Maryland Accident Law Blog
Many car accidents result in injury to one or more of the drivers or passengers involved in the accident. However, few accidents are more likely to cause serious injury or death than Maryland pedestrian accidents. Indeed, over the past five years, there has been an average of 3,227 Maryland pedestrian accidents each year, resulting in over 2,800 injuries and 110 fatalities annually.
Contrary to what many believe, in most accidents involving pedestrians, the pedestrian is not at fault. More often, it is the motorist whose negligence causes the accident. Below are some interesting facts according to official Maryland government statistics:
- 30% of pedestrian accidents resulting in injury occur while the pedestrian is crossing at a marked crosswalk.
- Nearly 10% of fatal pedestrian accidents occur while the pedestrian is standing still.
- An average of 62 children are injured each year while playing near the street.
- About 23% of pedestrian accidents occur when the pedestrian is crossing without a crosswalk.
While shocking, this data is incomplete because it does not include Maryland pedestrian accidents that occur on private property, such as parking lots and parking garages. However, parking lots and garages present a significant risk to pedestrians, and there are thousands of accidents in Maryland parking lots each year. These accidents raise potential issues of third-party liability because the owner of the parking lot may be jointly liable for damages along with the at-fault motorist if the lot or garage was poorly designed or maintained.
Maryland Woman Given Traffic Citation after Fatal Pedestrian Accident
Earlier this June, one woman was killed as she was standing near her parked car with her eleven-month-old granddaughter. According to a local news report covering the tragic accident, the crash occurred in a Target parking lot in Owings Mills. Evidently, the woman and her granddaughter were struck by a vehicle that was pulling out of the Target parking lot as they were standing near their own vehicle. The older woman and the child were both thrown to the ground.
The 67-year-old grandmother suffered fatal injuries in the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency workers. The infant was hospitalized with serious injuries, but has since been released. The driver remained at the scene and was issued a citation for driving without a license. Police are investigating the accident, and told reporters that the local prosecutor’s office would make the ultimate decision whether criminal charges will be brought against the driver.
Have You Been Injured in a Maryland Car Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been injured in a Maryland car accident, consider discussing your case with the dedicated Maryland car accident attorneys at the law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen, LLC. At Lebowitz & Mzhen, we provide an exceptional level of representation to accident victims across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. We pride ourselves in aggressively advocating on behalf of Maryland accident victims, steadfastly seeking to hold the responsible parties accountable. To learn more, and to schedule a free consultation with a dedicated Maryland injury lawyer to discuss your case, call 410-654-3600 today.