Maryland Accident Law Blog

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" »

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" »

In 2006, 96 pedestrians died in traffic accidents on Maryland’s roads. There are four areas where 70% of the fatalities occurred: Montgomery County, Baltimore County, Prince George’s County, and Baltimore City.

Maryland law mandates that drivers yield to pedestrians. However, this doesn’t always happen, and many pedestrians are injured or killed in car accident, motorcycle crashes, or truck collisions as a result. Out of the four problem areas highlighted, only Montgomery County has a plan to combat the problem of pedestrian accidents.

In Baltimore City, there were 16 pedestrian fatalities in 2006. 14 deaths took place in Baltimore County. 18 pedestrian fatalities occurred in Montgomery County, with 16 deaths occurring so far this year.

Installing new traffic signs, pedestrian traffic signs, and pedestrian countdowns, and adding education initiatives are some of the ways that pedestrian injuries can be reduced.

The high number of pedestrian deaths in Montgomery County inspired an initiative there that will include better pedestrian signals, the construction of several miles of sidewalks, and targeting careless drivers and jaywalkers.

Ways to Implement Pedestrian Safety in Your Area:

• Ask your delegate to create better crosswalk laws
• Teach children to cross roads safely
• Organize a pedestrian safety campaign

Although there are safety measures that all of us can take to avoid becoming injured in a pedestrian accident, there will be times when a negligent car driver, motorcyclist, or truck driver causes an accident that injures or kills a pedestrian. Traffic and pedestrian signs may malfunction or a motor vehicle may be unable to stop in time because of defective breaks.

If you are injured in a pedestrian accident anywhere in Maryland or Washington D.C., you should speak with a pedestrian accident lawyer right away.

Pedestrian deaths spur new initiatives in some counties, Gazette.net, December 20, 2007

Related Web Resource:

Maryland Strategic Highway Safety Plan

Pedestrians, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Continue reading "Pedestrian Fatalities Spur Call for Maryland Counties to Implement Safety Initiatives" »

Silver Spring resident Norma Almeraya-Soria, 35, died on November 21 after she was hit by a tractor-trailer in Montgomery County, Maryland. Almeraya-Soria was on the curb near the sidewalk at the intersection of Columbia Pike and Stewart Lane in Silver Spring when the axle of a tractor-trailer trying to make a turn broke.

Almeraya-Soria ended up under the trailer and died at the accident scene. Her body remained under the truck for a number of hours before it could be recovered. Police in Maryland are investigating whether a mechanical failure was responsible for the freak accident. The tractor-trailer, owned by Pet Valu, a Canadian pet store with branches in Maryland, was carrying pet supplies.

If you were injured in a tractor-trailer crash caused by another party’s negligence or carelessness or if someone you love died in a motor vehicle accident that was someone else’s fault, you should contact a Maryland or Washington D.C. truck collision lawyer right away to find out of you have grounds for filing a truck accident or wrongful death claim or lawsuit.

Mechanical failures and defective truck parts are among the most common causes of accidents involving large trucks. It is important to hire an experienced truck accident lawyer who knows how to determine whether a personal injury or wrongful death accident occurred because the breaks, the steering wheel, a tire, the engine, or another vehicle part was defective.

The owner of the truck is liable for making sure that the vehicle is properly maintained and operational before taking it out on the road.

A mechanical failure may be the fault of the truck driver, the truck owner, the maintenance shop, or the manufacturer. There may be more than one party that can be held liable for the truck accident injury or death.

2006 Truck Accident Statistics:

• 4,732 large trucks were involved in deadly accidents.
• 4,995 people died in accidents involving large trucks.
• There were 57,213 big trucks involved in injury accidents.
• 85,984 people were injured in accidents involving huge trucks.

Woman Hit, Killed In 'Freak' Tractor-Trailer Accident, MSNBC.com, November 22, 2007

2006 National Crash Facts, Ai.volpe.dot.gov

Related Web Resource:

Trucking Industry Statistics and Causes of Truck Accidents, Road Safe America.org

Continue reading "Maryland Woman Dies in “Freak” Tractor-Trailer Crash in Montgomery County" »

Victor Z. Kolako, the former metrobus driver who killed two female pedestrians on Valentine’s Day in a deadly motor vehicle accident, pled guilty to two counts of negligent homicide last Friday. As part of his plea agreement, prosecutors will pursue a prison sentence of no more than three years for Kolako.

Kolako, a Metro employee until he was fired after the fatal pedestrian accident, had been driving his Metrobus on Seventh Street NW on Valentine's Day when he turned left onto Pennsylvania Avenue. D.C. police say that Kolako did not yield to oncoming traffic on Seventh Avenue and did not see the two pedestrians that were crossing the street on a “walk” signal in a crosswalk.

The pedestrians, Sally Dean McGhee, 54, and Martha Stringer Schoenberg, 59, were co-workers at the Federal Trade Commission. They were also friends and lived in the same neighborhood in Alexandria. The two women were leaving work and were about to take the metro home.

Police say that the two victims were dragged beneath the bus. Schoenberg’s husband has filed a 50 million wrongful death lawsuit against Metro.

Since 2005, there have been eight traffic accidents involving pedestrians and Metrobuses at the intersection of Pennsylvania and Seventh. It is considered one of the most dangerous intersections in D.C.

According to Metro, during the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2007, 32 pedestrians were hit by Metrobuses. 5 people were killed in these traffic accidents. The most recent pedestrian-Metrobus collision took place on February 14 and involved a 21-year-old nursing student.

Metro says that Metrobus drivers are required to take part in a safety training program of 1-2 days each year.

The number of Metrobus accidents involving pedestrians is a growing concern. Last February, Metrobus General Manager John B. Catoe Jr. announced new measures to improve Metrobus safety and public confidence.

Catoe vowed to monitor Metrobus drivers and their driving records. He also said he wanted to increase the amount of street supervisors that manage driver conduct.

Just one day after Catoe’s announcement, however, Metrobus drivers were seen driving through red lights, talking on cell phones, blocking intersections, and going over the speed limit.

443,000 passengers ride on D.C.’s Metrobus system each day.

Metrobus Driver Pleads Guilty, Washington Post, September 8, 2007

Metro to Require Safety Training for Bus Drivers, Wtopnews.com, February 15, 2007

Metro Chief Vows Better Bus Safety, Washington Post, February 25, 2007

Related Web Resources:

Husband Sues in Fatal Accident, Washington Post, March 20, 2007

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

Continue reading "D.C. Metrobus Driver Pleads Guilty to Negligent Homicide in Wrongful Deaths of Two Pedestrians on Valentine's Day " »

Colin Matthew Cunningham, a 5-year-old boy, died on Saturday after being struck by a car. The Stevensville boy was running after a group of teenagers when he ran in front of a Jeep Wrangler on Whispering Woods Drive in a townhouse community in Annapolis.

According to police, seven teenagers had crossed the street to play football in a nearby open area. Colin ran after them. After the accident, he was taken to Johns Hopkins Children’s Hospital and later declared dead.

The 18-year-old driver of the Jeep had her 16-year-old neighbor and 14-year-old sister in the car with her. She stopped right after hitting the Colin.

Authorities say that the alcohol did not play a part in the car accident, but they would investigate whether she had been speeding.

Statistically, children—especially boys 5 to 9 years of age—are at great risk of being hit by a motor vehicle in a pedestrian accident. Many pedestrian accidents involving young children take place close to their homes, and pedestrian fatalities is one of the leading causes of injury and death for children.

Children frequently don’t have a great sense of danger. They also are not easily able to judge how fast an oncoming car is going. They also can be very impulsive and may run into the street without looking to see if a car is coming.

Saferoutesinfo.org offers a number of safety tips for children that are old enough to cross the street without adult supervision, including:

• Choose the route with the fewest streets to cross.
• Avoid crossing busy or high-speed streets.
• Be more visible to drivers by wearing bright clothing in the daytime.
• Always look for motor vehicles.
• Do not cross behind or within 10 feet of the front of a bus or other large motor vehicle because the driver can not see this area.
• Stop at the edges of driveways and curbs or edges of the street where no curb exists and look for motor vehicles before proceeding.
• Watch for parked motor vehicles that may be getting ready to back up or pull forward.
• Walk, don't run, across the street.
• If crossing the street at an intersection:
o Obey traffic signs and signals.
o When the signal indicates it is time to cross, check for motor vehicles. Drivers may not obey the rules and turning drivers may not look for pedestrians.
• Look to see if motor vehicles are coming.

Although children need to be careful when crossing the street, it is still the responsibility of car drivers, bus drivers, truck drivers, and motorcycle riders to exercise extreme caution when operating their motor vehicles.

If your child has been injured or killed in a pedestrian accident because a driver acted negligently by speeding, driving under the influence of drugs, or for any other reason, your child and your family are entitled to recovery compensation for pain, injuries, suffering, and other related losses.

Stevensville boy, 5, dies after being hit by car, Baltimoresun.com, August 20, 2007

Key Messages For Children, Saferoutesinfo.org

Pedestrian safety for kids and parents, Safety and Consumer Protection

Related Web Resources:

National Strategies for Advancing Child Pedestrian Safety, Federal Highway Administration

Pedestrian Injuries to Young Children

Continue reading "5-Year-Old Stevensville Boy Dies After Being Struck by Car in Anne Arundel County, Maryland" »

Maryland State Police say that Robert Michael Littleton, 19, struck and killed a jogger on Tuesday night while driving on Union Church Road in Salisbury.

Fred Kiviat, 67, was jogging northbound near the southbound shoulder when he was allegedly hit by Littleton, who was driving a Pontiac Firebird. Police say that the teenager’s car crossed the centerline and hit Kiviat from the back. Kiviat was declared dead at the accident scene.

Littleton faces criminal charges for being a minor in possession of alcoholic beverages and possession of a controlled dangerous substance. A blood test has been administered to Littleton, and he could end up facing other charges related to the car accident.

In accidents where a person has been injured or killed because another person acted negligently, the victim or the family of the deceased may be able to file a personal injury claim (or wrongful death lawsuit) against the liable party.

A personal injury lawsuit is a civil lawsuit. Unlike a criminal case, a civil lawsuit is a civil action that allows a plaintiff to file a complaint and obtain legal remedies. The lawsuit is argued over in a courtroom by personal injury attorneys representing both sides (the plaintiff’s side and the defendant’s side). If the plaintiff wins the lawsuit, the judge is authorized to award damages, issue injunctions, and enforce the rights of the plaintiff.

Maryland Vehicle Law says that pedestrians have a number of responsibilities on the road that can help them stay safe, including:

• Not leave a curb or place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle so closely that the driver cannot yield.
• "Use due care and caution" to avoid injury.
• Follow all traffic control signals, including not crossing once a signal light turns yellow.
• Yield if not crossing in a marked crosswalk, using "greatest care for his/her own protection.”
• Walk facing traffic if no sidewalk is available.
• Yield to emergency vehicles using audible signals.

Motor vehicle drivers must:

• Check for pedestrians "where they are expected"
• Warn pedestrians with a horn if necessary
• Exercise caution towards any child or "obviously incapacitated" pedestrian.

Jogger Struck and Killed by Car; Teen Driver Faces Charges, WBOC.com, July 18, 2007

Pedestrian Safety, City of Takoma Park

Related Web Resource:

Pedestrian Safety, FHWA Safety

Continue reading "Maryland Teen Driver Is Accused of Killing Elderly Male Jogger in Salisbury " »

The family of a 69-year-old woman killed in a hit-and-run accident collision last September in Rockville, Maryland has filed a $30 Million civil lawsuit.

Ketty Emilce Alvarado died after allegedly being struck by a bakery truck driven by David Marc Friedlander on the morning of September 26, 2006 at the intersection of Redland Road and Crabbs Branch Way. She had been walking in the area with her husband. Her body was dragged for more than a mile down Crabbs Branch Way Road after the crash.

Alvarado’s spouse and children are asking for $10 million dollars in wrongful death damages, $10 million in punitive damages, and $10 million in compensatory damages from the truck driver and H & S Bakery, the Baltimore-based employer that he works for.

Alvarado’s family is accusing Friedlander of either refusing to or neglecting to stop his vehicle and stay at the accident scene after hitting her with his truck. He is also accused of failing to return to the accident scene, notifying police of the accident, and calling medics to help Alvarado. The lawsuit claims that the driver acted with malice and left the accident scene on purpose.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety said in 2003 that 18% of Americans killed on roads are hit-and-run crash victims.

According to Deadlyroads.com:

“Walking is by far the most dangerous mode of travel per mile. Although only 8.6 percent of all trips are made on foot, 11.4 percent of all traffic deaths are pedestrians. And while the 2001 fatality rate per 100 million miles traveled is 0.75 for public transit riders, 1.3 for drivers and their passengers, 7.3 for passengers of commercial airlines, the fatality rate for walkers is an astonishing 20.1 deaths per 100 million miles walked.”

Following Alvarado’s pedestrian hit-and-run death, police asked the public for help finding the hit-and-run driver.

Friedlander is also facing criminal charges. Last February, a Montgomery County grand jury indicted him on felony hit and run for the deadly accident. He has been charged with two misdemeanor charges and two felony charges of Driver to Remain at Scene/Accident Resulting in Bodily Injury or Death.

Continue reading "Family of Woman Killed in Hit-and-Run Bakery Truck Collision in Maryland Files $30M Wrongful Death Lawsuit " »

A $10,000 reward is being offered by the Metropolitan Police Department for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the driver of a green SUV that struck and killed six-year-old Crysta Marie Spencer as she crossed 6th Street, NE, near Orleans Place on Monday. Witnesses say Spencer was knocked out of her shoes and thrown into the air after being hit. The driver then ran over her.

Stop signs and a temporary speed bump have been installed at the intersection where she died.

On Wednesday, the District Department of Transportation and the Washington Area Bicyclist Association launched the “Pace Car Program.” Drivers joining the program sign a written pledge to drive at the speed limit, which is 25 mph in most of the District.

According to Jim Sebastian, a DDOT coordinator, a victim struck be a motor vehicle has a greater chance of survival that if the vehicle had been moving at 25 mph instead of 40.

Some statistics and facts regarding injuries related to child pedestrians:

* In 2002, 599 children ages 14 and under died from pedestrian injuries.

* Of these, 460 died in motor vehicle-related traffic crashes.

* The majority of child pedestrian deaths and injuries are traffic-related. Although pedestrian injuries are not as common as motor vehicle occupant injuries, a disproportionate number of the injuries sustained by child pedestrians are severe.

* Children ages 14 and under are more likely to suffer pedestrian injuries in areas with high traffic volume, a higher number of parked vehicles on the street, higher posted speed limits, no divided highways, few pedestrian-control devices and few alternative play areas.

* Child pedestrian injuries occur more often in residential areas and on local roads that are straight, paved, and dry.

Enforcement of traffic laws, including apprehension of hit-and-run drivers, is effective in reducing traffic-related pedestrian death and injury.

Continue reading "Six-Year-Old Girl In Hit-and-Run Accident Becomes 10th Pedestrian Fatality in D.C. for 2007" »

In the Washington D.C. area, area police agencies and transit officials have launched a major campaign focused on reducing the amount of injuries and deaths among cyclists and pedestrians. The campaign was launched on March 20, 2007 in Thomas Circle by officials from suburban Maryland, the District, and northern Virginia. Called “Street Smart Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Campaign,” the program will include heightened traffic enforcement and a public education campaign.

According to recent studies, ¼ of people killed in the Washington area every year are either pedestrians or cyclists. In 2006, these two groups made up 40% of all highway deaths in the District. Officials say that 90 pedestrians are killed in the Washington area every year, while 3000 others are injured. At least 9 pedestrians have already been killed in the area this year.

Helmets.org provides a number of statistics related to bicycle accidents and injuries:

• There are 85 million bicycle riders in the US.
• 784 bicyclists died on US roads in 2005. 92% of them died in crashes with motor vehicles (720).
• About 540,000 bicyclists visit emergency rooms with injuries every year. Of those, about 67,000 have head injuries, and 27,000 have injuries serious enough to be hospitalized.
• Bicycle crashes and injuries are under-reported, since the majority are not serious enough for emergency room visits.
• 1 in 8 of the cyclists with reported injuries has a brain injury.
• Two-thirds of the deaths here are from traumatic brain injury.
• A very high percentage of cyclists' brain injuries can be prevented by a helmet, estimated at anywhere from 45 to 88 per cent.
• Many years of potential life are lost because about half of the deaths are children under 15 years old.
• Direct costs of cyclists' injuries due to not using helmets are estimated at $81 million each year.
• Indirect costs of cyclists' injuries due to not using helmets are estimated at $2.3 billion each year.

Crews have added countdowns at crosswalks at Thomas Circle to make the area safer, as well as clearly marked Metro bus lanes and bicycle lanes.

Officials say the safety crackdown will take place in different areas every six weeks. The safety campaign includes the use of billboards, bus advertising, posters, hand-outs, and radio campaigns.

Although there are safety precautions that you can take as a pedestrian or a cyclist, this does not necessarily make you immune to the carelessness or negligence of others on the roadways. Injuries to a pedestrian or a cyclist can be serious—even fatal.

Continue reading "Area Police Agencies In Washington D.C. Area Kick Off Street Smart Pedestrian And Cyclist Safety Campaign" »

In Washington D.C., A couple in their 20’s were taken to a local hospital last night, after they were struck by a light blue 4-door Honda Accord while they were crossing Wisconsin Avenue close to Tenley Circle. The impact of the car collision threw one of the victims 50 feet. Witnesses say that the driver of the Honda fled on foot.

Pedestrians who are injured on the road because a driver behaved negligently should speak to a personal injury lawyer right away and find out if they have grounds to file a claim for their injuries.

A Few Pedestrian Accident Statistics:

• 1 pedestrian is killed every 111 minutes in a traffic crash
• A pedestrian is injured every eight minutes in a traffic accident
• Nearly 5,000 pedestrians were killed in 2003

According to U.S. government statistics, there are close to nearly 700,000 hit and run cases annually.

A hit and run accident is an accident where the party that caused the motor vehicle accident did not stop at the accident scene but proceeded to drive or walk off. By law, people involved in car accidents or any other kind of motor vehicle accident are obligated to stop and exchange pertinent driver, vehicle, and contact information. If a driver hits a parked vehicle, he or she is required to take down any information (vehicle license number, car model, type of damage) about the car and leave his or her own details.

If a hit and run driver is later apprehended, he or she may have to face criminal penalties, as well as become the defendant of a personal injury lawsuit.

The victim filing a personal injury claim may demand compensatory damages, such as lost wages, medical costs, and other related or resulting expenses. Punitive damages—if it appears that the negligent party acted with malice or intent—may also become a factor in a personal injury lawsuit.

Continue reading "Two Pedestrians Are Struck By A Driver In Hit And Run Accident On Washington D.C.’s Wisconsin Avenue" »

Mary Dorothy Reinhardt, a Hagerstown resident, was hit by a 1993 Honda Del Sol in a pedestrian accident last Friday, while walking eastward on U.S. 40 in the travel lane. Maryland State Police say she later died at Washington County Hospital.

The driver of the Honda, 28-year-old Rocky Lynn Bishop, was not injured during the accident.

• In 2005, 4,881 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes in the United States — a decrease of 13 percent from the 5,584 pedestrians killed in 1995.

• On average, a pedestrian is killed in a traffic crash every 108 minutes and injured in a traffic crash every 8 minutes.

• There were 64,000 pedestrians injured in traffic crashes in 2005.

• Most pedestrian fatalities in 2005 occurred in urban areas (74%), at non intersection locations (80%), in normal weather conditions (89%), and at
• night (67%).

• Pedestrian fatalities accounted for 83 percent of all nonoccupant fatalities in 2005. The 784 pedalcyclist fatalities accounted for 13 percent, and the remaining 3 percent were skateboard riders, roller skaters, etc.

Who may be liable in a pedestrian personal injury accident:

• A person who is negligent when driving a motor vehicle and strikes a pedestrian
• The pedestrian for acting negligently, resulting in a personal injury accident
• The company or persons responsible for maintaining the road, sidewalk, or other area where the pedestrian accident took place

It is important to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney who has a successful track record when handling pedestrian accidents.

Continue reading "Female Hagerstown Pedestrian Dies In Car Accident On Maryland's U.S. 40" »

There have been reports of a recent rise in pedestrian deaths in the Washington D.C. area. While 17 pedestrians were killed on D.C. roads during all of 2006, four pedestrians were killed within one week alone in early February. By February 12, five pedestrians fatalities in D.C. had already been noted for 2007:

· Metropolitan Police say one pedestrian was killed on February 11 when he was hit by a Maryland man driving a 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor. The victim appeared to be drunk and crossed the street outside the crosswalk.

· Another pedestrian, J’lin Tyler, a 6-year-old elementary school student, was killed after he ran into the street and was hit by a Jeep Cherokee on February 9.

· On February 7, a man went to the Third Street Tunnel entrance to help a driver whose tractor-trailer was too tall to go through the tunnel without guidance. As the driver put the truck into reverse, the man, who was directing the driver, moved into the way of a cement truck and was fatally struck.

· Another man, Gary Scott Phillips, was crossing New Hampshire Avenue, NW, on February 3 when a man riding a bicycle hit him. Phillips died as a result of the accident.

· On January 16, Carla Gonzales, 24, ran in front of a Metrobus, which struck and killed her on 16th Street NW.

In 2004, 10 pedestrians were killed in the Washington D.C. area. 16 pedestrians died in 2005.

Washington D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty says that his administration is working on a Pedestrian Master Plan, which will identify the improvements that are necessary to the District’s crosswalks, sidewalks, refuge islands, and countdown signals.

While pedestrian error is a common cause of pedestrian injures and fatalities, driver error can also lead to pedestrians getting hurt or being killed on the road.

Examples of Common Driver Errors Leading To Pedestrian Injuries Or Deaths:

· Ignoring a crosswalk, the signal on a traffic light, or a pedestrian crossing sign
· Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
· Disregarding a traffic light or a pedestrian walk sign
· Not paying attention to a pedestrian that is crossing the road, whether or not they are in a designated crossing area
· Not paying attention while driving by a stopped school bus to see whether children might be preparing to cross the street or get off or on the bus

A pedestrian struck by a car, motorcycle, truck, SUV, or other kind of moving vehicle can sustain serious injuries and possibly even be killed in an accident. When a driver’s negligence leads to a pedestrian injury or death, the driver may be held liable for the injuries or wrongful death through a personal injury claim filed on behalf of the victim or their loved ones.

Continue reading "In Washington D.C., A Recent Increase In Pedestrian Deaths " »