In Maryland and Washington D.C., our personal injury law firm represents clients in SUV rollover accidents and other kinds ofproducts liability and car accident cases.

Report Says Weak SUV Roofs Are Deadly, U.S. News, March 13, 2008

Crash-test report backs stronger roofs on SUVs, USA Today, March 12, 2008

Related Web Resource:

Roof Strength and Injury Risk in Rollover Crashes (PDF)

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

Continue reading "Insurance Institute For Highway Safety Says Making Stronger SUV Roofs Could Save Lives During Rollover Accidents" »

A recent analysis by the Frederick News-Post of deadly accidents in Frederick County, Maryland found that a total of 150 deadly crashes took place on Frederick County roads between 2001 and 2006, with Md. 75 having a death rate of three times the national average.

8 of the 10 deadly accidents on Md. 75 took place on the 7.5-mile stretch connecting I-70 to Md. 26. Less than 10,000 automobiles drove through this area on a regular day in 2006.

These figures can be compared to the least-traveled part of U.S. 15 with over 15,000 vehicles a day and the least-traveled portion of I-70 with over 62,000 vehicles daily. However, considering the high volume of traffic on these roads, the fatality rates for Md. 75 is still lower.

Frederick County has a lower death rate than the U.S. and Maryland averages. According to the National Highway Traffic Administration, 42,642 people died in motor vehicle accidents in the United States in 2006. There were over 5,900,000 motor vehicle crashes that year.

The Maryland State Highway Administration says that over 90% of accidents occur because of driver error. Other causes of truck accidents, car crashes, bus collisions, motorcycle accidents, and pedestrian injuries include speeding, drunk driving, defective motor vehicle parts, poorly maintained automobiles, failure to obey traffic signs, failure to yield right of way, driving while talking on a cell phone or text messaging, aggressive driving, driving too slowly, improper lane changes, making illegal passes, driving through red lights, tailgating, and problems with signage.

Speed limit changes, hilly areas, and a range of at-grade intersections on MD 75 can also be contributing factors to some of the injuries and deaths that occur on this road.

Our Maryland auto accident attorneys have helped many injured clients recover compensation for their car crash injuries caused by a negligent driver or another party.

Fatality rate on Md. 75 is triple national average, Frederick NewsPost.com, March 2, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Frederick County, Maryland

National Highway Traffic Safety Administation

Continue reading "Report Offers Motor Vehicle Accident Death Rates in Frederick County, Maryland Between 2001 and 2006" »

At least eight people are dead and five others injured in Accokeek, Maryland, after a car accidentally plowed into a group of people watching an illegal car race on the side of Route 210—also known as Indian Head Highway—at around 3:30 in the morning in Prince George’s County.

One woman who was in the crowd, Crystal Gaines, was able to grab her daughter out of the way. Her father, William Gaines Sr., 61, had a broken leg. He was unable to move away in time and is among those who died.

While CNN is reporting that there were 50 people in the crowd, one witness told Newsday that about 200 to 300 people had gathered to watch two cars speed racing down the road. The people moved into the road as the cars drove away and that was when the accident happened.

Some people that were struck in the crash flew as high as 15 feet in the air. Police had to circulate photos of the dead bodies so that family and friends could identify their loved ones.

The driver, in a Ford Crown Victoria, says he did not see the crowd because the smoke from the cars racing away made visibility difficult. Crystal Gaines, however, claims that the driver did not have the headlights of the car on.

Her brother, William Gaines Jr. said the Ford was moving so fast that he didn’t see the car until it had struck the crowd. Another person may have been injured when a tractor-trailer, trying to avoid the accident scene, have also hit someone. The victims ages range from 20s to 60’s.

Street races are a common occurrence on Indian Head Highway—although the races usually involve motorcycles. Police have placed speed traps and radar in the area.

Car accidents can lead to fatal injuries for pedestrians—especially when someone is struck by an auto, bus, truck, or motorcycle that is moving at a fast rate.

Our Maryland motor vehicle accident law firm can determine who is liable for your injuries or the death of your loved one and help you deal with insurance companies and the other party or parties so that you can recover for your losses.

Missing 8 killed by car at illegal racing site in Maryland, Newsday, February 17, 2008

Missing Street-race crash kills 8 in crowd, CNN, February 16, 2008

Related Web Resource:

Missing Should you pursue a personal injury claim? Nolo

.

Continue reading "Eight People Killed in Maryland After Being Hit By Car During Street-Race" »

Five people were injured in Northeast Baltimore, Maryland on January 17 in a multi-vehicle collision. The accident occurred early in the morning on I-95, close to the divide with Interstate I-895.

Two sports utility vehicles, a box truck, and a work van were t involved in the crash. One person had to be extricated from the Jeep SUV by crew workers because part of the truck’s rear end had fallen on top of the Jeep.

A preliminary report by the Maryland Transportation Authority Police said that the Jeep and the box truck crashed into each other after trying not to hit the van and the other SUV, which had already collided with one another. The first accident appeared to have occurred because either the van or the SUV had stopped or slowed down.

One person was taken to Maryland Shock Trauma Center. Two of the other injured persons were taken to University of Maryland Medical Center. The other two victims were taken to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. The Maryland Transportation Authority Police said that the injuries were not life threatening.

Multi-Vehicle Accidents
If you are injured in an accident involving more than one motor vehicle, a good personal injury lawyer can help you identify the driver who was liable for causing the injury. If there was more than one liable party, your Maryland or Washington D.C. injury lawyer can determine that for you also.

Our Maryland and Washington D.C. law firm works with car accident experts who can determine the exact cause of your motor vehicle accident. We have helped many people obtain recovery for their injuries and we can determine how much compensation we should claim so that our injured clients have the financial resources that they need to get better.

Do NOT deal with the other party’s insurance companies directly or you may find yourself agreeing to a compensation sum that is less than what you are entitled to or need. Our car accident law firm can talk with all parties involved in the accident for you and make sure that your interests are protected.

Four-vehicle crash snarls morning traffic, Baltimoresun.com, January 18, 2008

Related Web Resource:

Maryland Transportation Authority Police

What to do after a car accident, MSN.com

Continue reading "Five People Are Injured in Multi-Vehicle Accident in Northeast Baltimore, Maryland" »

The Anne Arundel County fire department is reporting that five people were injured when an SUV crashed into a Chick-fil-A on Solomon’s Island Road in Edgewater today.

One of the injured persons, a 67-year-old man, sustained serious injuries and had to be flown to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center. A 6-year-old boy was transported to Anne Arundel Medical Center for treatment of his injuries.

Three Maryland state troopers who were eating at the restaurant sustained minor injuries and did not require medical treatment. The driver of the SUV was not hurt.

If you were injured anywhere in Maryland or Washington D.C. in any kind of accident caused by someone who was negligent, it is important that you retain the services of an experienced personal injury law firm right away.

Driver negligence, carelessness, inexperience, drunk driving, speeding, and vehicle malfunction are some of the common causes of truck accidents, pedestrian accidents, car crashes, and motorcycle collisions.

The Top Driving Mistakes that Leads to Motor Vehicle Accidents (GMAC Insurance):

• Multi-tasking while driving: Fiddling with the radio, talking on the cell phone, text messaging, applying make-up, and reading a magazine are not activities that drivers should engage in while driving.

• Failure to yield when turning left: Remember to yield to motor vehicles and pedestrians who have the right of way.

• Following to closely: There should be a two-second pace between vehicles in case you need to step on the brakes. The time cushion should be longer if there is rain or snow on the road.

• Backing up without turning to see what’s behind you: Your driving mirrors may not show you what is behind you. Make sure to look before you drive in reverse.

• Incorrect Merging: Learn to merge properly.

SUV crashes into Arundel Chick-fil-A, injuring 5, Baltimore Sun, November 20, 2007

Top Driving Mistakes that Cause Crashes, GMAC Insurance

Related Web Resources:

National Highway Transportation Safety Administration

Motor Vehicle Accidents, Fatality and Analysis Reporting System

Continue reading "Five People Are Injured in Maryland When SUV Rams Into Chic-fil-A in Edgewater" »

According to GMAC Insurance, one out of every six US drivers would flunk their driver’s test if they had to retake the test today. The GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test named New York as the state with the most number of drivers likely to flunk their tests, with Washington DC, Illinois, New Jersey, and Georgia also named close to the top of the list.

Gary Kusumi, CEO and president of GMAC Insurance Personal Lines, says that the two questions that the majority of test takers got wrong had to do with what to do when approaching a steady yellow traffic light and what the proper distance a driver should be behind the car ahead.

Other notable results from the GMAC test included the following:

• Drivers over 34 were the ones that would most likely to past their driver's test if they had to take their tests again.
• 55% of participants were unsure as to how many feet before turning left or right they should activate their turn signals.

Car accidents are frequently caused by driver inexperience, negligence, or carelessness. Speeding, drunk driving, failure to obey the driving rules, not paying proper attention, and drunk driving are common causes of motor vehicle crashes that can lead to serious injuries or death.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provides the following traffic-related fatalities in Maryland in 2005:

Prince George’s County, had twice as many traffic-related deaths than any other county in Maryland, Washington DC, or Virginia with 134 deaths. Baltimore County logged in at 73 deaths. Montgomery County clocked in with 44 deaths. Anne Arundel County had 54 deaths. There were 40 traffic-related fatalities in Charles County and 33 deaths in Frederick County. Carroll County had 21 deaths. Baltimore City had 34 deaths. Cecil County had 21 fatalities.

Car accidents can lead to broken bones, burn injuries, internal injuries, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and death.

If you have been injured in a car crash because of the negligent or careless actions of another driver, it is important that you try not to deal with the insurer of the negligent party by yourself. A good personal injury lawyer can protect your rights and make sure that you obtain the compensation that you are entitled to.

36 million drivers would flunk drivers tests, CNN.com, November 16, 2007

Prince George’s County leads region with 134 traffic deaths, Examiner.com, August 23, 2006

Related Web Resources:

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

2007 GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test

Continue reading "GMAC Insurance Says 36 Million US Drivers Would Flunk Driving Test" »

D.C. police say they have identified the motorcyclist that was involved in the high-speed police chase that resulted in a deadly multi-motor vehicle collision on the Capital Beltway on May 30. The crash resulted in the deaths of two people. 15 others were injured in the collision involving seven motor vehicles.

The woman who was a passenger on the motorcycle is the person that has reportedly come forward to identify the motorcyclist. According to over 20 witnesses and based on videotape and other evidence, Office Scott Campbell began chasing a motorcycle, driven by a man with a female passenger, down the Capital Beltway during rush-hour traffic. The high-speed pursuit at times reportedly exceeded 120 mph. The police cruiser eventually crashed into an SUV and other vehicles became involved in the multi-car collision.

Officer Campbell reportedly began chasing the motorcycle without notifying dispatchers—which he should have done. Kevin McDonald and Sidney Clanton, who were riding the SUV, were killed almost immediately. The car of an off-duty police officer also involved in the crash was also seriously damaged.

There is no word on whether criminal charges will be filed. The Prince George’s police department vehicle pursuit policy says that police officers can only engage in chasing a suspect if an officer has probable cause to believe that the person they are pursuing either injured or killed someone in a hit and run crash or physically violent or could become physically violent. According to police policy, police officers must prioritize ensuring the preservation of life over catching a suspect.

Statistics show that 300 people die every year in police pursuit-related accidents. Of these deaths, about 30% of the victims were innocent bystanders who were not even directly involved in the pursuit. Between 1994-2002, 102 bicyclists and pedestrians and 40 police officers were killed because of police chases.

If you or someone you love was seriously injured in a motorcyclist, because a car driver, truck driver, another motorcyclist, a pedestrian, a bus driver, a police officer, or any other party behaved negligently or carelessly, you may be able to file a personal injury claim or lawsuit to demand compensation for your injuries.

Motorcyclist Sought in Pileup Is Identified, Washington Post, October 27, 2007

Study examines crash fatalities from police pursuits, UW School of Medicine, April 16, 2004

D.C. Area Crash Kills 2, Injures 15, CBS News, May 31, 2007

Related Web Resource:

Police Pursuit Accidents

Continue reading "Washington D.C. Police Identify Motorcyclist Involved in Deadly Police Chase and Seven-Car Crash" »

Brian Boyle, a Maryland swimmer who was critically injured when his car was struck by a speeding dump truck three years ago is continuing his remarkable recovery from his catastrophic injuries. The 21-year-old will be competing in this weekend's Ironman World Championship in Hawaii.

In 2003, Boyle had been returning to his home in Welcome, Maryland after swimming practice when the devastating traffic collision occurred. The impact of the crash caused his heart to be knocked across his chest. He also shattered his pelvis and broke his clavicle and several ribs. Boyle also sustained head injuries and nerve damage to one of his shoulders. His kidney and liver failed, and his lungs collapsed. He experienced 60% blood loss and lost his gall bladder and spleen.

Boyle was placed in a chemically induced coma. He underwent 14 surgeries, 13 plasma treatmentsm, 36 blood transfusions. He lost 100 pounds.

Doctors said Boyle would never function normally again. Through hard work and proper medical and recovery care, however, Boyle has regained his ability to walk and talk. One year after the accident, Boyle enrolled in St. Mary’s College in Maryland where he is an honors student and a swim team member.

Now, Boyle is also getting ready to compete in the Ironman Triathlon World Championship, which is a 140.6-mile race that involves riding a bicycle, swimming, and running. He has already completed a half-Ironman race ( 70.3-mile triathlon).

Catastrophic Injuries
Catastrophic injuries are injuries that occur unexpectedly. They are categorized as catastrophic because when they happen the ramifications on a person's life are catastrophic.

Common kinds of catastrophic injuries include:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Serious burns
• Accidental amputation
• Serious eye injuries
• Neurological problems
• Multiple fractures
• Multiple broken bones

If you or someone you love is suffering from catastrophic injuries because of an accident that was caused by someone else’s carelessness or recklessness in Maryland or Washington D.C., you should contact an experienced personal injury lawyer right away.

A person who has sustained catastrophic injuries can increase his or her chances of recovery with the proper medical care and rehabilitation treatment. Costs for this type of care and recovery can be very expensive—possibly even unaffordable—without additional financial resources. A family whose primary financial caretaker has become incapacitated because of a catastrophic injury could find themselves in dire straits without help.

A good personal injury attorney will know how to assess your injuries so that he or she can determine how much recovery you and your family will need. Additional reconstructive surgery, ongoing prescription medication, and other special considerations will also have to be taken into consideration. A personal injury lawyer can work with the negligent party's insurance company to reach a settlement agreement or, if necessary, file a personal injury lawsuit to recovery damages.

Boyle meeting another goal in recovery from near-fatal accident, USA Today.com, October 11, 2007

Related Web Resources:

Brian's Story; Miracles Do Happen proving "Anything Is Possible", Cannondale.com, October 6, 2007

2007 Ironman World Championship

Continue reading "Maryland Swimmer Seriously Injured in 2004 Car-Truck Collision Will Compete in 2007 Ironman World Championship " »

Actress Lindsay Lohan will has been ordered by a judge to appear in court on April 7 for the personal injury lawsuit filed against her in an October 2005 motor vehicle accident.

The 21-year-old actress is being sued by the man whose van collided with Lohan’s Mercedes-Benz.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael L. Stern rejected a motion that said the lawsuit lacked legal sufficiency.

According to California Highway Patrol, Raymundo Ortega—the driver of the van—had been making an illegal U-turn. He is asking for at least $200,000 in damages from Lohan.

In his lawsuit, Ortega claims that Lohan was driving under the influence of alcohol and running away from the paparazzi when the accident happened. Ortega’s personal injury lawyer says the busboy became unconscious from the crash.

Lohan’s lawyer says that there is no proof that his client was drunk when the accident happened. Lohan and her female passenger suffered minor injuries from the accident.

Since 2004, Lohan has been involved in a number of motor vehicle accidents:

August 3, 2004: Lohan is sued for her involvement in a car accident.

May 31, 2005: Lohan is involved in a fender bender accident.

June 1, 2005: Lohan was in another car accident.

October 5, 2005: Lohan is in a car accident with a van that was making an illegal turn. In September 2007, the judge decided that the personal injury lawsuit against Lohan would go to trial.

November 7, 2006: Lohan is involved in a car accident where her motor vehicle “bumped” a paparazzo.

November 17, 2006: Lohan’s car crashes into a police car in London.

May 26, 2007: Lohan loses control of her car and hits a curb. She sustains minor injuries and is later arrested for DUI. Cocaine is found in her Mercedes.

July 24, 2007: The star chases her ex-assistant’s mother through Santa Monica’s streets after she takes over a white GMC. Lohan fails field sobriety tests and cocaine is found in her pocket. She is arrested for driving with a suspended license, a misdemeanor DUI, and felony charges of transportation of a narcotic and possession of cocaine.

If you or a loved one is injured in a car accident because another party was negligent, you should call a personal injury lawyer right away. Your attorney can determine whether you should file a personal injury claim or lawsuit against the negligent party.

Lohan Crash Lawsuit Will Go to Trial, AP, September 11, 2007

Lindsay Lohan to Visit Morgue, Complete List of her Car Crashes, 2snaps, September 13, 2007

Related Web Resources:

Personal Injury, NOLO

Continue reading "Lindsay Lohan Lawsuit Personal Injury Heads for Trial " »

Brielle Newland, a 19-year-old sophomore from University of Maryland Eastern Shore, died on Monday in a multi-car crash on U.S. 50 close to Tarbutton Mill Road in Talbott County.

She had been riding in a 2002 Hyundai Accent driven by Jacquell Dendy, a UMES student from Gwynn Oak. The car was going east when it crossed the center divide and hit a 2007 Honda minivan, a 2004 Jeep Wrangler, a Chevy Monte Carlo, and, after overturning, struck a 2004 Ford F-250 pickup truck.

Dendy, was seriously injured in the car accident and taken to Maryland Shock Trauma Center.

Her two other passengers, also form the Princess Anne university, were released from Memorial Hospital in Easton after being treated for lacerations and bruises. All four girls were college sophomores and had been returning to school after the Labor Day weekend.

Maryland State Police are investigating the crash and think that driver error might have been the cause of the fatal accident.

Driver Error

Driver error continues to be a major cause of motor vehicle accidents, even with graduated licenses for teen drivers. Although a driver may not have intended to cause a car accident or run over a pedestrian, the driver may have made mistakes or failed to obey certain rules of driving and the road that led to others being seriously injured or killed.

Some Examples of Driver Error:
•
• Failure to yield
• Not stopping soon enough
• Driving on the wrong side of the road
• Disregarding traffic signs
• Speeding
• Trying to pass a car in a “no passing” zone
• Turning on a red light
• Turning into the wrong lane
• Entering the freeway from a highway exit

If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in a traffic accident because another driver made mistakes, you could have grounds to file a car accident claim and obtain recovery for your loss, pain and suffering, and medical and recovery costs.

Fatal crash jars UMES campus, Baltimoresun.com, September 5, 2007

Related Web Resources:

University of Maryland Eastern Shore

Car Accident Injuries - Causes and Preventive Measures

Continue reading " Deadly Multi-Car Accident in Talbot County Kills One University of Maryland Eastern Shore Student" »

A Hagerstown man died on Monday afternoon in Ringgold Pike in northern Washington County when the 2005 Honda Pilot SUV he was riding in was struck by a Ford Explorer in a head-on collision. Paul Allen Vanderford died at the accident scene. The driver of his car was his 15-year-old daughter who had her learner’s permit.

A head-on collision is a frontal impact collision and considered to be a major cause of death in car accidents. The impact can be very violent.

There are several kinds of frontal impact collisions:

• Colliding with an oncoming vehicle (head-on crashes)
• Colliding with the back of a motor vehicle
• Collision with a nonmoving object
• Colliding with the side of another motor vehicle

The kind of motor vehicles involved, whether the vehicles were moving or stationary, going slow or fast, whether the vehicles involved had airbags, and whether passengers were wearing seatbelts are all factors in determining the severity of the accident and the kinds of injuries that can result.

When someone you love is killed in a car accident because another party was negligent, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim against the liable person or persons.

Other kinds of wrongful death cases may stem from medical malpractice incidents, airplane fatalities, other kinds of motor vehicle crashes, criminal attacks, products liability deaths, fatal exposure to toxic substances, and death while involved in a supervised activity or because of exposure to dangerous conditions at work.

In a wrongful death lawsuit, your case goes to a Maryland court. A judge and a jury will rule on the kind and amount of damages that you, the surviving family member, are entitled to. Lost inheritance prospects, funeral and medical costs, and loss of financial support and benefits are some of the factors taken into consideration when determining damage amounts in a wrongful death case.

Parents, children, and the surviving spouse are allowed to bring wrongful death claims in Maryland.

Two die in separate crashes, Herald-Mail.com, July 31, 2007

Related Web Resources:

Head-On Collisions

Summary of Wrongful Death and Intestacy Statutes (PDF)

Continue reading "Hagerstown Man Dies After Being Struck by an SUV in Head-On Crash in Maryland" »

A motor vehicle collision near Naylor Mill Road in Salisbury, Maryland led to several people being sent to the hospital and traffic in the area being delayed for close to an hour.

On Monday afternoon, an SUV and another motor vehicle crashed into each other in the left lane while traveling east on the Route 50 Bypass. One of the motor vehicles had tried to merge in from the right lane.

The collision forced the SUV over the median where it then overturned.

Emergency personnel from fire departments in Hebron, Salisbury, and Delmar all rushed to the scene to take the injured persons to Peninsula Regional Medical Center.

Police have charged the female driver that tried to change lanes with improper lane change. At least one accident victim had to be pulled from the accident scene.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a car accident takes place in the United States at least once every ten seconds. A motor vehicle-related fatality takes place in this country at least once every thirteen seconds. The majority of car accidents are caused by careless or negligent drivers.

Personal injury lawsuits can be filed against a negligent driver in a car accident if it can be proven that the motor vehicle driver acted carelessly and did not conform to the reasonable standard of care required by drivers in order to prevent car collisions.

If the persons who were injured by the negligent party can prove that the negligence or carelessness was the proximate and actual cause for the injuries, then liability in the personal injury case and the obligation to pay the victims compensation may result.

An actual cause finding shows that the motor vehicle victim would not have sustained those particular injuries unless the driver had acted negligently. Proximate cause shows that the personal injuries were naturally caused by the driver’s negligence or carelessness.

Bypass collision sends seven to hospital, Delmarvanow.com, July 24, 2007

Car Accidents Overview, Justia

Related Web Resource:

National Center for Statistics and Analysis of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Continue reading "Seven People Are Hospitalized in Maryland After Route 50 Bypass Motor Vehicle Collision in Salisbury" »

1 adult and 13 children were sent to local hospitals this morning after a school bus carrying 33 children to McDonough Day Camp collided with a Cadillac at Windsor Mill Road and Mayfield Avenue in Baltimore, Maryland.

The adult—a woman—was taken to Maryland Shock Trauma Center for observation. Four of the children were taken to North West Hospital. Nine children were brought to Sinai Hospital. All of the injuries are reportedly not fatal.

2002 statistic from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: 19,000 people were injured in bus accidents. 9,000 school bus-related injuries were reported in 2000. 16 of these injuries resulted in deaths.

Also, in 2002, the NHTSA says that “On average, over the past 11 years, school buses have been involved in over 26,000 crashes, resulting in less than 1,000 incapacitating injuries and slightly more than 7,000 non-incapacitating injuries and possible injuries to passengers.”

If a person is injured in a school bus crash because the bus driver, the bus company, another driver, or another party was negligent, the injured victim may be able to file a personal injury claim or lawsuit against the negligent party. Causes of school bus accidents can include driver negligence, a defective vehicle, improper maintenance, DUI, and inadequate safety.

Accidents involving school buses can be more complicated then injury accidents involving only cars or motorcycles, which is why it is so important to retain the services of an experienced personal injury lawyer.

School Bus Crash Sends 14 to Hospitals, Washington Post.com, July 18, 2007

Youths hurt in Balto. Co. school bus crash, Baltimore Sun.com, July 18, 2007

School Bus Fatalities and Injuries, NCSBS.org

Related Web Resources:

The National Coalition for School Bus Safety

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Continue reading "School Bus And Car Crash in Baltimore County And 13 Children Are Sent to Maryland Hospitals " »

Ruel Dempster, 19, has been charged in the manslaughter death of Montgomery County police officer Luke T. Hoffman.

Dempster is accused of DWI (driving while impaired) on April 25, 2007 in Wheaton, Maryland. Police officers tried to pull him over but he kept driving until he crashed his car in a parking lot. Dempster then got out of the car and ran. The officers pursued him on foot.

Officer Hoffman, who was one of the police officers pursuing Dempster through a dark area filled with trees, was struck by a police cruiser driven by Officer Stephen J. Wolsey. Hoffman died from his injuries related to the car accident.

Dempster is charged with reckless endangerment, failure to stop and provide identification after an accident involving an unattended car, fleeing and eluding police, and driving without a license.

According to police, Dempster says he did not stop when police ordered him to because he does not have a driver’s license. Police officers say that they could smell marijuana in his car. A cigar tube that contained marijuana was later discovered in Dempster’s apartment.

If you or someone you love has been critically injured in a car accident that was caused by another person, you should speak with a personal injury lawyer right away to see if you can hold the other party liable.

Legal liability in personal injury accidents stems from someone acting carelessly or negligently enough that an accident ended up taking place. The law then applies a basic rule: if someone in an accident acted less carefully than another person in the accident, the person who was less careful must pay for at least part of the damages sustained by the more careful person.

In addition to this rule of carelessness, legal liability is determined by at least one of the following simple propositions (Nolo):

• If the injured person was where he or she was not supposed to be, or somewhere he or she should have expected the kind of activity which caused the accident, the person who caused the accident might not be liable because that person had no "duty" to be careful toward the injured person.

• If the injured person was also careless, his or her compensation may be reduced by the extent such carelessness was also responsible for the accident. This is known as comparative negligence.

• If a negligent person causes an accident while working for someone else, the employer may also be legally responsible for the accident.

• If an accident is caused on property that is dangerous because it is poorly built or maintained, the owner of the property is liable for being careless in maintaining the property, regardless of whether he or she actually created the dangerous condition.

• If an accident is caused by a defective product, the manufacturer and seller of the product are both liable even if the injured person doesn't know which one was careless in creating or allowing the defect, or exactly how the defect happened.

Man Charged in Montgomery Police Officer's Death, Washington Post, July 14, 2007

General Rules for Proving Fault in Accidents, Nolo.com

Related Web Resource:

Types of Personal Injury Damages, Justia

Continue reading "Maryland Driver Indicted In the Death of Montgomery Police Officer " »

Kevin Stavely, a 17-year-old teenager from Sunderland, Maryland, died last Saturday in a single car accident in Huntington. Stavely was riding in a car being driven by 19-Year-old David M. Clark. According to police, Clark was driving under the influence of alcohol when the accident happened at Shelley’s Crossing and Walnut Creek Road.

Authorities say that Clark lost control of his 2000 Subaru, which left the road and hit the edge of a driveway before flying into the air, sliding across the road, hitting a curb, and landing in a ditch. Stavely, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was thrown out the back windshield. He was later declared dead at the accident scene. Clark and another passenger had both been wearing seatbelts and were not hurt in the crash.

Clark was allegedly speeding and intoxicated. He has been charged with homicide by motor vehicle while under the influence, as well as 10 other charges that include failure to reduce speed to avoid collision and DUI.

Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association Offers the Following National Teen Driving Statistics for 2005:

• Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers.
• 16 year-olds have higher crash rates than drivers of any other age.
• 16-year-olds are three times more likely to die in a motor vehicle crash than the average of all drivers.
• 3,467 drivers age 15-20 died in car crashes in 2005.
• Drivers age 15-20 accounted for 12.6 percent of all the drivers involved in fatal crashes and 16 percent of all the drivers involved in police-reported crashes in 2005.
• Graduated drivers license programs appear to be making a difference. Fatal crashes involving 15- to 20-year olds in 2005 were down 6.5 percent from 7,979 in 1995, to the lowest level in ten years.
• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates the economic impact of auto accidents involving 15-20 year old drivers is over $40 billion.
• According to a 2005 survey of 1,000 people ages 15 and 17, conducted by the Allstate Foundation:
o More than half (56 percent) of young drivers use cell phones while d