Maryland Accident Law Blog
Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is not only dangerous but highly illegal. The chances of crashes and fatal accidents increase when drivers are inhibited because they are less able to react to situations that come up on the road or exercise poor judgment while driving. Unfortunately, Maryland drivers are all too familiar with the dangers of drivers operating their vehicles under the influence. According to a study by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Maryland drivers reported driving after drinking at a higher rate than the national reporting rate. In fact, between 2009 and 2018, 1,515 people were killed in alcohol-involved crashes in Maryland. The CDC has found that over 10,000 people per year die in such crashes throughout the country.
Does My Negligence Affect My Maryland Car Accident Case?
Contributory Negligence is a legal concept that potentially prevents plaintiffs in an accident case from receiving recovery for injuries resulting from a crash if their negligence contributed to the accident to any degree. Essentially, even if the negligence of the operator of another vehicle is largely responsible for the accident if the plaintiff was even a little negligent, it is possible they will not be able to recover compensation. In Maryland, contributory negligence is interpreted very broadly, allowing minor negligence by the plaintiff in personal injury cases to defeat even very strong claims. A recent article discussed a local fatal crash where the cause of the accident is still under investigation.
According to the news article, the accident occurred in the evening on Friday, September 29, around 7:30 p.m. A passenger SUV with four people in it was heading east on Whitmore in Bowie, Maryland when it left the road and crashed into a tree. The SUV became engulfed in flames when it struck the tree, and by the time paramedics and EMTs arrived on the scene, all four people inside the car had died. The cause for the SUV’s sudden departure from the road and into the tree is still under investigation by the Prince George’s County Police Department. Police investigators not only closed off the road to continue conducting their inquiry, but the police spokesperson said they expected to be working late into the night trying to identify the four bodies, as the fire that engulfed the SUV made identification much more difficult.
Have You Been Hurt in a Maryland Car Accident?
If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident in the Prince George’s, Baltimore, Charles, or Montgomery County region, let the attorneys at Lebowitz & Mzhen help you recover the damages you deserve. Expenses and injuries from a motor vehicle accident can quickly become overwhelming, and having an experienced team of lawyers by your side can make all the difference. Our attorneys have successfully represented injury victims at every stage of the process, ensuring that they obtain the proper damages. With our team, you can have faith that your claim is being pursued properly. If you have questions about your case, call us today at 800-654-1949 and schedule a free and no-obligation initial consultation with a Maryland injury lawyer at our office.