Maryland Accident Law Blog

In Maryland, a woman is suing Ocean City, the Ocean City Convention and Visitors Bureau, and ThyssenKrupp Elevator Company for personal injury over an escalator accident that occurred in May 2006. Rebecca Beall filed her Maryland premises liability lawsuit in US District Court.

Beall was a high school student at the time of the escalator accident that injured her and several other students from her school band. The band was in Ocean City to attend the Youth Music Competition taking place at the Convention Center.

On May 5, 2006 the escalator they were riding to the next floor stopped abruptly and began moving in the opposite direction. A number of students fell and some of them were taken to a hospital for treatment of their injuries.

In her Maryland personal injury complaint, Beall contends that she sustained serious injuries when students that fell pinned her to the escalator that was still moving. Her face, shoulder, and scalp became lacerated, and she now suffers from anxiety, post-traumatic migraine disorders, and has an escalator phobia. She also suffers from migraines, serious headaches, chills, nausea, blackouts, shaking, and is sensitive to light and sound.

Beall is seeking $500,000 from the defendants. Her Maryland civil lawsuit alleges negligence and contends that defendants knew or should have known that the escalator was experiencing problems before the escalator accident yet failed to act to repair the issues to remove its safety hazards. A year after the accident, an independent inspector assessed the escalator’s condition and found that it had worn and failing gear parts.

According to a 2005 CBS News report, almost 10,000 people a year sustain escalator injuries serious enough to warrant hospital emergency room care. Common kinds of escalator accidents include those involving:

• Sudden stops
• Slip and fall accidents
• Fall accidents
• Metal teeth on the escalator coming loose
• Hands, clothing, feet, or shoes getting caught in the escalator

$500K Lawsuit Filed In OC Escalator Fall, MDCoastDispatch.com, May 29, 2009

Danger On The Escalator, CBS News, February 17, 2005

Related Web Resources:
Thousands Injured in Escalator, Elevator Accidents, NewsInferno.com, May 14, 2008

In Maryland, the family of a young boy who sustained serious burn injuries from sulfuric acid that two teenagers poured on a playground slide have settled their injuries to minor lawsuit. Payton Potochne was just 2 when he went down the slide that had industrial strength drain cleaner on it. The injury accident occurred at Victory Villa Elementary School.

It wasn’t until he was taken to Franklin Square Hospital that doctors determined that there was sulfuric acid on the boy’s legs and he had sustained second- and third-degree burns. The hospital had to evacuate the emergency room and the toddler was taken to Johns Hopkins Burn Center. Since the tragic playground incident, Payton has had to undergo over six surgeries, including numerous skin grafts. He will also need medical care for life because of his injuries.

A hazmat team poured thousands of gallons of water onto the slide to remove the chemical from the playground. A Baltimore County Police Department spokesperson says the dangerous liquid had been poured onto all the different playground rides, including the monkey bars and the jungle gym.

The two teens, Matt Dybala and Kyle Meredith, had told police they poured the acid onto a plastic sliding board to see if it would melt, which it didn’t. Police, however, contend that the teenagers poured at least two bottles of the chemical onto the slide and used a brush to apply the acid onto other playground equipment. Criminal charges were filed against both Dybala and Meredith, who were both found delinquent in juvenile court.

Last year, Payton's parents filed a $6 million Maryland personal injury lawsuit against the teenagers’ family. While the terms of the injuries to minors and children settlement have not been disclosed, the lawyer for Payton's family says that his clients will receive the maximum payments allowed under the homeowners insurance policies of the plaintiffs’ parents.

The Baltimore County Board of Education is the remaining defendant of the personal injury lawsuit. A civil trial is scheduled for the fall. Payton's family says the board shouldn’t have kept the drain cleaner bottles in its maintenance shed, which had been broken into in the past.

Boy’s family settles with teens who poured acid on slide, The Daily Record, May 26, 2009

Police: Playground-Dousing Teens Intended To Cause Injury, WBALTV, April 23, 2007

Toddler hospitalized with burns from acid on playground slide, USA Today, April 15, 2007

Related Web Resources:
Sulfuric Acid Facts, DHSS.mo.gov

Johns Hopkins Burn Center

The family of Charla Nash, the woman who was mauled by a chimpanzee, is suing the owner of the pet primate for personal injury. In their $50 million personal injury lawsuit, the plaintiffs are accusing Sandra Herold of recklessness and negligence due to her inability to control her 200-pound pet and subdue it if necessary. They also accuse Herold, 70, of inviting Nash to her home while knowing that the chimp, Travis, was agitated.

Nash, 55, had come to Herold’s home to help her lure the primate back into the residence. Their plan, however, went awry when Travis began mauling Nash. Travis also attacked one of the police officers who came to the scene. He eventually shot Travis dead. The officer was treated for trauma. Herold, who was also injured while trying to get Travis off Nash, was hospitalized for her injuries.

The 12-minute attack left Nash without her nose, eyelids, hands, and lips, crushed a number of her facial bones, and left her with brain damage and possible blindness. One month after the attack, she remains in critical condition.

Herold thinks that Travis attacked Nash because she changed her hairdo and was driving a different motor vehicle and, as a result, he thought he needed to protect his owner from this “stranger.” Herold has reportedly issued conflicting public statements about whether she gave Travis Xanax the day the attack happened.

This is not the first time Travis had attacked someone. He bit two people in 1996 and 1998. An ex-animal control officer says that in 2003, she warned Herold that her pet’s behavior was cause for worry.

Police are trying to determine whether to press criminal charges against Herold. Meantime, a judge has issued a temporary restraining order that bars Herold from mortgaging or selling her assets.

If you or someone you love was attacked or mauled by someone else's dog or another kind of pet, you may have grounds for filing a Maryland personal injury claim or lawsuit.

Family of Conn. chimp attack victim seeks $50M, Google.com/AP, March 17, 2009

Lawsuit planned in chimp case, Connpost.com, March 17, 2009

Pet Chimp Is Killed After Mauling Woman, The New York Times, February 16, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Chimpanzees as Pets

Chimpanzees Don't Make Good Pets, The Jane Goodall Institute

In Maryland, a Baltimore County jury has awarded the victims of a 2006 Exxon gas spill over $150 million. Some 90 Jacksonville residents experienced personal injury, property damage, and emotional trauma after a leaking pipe at a neighborhood gas station caused 26,000 gallons of gasoline to enter the groundwater.

As part of its compensatory damages, Exxon Mobile Corp is paying the plaintiffs for the full appraised value of their properties, as well as for emotional trauma and the annual testing for four kinds of cancer for the rest of the victims’ lives. However, the jury members, who found that Exxon was not guilty of fraud, did not rule in favor of awarding the punitive damages to the plaintiffs, who had sought billions of dollars in recovery.

Their personal injury team had argued that Exxon was aware it was using inadequate leak detection tools yet ignored that this could result in personal injuries. Meantime, while Exxon has accepted responsibility for the spill and apologized to the victim, the company maintains that it never acted with intentional malice or negligence.

Some four tanker loads of gas spread through the area until the leak was discovered over five weeks later. The Jacksonville, Maryland service station is now closed. However, some 87 wells continue drilling in an attempt to pump water from the ground and take out any remaining contaminants. Since the gas leak, about 45 million gallons of groundwater has been treated.

Gas Leaks
Gas leaks may cause damage to surrounding areas and pollute the water. These leaks can occur when a gas pipe at a station breaks. Failure to detect and repair the leak in a timely manner can prove a health hazard to those affected and may result in major property damage to commercial and residential properties.

Exxon found liable in Jacksonville gas leak, BaltimoreSun.com, March 12, 2009

Exxon To Pay 150 Million After Gas Leak, ABC2News.com, March 12, 2009

Exxon gas-leak case goes to jury after 19-week trial, BaltimoreSun.com, February 28, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Exxon Mobile Corp

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" »

Two recent Maryland lawsuits have brought the topic of police brutality to the media forefront. Last week, a judge ruled that teenager Eric Bush can sue the city of Baltimore for Maryland personal injury even though he had missed the deadline for letting the city know he intended to sue. The judge said Bush showed good cause for why his notice that there would be a lawsuit was late.

Bush became a YouTube star after footage of Officer Salvatore Rivieri putting the then-14-year-old skateboarder in a headlock and chastising him for calling the cop "dude" was posted on the popular Web site. The altercation took place in 2007 at the Inner Harbor.

Bush says he never heard Rivieri give him an order about skateboarding. Rivieri, a police veteran, was suspended after the video footage of the incident was brought to the Baltimore police Department’s attention.

In another Maryland police brutality lawsuit, US District Judge William D. Quarles says the wrongful death case involving a man shocked with a Taser by a Frederick County Sheriff’s deputy can move forward against Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins and the Frederick County Board of Commissioners.

Jarrel Gray died in November 2007 after he was Tasered by Corporal Rudy Torres, who had arrived at the scene of a fight that the 20-year-old was involved in. The Frederick County deputy reportedly used the weapon to stun Gray twice in 23 seconds. The 20-year-old died several hours after the incident.

Quarles had previously dismissed all defendants from the $145 million Frederick County wrongful death case except for Torres. Following the amended complaint by Grey’s family, however, the judge decided that the claims against the other defendants can also move forward. The civil lawsuit seeks compensation based on several counts, including civil rights violations, wrongful death, police brutality, negligent supervision, and inadequate training.

The use of Tasers has been criticized by civil rights groups for the many times the supposedly non-lethal weapons have been misused, causing injury or death, to their targets.

Police Brutality
Law enforcement officers are forbidden from using unnecessary or excessive force when dealing with suspects or other members of the public. Acts of police brutality can be grounds for a Maryland personal injury claim or wrongful death lawsuit.

Judge OKs Teen's Lawsuit Against Officer, WBALTV.com, December 11, 2008

Judge reinstates Frederick County sheriff and commissioners in Taser lawsuit, Gazette.net, December 12, 2008

Mother 'Furious' After Officer-Teen YouTube Encounter, WBALTV, February 13, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Watch the YouTube Video, Lebowitz & Mzhen, February 14, 2008

Taser

A jury in the United States has ordered drug manufacturer Roche to pay $12.9 million to three Accutane users who say they developed chronic bowel disorders from using the popular acne drug. The jury determined that the Swiss drug maker failed to properly warn of the side effects that can result from using Accutane.

The patients began using Accutane more than 10 years ago when they were teenagers to treat their acne. As a result of using the acne drug, two of the patients say they now require long-term drug rehabilitation and the third patient has to have his colon removed.

This is not the first drug litigation lawsuit filed against Roche that links Accutane to inflammatory bowel disease. This is the fourth IBD civil trial the Swiss Drug maker has lost.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease
There are two kinds of chronic diseases that can cause inflammation to the intestines and result in ulcers:

• Crohn’s Disease
• Ulcerative Colitis

While the drug’s warning label says Accutane is “associated with” chronic bowel problems, the drug maker maintains that there is no direct connection between chronic bowel ailments and Accutane. The drug litigation attorneys for the plaintiffs, however, say Roche has conducted internal studies that indicate Accutane can damage the intestinal tract and result in inflammatory bowel disease.

Hoffman-La Roche, Roche’s US subsidiary, plans to appeal the dangerous drug verdict. The company continues to maintain that there is no scientific evidence that proves using Accutane can cause IBD.

Accutane
Over 13 million people have used Accutane since 1982. Until the drug's patent expired six years ago, the acne medication was one of Roche’s top selling drugs. It is also a controversial drug.

Accutane was linked to birth defects in the 1980’s and 266 suicide cases in the US. It has also been associated with problems affecting the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and autoimmune systems, as well as the pancreas, liver, central nervous system, and kidneys. Some 500 lawsuits have been filed over the acne drug.

Roche Loses Fourth Accutane Trial, Ordered to Pay 3 IBD Victims, $12.9 Million, News Inferno, November 21, 2008

Pharma Roundup: Lawsuit for Roche, Teva Troubles for AstraZeneca, and More, BNET, November 19, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Roche Pharmaceuticals

Accutane, Drugs.com

Inflammatory Bowel Disease, FamilyDoctor.org

The mother of a six-year-old boy whose right big toe was mangled when his Crocs clog got caught in an escalator at the National Aquarium in Baltimore is suing Crocs Inc. for products liability. Kerry Burdick filed her federal lawsuit in court on Monday. She is seeking over $7.5 million in damages.

The accident occurred last April. Burdick’s lawsuit alleges that Crocs was aware that the popular clogs posed a hazard on escalators yet failed to warn consumers.

This is not the first incident where a person got hurt while using Crocs shoes. Over 200 people around the world have been involved in similar escalator entrapment accidents while using the popular clogs. Children especially appear more prone to injuries while wearing Crocs.

In 2007, a 10-year-old girl hurt her toe after her Crocs clog got stuck on an escalator at the Atlanta Hartsfield Airport. This year, a 3-year-old Croc wearer had two of her toes partially amputated because of injuries she sustained while also riding an escalator at the Atlanta airport. The parents of another 3-year-old sued Crocs for $7 million after her toe was mangled in an accident at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport.

In April, Japan’s Trade Ministry asked Crocs Inc. to redesign its popular clogs. The ministry said that over a six-month period last year, it had received 65 complaints of escalator injuries involving Crocs clogs. In May, the US Consumer Products Safety Commission warned that it had received 75 injury reports between January 2006 and May 2007 about people who got hurt in escalator accidents while using Crocs.

Last July, Crocs Inc. said it would add warning tags about possible escalator entrapment-related injuries to its shoes. While the shoes that come with these warnings will become available in 2009, there are still millions of Crocs clogs out in the marketplace for sale or that have already been purchased that lack the entrapment warning.

Son hurt, Pa. woman sues Crocs firm, Baltimore Sun.com, December 4, 2008

Pa. mother sues Crocs over son's escalator injury, Examiner.com, December 4, 2008

Related Web Resources:
Crocs

Crocs and similar soft shoes linked to escalator entrapments, Consumer Reports, May 20, 2008

Continue reading "Mother Sues Crocs for Personal Injury After Son’s Right Toe is Mangled While Riding Baltimore Aquarium’s Escalator" »

Two Wal-Mart shoppers are suing the retail store for personal injury. Fritz, 51, and 19-year-old Jonathan Mesadieu say they sustained back and neck injuries after they got caught in the crowd of people stampeding into a Wal-Mart store during last week's Black Friday shopping rush.

Some 2,000 shoppers reportedly broke through the glass door and rushed into the building at around 5am on November 28. The Mesadieus’ personal injury lawyer says the two men were carried from where they were standing by the throng of people. They are now are experiencing back and neck pain.

Also, temporary Wal-Mart employee Jdimytai Damour died in the same stampede after he was crushed to death while he and other workers tried to open the store doors for the shoppers. Autopsy results indicate that the 34-year-old died of asphyxiation. Video footage shows up to a dozen people getting knocked to the ground as shoppers pushed their way into the Wal-Mart store. Damour was reportedly stepped on by hundreds of people.

The Mesadieus' personal injury lawsuit accuses Wal-Mart of recklessness, carelessness, and negligence. The father and son have also filed a claim against local police. They are saying that their injuries is causing them to suffer monetary damages in the form of legal and medical expenses in the range of $2 million.

Their personal injury attorney says that Wal-Mart failed to exercise reasonable care, including putting up barriers, improved police presence, and bringing in more security, that could have prevented the Mesadieus' injuries from happening, The Mesadieus say they saw police at the scene but that they left. Lt. Kevin Smith, however, says it was the store’s responsibility to provide security on Black Friday.

There have been other personal injury lawsuits filed by customers against Wal-Mart in the past. Five shoppers sued the retail chain in 1999 for injuries they say they sustained because other shoppers were rushing to buy Furby dolls. Another shopper sued Wal-Mart three years ago because she said that two other customers pushed her and pulled at her neck when she tried to cut in line.

Customers injured in crush suing Wal-Mart, CNN.com, December 2, 2008

Experts: Trampling death may be hard to prosecute, Newsday.com, December 2, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Continue reading "Wal-Mart Customers File Personal Injury Lawsuit " »

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" »

Attorneys for Frank and Karen Hudson, the couple that was seriously injured when the house under construction next door fell on their home, have notified Calvert County and Chesapeake Bay that a personal injury lawsuit will be filed against them. The accident happened during a storm on May 11.

According to the notification letter, the municipality should have know that the home under construction, owned by Frank Leniek, was faulty and did not conform to federal, local, and state building codes, thereby posing an unreasonable injury risk to third parties. The letter also notes that neighbors had complained to county and town officials on more than one occasion that there was a problem with the home.

Following the accident, town and county representatives said Leniek’s home did not violate his zoning or building permits. Neighbors had asked that Leniek's building permit be taken away, but the Calvert County Board and County Commissioners have refused to grant their request.

Personal Injury Cases
Injuries caused by another party can be grounds for a personal injury lawsuit. A good personal injury law firm will know how to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding your accident. There may be more than one liable party, which means you could be entitled to financial recovery from more than one source.

Many times, insurers of negligent parties will try to settle a case as soon as possible even before an injury victim knows how much money it will cost for medical and recovery expenses. Exploring your legal options by speaking with a Maryland injury attorney allows you to take care of yourself and your family.

Lawsuit Looms in House Collapse, Washington Post, July 6, 2008

Rain, Winds Ravage Area; Homes Lost, Roads Closed, Washington Post, May 15, 2008

Related Web Resource:

Welcome to Calvert County

A 21-year-old woman who was raped by her stepfather as a teenager is suing Anne Arundel County for negligence, professional liability, false imprisonment, false arrest, and negligent supervision. She is seeking $1.2 million in personal injury damages for every act of sexual assault by her stepfather that took place between May 14, 2003 through April 23, 2004.

The woman says she first approached County police In 2003 when she was 15. She reported that Rogers was raping her, as well as videotaping and taking pictures of the sexual assault incidents. At around the same time, her step aunt approached the Department of Social Services to report that Rogers had molested her when she was a child. She expressed concern for her niece’s safety.

No one reportedly believed them until the girl’s mother Laura Ann Rogers found one of the videos and killed Rogers. By this time, the girl was seven month’s pregnant with Rogers’s baby.

The plaintiff is accusing the Anne Arundel County Police Department and Maryland’s Department of Social Services of not properly investigating the allegations that she and her aunt made. One police officer, Detective D.B. Long (who is one of the defendants named in the lawsuit and is still on the Anne Arundel County police force), arrested the girl for filing a false police report after Rogers made her recant her story. The authorities closed any investigation against Rogers and he continued to abuse the girl.

In 2004, Laura Ann Rogers pleaded guilty to manslaughter after she shot Rogers in the head with a gun while he was sleeping. She was sentenced to 10 years in prison, a sentence that was suspended except for the 198 days already served.

Apparently, the girl also contacted Bay St. Louis Police Department in 2000 to report that Rogers was molesting her. She says he has been sexually abusing her since she was 5.

Child rape saga now headed to civil court, HometownAnnapolis.com, August 31, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Anne Arundel County

Anne Arundel County Police Department

Maryland Department of Social Services

Two people that sustained injuries during a 2005 shooting outside the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company banquet hall where a party was taking place are suing Anne Arundel County, the shooter, the party organizer, and the Odenton volunteers for personal injury. The plaintiffs are Erica Williams, who was struck by a motor vehicle as she fled from the scene, and Delvin Eldrige, who sustained a gunshot wound. They are seeking $7 million for their personal injuries.

Williams and Eldrige are accusing party organizer Temika Young of failing to provide sufficient security for party guests on September 10, 2005. Three of Young’s private security guards faced weapon and drug charges following the shooting.

The plaintiffs are accusing shooter Terrance Carlester Medley of recklessness. They also say the volunteer fire company and Anne Arundel County were negligent of premises liability when, according to the complaint, they did not keep the premises safe and “failed to investigate the purpose and extent of said party.” The plaintiffs say the fire department created a further hazard when they shut down the building’s lights following the shooting and tried to block the exits.

Medley, who was convicted of attempted second-degree murder, is serving 18 years in prison. His BAC following the shooting was .28%, which is 3.5 times the legal limit that people are allowed to have when driving in Maryland.

This was not the first altercation at the banquet hall that year. A fight broke out there on March 27, 2005 and a stabbing occurred just 13 days prior. Blank license applications to parties had also been issued.

Williams and Eldrige are asking for $1 million from Young, $4 million from Medley, $1 million from the Odenton Volunteers, and $1 million from Anne Arundel County.

Injured parties that are hurt on another persons property may be entitled to personal injury compensation if they were the victims of a crime that occurred on the premise. This is known as a premises liability case. If you suffered injuries in Maryland or Washington DC that you believe were caused by another party’s negligence, you should speak with a Maryland personal injury law firm immediately.

Lawsuit filed in '05 firehouse shooting, Hometown Annapolis.com, August 19, 2008

Man guilty in Odenton firehouse shooting, HighBeam.com, April 26, 2006

Related Web Resources:

Odenton Volunteer Fire Company

Justia: Premises Liability Overview

Three people sustained injuries in Towson when an elevator in the Baltimore Circuit Court building fell almost two feet between the first and ground floors.

Firefighters were able to manually open the door to rescue its passengers. One of the passengers, a man, was transported to Sinai Hospital as a precautionary measure. Two boys sustained minor injuries. All three injury victims involved in the elevator accident were at the courthouse to attend a wedding.

The Maryland Labor and Industry Commission says the state last inspected the elevator in January 2007 and only minor problems were found. The company in charge of maintaining the elevator, Otis Elevator, last inspected the elevator in July 2007.

Elevator Accidents
The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that there were 68 fatalities involving elevator accidents between 1992 and 2003. The Consumer Product Safety Commission reported 9,800 elevator injuries in 1994 involving victims be sent to hospitals.

Common Elevator Accidents:

• Sudden acceleration or deceleration of speed
• Sudden stops
• Stopping in between floors
• Failing to stop so that the bottom of the elevator- is level with the floor
• Falling elevator
• Getting struck by or caught between the elevator doors
• Trip accidents
• Fall accidents

Examples of Elevator Injuries:

• Cuts and scrapes
• Nerve lacerations
• Fractured bones
• Death

Property owners with elevators on their premises are obligated to make sure that the elevator is working properly and is up-to-date on all maintenance checks and repairs. Failure to fulfill these obligations can be grounds for a premises liability claim or lawsuit if a passenger is injured or killed.

Elevator Malfunction Injures Three, ABC2news.com, July 30, 2008

Three Hurt in Court Elevator Accident, Delmarvanow.com, July 30, 2008

Related Web Resource:

Deaths and Injuries involving Elevator Accidents, CPWR.com (PDF)

Continue reading "Three People Injured in Baltimore County When Elevator Falls" »

Television host Ed McMahon is suing Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, two doctors, and an investment tycoon for personal injury. He says that the neck injury he suffered from a fall accident makes it impossible for him to work and is the cause of his financial problems.

McMahon says he fell down a ramp-like staircase during a dinner party at the home of Robert Day, an investment tycoon, and that the stairwell was “unsafe” because it didn’t have handrails or proper lighting. Day is one of the defendants in the lawsuit.

McMahon is also suing Cedar-Sinai Medical Center and two of its doctors for discharging him with a broken neck following the fall accident and failing to properly perform two surgeries. McMahon says that it was his cardiologist who later diagnosed the neck injury.

The 85-year-old former TV host says that he cannot work because of his injuries and is now $644,000 behind on mortgage payments. He has already undergone three surgeries to repair his neck injury.

A spokesperson for McMahon says the personal lawsuit comes following failed negotiations with the defendants. McMahon is seeking compensation for battery, negligence, elder abuse, and emotional distress.

Medical Malpractice
Doctors and hospitals are supposed to provide patients with a certain level of care. When failure to provide that care leads to injury or the exacerbation of an existing injury or illness, the health care provider can be held liable for medical malpractice.

Premises Liability
Slip/trip, and fall accidents can occur when there is an unsafe condition on a property that leads to injury accidents. Property owners must make sure that there are no hazards on a premise that can cause someone to slip and fall or trip and fall. Slip/trip and fall accidents can lead to painful injuries.

In Maryland and Washington DC, contact our personal injury lawyers to discuss your case.

Ed McMahon Files Lawsuit Over Neck Injury, CNN.com, July 19, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Ed McMahon Explains his Mortgage Mess, CNN.com, June 6, 2008

Continue reading "Ed McMahon Sues Hospital, Doctors, and Investment Tycoon for Personal Injury" »

A DC teenager, who was raped by a counselor at a Pennsylvania clinic in 2005, has filed a federal lawsuit suing Washington DC and nonprofit group KidsPeace Corporation for personal injury. The girl, who is a former ward of the city, had been consigned to the clinic, which is run by KidsPeace. In her lawsuit, the teenager says she was sent to the KidsPeace clinic despite reports of previous abuse incidents at the Pennsylvania site.

The plaintiff alleges that the city therefore plaid a role in allowing the brutal sexual assault incident to occur. KidsPeace counselor, Jerry McChristian, has admitted to raping the girl, and he pled guilty to institutional rape in 2006.

This is not the first report of children under welfare becoming the victims of abuse, and Washington DC has agreed to send less children to remote clinics. Just this month, a monitor appointed by the US Congress reported that children at a Florida clinic were being treated like “garbage.” DC officials only found out about the abuse through media reports. In 2007, schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee found out that several children under KidsPeace’s care had suffered broken arms while under “therapeutic restraint.” Rhee is no longer sending kids to KidsPeace clinics.

Sexual Assault Crimes and Negligent Security
If you were sexually assaulted on a premise, you may be able to hold the landlord, property owner, premise manager, or another party liable for the harm that you have suffered. Premise manager, owners, or any entities in charge are supposed to implement the proper safety measures to make sure that no physical or property crimes are committed so that visitors, patrons, patients, customers, and employees do not get hurt, assaulted, raped, robbed, or murdered while on a premise.

If there is has been a history of crimes committed on the premise or in the area, then the premise owner or manager must secure the property so that similar crimes cannot happen again. If you or your child has been placed under the care of a government entity, and you were injured because they were negligent in their hiring of staff or they failed to implement the proper safety/security measures, you may be able to sue the liable party or parties for personal injury.

Our Washington DC personal injury law firm can help you explore your legal options.

Teen sues D.C. for $10M, saying city put her in clinic where she was raped, Examiner.com, June 19, 2008

Ex-KidsPeace counselor admits to sex with teen, Isaccorp.org, July 20, 2006

Youth Counselor Sentenced in Sex Case, Action News, November 30, 2006

Related Web Resources:

KidsPeace lays off 79 employees, Mccall.com, October 20, 2007

Continue reading "Teenager Files $10 Million Personal Injury Lawsuit Against Washington DC For Rape in Clinic" »

In Maryland, the personal injury lawsuit filed by Edna "Peggy" Payton-Henderson, the mother of William "Tipper" Thomas III, the high school football player who became paralyzed from the waist down after being injured during a 2004 shooting at Randallstown High School parking lot, will be tried before a jury in Baltimore County. Maryland’s Court of Special Appeals’s decision upholds a lower court ruling to move the case to Towson in the “interest of justice” and because the location was more convenient for most of the witnesses.

The personal injury lawsuit names Randallstown High, the Baltimore County Police Department, the Baltimore Board of Education, two Baltimore police officers, and the two shooters who were convicted for firing a gun into a group of students. All of the defendants are accused of negligence and failure to prevent Thomas, who was shot in the neck, back, and lung, from getting hurt. The former high school athlete had planned to continue playing football at Morgan State University.

The shooting incident occurred in May 2004 following a charity basketball game. Four students were shot. Two gunmen are serving 50 and 100-year prison terms for the shooting. A third person, charged with bringing the weapon to school, will stand trial in the next few months.

Catastrophic Personal Injuries
If you or someone you love is paralyzed, has a traumatic brain injury, has a permanent disability or disfigurement, or is suffering from another catastrophic injury that was caused by someone else’s negligence, you should speak with a Maryland personal injury law firm that knows how to help you obtain recovery for your injuries.

Catastrophic injuries can affect your life forever, and there may be expensive and ongoing medical and care costs that you will have to pay for so that you can maintain some quality of life. The losses that can result from a catastrophic injury, such as the inability to work again or go to school or enjoy normal pleasures, such as recreational activities or being able to embrace your loved ones, cannot be quantified. There are, however, remedies available so that you can receive financial compensation for your losses, damages, pain and suffering, and medical costs.

County court to hear lawsuit in school shooting, BaltimoreSun.com, June 3, 2008

Sun coverage: Shooting at Randallstown High, BaltimoreSun.com

Related Web Resources:

Baltimore County Board of Education

Continue reading "Maryland Personal Injury Lawsuit For Paralysis Injury Sustained In 2004 Randallstown High School Shooting Will Be Tried in Baltimore County" »

The Maryland Attorney General’s Office and the family of a Randallstown man that died after being beaten by correctional officers inside Baltimore’s Central Booking and Intake Center in 2005 have reached a $500,000 wrongful death settlement.

Smoot, the father of four children—three of them under 18 years of age—was arrested in May 2005 on a minor theft charge and his failure to appear in court. At Central Booking, the state-run correctional facility, he was beaten and stomped to death during a brawl involving at least 25 correctional guards. Smoot had reportedly refused to enter his detention cell.

Following his beating, photos showed bruises all over his face and a blood-soaked gauze in his mouth. A family member had reported that his skull was cracked.

Three officers were charged for his second degree murder—with one of the men convicted of the charge and sentenced 20 years in prison.

Smoot’s family agreed to drop its $130 million wrongful death lawsuit in exchange fro the settlement. Maryland’s Board of Public Works still has to confirm the agreement.

One of the reasons for accepting the settlement is that Maryland has a liability cap of $200,000—so even if the family had won its lawsuit in court, the state of Maryland may have been able to lower the award.

Police Brutality
Unfortunately, police brutality is a far more common occurrence than we’d like for it to be. If you have been the victim of violence by a police or a correctional officer—even if you have been arrested for a crime—you still have civil rights.

Our Baltimore personal injury lawyers represent clients that have been injured because of the negligent, reckless, or violent acts of other parties. Over the years, we have successfully represented clients in Maryland and Washington D.C.

State to pay in death of Central Booking detainee, Baltimore Sun, May 7, 2008

$500,000 settlement accepted in Central Booking beating death, Examiner.com, May 7, 2008

Prisoner dies after altercation with guards, Baltimore Sun, May 16, 2005

Related Web Resources:

End brutality behind bars, Baltimore Sun, April 24, 2008

Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services

Continue reading "Maryland Settles Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed By Family of Fatally Beaten Detainee " »

A jury in Baltimore County is ordering Keibler-Thompson Co. to pay a Maryland welder over $3 million for a crushed leg injury he sustained at work in 1999. James Morris, 58, was seriously injured on his first day working as a welder at the Beth Steel Sparrows Point plant. Morris had been hired by a general contractor to reline a blast furnace.

A Bethlehem Steel dump truck, involved in Keibler’s cleaning project, rolled down an incline, crushing Morris’s leg. The welder was hospitalized for 1 month. He has not been able to perform his job since then.

Morris’s personal injury lawyer described how the truck’s wheels did not have chocks to keep it from rolling back. While the Keibler-Thompson Co.’s attorney argued that the defendant was only liable for the routine cleaning project and that the contractor that hired both the cleaning company and Morris should be held liable for the catastrophic accident, the jury disagreed.

The Baltimore County jury awarded Morris over $2.2 million in economic damages and $952,000 in non-economic damages, which Maryland will cap at $560,000.

Bethlehem Steel was also a defendant in the personal injury lawsuit until it filed for bankruptcy.

Work-related accidents often result in catastrophic injuries, and many injured workers are unable to ever return to their jobs.

Although Maryland’s worker’s compensation law prevents injured workers and their families from suing an employer, there may be a third party that is also responsible for your injury accident.

Our Maryland and Washington D.C. catastrophic injury attorneys have helped many injured workers obtain recovery from liable third parties. Often, workers’ compensation will not be enough to cover all medical costs and economic losses. Filing a third-party lawsuit can help you recover additional compensation.

Welder whose leg was crushed at Beth Steel plant wins $3M, The Daily Record, April 29, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Maryland Workers' Compensation Commission

Keibler-Thompson Co.

Continue reading "Maryland Welder Awarded $3 Million for Crushed Leg Injury" »

In federal court, a judge has dismissed the personal injury lawsuit against Smithsonian Business Ventures Vice President Jeanny Kim. The plaintiff in the lawsuit, custodian and Silver Springs resident Mary T. Majano, had accused Kim of assault.

The alleged injury incident occurred in Downtown Washington D.C. at the Victor Building in June 2003. Kim did not have her security card with her and reportedly followed Majano through an unmonitored locked door. Kim tried to stop Majano because she did not have her security clearance with her.

U.S. District Judge Rosemary M. Collyer says that under the Federal Tort Claims Act, the Smithsonian executive has immunity from personal injury lawsuits because she was a federal worker and the altercation took place during the course of doing her job. Majano may appeal the ruling.

According to Kim, she hurriedly brushed passed the janitor and their shoulders collided. Kim has said "I did not accost, assault, or otherwise touch this woman at any time during the course of our interaction."

Judge Collyer, however, found that Kim had opened the door so forcefully that Majano’s body struck the wall. The judge also accused Kim of pulling several times on Majano’s lanyard and leaving red marks on her neck before walking away.

Smithsonian guards reportedly tried to question Kim about the incident but she told them “I don’t have time for this mess.” A Smithsonian investigator called Kim’s behavior “unnecessarily aggressive.”

Majano says that the attack left her with a herniated disk. Her doctors says that she had surgery, is now disabled, and takes prescription pain drugs. They also say she won’t be able to return to work as a janitor.

Kim has never faced disciplinary action for the incident. Majano’s personal injury lawyer is accusing Kim of violating workplace policies.

Please contact our Washington D.C. personal injury law firm if you or someone you love was seriously hurt because of another party’s carelessness, recklessness, or negligence in Maryland or Washington D.C.

Suit Against Smithsonian Executive Dismissed, Washington Post, April 25, 2008

Janitor Testifies Smithsonian Executive Assaulted Her, Washington Post, January 17, 2008

Related Web Resource:

Read the Court Ruling (PDF)

Continue reading "Silver Springs Janitor May Appeal Ruling Dismissing Her Personal Injury Lawsuit Against Smithsonian Executive " »

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has dropped its lawsuit to collect more than $400,000 in health-care reimbursement from an ex-employee. Deborah Shank has a traumatic brain injury and now lives in a nursing home in Missouri.

Shank, 52, sustained her catastrophic injury when her minivan was struck in a truck accident. She and her husband Jim were awarded $1 million in personal injury damages. After paying for legal expenses, $417,000 was placed in a trust to cover Shank’s long-term care.

Shank no longer has most of her short-term memory and is confined to a wheelchair. She keeps forgetting that her 18-year-old son Jeremy died in Iraq and cries like it is the first time she has found out every time someone tells her he is dead after she asks about him.

Shank was a Wal-Mart employee that signed up for the company’s health and benefits plan when the tragic truck crash happened. Wal-Mart’s insurance coverage had covered approximately $470,000 of her medical costs.

The retail giant sued Shank to recover the same amount after she won her lawsuit, but a court decided it could only recover what remained in her trust. Apparently, the company’s health plan allows Wal-Mart to recover medical costs if a worker obtains damages from a personal injury case. Over $200,000 is left in her trust.

The Shanks lost the lawsuit, appealed the decision, and lost again. Earlier this year, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear their appeal.

Shank’s family had been hoping that Wal-Mart wouldn’t try to recover the money, which they need to cover her care costs. Shank has permanent brain damage and is unable to have relationships with her husband and her children.

In 2007, Jim, who has prostate cancer, divorced her so she could receive Medicaid.

In Maryland and Washington D.C., our catastrophic injury attorneys represent clients that have been seriously injured in accidents caused by the negligence of others.

Wal-Mart Rethinks Its Move on Deborah Shank, US News & World Report, April 3, 2008

Brain-damaged woman at center of Wal-Mart suit, CNN.com, March 25, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Wal-Mart

Continue reading "Wal-Mart Drops Lawsuit Against Traumatic Brain Injury Victim for Damages from Truck Accident Case" »

The lawyers for two Baltimore students that were implicated in the beating of a passenger on a transit bus say their clients are going to sue the Maryland Transit Authority, the Baltimore school system, and the bus driver. Each boy is seeking at least $10 million in personal injury damages.

There has been no finding of guilt for the two boys. The charges against the two boys are expected to be dismissed following an agreement that they each perform 15 hours of community service. Their lawyers say they that were banned from their schools and had their bus privileges revoked without receiving due process or a hearing.

Both 15-year-old boys are not allowed to board any MTA buses. One boy is seeing a tutor, paid for by the city of Baltimore, because he cannot go to school. The other teen is now attending a different school but he cannot ride his school bus, which is an MTA bus.

Nine Robert Pool Middle School students in total had been charged with attacking Sarah Kreager and Troy Ennis after an argument about an empty bus seat.

Four of the students were found “involved” in Kreager’s assault. Another student was ruled involved in reckless conduct leading to Kreager’s serious injury. The term “involved,” in these instances, is the juvenile equivalent of being found guilty. All five of the students also were found involved in reckless conduct that seriously injured Kreager’s boyfriend Ennis.

The boys’ attorneys say that the personal injury lawsuit will cite the city’s negligence, as well as the negligence of its schools and the MTA to offer passengers safe travel. The MTA bus where the assault took place had picked up riders that weren’t students.

A 2006 General Assembly legislative audit expressed concerns that MTA bus drivers were not the most qualified.

If you believe that you suffered physical, emotional, or financial injuries or damages because of another party’s negligence in Maryland or Washington D.C., do not hesitate to contact our personal injury law firm today.

Attorneys say 2 students in bus attack case plan lawsuit, Baltimoresun.com, April 23, 2008

Baltimore Bus Beating Being Probed as Hate Crime, December 8, 2007

Related Web Resources:

Woman beaten on bus pleads guilty in drug case, Examiner.com, April 8, 2008

Free the MTA 9 - African Teens Wrongly Convicted in Baltimore, Indybayorg.com, April 18, 2008

Continue reading "Baltimore Teenagers Implicated in Bus Beating Case Plan to Sue Maryland Transit System For Damages" »

Nearly one year after the tragic shootings at Virginia Tech that left 32 people dead and two dozen others injured, the families of most of the victims have agreed to settle with the state for $11 million.

By agreeing to the settlement, they forego the option of filing personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits against the university, the state of Virginia, the local governments that serve Virginia Tech, and the local community board that provides mental health services.

The settlement will provide compensation to families that lost loved ones and cover injured survivors’ medical expenses. Attorneys for 21 families that have agreed to settle say the value of the settlement is greater than $11 million. They say that the settlement would forever take care of the medical costs of the victims that suffered catastrophic injuries, while also well compensating the families that lost loved ones in the shootings.

The families that have not agreed to take part in the settlement have until April 16 to file their lawsuits, which could result in a court disagreement over whether or not the shooter was solely responsible for the slayings.

The Virginia Tech massacre took place on April 16, 2007, when Seung-Hui Cho, a student with mental issues, killed two people in a campus dorm before shooting down 30 others in a school building two hours later. He then committed suicide.

The University has been criticized for not letting students, teachers, and others know about the first shootings. Police say they thought the dorm slayings were an isolated incident involving domestic violence. In 2005, a court had ruled that Seung-Hui Cho was a danger to himself and ordered that he receive outpatient mental health care—treatment that he never received.

If someone you love has died or was injured in a tragic accident that you believe was caused by someone’s negligence, recklessness, or carelessness, you and your loved one may be entitled to compensation and other associated costs.

The best way to protect your rights to compensation is to contact an experienced Maryland or Washington D.C. personal injury lawyer right away.

Most families of Va. Tech shooting victims settle, Los Angeles Times, April 11, 2008

Families of Va. Tech victims reach $11M settlement, Baltimore Sun, Associated Press, April 10, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Massacre at Virginia Tech, CNN.com

Virginia Tech

Continue reading "Virginia Tech Shooting Victims’ Families Agree to $11 Million Settlement" »

The parents of Billy Wolf, a 16-year-old Arkansas sophomore, are suing the teenagers that have been bullying their son for the harm he has suffered due to alleged incidents of assault and battery.

Video and audio evidence document Billy being hit and verbally harassed on multiple occasions. Billy, who has a learning disability, has reportedly been a target of bullies since he was 12 years old.

Billy’s parents say they have repeatedly asked school officials to stop the violence against their son, yet the bullying continues. In one incident, Billy was suspended for a fight that occurred on the bus, even though video evidence later showed that he was the one who was beaten.

When he was in the 9th grade, a few of his adversaries started a Facebook page called “Every One That Hates Billy Wolfe.” A picture of his face was superimposed on the image of Peter Pan. This type of bullying, known as cyberbullying, is against the law.

In another beating by a fellow student, Billy’s braces got caught on the inside of his cheek.

School records indicate that at least one official thinks that Billy provokes the trouble that comes to him. Billy’s parents have expressed frustration that school officials cannot seem to protect their son from being attacked.

The lawsuit names Ian Teeters, as one of the bullies, and a number of John Does as defendants. They are also thinking about suing the Fayetteville School District.

The family is seeking personal injury damages for medical costs, impaired physical and mental abilities, mutilation, mental anguish, pain and suffering, punitive damages, legal and court expenses, and other damages.

In Maryland and Washington D.C, our personal injury law firm represents clients injured by the negligence or recklessness of others, including cases involving injuries to minors.

A Boy the Bullies Love to Beat Up, Repeatedly, New York Times, March 24, 2008

Fayetteville student sues classmates over assault, NWANews.com, March 10, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Stop Bullying Now

Stop Cyberbullying

Bullying Facts and Statistics, SafeYouth.org

Continue reading "Family of Teenager Sues Bullies For Injuries Caused by Harassment, Beatings, and Threats" »

In Baltimore Circuit Court on Tuesday, 16 Ruth’s Chris Steak House employees filed a $64 million personal injury lawsuit against TPOB Pier Five LLC, the company that owns the Pier 5 Hotel where the Inner Harbor steak restaurant is located. The plaintiffs claim that they were hospitalized because they were exposed to high levels of carbon monoxide while working at the restaurant. Ruth's Chris is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit because Maryland’s workers’ compensation laws prevent employees from suing their employers.

Each plaintiff is asking for $2 million in punitive damages and $2 million in compensatory damages. The lawsuit is accusing the owners and operator of the hotel of “wanton and reckless” acts and disregarding the health and safety of employees.

The cause of the leak was a crack in the boiler’s heat exchanger. The plaintiffs say that the improper maintenance and operation of the boiler cause the leak to occur for weeks until it was discovered on February 2. Employees reportedly suffered headaches in the weeks prior to the evacuation.

On February 2, the Ruth’s Chris Steak House was evacuated because workers began experiencing nausea, dizziness, and to feel faint. According to the Baltimore Fire Department, the concentration of carbon monoxide in the air was 400 parts per million—exposure to this much carbon monoxide can be deadly. Usually, a carbon monoxide reading of 100 parts per million warrants an evacuation from a premise.

Our Maryland and Washington D.C. personal injury law firm handles injury cases throughout both states, including claims and lawsuits involving premises liability, defective products, and exposure to hazardous substances. Even if you have been injured on the job, there may be a third-party that is not your employer whose negligence led to your injury accident.

Health Problems Caused by Exposure to Carbon Monoxide Include:

• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Vision problems
• Nausea
• Confusion
• Flu-like symptoms
• Reduced brain function
• Angina
• Death

Restaurant employees sue over carbon monoxide leak, USA Today, February 27, 2008

Carbon Monoxide, EPA.gov

Related Web Resources:

People Sickened In Separate CO Incidents, WZJ.com, February 4, 2008

150 evacuated from steakhouse, Baltimore Sun, February 3, 2008

Carbon Monoxide Q & A, CPSC.gov

Continue reading "Ruth’s Chris Steak House Employees in Baltimore, Maryland File $64 Million Personal Injury Lawsuit Over Carbon Monoxide Leak" »

38 members of the 2006 Duke Lacrosse team and 9 family members are suing Duke University and the North Carolina city of Durham for their handling of the high profile 2006 rape case that wrongly charged three men with raping a woman.

The plaintiffs say they that they suffered invasion of privacy, emotional damage, and other injuries because the University abandoned them and ignored key evidence showing that the rape charges were fabricated. They are asking for unspecified damages. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina.

The three teammates who were indicted, David Evans, Collin Finnerty, and Reade Seligmann, are not included in this injury lawsuit. They settled their lawsuit with Duke last year and transferred to other universities to complete their college educations.

The victim, a female stripper, claimed that the men gang raped her in the bathroom. Evans, Finnerty, and Seligmann were charged with sexual assault, but the charges were dropped last year. Durham County District Attorney Michael B. Nifong was disbarred for manufacturing and suppressing evidence in the case. Nifong, who has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy relief, is not a defendant in this lawsuit.

About 20% of the plaintiffs come from Maryland. Both former and current Lacrosse team members are among those suing the University and the city of Durham. The players say that they suffered harassment and experienced hostility during the investigation into the rape case and Duke did nothing to protect them. Traumatic incidents cited included:

• Having protesters surround their homes.
• Being called rapists and racists.
• Becoming the targets of threats and protest marches.
• Imposing disciplinary measures on the team as if they were guilty.
• Canceling the lacrosse team’s season.

Also named as defendants in the case are Duke University President Richard Broadhead, Duke’s medical center, and Durham city officials. The plaintiffs allege that Duke University abandoned the Lacrosse to protect its own image.

In Maryland and Washington D.C., our personal injury law firm represents clients who have sustained any type of serious injury caused by the negligence or carelessness of others.

Other Duke players, parents file lawsuit, Baltimore Sun, February 22, 2008

38 Duke Lacrosse Team Members Unite to Sue Duke University and City of Durham Over Corrupt 2006 Rape Allegations and Investigation, FoxBusiness.com, February 21, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Duke Rape Case

Mcfadyen et al v. Duke University et al, Justia.com

Continue reading "Maryland Residents Are Among Lacrosse Team Plaintiffs Suing Duke University for Handling of High Profile Rape Case" »

A federal Judge in Maryland reduced the amount of damages that Westboro Baptist Church must pay to the father of Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, a fallen Marine whose funeral the church had picketed.

A Maryland jury had originally awarded Cpl. Snyder’s father, Albert Snyder, $10.9 million last October: $2.9 million for compensatory damages, $6 million in punitive damages for invasion of privacy, and $2 million for emotional distress. On Monday, U.S. District Court Judge Richard Bennett ordered the award amount decreased to $5 million on.

Albert Snyder had filed the lawsuit against the church last year, citing invasion of privacy and emotional distress. He said that the picketers’ presence ruined what should have been a private ceremony for his son.

Cpl. Synder died in Iraq. During his funeral in Maryland on March 2006, Westboro Baptist Church members protested outside, with signs reading, “God hates you” and “Thank God for dead soldiers.”

Judge Bennett said that Monday's ruling was based in part on the financial resources of the church. Financial records submitted to the court indicate that Fred Phelps, the founder of the Westboro Baptist Church, and his daughters Shirley Phelps-Roper and Rebekah Phelps-Davis have a combined net worth of under $1 million. They are seeking to delay payment of the judgment.

Westboro Baptist Church is a fundamentalist Kansas church. Its members have picketed the funerals of military soldiers across the United States. They claim that the Iraq war is God’s way of punishing America for its acceptance of homosexuals.

To file a personal injury claim or lawsuit in Washington D.C. or Maryland, please contact our personal injury law firm today.

Judge to review Westboro’s assets in wake of $5M payment, Examiner.com, February 6, 2008

Judge orders Westboro Baptist Church to pay $5 million damages, Examiner.com, February 4, 2008

Suit $$ award cut for protests at GI funeral, BostonHerald.com, February 6, 2008

Church ordered to pay $10.9 million for funeral protest, CNN.com, October 31, 2007

Related Web Resource:

Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church: In Their Own Words, ADL.org

Continue reading "Maryland Judge Reduces Lawsuit Damages that Westboro Baptist Church Must Pay for Protesting Fallen Soldier's Funeral" »

The man who survived the force of gravity when he fell 47 stories while getting ready to wash the windows of a Manhattan building plans to file a personal injury lawsuit against the company that installed the scaffolding that broke, as well as the skyscraper’s management company.

37-year-old window washer Alcides Moreno says it just wasn’t his time to die after he dropped more than 500 feet to land on the ground and lived to tell his tale.

The catastrophic work accident occurred on December 7 while Alcides and his brother Edgar were cleaning windows on the Upper East Side. Edgar died of his injuries.

Doctors say the fact that Alcides even survived is a miracle. He has already undergone nine surgeries and is starting to talk. More surgeries are expected.

Alcides arrived in the ER at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center with brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, abdominal injuries, chest injuries, and fractures to his legs, ribs, and one of his arms. He received 19 blood plasma units 24 units of blood. Alcides is expected to make a slow but substantial recovery.

According to the Department of Buildings, the scaffolding the two men were standing on fell because the cables connecting it to the roof snapped. The two brothers had previously voiced concerns about the safety conditions at the building, located on E. 66th St.

Solow Management Corp is the building’s management company and Trachtel Group is the company that installed the scaffolding. The Moreno brothers worked for City Wide Window Cleaning.

If you are seriously injury in a work accident anywhere in Maryland or Washington D.C., workers’ compensation guarantees you benefits to pay for medical expenses. However, this does not mean that you should not speak to an experienced workers’ compensation attorney to make sure that you are receiving the maximum benefits for your injuries.

Although you cannot sue your employer for personal injury, there may be other parties that can be held liable for your injuries.

Family, NYC hospital officials describe window washer's 'miracle' recovery, Newsday, January 3, 2008

Hurt window washer will sue, NY DailyNews, January 2, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Solow Management Corporation, NY Bites

Continue reading "Window Washer Who Fell 47 Stories Will File Personal Injury Lawsuit" »

In Washington D.C., Howard University Hospital and Daniel and Dorothy Rosenbaum, the adult children of deceased New York Times reporter David Rosenbaum, have reached a settlement in the medical malpractice and negligence lawsuit filed against D.C. emergency workers and the hospital.

The 63-year-old reporter, who had just retired after 30 years of working for the Times, was seriously injured during a street robbery in Northwest Washington D.C. on January 26, 2006. Rosenbaum’s son and daughter filed their medical malpractice and negligence lawsuit a year ago last November after the D.C. inspector general’s office found that paramedics, firefighters, police, and hospital personnel failed to treat Rosenbaum.

Emergency workers found Rosenbaum on the sidewalk in a barely conscious state. The report, however, says that they did not realize he was seriously injured. They thought he was drunk. The ambulance he was riding in took Rosenbaum to Howard University Hospital, instead of a hospital located closer to the crime scene, because one of the workers had personal business in that area.

Rosenbaum was placed on a gurney at the hospital where he was left unattended. A doctor did not examine him for over 90 minutes. He was finally given a neurological exam nearly four hours after he arrived at the hospital. He died two days later.

Rosenbaum’s children were also upset that police did not follow up on a lead related to a beating crime that occurred several weeks before their father was assaulted. One of the men convicted of attacking Rosenbaum was also the attacker in the earlier assault.

Rosenbaum’s children say the failures to act by emergency workers, police, and the hospital were partially responsible for their father’s death. Rosenbaum’s children reached a settlement with the District in March. They agreed to forgo financial compensation as long as the city revised the way its emergency medical response system works. The details of the agreement with Howard University Hospital remain confidential.

If someone you love died because of the negligence of a hospital, police, emergency workers, a nursing home staff, or anyone else, you should contact a Maryland or Washington D.C. personal injury lawyer right away.

Hospitals are supposed to administer patients with a reasonable standard of care. Failure to do so is medical malpractice and grounds for a claim or lawsuit.

Rosenbaum Lawsuit Settled, Washington Post, December 21, 2007

Family of slain New York Times reporter settles medical malpractice lawsuit with D.C. hospital, IHT.com/AP, December 21, 2007

Related Web Resources:

Slain Journalist's Family Files $20 Million Lawsuit, Washington Post, November 21, 2006

Howard University Hospital in Washington D.C.

Continue reading "Family of Slain New York Times Reporter David Rosenbaum Settles Medical Malpractice Lawsuit with Howard University Hospital in Washington D.C." »

The father of a solider killed in Iraq won a $10.9 million personal injury verdict against the Westboro Baptist Church, a fundamentalist church in Kansas. The church pickets at military funerals because it believes that the Iraqi War is God’s way of punishing the US for its acceptance of homosexuals.

The Maryland lawsuit is the first lawsuit to be filed by surviving family members of a deceased solider because protestors picketed a funeral. Albert Snyder sued for unspecified damages because church members demonstrated at his son, Lance Corporal Matthew Snyder’s funeral in March 2006. Albert Snyder says the protest ruined his experience and memory of the funeral and intruded upon what should have been a private ceremony for friends and family.

The Maryland jury awarded Albert Snyder $2.9 million in compensatory damages. It awarded Snyder $2 million for emotional distress and $6 million for punitive damages because of invasion of privacy. The value of the compensatory damages is greater than the defendants’ net worth.

The defendants in the personal injury case, Reverend Fred Phelps and his daughters Rebecca Phelps-Davis and Shirley Phelps-Roper were found liable for intent to inflict emotional distress and invasion of privacy.

Last month, a federal judge in Maryland had cleared the defamation charge against the defendants. The church had said that Lance Corporal Snyder’s parents had taught him adultery and idolatry because they were divorced. The judge dismissed the defamation charge on the basis that adultery isn’t defamatory.

If you have been injured in any manner—whether physically, emotionally, or mentally—because of the negligent actions of another party or parties, you should speak with a personal injury attorney right away.

You could very well be entitled to compensatory damages and even punitive damage (punishing the defendant) as compensation for the harm, injury, or loss that you have suffered.

Church ordered to pay $10.9 million for funeral protest, CNN.com, October 31, 2007

Defamation claim dismissed against funeral-protesting church, Eyewitness News, October 16, 2007

Related Web Resources:

Westboro Baptist Church military funeral protests ruling reinforces rule of law, Jurist.com, October 18, 2007

Continue reading "Father of US Soldier Wins $10.9 Million Personal Injury Lawsuit in Maryland Against Baptist Church For Funeral Protest" »

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 " »

The National Safety Council says that accidental deaths are increasing in the United States. It also cited accidents as the number three cause of death in Washington D.C. and the number six cause of fatalities in Maryland.

The NSC says that accidents are the major cause of death for people between the ages of 1 and 41 in the United States. The NSC called accidental death the a silent epidemic, with one person dying in an accident every five minutes.

The leading causes of accidental death:

• Motor vehicle accidents
• Poisoning
• Falls
• Choking
• Drowning

These five factors reportedly make up 83% of all accident-related fatalities. Fire was another commonly cited cause of accident-related injuries and deaths.

The NSC also said that accidents were responsible for over 24 million nonfatal injuries in 2005.

Deaths and injuries caused by accidents are preventable. If you were injured or someone you love died because another party’s negligence caused your injury accident to occur, you should speak to an experienced personal injury attorney immediately.

Common personal injury accidents leading to injury or wrongful death include:

• Medical malpractice errors
• Slip and fall accidents because of unsafe premises
• Car accidents
• Truck accidents
• Boating accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Accidents caused by defective products,
• Pharmacy errors
• Inadequate security accidents

Your personal injury lawyer can help you file a claim or lawsuit for compensation against any negligent parties. There is no reason for you to suffer further because you are now straddled with exorbitant medical bills in addition to recovering from your serious injuries or loss. The negligent party should be held liable for causing your injuries or the death of your loved one.

Accidental Deaths Increasing at Alarming Rate, National Safety Council, CSR Newswire, September 21, 2007

Related Web Resources:

National Safety Council

Play it Safe- Preventing Accidents, NHS Borders

Continue reading "National Safety Council Says Accidents are Major Cause of Death In Maryland and Washington D.C." »

Roderick Parks has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for showing a live video on the Internet of him molesting a minor. The sentenced was handed down in Baltimore at the federal court.

Parks, 42, has AIDS. He was apprehended after Australian Federal Police were notified that there was a video online of him sexual assaulting a boy.

Even though Parks says he never slept with any minors, police say that he confessed to having sexual relations with an 11-year-old male repeatedly last year.

Sex abuse can lead to lifelong emotional, psychological, and physical injuries, including depression, fear, sexual problems, low self-esteem, suicidal tendencies, problems establishing intimate relationships, eating disorders, health problems, and drug abuse.

If your child has suffered because of sex abuse, you should contact a personal injury attorney immediately. Your personal injury lawyer can sue the perpetrator for compensation for the injuries that he or she inflicted on your loved one. Punitive damages may also be imposed to punish the abuser for his or her wrongful actions.

Sex abuse is a devastating crime, which can be prosecuted in a criminal court. Some reports show that about half a million children are sexually abused in the United States annually. Many incidents of sexual abuse, however, go unreported because children are ashamed or unable to report the incident. In 2004, The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry said that there about 80,000 cases of child sexual abuse that are actually reported each year.

Childhood sexual abuse involves sexual activity between an adult and a minor. The age of consent, where a person is deemed old enough to be able to consent to sexual involvement, can vary from state to state. In Maryland and Washington D.C., the age of sexual consent is 16.

Child sex abuse can include molestation, indecent exposure, incest, sexual assault, lewd conduct, rape, prostitution, and the broadcasting/distribution of pornography.

Man gets 30 years for child sex abuse, Examiner.com, September 13, 2007

Child Sexual Abuse, American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, July 2004

Related Web Resources:

Maryland: Age of Consent Laws

Statistics Surrounding Child Sexual Abuse, Darkness to Light

Continue reading "Maryland Man Gets 30 Years for Sex Abuse Crime" »

A Washington D.C. television news team from 9NEWS NOW has found lead on a park fence at the Friendship Recreation Center Park located on Van Ness Street. The team took paint samples and sent it to the GPL Lab. The lab, located in Frederick, Maryland, also does tests for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

GPL experts say that the paint consists of 9.3% lead, which is considered a high concentration in paint chips. GPL said that this probably makes the fence a hazard. Hundreds of children play in the park regularly and may be at risk of sustaining lead poisoning or have already been injured or become ill as a result of exposure to the lead on the paint. Any injuries or death could be grounds for a personal injury or wrongful death claim or lawsuit against any negligent parties.

Department of the Environment has sent a risk assessor to get more samples from the fence. He says that he wants to determine if other park fences in D.C. also contain lead paint.

Lead paint has been banned in the U.S. since 1978. However, there are homes and other properties that were built before that year that may still have lead paint.

Lead poisoning can occur if a child ingests small chips of paint. There have been cases of lead poisoning that have been reported where infants became injured or died after chewing or sucking on a surface, such as a toy, that had lead paint. More than 50% or kids residing in urban areas are exposed to lead. Over 4% of children have lead poisoning. It can take years before medical problems attributed to lead poisoning can appear in children.

Injuries in children from lead poisoning can include kidney disease, brain damage, and learning disabilities. Swallowing just a one-inch paint chip can result in permanent brain damage.

If you or your child is injured or ill because you were exposed to lead, an experienced personal injury attorney can investigate your case and file a claim against any negligent parties. Negligent parties in a lead poisoning injury case might include, paint manufacturers, contractors, painters, real estate sellers, landlords, real estate brokers, the city or municipal government, toy manufacturers, toy companies, plumbers, and others.

Lead Paint Found On DC Park Fence Where Hundreds Play, WUSA9.com, August 21, 2007

Who is to Blame for Childhood Lead Poisoning?, Lead-info.com

Related Web Resources:

Friendship Recreation Center, Department of Parks and Recreation

Kids and Lead Poisoning, Familydoctor.org

Child Lead Poisoning and the Lead Industry, Sueleadindustry.homestead.com

Continue reading "Lead Paint Discovered on Washington D.C. Park Fence Near Where Hundreds of Kids Play" »

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 " »

At the University of Maryland in College Park, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a national warning cautioning college students to be careful about fires on campus.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission chose the University of Maryland at College Park as the venue for issuing the warning because it is known as a leader in fire safety.

The National Fire Protection Association says that each year, 46 students sustain burn injuries in college fires, while about 7 students end up dead. Property damage is about $25 million annually.

The top causes of college fires are burning candles and cooking.

In the last two years, two people have died in Maryland in college-related fires—both fires occurred off campus.

The NFPA and CPSC say:

• Most college fires that result in injuries take place in sleeping areas.
• Electrical products, halogen lamps, and portable headers are common causes of college fires.

The U.S. Fire Administration cites numerous causes of college-related fires, including:

• Improper use of 911 notification systems delays emergency response.
• Student apathy is prevalent. Many of us are unaware that fire is a risk or threat in the environment.
• Evacuation efforts are hindered since fire alarms are often ignored.
• Building evacuations are delayed due to lack of preparation and preplanning.
• Vandalized and improperly maintained smoke alarms and fire alarm systems inhibit early detection of fires.
• Misuse of cooking appliances, overloaded electrical circuits and extension cords increase the risk of fires.

Fires can lead to serious burn injuries that can result in nerve damage, scarring, disfigurement, great pain, psychological and emotional trauma, and other catastrophic injuries.

If you or someone you love was seriously injured in a fire in Maryland or Washington D.C. because another party was negligent, you should speak to a personal injury attorney right away.

College Dorm Fires On The Rise, WJz.com, August 21, 2007

Fire Safety 101: Colleges and Universities, US Fire Administration

Related Web Resources:

Get Out and Stay Alive: A Program for College Campus and Student Fire Safety, FEMA (PDF)

US Consumer Product Safety Commission

Continue reading "The US Consumer Product Safety Commission Issues Warning Against College Dorm Fires and Resulting Student Injuries and Deaths" »

An Edgewater woman is suing her county police department for more than $3 million after an Anne Arundel County police officer allegedly overreacted and killed her family’s beloved pit bull.

Deborah Ransom says that she and her teenaged daughter have “experienced fright, terror, panic, (and) sleeplessness” and sought counseling because of the traumatic event.

According to Ransom, on November 27, 2006, her 60-pound pet “enthusiastically and gently” pulled at Officer Adam Hinton’s sleeve. The cop then pulled out his gun and “maliciously” killed the pit bull, named Chopper, in the back. She and her daughter, Tiffany Hancock, were just five feet away.

A police department spokesman had previously justified the shooting, saying that the officer had been bitten on the leg and arm and was afraid he would be attacked again if he didn’t shoot the dog.

This is the third biting incident involving Chopper, who nipped at the sons of a neighbor in 2004 and bit a man in April 2006. The pit bull had been quarantined for 10 days after the second attack but was released into Ms. Ransom’s care on the condition that she adhere to certain restrictions, including neutering Chopper and placing him on a 4-foot leash and muzzling him anytime he left the house. He also had to be placed in a locked room or a kennel whenever there were visitors at Ransom’s house.

The personal injury lawsuit names Officer Hinton and Anne Arundel county officials as defendants. The lawsuit accuses Hinton of police misconduct, excessive force, and reckless behavior in the shooting of the dog and that he “intentionally caused or attempted to cause serious physical injury” to Ms. Ransom and Ms. Hancock. The county is also accused of unlawfully seizing Chopper, considered to be Ms. Ransom’s personal property.

Officer Hinton, who was treated at Anne Arundel Medical Center, sustained bruising and redness and was back at work the same day.

Animal Control had taken the body so that it could conduct a rabies test. Ms. Ransom wanted the body back so she could get an autopsy to determine what direction the bullet came from when it struck her pet. Chopper’s body was never returned to her.

Contributory Negligence
Maryland and D.C. are two of the five U.S. jurisdictions that use contributory negligence rather than comparative negligence in personal injury claims. This means that if both the defendant and accident victim are determined to have contributed to a loss, both parties can be held at fault, which can lower the damages that an injury victim might be entitled to.

This standard can make it more difficult for injury victims to receive proper justice under personal injury law in Maryland, which is why it is so important to retain the services of an experienced personal injury attorney who can fight for your rights and help you achieve the best outcome possible in your case.

Family sues police over dog's shooting, Hometown Annapolis, August 13, 2007

Related Web Resource:

Police Brutality, Human Rights Watch

Continue reading "Maryland Woman Sues Police Department Who Shot Her Family’s Pit Bill" »

University Legal Services, Inc., an advocacy group for Washington D.C. children that have developmental disabilities, say that children at Riverside Hospital are in danger of “serious and persistent abuse and neglect.” City mental health officials will now begin to visit the hospital on a weekly basis to monitor the conditions there. Riverside Hospital treats youths up to 21 years of age.

The advocacy group’s report recounts incidents of physical violence (punching, slapping, choking, pushing) and verbal abuse by staff members and the use of physical restraints and seclusion to control patients’ behavior. Not enough supervision allegedly allowed teens to hurt themselves, steal bottles of medicine, and attack other patients. Treatment plans were supposedly not followed and living conditions at the facility were allegedly unsanitary and unhealthy.

Last December, one teen resident died at the hospital. The Department of Mental Health says the female teenager became ill last November and was sent to Georgetown University Hospital where she was placed on a ventilator. She was then taken by air to Inova Fairfax Hospital for cardiac surgery. She died the following month.

The department says that the hospital failed to order basic tests, document the teenager’s vital signs, tell a doctor that her condition was getting worse, or note down that she had a family history of heart disease.

Riverside hospital is a private, for-profit hospital.

When a person is seriously injured while staying at a hospital because of negligence on the part of any staff members, he or she may be eligible to file a personal injury claim or a medical malpractice lawsuit.

Doctors, nurses, and medical staff members are required by law to provide proper care to their patients—medically, emotionally and psychologically. If that care is abused or not properly given, the negligent party could be sued for negligence or malpractice—depending on the type of abuse or neglect that occurred.

Some causes for a personal injury lawsuit can include:

• Nursing home abuse
• Negligence
• Physical abuse
• Verbal abuse
• Neglect
• Sexual abuse
• Rape
• Financial abuse
• Wrongful diagnosis
• Failure to diagnose
• Failure to administer proper care
• Physician error
• Surgical error

Youth Hospital Faulted For Abuse, Washington Post, July 26, 2007

Related Web Resources:

Department of Mental Health, Washington D.C.

Riverside Hospital, Washington D.C., Hospital Data

University Legal Services

Continue reading " Children At Psychiatric Hospital in Washington D.C. Might Be In Danger of Injury and Abuse" »

Calls for better pool safety laws continue in Maryland, in the wake of a serious accident involving 6-year-old Abigail Taylor from Minnesota.

Taylor was swimming in a wading pool when the pool’s drain sucked up her intestines and ripped a hole in her rectum. The little girl passed out and fell onto the pool deck.

Abigail is being fed through a tube. She will have to wear a colostomy bag and receive nutrition through a port for as long as she lives.

An attorney representing Abigail and her family says that the drain was not covered properly.

According to Federal researchers, there are three other reported cases where a pool drain has disemboweled a person. 74 people have reportedly been trapped by drains.

Each year, one out of five children sustains serious injuries while in a swimming pool. Former U.S. Secretary James Baker, whose granddaughter drowned after getting caught in a spa drain, previously tried to pass a law making it mandatory that pools have multiple drains. The bill failed.

A child or adult can get trapped in a pool or spa drain when part of the person’s body or swimsuit (or any other clothing) gets stuck in the powerful suction.

In the US, at least 33 kids, ages 14 and under, died from 1985 to 2004 after being trapped in a pool or spa, while nearly 100 kids sustained serious injuries.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a pool/spa drain-related accident, you should contact a personal injury lawyer. There may have been a defect in the construction of the drain that led to your serious injury. Your personal injury lawyer can determine whether you or your injured loved one has grounds for a products liability case and can file a lawsuit on your behalf.

Pool Drain Pulls Small Intestine Out Of Young Girl, WJZ.com, July 6, 2007

Girl hospitalized after swimming pool drain tears out part of her intestinal tract, NCTimes.com, July 5, 2007

Former Secretary of State James Baker speaks in support of legislation intended to prevent accidental drowning, USA Safekids.org May 2, 2006

Related Web Resource:

Spas, Hot Tubs, and Whirlpools, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Continue reading "Pool Drain Sucks Small Intestine From Six-Year-Old Girl; Maryland Residents Push For Tougher Pool Safety Laws" »

Authorities say that two people were injured in Washington D.C. on Wednesday when fireworks that had been leftover from the big show on the National Mall went off. The injured persons are fireworks crew members. One of them was treated at the accident scene while the other worker has serious burn injuries.

In Vienna, Virgina, a D.C. suburb, seven people were hurt during the community’s fireworks exhibit. Five of the injured persons were children. Some of the fireworks had gone off and hit crowd members at an elementary school. The Fairfax County Fire Department says two of the victims sustained serious injuries.

In 2005, according to the National Fire Protection Association:

• U.S. hospital E.R’s treated 10,800 fireworks-related injuries
• Children ages 10 to 14 had the highest injury rates
• 19 out of 20 injuries were related to fireworks that consumers are legally allowed to use
• Fireworks is an extremely high-risk consumer product

The CDC’s Web site offers the following information about Fireworks-Related Injuries:

About 60% of all fireworks-related injuries in 2005 occurred between June 18 and July 18. During that time period:

• Fireworks-related injuries most frequently involved hands and fingers (31%), eyes (25%), and the head and face (20%) (Greene & Joholske 2006).

• More than half of the injuries were burns. Burns were the most common injury to all body parts except the eyes. In the eyes, contusions, lacerations and foreign bodies occurred more frequently (Greene & Joholske 2006).

• Fireworks can be associated with serious injuries such as blindness, third degree burns, and permanent scarring (Smith et al. 1996).

• Fireworks also cause life-threatening residential and motor vehicle fires (Greene & Joholske 2006).

• Between June 18 and July 18, 2005, Firecrackers (26%), sparklers (17%), and rockets (17%) accounted for most of the injuries seen in emergency departments (Greene & Joholske 2006).

• Sparklers were associated with more than half of the estimated injuries for children under five (Greene & Joholske 2006).

• Between 2000-2005, more than one third of the fireworks-related deaths involved professional devices that were illegally sold to consumers (CPSC 2006a).

If you or someone you love has injuries related to fireworks because another party acted negligently or carelessly, do not hesitate to call a personal injury law firm immediately.

Fireworks injuries in DC and suburbs, July 5, 2007

Fireworks, National Fire Protection Association

Fireworks-Related Injuries, Centers for Disease Control

Related Web Resources:

National Fire Protection Association

Continue reading "Two Fireworks Crew Members Injured In Washington D.C.’s National Mall After Forth of July Fireworks Show" »

A 13-year-old lost her feet yesterday, when she severed them while riding an amusement park ride at a Six Flags amusement park in Kentucky. She was riding the Superman Tower of Power when a frayed cable snapped, hitting the girl’s legs and severing both of them above her ankle. She was immediately taken to a hospital for surgery.

The ride takes passengers up to 177 feet and then drops them at 54mph. Amusement park officials are trying to determine the cause of the accident, and Cedar Fair Entertainment Co. has shut down similar rides at other parks throughout the U.S.

Intamin AG made the Superman ride but not all the parts.

The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions says that in 2005, there we about 1,713 ride-related injuries. 132 of the injuries were serious.

Accidents at amusement parks are not uncommon. At an amusement park in Arkansas last month, riders were left suspended upside down while riding a roller coaster. At the Six Flags in Vallejo, California, six people were hospitalized after rider spent four hours at 70 feet. Eight years ago at the Six Flags park in Kentucky, roller coaster passengers were stranded up at 60 feet for over three hours.

Accidents leading to injuries that are caused because of another’s negligence can be grounds for a personal injury claim or lawsuit. When an amusement park accident leads to injuries, there may be more than one liable party. The amusement park, its parent company, amusement park employees, maintenance workers, amusement park manufacturers, and others may be accountable for personal injury, including for premises liability, products liability, and wrongful death.

Continue reading "13-Year-Old Girl Severs Her Feet on Superman Tower of Power Ride" »

A boy died in an ATV accident last Friday at the National Harbor construction site. According to Prince George County police, the boy had managed to enter the site, located on Oxon Hill Road, and gotten on top of the ATV-like equipment, which overturned, pinning the boy underneath. He was seriously injured and later pronounced dead.

Authorities say that it looks like the boy and a few of his companions had stolen the ATV vehicle.

Injuries sustained at a construction accident can be very serious and can possibly lead to wrongful death. Those in charge of oremployed at a construction site are required to maintain high safety and security standards so that construction workers and others are not injured as a result.

When someone is injured on a construction site, a careful investigation by an experienced personal injury lawyer can help determine whether a claim can be brought against a negligent party for personal injury, wrongful death, premises liability, or other kinds of personal injury cases.

ATV Accidents

Over the years, there has been a significant increase in ATV accidents, especially among young people who are not experienced enough to handle these fast and heavy motorized vehicles. Common causes of ATV-related deaths include the vehicle turning over or colliding with something. There is no legal age limit to ride an ATV and riders are not required to wear a helmet.

Spinal cord injuries, broken bones, and traumatic brain injuries are just some of the injuries that can be sustained in an ATV accident.

According to 2001 ATV Statistics, 111,700 people were injured while on an ATV that year.

Continue reading "Boy Dies in ATV Accident in Oxon, Maryland" »

Last Sunday, four people driving scooters were injured in three separate motor vehicle collisions in Ocean City, Maryland.

In the first accident, scooter driver Christopher Herndon was hit by a vehicle at the Baltimore Avenue and 23rd Street intersection. His injuries were treated at AGH.
In the second accident, a vehicle turning left onto Convention Center Drive crashed into two scooters driving down the Coastal Highway. One of the scooter drivers was taken to Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury. In the third accident, a vehicle turning left on a green signal at 52nd street hit a scooter. Scooter driver Bradley Kidd was also taken to PRMC where he was treated for his injuries.

Riding a scooter can be dangerous, especially if you are struck by a car, motorcycle, truck, or other motor vehicle. Many scooter accidents involving a car collision on the road occur because the other driver did not see the scooter. Injuries sustained in a scooter-related accident can include broken bones, burns, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and wrongful death.

For purposes of Maryland State Law, a scooter is defined as:

-134.4 Motor Scooter
(a) In general – “Motor scooter” means a nonpedal vehicle that:
(1) Has a seat for the operator;
(2) Has two wheels, of which one is 10 inches or less;
(3) Has a step-through chassis;
(4) Has a motor;
(i) With a rating of 2.7 brake horsepower or less; or
(ii) If the motor is an internal combustion engine, with a capacity of 50 cubic
centimeters piston displacement or less; and
5) Is equipped with an automatic transmission.
(b) Off-road vehicles – “Motor scooter” does not include a vehicle that has been
manufactured for off-road use, including a motorcycle and an all-terrain vehicle.

Continue reading "In Ocean City, Maryland Four Scooter Drivers Are Injured In Three Different Motor Vehicle Accidents" »

Brandy Norwood, the R& B singer-actress is countersuing for negligence Mallory Ham, a man who is also suing the performer for personal injury. Both Brandy and Ham are facing wrongful death lawsuits from the family of Awatef Aboudihaj, the woman who was killed when her Toyota Corolla was struck by Brandy’s Range Rover on the San Diego Freeway last December. Ham and Brandy are blaming each other for causing the deadly car collision. Brandy is also challenging the other lawsuits that have been filed against her.

The Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office is still considering whether to charge the performer with vehicular manslaughter. The California Highway Patrol has filed a report suggesting that she face charges for the collision. They claim that she neglected to slow down, even as the traffic grew thicker, causing her to crash into Aboudihaj’s vehicle, which was then struck by Ham’s vehicle. If Brandy is convicted, she could face a $1,000 fine and up to one year in prison.

Car accidents can lead to serious, life altering, and permanent injuries, including death. If another person or party’s negligence caused the accident, it is important that you speak with a personal injury lawyer who can help you assess the extent of your injuries or recovery and file the claim for you. Often, injury victims do not receive the full amount of damages they could be entitled to because they are unaware of how much they can and should receive for their injuries. It is not uncommon for insurance companies to try to settle accident claims for less than what you are entitled to.

You will also want to file your claim within the statute of limitations period that your state allows for the kind of accident that you have been involved in. A good injury attorney can help you recover compensation for your injuries, medical bills, pain and suffering, and/or any lost wages.

If your attorney is unable to negotiate a settlement for you, he or she will then ask you if you would like to file a personal injury lawsuit. You will want to make sure that your attorney is an experienced trial lawyer who knows how to successfully argue your case in front of a jury. You will also want a personal injury lawyer who has the resources to properly investigate and build your case for you.

Continue reading "Actress-R & B Singer Brandy Counter-Sues Man Suing Her For Personal Injury From Fatal Car Accident" »

Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley has signed into law a bill that imposes penalties on failing to stop at a nonfunctioning traffic light located off a highway exit ramp. The penalties will be the same as for running a red light.

The state legislation created the bill after a deadly motor vehicle accident in Howard County on January 6, 2006 killed two teenagers who were passengers in a Volvo going west on Route 175 close to Jessup. Teresa Howard of Sykesville and Scott Caplan of Columbia were killed after a tractor-trailer exited southbound Interstate 95 and collided with the Volvo. The traffic light was not functioning properly at the time.

The Maryland state legislature drafted the bill to clarify how drivers should respond when faced with a broken traffic light to prevent this type of personal injury accident from happening again.

Gary Dicks, who was driving the tractor-trailer, a former Howard County police officer, and the Maryland State Police are among those who have been named in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the parents of the teenagers.

People who are seriously injured on the roads because of another party’s negligence may be able to file a personal injury claim and recover damages for their injury to pay for their medical bills and other costs. If you are someone who has been injured in a personal injury accident, you should speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer who practices law in the state where your accident occurred.

Some Reasons for Hiring A Personal Injury Attorney:

• Insurance companies are experienced in negotiating a recovery for you that may not be the maximum recovery that you can receive for your injuries. A personal injury attorney can represent you during these negotiations, look out for your better interests, and help you recover the best recovery possible for your injury or loss.

• There may be more than one liable party responsible for your personal injury, and a personal injury lawyer can assess your claim for you and make sure that all avenues of recovery are explored.

Continue reading "After Deadly Car Accident, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley Passes A Law Against Failing to Stop at A Nonfunctioning Traffic Light" »

A new study recently released by Safe Kids Worldwide says that Maryland is number 12 out of all 50 states and D.C. in a new ranking report of children’s unintentional injury deaths during the summer. The report is called The Safe Kids U.S. Summer Safety Ranking Report.

Maryland’s unintentional injury-related death rate over a five year period was 2.42 children/100,000 kids. The summer season is known as “trauma season” to emergency personnel, since the number of serious injuries and preventable deaths involving children rises drastically during this time.

Vermont, ranked in the report as the number one state, leads the country with 1.63 children for every 100,000 children dying in an unintentional incident during the summertime. New Jersey was # 2 in the rankings. D.C. ranked #3, New York is #4, and Delaware is #5.

According to the report, 17 children a day (2,143 total) died from May –August 2004 because of preventable injuries. 2.4 million children ended up in the emergency room because of unintentional injuries, with many of these injuries resulting in paralysis, brain damage, and other major disabilities.

In another Safe Kids Worldwide study, the five most common causes of children’s injury deaths that can be prevented include:

-- Drowning (increases 89 percent in the summer over the annual monthly
average)
-- Biking (increases 45 percent)
-- Falls (increases 21 percent)
-- Motor vehicle passenger injuries (increases 20 percent)
-- Pedestrian injuries (increases 16 percent)

If your child has been seriously injured or killed because of another’s negligence, it is important that you speak to a personal injury lawyer right away.

Continue reading "Safe Kids Worldwide Says Maryland is Number 12 in State Rankings of Unintentional Child Injuries and Deaths During Summers" »

Although text messaging while driving is not considered illegal in Maryland, drivers could be fined if caught by police.

A recent survey by Nationwide Mutual Insurance found that 37% of drivers between the ages of 18 and 27 engage in text message while driving. This can make the roads more dangerous, especially as drivers in this age group have the least experience behind the wheel. 17% of drivers, age 29-44, send and receive text messages while driving.

In Maryland, a police officer could fine a texting driver up to $140 for the offense. The fine could be even larger if the texting causes the driver to become involved in a motor vehicle accident. The Maryland General Assembly recently rejected a proposal to ban the use of cell phones while driving.

According to Washington Representative Joyce McDonald, text messaging actually requires a higher level of consciousness and concentration than talking on a cell phone.

Recent accidents involving driving while texting:

• In Seattle, Washington, a 53-year-old driver caused a multi-car pileup on an interstate highway while using a Blackberry.
• In 2005, a 26-year-old died near Athens, Tennessee, after losing control of his pickup truck while text messaging on his cell phone.
• An 18-year-old Colorado resident was ordered to serve 10 days in jail after he ran over and killed a senior bicyclist. The Colorado driver had been driving and texting at the same time.
• A California man was convicted of second-degree manslaughter and gross vehicular murder while intoxicated. He had been text messaging someone while driving, just before he ran over a police officer with a pickup truck.

Text messaging while driving can lead to serious accidents and injuries—even death. A person who has been injured on the road because another driver acted negligently while text messaging should speak with an experienced attorney. As a victim of another’s negligence, you may be eligible to file a personal injury claim. The liable party should be held responsible for your medical bills and recovery, and an experienced personal injury law firm can help you obtain the maximum recovery for your case.

Continue reading "Maryland Drivers Face Fines as High as $140 If They Are Caught Text Messaging" »

Andrew’s Law, a bill that would require the Motor Vehicle Administration to let people who are applying for a driver’s license or other forms of state identification list three emergency contact numbers, has a good chance of being passed by the Maryland General Assembly, says bill sponsor Delegate Gail Bates.

Currently, the MVA does not keep contact information on file, but the new law would mandate the creation of a database with this information that police and other law enforcement officials can use to call loved ones of individuals who have been victims in car accidents, motorcycle crashes, truck collisions, pedestrian accidents, and other kinds of traffic accidents.

The bill is named after the son of Delegate Bates’s cousin. Andrew was killed in a car accident. Andrew’s wife (and next of kin) had also been in the car with him at the time of the accident and had to be taken to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center. Andrew's parents were not notified about the deadly car crash for close to 12 hours. Instead of a call from police, they found out about the tragedy through a phone message that was left by Andrew’s brother-in-law.

Bates says that she hopes that the bill can reach the General Assembly before its adjournment on April 9.

Wrongful Death Claims

A wrongful death claim can be brought by family members who have lost a loved one in a traffic accident where a driver was negligent or careless. Even though filing a claim against a negligent party cannot bring your loved one back, it is an acknowledgement by a civil court that a wrong has been done to you. It is also a way to hold the negligent party accountable for their actions and pay for any costs associated with the wrongful death.

Husbands, wives, sons, daughters, mothers, and fathers are allowed to file a wrongful death claim. Recovery can include pain and suffering, lost income and benefits, medical costs, and funeral/burial/cremation expenses. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you file your claim.

Personal Injury Claims

If you have been seriously injured in a traffic accident because another person was negligent, you can file a personal injury claim. A personal injury lawsuit holds the negligent party responsible for your recovery costs and pain and suffering. It is important that you retain the services of a personal injury attorney that has the resources and tools to thoroughly investigate the accident and prove that the other party was negligent.

Continue reading "Bill Allowing Maryland Law Enforcement Officials To Contact Family Members and Loved Ones Of Traffic Accident Victims More Quickly Is Likely To Pass The General Assembly, Says Maryland Delegate Bates" »

A series of DC Metro subway accidents in the past year, including a subway derailment in downtown D.C. in early January that put 20 people in the hospital and left 60 people stranded in a tunnel, is causing federal safety officials to examine the country’s second busiest urban rail system.

In another Metro-related accident last year, two track workers were killed after being hit by a train. Two workers were also struck and killed by trains in May 2006 and October 2005. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the latest three accidents.

The DC Metro system, which began operating over 30 years ago, has close to 1,000 rail cars that travel through a more than 100-mile route, taking almost 700,000 people to jobs, their homes, meetings, and tourist sites.

Because of the recent accidental deaths among train workers, track workers are now only allowed to inspect the metro rails between 10 a.m. and 3.pm., when fewer trains are running. Trains are also being ordered to slow down to under 20mph as they approach track workers and cannot pass them unless the workers give them the signal to do so.

Some causes of train-related deaths and injuries:

· Train derailments
· Train crashes
· Faulty equipment
· Walking too close to the train tracks
· Work-related errors

Examples of train injuries: burn injuries, internal injuries, spinal cord injuries, and broken bones, brain injuries, and other injuries that are associated with motor vehicle-related accidents.

The personal injury law firm of Lebowitz and Mzhen represents clients who have been injured in accidents due to someone else’s negligence. We represent clients injured in motor vehicle accidents, boating accidents, products liability cases, medical malpractice cases, and other types of personal injury cases.

Continue reading "Recent Subway Accidents In D.C. Show An Aging Metro System" »

Howard County Police Chief William J. McMahon wants the County Council to repeal a law banning the use of stun guns because he wants to equip several of his officers with Tasers.

The handheld stun gun incapacitates a person for five seconds by shooting probes into that person’s skin. Several high profile reports regarding the misuse of stun guns, however, have caused policy makers to be very cautious when considering approving their use.

For example, a taser gun was used on a 6-year-old school boy at his school’s office in Miami, while a police officer in Orlando, Florida used a stun gun on a suspect who was chained to a hospital bed and was not a threat to the officer. Taser International, the company that supplies Taser stun guns, is facing about 50 personal injury and product liability lawsuits.

According to Amnesty International, approximately 61 people died in the US in 2005 after being shocked with a Taser repeatedly.

Last August, Taser International settled class action lawsuits with its shareholders for approximately $20 million. Its shareholders accused the company of exaggerating its product's safety. However, the Company did not admit to any wrongdoing.

Hudson County Police Chief McMahon says he believes that with the proper training, misuse by police officers can be prevented.

The personal injury lawfirm of Lebowitz and Mzhen represents clients who have been injured due to someone else’s negligence in personal injury and products liability lawsuits.

Personal injury claims and lawsuits happen when a person is injured by someone else’s careless or intentionally negligent act. If a person is deemed legally responsible for injuring another person, then they are liable for causing the injury and may be required to compensate the injured person for the damage caused. Compensatory damages are intended to help a person recover from their injury and pay their medical and recovery costs so that they may, to the best extent possible, be restored to the same condition and quality of life that they had before the accident. Punitive damages may also be awarded in a personal injury case. The monetary award is intended to punish the person responsible for the injury.

A person who is injured using a product that is damaged or dangerous may be able to file a products liability lawsuit. The lawsuit can be brought against any company or person that was involved in making or distributing the product. A court may order compensatory or punitive damages in a products liability lawsuit.

Continue reading "Howard County Police Chief Wants County Council To Approve Use Of Tasers By Officers " »

In Annapolis, Maryland, a deadly car accident on Aris T. Allen Boulevard brought traffic to a halt for over four hours last Saturday. According to an Annapolis police spokesperson, a stolen white Volvo sedan had been speeding east on the boulevard near the Vineyard Road intersection when it crossed over the grassy median and hit a green Toyota SUV going westbound.

The passenger in the Volvo was declared dead at the accident scene, while the driver of the stolen vehicle was taken to Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. The driver of the SUV was taken to Anne Arundel Medical Center. Both drivers were in critical condition when they were admitted.

Because of the extensive traffic, motorists were forced to turn onto side roads to get to their destination. Aris T. Allen had to be closed on both sides following the accident. The traffic was diverted to other roads, which created gridlock in other parts of the city.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident due to someone else’s negligence, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit to win compensation for the injuries. It is important that you consult with a competent personal injury attorney before filing your lawsuit—especially if your injury is very severe. There may be complex legal rules related to your claim and the amount of compensation you could win might be different than the norm because of the kind of injury you’ve sustained. A personal injury attorney can help you with these issues. Retaining a personal injury can also make an insurance company less resistant to paying your accident claim.

Nolo.com recommends retaining a lawyer for the following kinds of accidents and injuries:

Long-Term or Permanently Disabling Injuries
Some accidents result in injuries that significantly affect your physical capabilities or appearance for a long time -- over a year -- or even permanently. Figuring out how much such a serious injury is worth can be a difficult business. You'll probably require some assistance from an experienced lawyer to get the most out of your claim.

Severe Injuries
The amount of your accident compensation is mostly determined by how severe your injuries were. And the severity of your injuries is measured by the amount of your medical bills, the type of injuries you have, and the length of time it takes for you to recover. As the amount of your potential compensation increases, the range within which that compensation may fall becomes wider. In such cases, it may be worth the expense to have a lawyer handle your claim and make sure you receive compensation at the highest end of the range.

Medical Malpractice
If you have suffered an injury or illness due to careless, unprofessional, or incompetent treatment at the hands of a doctor, nurse, hospital, clinic, laboratory, or other medical provider, both the medical questions and the legal rules involved are complex. They almost certainly require that you hire a lawyer experienced in medical malpractice cases.

Toxic Exposure
In the increasingly chemical world, we sometimes become ill because of exposure to contaminants in the air, soil, or water, in products, or in food. Claims based on such exposure are difficult to prove, however, and often require complex scientific data. And because the chemical and other industries have erected a huge wall to protect themselves from legal exposure while they continue to expose us to potentially harmful chemicals, the required evidence is very hard to come by. Get expert help.

When an Insurance Company Refuses to Pay
In some instances, regardless of the nature of your injury or the amount of your medical bills and lost income, you will want to hire a lawyer because an insurance company or government agency simply refuses to make any fair settlement offer at all. In these cases, something -- what the lawyer can get minus the fee charged to get it -- is better than nothing.

Continue reading "Car Crash In Annapolis Involving Stolen Car Kills One Man And Puts Two People In The Hospital" »

While walking through a parking area behind Sam’s Club at the Golden Ring Mall on December 11, Edward Witte, 61, was struck by a vehicle and dragged for about 30 feet. The driver of the vehicle was Baltimore resident Margaret Wance, 65. A police helicopter flew Witte to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center. Police investigating the accident say early indications show that Wance’s car swerved into the pedestrian.

If you have been injured in a pedestrian accident and you would like to file a personal injury lawsuit, there are a number of steps you can take in the initial days and weeks following the accident to protect your right to compensation.

Nolo.com provides the following suggestions:

· Write down as much as you can about the accident itself, your injuries, and any other losses (such as wages) you've suffered as a result of the accident.
· Make notes of conversations that you have with people involved in the accident or the injury claim.
· Preserve evidence of who caused the accident and what damage was done by collecting physical evidence and taking photographs.
· Locate people who witnessed the accident and who might be able to help you prove your case.
· Notify anyone you think might be responsible for the accident of your intention to file a claim for your injuries.

It is important that you take very thorough notes regardin