A Montgomery County, Maryland jury has awarded John and Sandra Ketterman $1.85 million for their newborn’s wrongful death. Their son, Benjamin, died two days after he was born in July 2005. The Kettermans had accused Dr. Leonard Bienkowski of negligently using vacuum extraction during their son’s delivery at Frederick Memorial…
Maryland Accident Law Blog
Maryland Birthing Malpractice: Expansion of Consent Doctrine Restores $13 Million Cerebral Palsy Verdict
The decision by Maryland’s highest court to extend the doctrine of informed consent to doctors’ talks with patients about medical options has resulted in the reinstatement of a $13 million birthing malpractice verdict to a mother whose son was born with cerebral palsy. Peggy McQuitty and Dylan filed a Baltimore…
Maryland Truck Accidents 23 times more likely When Truck Drivers are Texting
Findings released from a new study this week report that texting while driving increases the chance that a truck driver will be involved in a truck crash or near-accident by 23 times. Researches from Virginia Tech’s Transportation Institute looked at commercial trucking information from two studies—one in 2003 and the…
NHTSA Hopes Tougher Braking Standards for Truck Tractors Will Decrease Number of Maryland Truck Accident Deaths
Last week, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration introduced new braking standards for truck tractors. Whereas the old standard required tractor-trailers moving at 60 mph come to a full stop within 355 feet, the new standard mandates a complete stop within 250 feet. The federal agency estimates that this new…
Maryland File $40 Million Baltimore County Personal Injury Lawsuit Over Son’s Traumatic Brain Injuries From Alleged Near Drowning Accident
Yesterday, the parents of James Becker filed a $40 million Maryland personal injury lawsuit against the Woodcroft Swim Club and D.R.D. Pool Management Inc. They are accusing the defendants of failing to recognize and respond in timely manner to their son’s near drowning accident on July 29, 2006 and of…
Cell Phone Use While Driving: NHTSA Withheld Research Warning About Dangers
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reportedly recommended as far back as 2002 that motorists not talk on cell phones while driving—unless in an emergency situation. The federal agency also recommended that drivers not use hands-held, as well as hands-free phones and even went so far as to note that…
Catastrophic Medical Mistakes: Laws Now Requires District and Maryland Hospitals to Report Errors that Result in Serious Injuries
In the last year, hospitals in Maryland, the District, and Virginia have reported hundreds of medical incidents that have resulted in serious medical harm or death. That’s because new laws that went into effect in 2008 require these hospitals to notify health regulators about serious injuries sustained by patient during…
Preventing Maryland Drunk Driving and Drugged Driving Accidents: NHTSA Roadside Survey Reports Decrease in Drunk Drivers
Driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs continues to destroy too many lives. Drunk driving and drugged driving are both careless acts that can be grounds for a Maryland car accident lawsuit if someone gets hurt or dies. On a positive note, however, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s…
Two Men Killed in Potomac, Maryland Drunk Driving Accident
Two people died last Tuesday when a drunk driver hit the pickup truck they were riding in. The impact of the Maryland motor vehicle crash caused their vehicle to go over a guardrail and 60-feet down an embankment. The vehicle landed on its roof. Killed in the deadly Potomac car…
Maryland Wrongful Death Settlement Reached in 2007 Pedestrian Accident on Coastal Highway
A little over two years after 21-year-old Tyler Adams was killed in a Maryland motor vehicle crash while crossing Coastal Highway on June 17, 2007, his family has settled their wrongful death lawsuit with the defendant. Adams, an Easton resident, and his friend Dale Blankenship were crossing the highway before…