Maryland Injury Attorney Blog

Though Baltimore County commuters might beg to differ, Maryland has recently been ranked as one of the safer states in the country for motorists. (See related Maryland Injury Attorney articles below.) Now a new study released by a national highway traffic safety advocacy group ranks Maryland among states given a "green light" for basic traffic laws on the books.

However many aspects of Maryland traffic laws and regulations could use improvement, as the study authors -- and experienced Baltimore County car accident injury lawyers -- would agree. Let's take a brief look at the study findings and recommendations.

Maryland's basic traffic laws were given "green light" passing grades by the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety. The group is comprised of consumer, insurance, health, safety, and law enforcement representatives and conducts a national survey of traffic laws by state every year. Its report titled 2012 Roadmap to State Highway Safety Laws looks at 15 basic traffic laws covering a range of safety areas, including use of motorcycle helmets and seat belts, texting while driving, Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) programs, child safety seats, and ignition interlock devices for convicted drunk drivers.

States given a "green light" grade, including Maryland and our neighbors in Delaware and Washington, D.C., have 10 to 15 basic traffic laws on their books, including a primary seat belt law, OR 9 laws including primary seat belt enforcement AND an all-rider motorcycle helmet law. Other states with fewer traffic safety laws were given a "yellow light" grade ("caution"), such as Pennsylvania to our north. Those states given a "red light" ("danger") grade are "falling behind" in national traffic safety and law enforcement trends (sorry, Virginia).

While the coalition commends Md. for our traffic safety laws, it nonetheless identified several areas that could use improvement to prevent serious and fatal traffic accidents. These include…

• Adoption of an Ignition Interlock Law to stop Maryland drunk drivers from operating their motor vehicles under the influence.


• Several provisions to strengthen a Graduated Drivers Licensing program (known in Maryland as our Rookie Driver / Graduated Licensing System). These include beefing up restrictions on cell phone use while driving, passengers, and night time driving; as well as setting a minimum age of 16 years for gaining a Learner's Permit. Young, inexperienced drivers are at higher risk for being involved in serious and fatal auto accidents in Maryland, putting themselves, their passengers and pedestrians at risk.

None of the states surveyed by the Advocates for Highway Safety achieved a perfect score for all the basic traffic laws they recommend be on every state's books. As long-time Maryland traffic accident injury attorneys, we'll be interested see if Maryland adds teeth to any of our traffic laws (or adopts any new ones) in 2012. Related reading below.

Related Maryland Injury Attorney articles:

Maryland Car Accident Death Rates Down, But Many Traffic Safety Challenges Remain (Jan. 2, 2012)

Should Maryland Laws Banning Cell Phone Use While Driving Get Even Tougher? (Dec. 21, 2011)

The Number-One Killer of Kids and Young Adults in Maryland (Sept. 23, 2012)

Sources:

Highway Safety Laws Needed in Maryland
Saferoads.org

2012 Roadmap to State Highway Safety : Press Kit (PDF)
Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety Jan. 11, 2012

Related Web Resources:

Maryland Department of Transportation, State Highway Administration:
Maryland Traffic Safety Laws

Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration:
Maryland Driver's Manual (PDF)

As a new year begins, it's worth noting some traffic accident statistics and trends for the state of Maryland. There's some encouraging news, but many Md. traffic safety and driving challenges remain.

A recent story reported by CBS Baltimore noted that Maryland traffic accident fatalities decreased by 10 percent last year. The report pointed to statistics for 2010 released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). According to NHTSA's findings, 493 motor vehicle crash deaths occurred in Maryland in 2010, compared with 549 in 2009.

A source from the Mid-Atlantic AAA reported that the decrease in Maryland car crash deaths can be credited to a number of factors. These include advances in automotive safety equipment such as air bags and anti-rollover technology, better road signage, as well as public safety campaigns targeting unsafe driving behaviors, including drunk driving in Maryland.

While this news is encouraging, experienced Hunt Valley accident and injury attorneys know -- even one traffic death on Maryland roads is one too many. While the old adage "Accidents can happen" may be true in some auto crash cases, so many traffic crashes are preventable. Let's take a look at a few of the major traffic safety challenges in Maryland.

Maryland Drunk Driving Accidents: Alcohol impaired driving remains a serious public safety concern, in Maryland and around the country. Drunk driving accident fatality rates go up around the holidays. NHTSA reports that 40 percent of US traffic crash deaths on major holidays involve alcohol-impaired driving, including those that occur on New Year's, Memorial Day, and Fourth of July. (Source: U.S. Dept. of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Fatality Analysis Reporting System, General Estimates System, 2009 DATA SUMMARY, Sept. 2011)

Distracted Driving in Maryland: Though Maryland cell phone use while driving laws are some of the toughest in the country -- distracted driving, particularly texting while driving, remains a very dangerous practice. At present, Maryland law enforcement may only ticket drivers for texting if they're pulled over for some other primary offense.

Teen Drivers in Maryland: Young novice drivers are among the most dangerous on Maryland roads and highways. Teenage drivers lack the years of driving experience and maturity of adult drivers -- putting themselves, their passengers and other motorists at increased risk on Md. city streets, back roads and highways. The combination of teens, alcohol, and multiple passengers in a motor vehicle can be deadly.

Maryland Auto Crashes with Farm Equipment: Maryland's many miles of winding back roads can pose a challenge to urban and suburban drivers -- particularly those who aren't prepared to meet a tractor, combine or other agricultural vehicle, or livestock in the roadway. Car crashes with these farm vehicles and large animals can be disastrous.

Maryland Road and Highway Congestion: Maryland motorists, your driving frustrations are real. Road congestion in and around Baltimore County remains some of the most frustrating in the nation. A CBS Baltimore report named I-70 in Frederick, Md. the eleventh most congested roadway in the nation. Road construction, which will eventually improve Maryland highway driving, nonetheless poses driving accident hazards for motorists, road construction workers, and police working details in road construction zones. Parts of the Baltimore Beltway / I-695 were ranked 92nd most congested in the nation.

We've a long ways to go to make zero fatalities a reality on our nation's and our Maryland roadways. Have a safe and happy New Year.

Sources:

Md. Traffic Deaths Down 10 Percent
CBS Baltimore Dec. 8, 2011

New Road Congestion Study Names I-70 Nation’s 11th Worst
CBS Baltimore Nov. 15, 2011

Last week, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) made a bold recommendation -- one that urges states to take another look at their driving laws and has the driving public talking about individual rights versus public safety.

In the wake of several fatal distracted driving traffic accidents, the NTSB proposed an all-out, nationwide ban on talking and texting on cell phones while driving. That would mean no talking on either hand-held or hands-free cell phones and no texting, for any drivers of any age, except in the case of an emergency.

The NTSB recommendation came following examination of a 2010 case in Missouri, where a young man who had reportedly been texting for several minutes crashed his pickup truck into a commercial truck that had slowed down for road construction -- setting in motion a chain reaction crash that involved two school buses. The pickup truck driver and a teenage passenger on one of the buses were killed, and close to 40 people were injured, some seriously.

Traffic safety advocates remind consumers that until recently, cell phones weren't even invented. However consumers today expect all the comforts and conveniences of home and office to travel with them when they get behind the wheel. Today's cars, trucks, and SUVs can come outfitted with GPS devices, in-car computers, DVD and MP3 players, satellite radios, and a host of other high-tech gadgetry. This makes your father's distracted driving -- eating a sandwich or fiddling with the radio -- seem rather primitive by comparison.

The NTSB asserts that cell phones and other hand-held devices have become a serious and deadly driving distraction, added on top of other risky distracted driving behaviors. As experienced Baltimore County, Maryland car accident injury attorneys, we'd agree with that statement. Driving on Maryland highways, city streets, and back roads is challenging enough without cell phones and texting in the mix.

Maryland Bans on Cell Phone Use and Texting While Driving
Maryland actually has some of the more restrictive laws in the country when it comes to cell phone usage and driving. Texting is outright banned for all drivers in Maryland, as is the use of hand-held cell phones. All cell phones are banned for novice drivers (under 18). However the all-cellphone ban does not, at this time, extend to school bus drivers in Md.

The Baltimore Sun reports that the Maryland "…General Assembly expanded its ban on texting to include reading them and not just writing them." However at this time, cell phone infractions are regarded in Maryland as secondary offenses -- that is, police cannot stop and ticket drivers for using cell phones as the primary offense. They can only do so if stopping motorists for some other primary offense. Time will tell if Maryland driving laws regarding cell phone use will become even stricter.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates some 4,000 traffic deaths occurred in the U.S. last year due to some form of distracted driving, including cell phone use and texting. Individual states must now decide how much weight to put on the NTSB's recommendation.

Related Maryland Injury Attorney article:

Baltimore County Democrat Pushing Maryland Bill to Toughen Distracted Driving Law (Feb. 2011)

Sources:

The NTSB's call for action
The Baltimore Sun Dec. 14, 2011

NTSB urges nationwide ban on cell phone use while driving
The Washington Post Dec. 13, 2011

Related Web Resources:

Governors Highway Safety Administration Dec. 2011:
Cell Phone Laws by State
Maryland Highway Safety Laws

NTSB: Highway Accident Report : Collision Involving Two School Buses

Maryland parents have a lot to think about. There's the rough economy, job security, the down housing market, and making sure their children get a good education. Then, there's the daily grind of getting kids to and from school as well as their numerous extra-curricular activities. When teens finally get their Maryland driver's licenses, it can come as both a relief to schedule-frazzled parents -- and another reason for worry.

Parents who think about their children's safety in motor vehicles on Maryland's highways, city streets, and rural back roads have cause for concern.

According to the Maryland Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Administration,

"traffic crashes are the number one killer of people between the ages of 4 to 34.… Each year traffic crashes kill more people in Maryland than homicides."

In fact, Maryland public safety officials now use the term "crashes" rather than "car accidents," "truck accidents," "motorcycle accidents," etc. -- as they believe 90 percent of motor vehicle crashes can, in fact, be prevented. The latest data posted on the Maryland MVA website (covering 2003 through 2007) estimates a five-year average of 580 fatal crashes in Md. per year.

(Note: That yearly average of "580 fatal crashes" may now be a bit high, as fatal traffic accidents have been declining in Maryland and nationally. More recent statistics for Maryland support this trend. NHTSA reported 591 total traffic deaths in Maryland in 2008 and 547 deaths in 2009.)

However the Maryland MVA goes on to report statistics that show we still have a long way to go to reach zero deaths on our state's roadways. For the year 2007…

> Maryland experienced 100,943 motor vehicle crashes
> More than 50,000 people were injured and 615 killed in those automobile crashes

As experienced Baltimore County, car crash injury lawyers, we know of both the human and the financial toll these Md. accidents take on families.

The High Costs of Car Accidents
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report this summer estimating the total cost in the U.S. due to motor vehicle accidents to be an astounding $99 billion a year -- or more than $500 for every man, woman, and child in the U.S. The costs incurred during motor vehicle accidents include medical care, emergency and police services, property damage, lost productivity, and quality of life. Cars and light trucks made up 70 percent of the accidents, followed by motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, and bicycle accidents.

It's sobering to think that the number-one killer of kids and young adults in Maryland is motor vehicle crashes. Despite national and state campaigns to reduce that deadly toll, we still have more work to do to make driving in Maryland safer for everyone.

A Baltimore car accident injury attorney works with families when a loved one has been killed or injured in a Maryland car crash. An experienced personal injury lawyer is an absolute must, when dealing with the seasoned insurance executives and top-notch attorneys typically assigned to defend these most serious of claims.

Related Maryland Injury Attorney articles:

Heads Up Maryland Parents : Teen Car Accident Rates Go Down When Parents Set Road Rules

Maryland Highway Traffic Safety Gets a Green Light, But Teen Drivers Need Tougher Regulations to Prevent Auto Accidents

Sources:

Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration : Maryland Crash Statistics

NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts Maryland : 2005 - 2009 (PDF)

CDC Study Finds Annual Cost of Motor Vehicle Crashes Exceeds $99 Billion

There's been some encouraging news regarding U.S. traffic safety: National motor vehicle crash fatality numbers are down to the lowest levels in years (an estimated 32,788 deaths for 2010). The same holds true for Maryland auto accident deaths (547 fatalities in 2009).

The gains are attributed to a number of factors, including safer vehicles with more technology enhanced safety features; increased public awareness and usage of safety devices such as seat belts, child car seats, and motorcycle helmets; and greater enforcement of driving and traffic laws to prevent car, truck, motorcycle, and pedestrian accidents from happening in the first place.

Traffic cameras are one tool that law enforcement uses to deter and catch speeders and other dangerous drivers. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports that Maryland is one state where traffic cameras are, in fact, discouraging drivers from speeding -- one of the leading causes of serious and fatal car crashes (see link to related articles about Maryland speed cams, below). The IIHS writes:

Institute studies in Maryland and Arizona found that the proportion of drivers exceeding speed limits by more than 10 mph fell by 70 percent and 95 percent, respectively, after cameras were introduced. Speeds also fell on roads outside the enforcement area (IIHS Status Report, Jan. 31, 2008).

As a Baltimore County wrongful death lawyer knows from work with grieving clients -- one death on the Maryland roads is one too many, and enough to change the lives of families forever. Despite the gains of recent years in preventing accidents and saving lives, the U.S. lags behind Europe in decreasing auto accident fatality rates even further. A Transportation Research Board (TRB) study that found that motor vehicle accident "deaths in most other high-income countries are dropping much faster than in the U.S."

In Europe, car accident fatality rates are lower per vehicle mile travelled, as compared to in the U.S. The study attributes the lives saved to wider acceptance and usage of traffic cameras, roadway design features such as roundabouts (rotaries), universal motorcycle helmet laws, lower illegal blood alcohol concentration levels and more frequent roadside testing for drunk driving, and a more aggressive approach to drivers who speed.

The study also noted that while U.S. federal, state, and local agencies all have a hand in driving safety programs -- European countries tend to have one central road safety agency that coordinates all programs. The IIHS quotes the TRB study authors: "No U.S. speed management program today is comparable in scale, visibility, and political commitment to the most ambitious programs in other countries." Countries beating us in the race to save lives on roadways include Australia, France, Sweden, and the U.K. Clearly there's much more work to be done in the U.S.

Related Maryland Injury Attorney Articles:

Deterring Baltimore County Traffic Accidents: Speed Camera Laws Go Into Effect (Oct. 7, 2009)

Baltimore Traffic Accident Prevention: Speed Cameras May Snap Offenders at Schools and Construction Sites (July 21, 2009)

Sources:

U.S. Trails Other Wealthy Nations on Road Safety Gains (PDF)
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Status Report, Vol. 46, No. 7, Aug. 18, 2011

Achieving Traffic Safety Goals in the United States: Lessons from Other Nations
Transportation Research Board of the National Academies

The Inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix 2011 IndyCar Series is just around the corner, with Labor Day Weekend coming up fast. If you've been following the Maryland news or driving around downtown Baltimore, you may have noticed that the city is being turned into a racing circuit. The Baltimore Grand Prix is a professional street racing event, with a temporary street racing circuit being constructed in downtown Baltimore.

In late July, cornerstone track walls were set up in front of the Inner Harbor Amphitheater. The two mile, 13 turn street circuit will race around Camden Yards and the Scenic Inner Harbor in downtown Baltimore. (See link below to the Maryland Dept. of Transportation's Baltimore Grand Prix traffic diversion plan.) The 5K pro racing event is sure to be a boon for Baltimore City -- attracting visitors and spectators from around Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic states.

There's something about watching pro race car drivers push their vehicles and their driving abilities to the limit that Americans find exhilarating. Even former Secretary of State General Colin Powell is getting in on the act as the event's grand marshal. However the Baltimore Grand Prix pro drivers are cautioning fans not to take their "need for speed" behind the wheel of their own cars, trucks, and SUVs.

As a Baltimore car accident injury lawyer knows all too well -- speeding causes Maryland traffic accidents, injuries, and deaths. This fact is not lost on pro race car drivers or Maryland police. The Associated Press reported that IndyCar champion Scott Dixon joined Baltimore Police Commissioner Frederick Bealefeld earlier this month to announce a partnership between the Smooth Operator campaign and the Baltimore Grand Prix.

Law enforcement officials are out to apprehend aggressive drivers before their speeding causes serious and deadly Maryland car crashes: The Smooth Operator campaign in Maryland and Washington DC has resulted in more than 122,000 citations and warnings for aggressive driving being issued this year.

According to the Associated Press, one third of the 2009 Maryland traffic accident deaths were caused by drivers speeding. So while the Baltimore Grand Prix website promises fans will be treated to "180 mph on the streets of Baltimore" (see link below) -- that doesn't mean police will be giving civilian drivers a free pass on Labor Day weekend. They'll be cracking down on aggressive driving, which includes speeding, tailgating, lane changing, running red lights and stop signs, and other reckless driving behaviors that put Maryland motorists in danger.

Illegal street racing and drag racing causes serious injuries and claims lives in Maryland -- a highly dangerous practice carried out on back roads, side streets, and highways (see link below to article about Maryland illegal drag racing deaths). So this Labor Day Weekend -- or any time you're behind the wheel -- leave the fast and furious driving to the professionals and the Baltimore Grand Prix race track.

Related Maryland Injury Attorney Articles:

Maryland Vehicular Homicide Bill : Drivers Who Cause Fatal Auto Accidents Should Get Tougher Penalties, Grieving Families Say (Feb. 28, 2011)

Maryland Car Accident on I-70 Kills Two; Police Blame Illegal Street Racing (June 29, 2009)

Sources:

Baltimore Grand Prix drivers discourage aggressive off-track driving
Associated Press in The Republic Aug. 2, 2011

Baltimore Grand Prix (official site)

Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) Baltimore Grand Prix Diversion Plan

Smooth Operator Program

How many modern safety features does the car you own and drive in Baltimore County, Maryland have? We've come a long way in motor vehicle safety features since our parents first herded us kids into the back of the family sedan.

All passenger cars since 1967 are required to have seat belts. Go to an antique car show and you'll be amazed at the beauty of vintage car interiors -- and the absence of seat belts. Dual air bags are a required automotive safety feature to diminish driver and passenger injury in event of a car crash (on cars made since 1998 and light trucks since 1999). Infant and child car seats and restraints -- which I didn't have growing up -- are now required by law. In Maryland, children under eight years old must ride in an appropriate child restraint, unless the child is 4'9" or taller or weighs more than 65 pounds.

Other safety features such as as all-wheel drive and anti-lock brakes are common on many makes and models of today's cars, trucks, and SUVs. And the automotive innovations keep coming. Manufacturers seek to make their cars studier, smarter, and more crash worthy…to help drivers avoid traffic accidents and minimize motorist injury and fatality, when traffic accidents do occur.

This week, the U.S. Department of Transportation is hosting the 22nd International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles in Washington, D.C. Auto manufacturers, engineers, and vehicle safety experts from the U.S., United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, The Netherlands, Sweden, Japan, Korea, China, and Austrialia will testify on a wide range of auto safety enhancement topics. These include automotive advancements in …

Front-end, side impact and roll-over vehicle crash avoidance and passenger protection
Pedestrian traffic safety features
Driver assistance systems for heavy trucks and buses
Motorcycle safety
Protection for child passengers, older adults, and other vulnerable occupants

…and many other topics. It's true, automotive safety has come along way since my parents piled us into the family car (no seat belts or child seats, thank you) for a leisurely Sunday drive through the Maryland countryside. And thanks to automotive innovations, changes in traffic laws, and driving safety education and advocacy efforts -- lives are being saved. NHTSA reports that in 2009, a total 33,808 people died in motor vehicle accidents in the U.S. -- the lowest number since 1950. But we still have a long ways to go. One death on the roads is one too many.

As Baltimore County car accident injury lawyers, we know that serious and fatal car accidents can still happen. In many ways, driving has become far more challenging in recent decades. People are driving faster and more furious, on roads, highways, and bridges that are handling far more traffic volume than they were designed for. Now distracted driving -- people on cell phones talking and texting -- has become a deadly national epidemic. No matter how many high-tech safety features your car, truck, or SUV has -- no one is accident proof in Maryland or anywhere else in the country. Be aware of what's around you and always drive defensively.

2nd International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles
NHTSA June 13 - 16, 2011, Washington, DC

What Are Maryland's Child Passenger Safety Laws?

Highlights of 2009 Motor Vehicle Crashes (PDF)
NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts Aug. 2010

Related Web Resource:

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: Top Safety Picks 2011

Related Maryland Accident Injury Attorney Articles:

Maryland Drivers Among Worst in U.S. for Knowledge of State Driving Laws May 27, 2011

Baltimore County Democrat Pushing Maryland Bill to Toughen Distracted Driving Law Feb. 17, 2011

As experienced Baltimore County car accident injury lawyers who've served the people of Maryland for decades, we're well aware of the dangers of driving in the Old Line State. From Baltimore City streets, to our beloved Chesapeake Bay Bridge, to our highways and back roads -- all are travelled by dangerous drivers, all fraught with driving hazards. If you live and work here in Maryland, like us, you know driving can be a daily challenge.

Our clients in and around greater Baltimore, Md. have been telling us for years about the incredible antics of local drivers. And we've seen our fair share of incredibly bad drivers -- the speeders, weavers, tailgaters, lane changers, stop sign runners, pass-on-the-right siders, texters and cell phone chatters, angry/distracted/impaired drivers -- you name it. The kind of Maryland drivers who can cause serious and fatal auto accidents.

Now a new study proves what we Baltimore injury attorneys and our clients already knew to be true: Maryland drivers are not at the top of the class when it comes to knowledge of road rules.

In an article indelicately titled, "Maryland drivers among dumbest in U.S." (they said it, not us!), the Baltimore Business Journal reports on the findings of a new GMAC Insurance study. The study surveyed licensed drivers 16 to 65 years old in 50 states and Washington, DC, about their knowledge of their states' basic driving rules and regulations. Maryland ranked 49th -- skidding down from 20th place in 2010. The report surmises that 1 in 5 U.S. drivers would fail their state's written driver's license test. For Maryland, that number is one-third of drivers. ouch.

The study also found that the most dangerous driving exists in the Northeast, which shouldn't surprise anyone who's driven from Baltimore to Boston. That's not to say all Maryland drivers are traffic accidents waiting to happen. But the study results aren't reassuring. But hey, to make us all feel a little better -- our neighbors in the nation's capital, Washington, DC, came in last. The smartest drivers? Kansas. But we're not there. This is Baltimore, folks. Drive defensively!

How smart are you when it comes to knowledge of Maryland's state driving laws and safety regulations? See the Maryland DMV and Driver's License Handbook.

Sources:

Maryland drivers among dumbest in U.S.
Baltimore Business Journal May 26, 2011

GMAC Insurance Study: Nearly 1 in 5 American Drivers Unfit for the Road
GMAC Press Release May 26, 2011

Related Maryland Injury Attorney Articles:

Baltimore, Maryland Auto Accident Liability : Civil Lawsuits vs. Criminal Cases

Baltimore County Democrat Pushing Maryland Bill to Toughen Distracted Driving Law

Maryland Vehicular Homicide Bill : Drivers Who Cause Fatal Auto Accidents Should Get Tougher Penalties, Grieving Families Say

Pick up a copy of the Baltimore Sun and you'll likely find cases of Baltimore County car accidents where the offending drivers were slapped with serious traffic or criminal charges. The State of Maryland has very specific legal language on the books regarding when traffic violations warrant traffic or criminal charges. In the eyes of Maryland law…

Reckless Driving is defined as, "A person is guilty of reckless driving if he drives a motor vehicle: In wanton or willful disregard for the safety of people or property; or In a manner that indicates a wanton or willful disregard for the safety of people or property."

and…

Negligent Driving occurs when, "A person is guilty of negligent driving if he or she drives a motor vehicle in a careless or imprudent manner that endangers any property or the life of any individual." (Source: Maryland.gov: Maryland Driver's Handbook)

Dangerous driving practices such as aggressive driving, driving while intoxicated (DWI), driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs (DUI), speeding, and texting while driving can all cause deadly auto accidents and bring various charges, depending on the offense.

As experienced Baltimore County traffic accident injury lawyers, we've seen the damage and toll reckless and negligent driving take on Maryland families. What some people don't know is that a driver facing criminal or traffic charges in the Maryland Courts may also be sued for monetary damages in civil court.

Civil court is where the injured car, truck, motorcycle or pedestrian accident victims -- or the family of those killed in Md. traffic accidents -- sue the driver held responsible, requesting compensation for pain and suffering, loss of income, and medical bills.

That's why it's so critical to contact an experienced Maryland accident injury attorney right away, to ensure the best outcome for the victims in both the criminal and civil cases -- and to make sure dangerous drivers are taken off Maryland's roads and highways.

Read more about this topic in my article on…

Baltimore, Maryland Auto Accident Liability : Civil Lawsuits vs. Criminal Cases

Related Web Resource:

Maryland Driver's Handbook: The Rules of the Road for Cars, Trucks, Motorcycles, Pedestrians and Bicyclists (PDF)

Earlier this month, we reported on how NHTSA officials working with NASA engineers concluded that the problem with "runaway Toyotas" (i.e., cars accelerating out of control) was mechanical, not electrical. The problem that resulted in numerous traffic accident fatalities was, the report stated, caused by mechanical issues with the gas pedals due to faulty design or ill-fitting carpets and floor mats. The problem was not, the report's authors concluded, electrical in nature, as some Toyota owners and auto critics theorized.

The sticky gas pedals are back in the news, however.

Toyota is now recalling an additional 2.17 million vehicles to repair problems linked to their Nov. 2009 safety recall for gas pedal problems due to "floor mat entrapment." Over the last few years, several cases of Toyota drivers unable to slow down their cars resulted in a number of fatal car crashes. The New York Times reports that Toyota is adding Lexus luxury vehicles and popular SUVs to the gas pedal recall list, including the Toyota Highlander and Toyota 4Runner (see link to Toyota recall portal below for full listing of recall vehicle models and years).

A Baltimore car accident injury lawyer works with families when an automobile accident in Maryland causes injury or death -- and questions surrounding liability or negligence remain. Proving manufacturer liability is a complicated business, so it's best to always consult an experienced injury attorney with questions surrounding the cause of a serious motor vehicle accident in Md.

Putting Pedal to the Metal: Advice for Baltimore County, Maryland Drivers
Whether you drive a Toyota or not, all Maryland drivers should check to see how their own floor mats fit. It's common for people to buy off-the-counter rubber floor mats for use during messy Maryland winters, to protect the car's original floor mats and carpets. Aftermarket floor mats tossed into any vehicle -- if slipping and sliding around -- could interfere with the proper function of gas pedals and brakes. It's a good idea for everyone to make sure their floor mats don't pose a potential driving hazard.

Since 2009, Toyota has recalled more than 14 million vehicles from around the world, mostly for the floor-mat issue or gas pedal design defects. Toyota continues to repair its tarnished reputation, while rattled consumers try to regain trust in a company once known as the gold standard for quality and dependability.

Toyota to Recall Over 2 Million Vehicles for Gas Pedal Flaws
The New York Times Feb. 24, 2011

Toyota Recall Portal

Related Maryland Injury Attorney blog article:

News for Maryland Toyota Drivers on Vehicle Safety Recalls : DOT Says Car Accidents Due to Mechanical, Not Electrical Problems
Feb. 9, 2011

Distracted driving is a serious hazard on Baltimore County roads and highways -- particularly when cell phones are involved. A few years ago, talking on cell phones while driving was the primary culprit. Now the widespread availability of text and data enabled smartphones means drivers not only talk on their phones behind the wheel, but send, receive, and read text messages. You know the tell-tale signs when you see them: driver's head is down, cell phone is in their hands, thumbs are typing away -- and their attention is not on the road. Cell phone use while driving causes deadly motor vehicle accidents in Maryland and everywhere else in the country.

The National Safety Council reports 1.6 million auto crashes a year in the US caused by talking and texting on cell phones. And the Maryland State Highway Administration estimates that more than 380 people have died in Maryland due to distracted driving auto crashes in the last 5 years. Now a Baltimore County lawmaker wants to add teeth to the Maryland law that restricts cell phone usage while driving.

Delegate James Malone, a democrat from Baltimore County, Md., is sponsoring legislation that would give Maryland police more clout in enforcing Maryland's cell phone use while driving ban, which is currently a secondary offense. Malone would like to see the ban become a primary offense, which would give Maryland police the right to pull drivers over if they're observed using their handheld cell phones while driving. Currently in Maryland, the police can only issue a cell phone use citation if the driver is pulled over for a separate violation.

A Baltimore county accident injury attorney works with families when someone has died or been injured in a car accident due to distracted driving or other negligence or recklessness on the part of another Maryland motorist. Mr. Malone believes that many Md. drivers continue to talk on their handheld cellphones, knowing the police can't pull them over solely for that reason.

Maryland is among the states that have taken the problem of car and truck accidents caused by cell phone use very seriously. In fact, as of Oct. 2010, Maryland become one of eight states to ban handheld cell phone use while driving, subjecting drivers to fines. Using a hands-free cell phone while driving is allowed in Md.

Source:

Md. Bill to Tighten Cell Phone Use While Driving
Maryland bill would make talking on handheld cell phone while driving a primary offense
ABCNews.com Feb. 16, 2011

Related Maryland Injury Attorney blog article:

Maryland Traffic Safety: DOT Study Shows U.S. Distracted Driving Accident Deaths Not Going Down

Related Web Resources:

Maryland State Highway Administration

National Safety Council

Last year, Toyota drivers in Baltimore County, Maryland and around the country had reason to be concerned. The auto manufacturer that built its reputation on safety and reliability was involved in one of the most massive worldwide consumer safety recalls in history of some 8 million vehicles.

The safety recalls occurred after reports of fatal auto accidents involving "runaway Toyotas" -- that is, cars that couldn't be stopped from accelerating out of control. Drivers reported sticking gas pedals that were slow to rise when foot pressure was removed, and cars that failed to decelerate despite the drivers releasing the gas and leaning hard on the brakes.

The car accidents that prompted the recalls and a subsequent government investigation occurred over a number of years, involving different models of Toyotas. Now U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has released a report on the investigation regarding Toyota's problems.

The DOT's investigation, conducted by NASA scientists, revealed that the deadly Toyota car accidents were due to floor mats entrapping the gas pedals and "sticky gas pedals" -- mechanical problems but not electrical problems, as some consumers thought. They also believe operator error may have played a part in some cases where cars were reported to have malfunctioned.

Baltimore County wrongful death attorneys may work with families who lose a loved one in a Maryland car accident. Experienced MD injury lawyers know the laws that relate to liability and negligence, whether on the part of auto manufacturers and/or other drivers.

In the wake of the Toyota recalls, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is calling for a new industry standard that would create a brake override system. NHTSA also wants faulty gas and brake pedal designs to be fixed, as well as reliability and security of electronic control systems to be studied further.

Related Maryland Injury Attorney Blog Article:

Maryland Driving Woes: Toyota and Honda Recalls Cause Anxiety and Anger (on Top of the Blasted Snow) Feb. 11, 2010

Sources:

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION RELEASES RESULTS FROM NHTSA-NASA STUDY OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IN TOYOTA VEHICLES
US DOT Feb. 8, 2011

Toyota Recalls Due to Mechanical Flaws
The Street Feb. 8, 2011

Transportation Secretary: Electronic Issue Not Cause of Toyota Recall Woes
PBS.org Feb. 8, 2011

Remember when the only people who drove pickup trucks in Maryland were farmers, construction workers, and other working people with loads to haul? That was back when a family-sized vehicle was called a station wagon -- and modern innovations such as all-wheel drive, GPS navigation, and onboard entertainment systems weren't even on the drawing board.

Fast forward a couple decades down the road, where more and more Americans started feeling like they too should be driving a truck, or something of that stature. Something that would be a presence on the road. Enter the sport utility vehicle or SUV. Now seems like practically every other car on the road is an SUV. SUVs of every shape, size, and color. Some the size of tanks (the Hummer, for example). The size is what's causing headaches for the insurance industry -- and for consumers who find even minor fender benders can be costly, in dollars and injuries.

As an experienced Baltimore SUV accident injury lawyer knows from work with injured clients -- when an SUV is involved in a traffic accident with a car in Maryland, the smaller vehicle tends to be on the losing end. One of the problems, says the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), is the mismatched bumper heights.

In the past, when two cars had a minor fender bender, usually no one got badly hurt, and a trip to the auto body shop made the bumper good as new. Now, when an SUV, light truck, or minivan rear-ends or front-ends a smaller automobile, there's greater potential for serious damage to both vehicles and injury to their occupants. Mismatched bumper heights means the bumpers can't perform the job they were made to do, which is absorb impact when traffic accidents occur and, as the IIHS states, "keep damage away from safety-related equipment such as headlights and taillights and protect vehicle parts such as hoods, fenders, and exhaust and cooling systems..." which are more expensive to repair.

The IIHS has been working with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for years to "...amend Part 581 Bumper Standard to extend applicability to light trucks, vans, and multipurpose passenger vehicles." Writes the IIHS: "Vehicles should not need to be towed away after a 10 mph impact, and this outcome is a direct result of bumper mismatch." IIHS says minor low-speed accidents can end up costing consumers and their insurance companies thousands of dollars -- an expense that could be avoided if bumper height standards extended to SUVs and other large vehicles. (See link to latest report and crash tests below.)

It's unclear how auto manufacturers would respond to any new regulations, given the enormous variety of vehicle makes and models on the market today.

Sources:

IIHS Status Report: Bumper Mismatch Is Still a Problem (PDF)

IIHS Q&A: Bumpers

Related Maryland Injury Attorney Blog Article:
Buying Auto Insurance in Maryland (Part 1): Bodily Injury

As experienced Baltimore car accident injury lawyers will attest -- winter driving in Maryland can be mighty challenging. This is true for any Baltimore County resident who commutes to work on Maryland highways and roads, maybe over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge or into Baltimore City on a daily basis. Snow and ice make the experience that much more interesting.

Winter weather is often cited as a contributing factor in serious Baltimore County car accidents. Sometimes, it's a challenge just to get out of the driveway.

Which explains why, after Mother Nature dumps a snowy load on Maryland, we see the inevitable "moving igloos" chugging down our streets and cruising down our highways. By that we mean cars, pickup trucks, and SUVs driven by people who didn't clean the snow and ice off their vehicles. You know the ones...where the driver is peering out a tiny hole in an icy windshield that hasn't been fully defrosted. If you've been behind one of these mobile snow cones when the 10-inch cap of snow or 3-inch sheet of ice on the car roof lets go--you know what a driving hazard this problem can be.

In the past, our neighboring lawmakers in Washington, DC have put emergency laws in place requiring drivers to fully clean the snow and ice from their cars following a snow storm. Some Snow Belt states such as Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire--and even to the south in Georgia--allow police officers to issue moving violation citations to drivers whose snow-covered cars present a public safety hazard.

The problem of not removing snow from motor vehicles extends to large commercial tractor trailer rigs, as well. The American Transportation Research Institute did a study on snow accumulation on large commercial trucks and avoiding traffic accidents caused by snow and ice flying off trucks and onto the highway and other vehicles. The ATRI describes the challenges of removing snow from the lofty top of a tractor trailer truck (see link below).

Winter is not done with Baltimore County by a long shot--where county officials are challenged to keep some 2,600 miles of roads and highways clear. Given the "snowpocalypse" that Maryland experienced in 2010, we can only brace for what the next couple months may have in store for us. In the mean time, we should all remember to take the time to adequately scrape the snow and ice off our cars after a snow storm--for our own winter driving safety and that of our fellow Md. motorists.

Baltimore County, Maryland Storm Center

Snow and Ice Accumulation on Vehicles (PDF report summary)
American Transportation Research Institute

Law's Message to Motorists: Lose the Snow
The Washington Post

eHow.com: How to Remove Snow and Ice from Your Car

When was the last time you had a heart-to-heart talk with an elderly parent or grandparent about their driving abilities? As uncomfortable as that might be, it could be a life saver. A Baltimore news source reported that the AAA found that on average, more than one Maryland senior citizen is killed weekly in an auto accident. One a week.

That statistic might be surprising to some. However Baltimore traffic accident injury lawyers know what can happen when elder drivers lose their ability to safely helm an automobile on Maryland roads, highways, and city streets.

Too often, we hear a Baltimore, Maryland area news story about a senior citizen who lost control of their vehicle and caused a serious or fatal pedestrian accident or car crash. The AAA urges families to have those frank discussions about when it's time for seniors to stop driving. Other factors to consider for senior driving safety:

• Some states such as Illinois and New Hampshire have begun to pass laws requiring seniors to be retested (e.g., at age 75) before they can renew their driver's licenses. Maryland law states that age alone may not be considered justification for reexamination, though the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) conducts vision testing over age 40.


• Seniors may show warning signs that their driving ability is no longer up to snuff -- such as excessively slow driving, near-misses or minor traffic accidents, or confusion behind the wheel.


• Medical doctors may talk to their elderly patients if they find their eyesight, cognitive abilities, and/or reflexes may no longer be adequate to safely drive a car. Medications may also have an effect on senior drivers' ability to react to weather conditions and road obstacles.


• Law enforcement officials in some Maryland counties may receive training in how to recognize Alzheimer's or dementia symptoms in elderly drivers who commit driving infractions.


• Seniors should choose vehicles that meet their needs for comfort, operation of controls, and field of vision within the car (e.g., power mirrors and windows, adjustable foot pedals and steering wheels, seats with lumbar support, dash controls with large buttons), as well as road safety features (e.g., anti-lock brakes, dual airbags, stability control).

The ability to drive to the store, to appointments, or to visit family and friends is among the freedoms that seniors enjoy. Along with moving into a retirement community or nursing home, giving up the keys is a big step for any aging person. With no laws on the books in Maryland on retesting senior drivers, it's up to families to help decide when it's time for mom or dad to put the car in park for good--and rely on others for transportation.

AAA To Hold Elderly Driver Awareness Week
CBS Baltimore.com Dec. 5, 2010

Related Web Resources

AAA: Mature Drivers

Mid-Atlantic AAA

Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration

This past August, Ford Motor Company and the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) issued a safety recall for the Windstar minivan. Windstar model years 1998-2003 manufactured and sold in Canada and several cold-weather states -- Maryland included -- are at risk for axle cracking, corrosion and failure, which could lead to serious and even fatal auto accidents.

Ford stated that Windstar minivans sold, owned and operated in snow belt states like Maryland are at greater risk for axle corrosion and failure, due to rock salt used to treat slippery roads. As anyone who's driven on Baltimore County, Maryland roads on bad winter days knows -- the rock salt and sanding truck is a welcomed sight. But that salt can accelerate rust and corrosion on the undercarriage of a motor vehicle, which is the problem Ford describes on Windstars manufactured with "heat-treated axles." The initial recall of more than half a million Ford Windstar minivans has been expanded by several thousand, bring the total number recalled to 612,000.

Baltimore County auto accident injury lawyers stay current on automotive safety recalls such as this one from Ford. Experienced Maryland traffic injury attorneys are aware of laws surrounding automotive product liability and consumer protection. If you live in Maryland and drive an older Ford Windstar minivan, you'd best contact your local Ford dealer and get the vehicle inspected, to avoid a possible traffic accident.

The news of the expanded Ford recall comes as a bereaved Mass. family speaks out about a fatal traffic accident with their Windstar minivan. The Boston-area family reportedly received their Ford recall notice just days after their husband and father was in a fatal crash with his Windstar minivan. The minivan's rear axle reportedly snapped, sending the vehicle out of control and into the side of a building, killing the young male driver.

NHTSA has reportedly received 950 consumer complaints regarding the Ford Windstar axle issue, as of September.

Ford Expands Windstar Minivan Recall By 37,000 Units
DailyFinance Dec. 16, 2010

Minivan Recall Grows As Victim's Family Speaks Out
Associated Press on NPR.org Dec. 16, 2010

Recall Alert: 1998-2003 Ford Windstar
Cars.com Aug. 27, 2010

If you're a parent in Maryland with a teenage driver on the road, you might be interested in a study about teen driving safety and supervision.

The journal Pediatrics reports that teen car accidents are less likely to happen in families where parents lay down ground rules before the kids take to the road.

The study was conducted by the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, which surveyed 5,500 teenagers. The results showed that young drivers are less likely to be involved in car accidents when parents restrict access to the car keys. Researchers concluded that requiring teens to ask for the car keys gives parents more opportunities to supervise their driving habits and set rules for safety.

Families may consult a Baltimore County, Maryland car accident injury lawyer when an automobile crash with injury or death occurs and they have questions about driver liability.

Teens on Maryland roadways can be a hazard not only to themselves but to their passengers and to other motorists and pedestrians they encounter in their travels. Annually in the United States -- 166,000 teens aged 16 or 17 are injured and some 1,800 are killed as a result of motor vehicle accidents. (Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in PEDIATRICS Vol. 124 No. 4 October 2009.)

Lack of driving experience combined with distractions such as texting and multiple teenagers in a car can lead to teens making deadly driving mistakes. The Philadelphia study also showed that teens who own their own cars or have free access to their parents' car keys and automobiles are more likely to be involved in motor vehicle accidents. In fact 70 percent of U.S. household allows teens free access to family cars -- a risky practice.

Related Maryland Injury Attorney Blog Article:
Maryland Highway Traffic Safety Gets a Green Light, But Teen Drivers Need Tougher Regulations to Prevent Auto Accidents

Sources:
The Parent Report
WBZNews.com Aug. 20, 2010

Primary Access to Vehicles Increases Risky Teen Driving Behaviors and Crashes: National Perspective
Pediatrics Oct. 2009

Though nationally and in Maryland, overall traffic accident deaths have declined -- distracted driving death rates remain unchanged. So says a new study released by the U.S. Dept. of Transportation. DOT Secretary Ray LaHood describes the problem of distracted driving as a national "epidemic." Some alarming numbers:

• One in 8 roadway deaths is blamed on distracted driving.


• Last year, distracted driving was blamed for 5,474 motor vehicle accident deaths and nearly half a million people injured on U.S. roads and highways.


• The main forms of distracted driving are texting and cell phone use. In Maryland, adults are as guilty as young people of texting while driving (see link to related blog article below).


• Reading the newspaper behind the wheel has been replaced with reading e-books on handheld devices.

This serious driving hazard remains unchanged despite numerous laws and safety awareness campaigns aimed at reducing distracted driving auto accidents and truck accidents.

An experienced Harford County car accident injury lawyer sees the results of what can happen when Maryland drivers don't pay attention to the road.

DOT Sec. LaHood says busy people think they can safely talk on their cell phones and text while driving. U.S. traffic accident death rates and injury statistics show otherwise.

Related blog post:
Maryland Texting Ban and Car Accident Prevention: New Report Says Adults as Guilty as Youth of Texting while Driving

Sources:

Number of Distracted Driving Deaths Unchanged (video)
ABCNews.com Sept. 20, 2010

Summit Calls For Reduction In Distracted Driving
Associated Press on NPR.org Sept. 21, 2010

Related Web Resource

Distraction.gov

Anyone who drives to or from the city of Baltimore, Maryland at rush hour will tell you -- it's not for the faint of heart. Like most older American cities, Baltimore has problems with traffic congestion. There are simply too many drivers jockeying to get someplace at the same time on roads not built to handle the volume. Throw in Baltimore County road and bridge construction delays, bad weather, and car accidents, and it's not a pretty sight.

And now, apparently, Baltimore drivers' bad habits have made the traffic situation in Maryland uglier -- and the chance of getting in a Baltimore traffic accident more likely.

According to the Baltimore Business Journal, insurance company Allstate has published a report that finds Baltimore drivers to be some of the most dangerous in the country. The study, which looked at 200 American cities, found that...

• Baltimore drivers experience an accident every 5.6 years on average.


• Compared to the national average, Baltimore drivers are 79.4 % more likely to get into a traffic accident.


• Baltimore, Md ranks 192nd in the U.S. for safety -- that's second-to-last. Our neighbor, Washington, D.C., slammed in to last place or 193rd worst in the county. (Some cities tied for their slots, so the survey only goes up to 193rd place.)

Allstate cites "human error" as the number-one cause of auto accidents. That includes distracted driving, road rage, not paying attention to weather conditions and other traffic, and poorly maintained vehicles.

Baltimore Drivers: Charming and Dangerous?
Allstate's report is in contrast to a 2009 survey conducted by auto club AutoVantage, which, ironically, found Baltimore drivers to be the third-most courteous in the country -- with news headlines describing Baltimore drivers as downright "charming." Maybe now that means they pleasantly wave at their fellow motorists before cutting them off on the Baltimore Beltway ...while texting.

Surveys aside -- an experienced Baltimore car accident injury lawyer knows that things can and do go terribly wrong on Baltimore City and County roads and highways. Aggressive driving incidents are statistically on the rise in Maryland -- in part due to police changing the way they code traffic accidents. Allstate's report suggests that Baltimore drivers are indeed more dangerous than others in the country.

Allstate: Baltimore drivers among most dangerous
Baltimore Business Journal Sept. 2, 2010

Sixth Annual "Allstate America's Best Drivers Report" Reveals New Safest Driving City
Allstate Press Release Sept. 2, 1010

Related Maryland Injury Attorney Blog Entries:

Baltimore Drivers Ranked Among the Most Courteous in the Nation

Maryland Traffic Crash Data : Auto Accidents and Fatalities Down, but Aggressive Driving Stats Up

Does your dog ride shotgun in your car, truck or SUV -- his head hanging out the window and tongue flapping in the breeze? Or is your beloved pooch planted happily on your lap as you drive on Baltimore County, Maryland streets and highways? We've all seen them go by and smiled.

But according to a new AAA report, canines cavorting in moving autos can distract the drivers and cause deadly car crashes.

The report found that only 17 percent of members surveyed restrain their dogs in their motor vehicles. The majority drive with their dogs loose in the car -- which could distract the driver and cause a traffic accident. The report also found that...

• Unrestrained dogs become projectiles in an automobile accident: a 10 lb. dog can exert 500 pounds of force on whatever it strikes in a 50 mph accident, while an 80 lb. dog exerts 2,400 pounds of force in a 35 mph traffic accident.
• Dogs, like small children, should not ride in the passenger seat, as they could become seriously injured if the air bag deploys (the same risk posed to small children).

The ASPCA recommends that everyone who has a pet in the car invest in a back-seat harness or crate to keep dogs, passengers and drivers safe. So Baltimore and other Maryland drivers, when we say buckle up -- that goes for everyone in the car.

Caution: Dogs behind wheel
CNNMoney.com Aug. 18, 2010

Dogs unrestrained in cars distract drivers, pose threat
USA Today Aug. 17, 2010

Related Web Resources

AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety

ASPCA Car Travel Tips