Maryland Injury Attorney Blog

The Brain Injury Association of America announces that March is Brain Injury Awareness Month. The group hopes to raise awareness of the seriousness of head injuries and traumatic brain injury (TBI) -- particularly in regards to school sports injuries. The group's website offers resources about head injury, fall and accident prevention, and brain physiology, explaining that the brain can be injured even if the head isn't struck (such as in a whiplash car accident, where the neck and head are jarred violently).

The Brain Injury Association of America has a Maryland office and plans to hold an educational conference in Towson, Maryland, in April.

As Baltimore County, Maryland injury lawyers know from experience with client families, debilitating and deadly brain injuries can result from a number of scenarios, including car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, and pedestrian accidents. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that an astonishing 1.4 million people suffer a TBI in the U.S. every year, with some 235,000 people requiring hospitalization and 50,000 dying from their traumatic brain injuries. Primary causes:

o Motor vehicle crashes cause 20% percent of traumatic brain injuries,
o Falls cause 28% (always a concern for the elderly, including those in nursing homes),
o Being struck by something/striking against something causes 19%, and
o Assaults cause 11% of traumatic brain injuries.
o Other causes: Suicide (1%), other transport (2%), pedal cycle (3%), other (7%), unknown (9%).

(Source: CDC, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, "What is traumatic brain injury?," TBI Causes, collected online March 4, 2010.)

Maryland injury and wrongful death attorneys are, unfortunately, all too aware of circumstances where medical negligence results in a failure to properly and promptly diagnose and treat a traumatic brain injury in time to prevent permanent brain damage or death. Seconds count with these most serious of medical emergencies.

The news media has paid increased attention to the subject of brain injuries since the death of actress Natasha Richardson in 2009, following what at first seemed to be a mild fall on a beginner ski slope. Like many traumatic brain injury victims, Richardson was initially able to speak and appeared to be relatively uninjured. However she complained of a headache and fell unconscious hours later. She died due to an epidural hematoma -- bleeding inside the brain which can build up pressure and cause the brain to shift, cutting off the blood supply and causing death.

Brain Injury Association of America

Maryland Brain Injury Association

CDC: Traumatic Brain Injury

WebMD: Natasha Richardson Dies of Epidural Hematoma
WebMD Health News, March 19, 2009

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Posted In: Automobile Accidents , Brain and Spine Injury , Construction Accidents , Drunk Driving Accidents , Medical Malpractice , Motorcycle Accidents , Nursing Home Abuse , Pedestrian Accidents , Truck Accidents , Wrongful Death

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It's been a rough winter for drivers in Baltimore, Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic region. First, we've been pummeled with the heaviest snowfall and fiercest winter storms on record. We've endured driving bans; public transit shutdowns; airport, school and government office closures; and of course, runs on supermarket staples and shovels. The Baltimore Sun reports we are up to 79 inches of snowfall this winter; that's on par with the average height of an NBA player (Source: NBA.com 2007-08 Player Survey: Height).

Emergency crews are struggling to clear Maryland highways and streets as Mother Nature keeps dumping more snow on us. The good news, according to state officials, is that Maryland drivers have heeded the warnings and stayed off the roads, resulting in no auto accident fatalities during the latest storms (as of Feb. 10). As if multiple blizzards haven't caused enough peril and stress on Baltimore County roads and area highways, Maryland drivers are also dealing with large-scale auto safety recalls.

Earlier this year, Toyota recalled millions of vehicles with serious gas pedal problems. Initially, the problem was thought to be caused by floor mats ensnaring the accelerator pedals. (A highly publicized case in California resulted in the motor vehicle deaths of several people, when the driver of a Lexus was unable to slow down the car, which accelerated to speeds in excess of 100 mph before crashing.) Later, Toyota stated a problem may exist in the accelerator itself of certain vehicles; consumers reported the gas pedal was slow to rise when they removed their foot from the pedal.

Last week Toyota announced a recall of its popular hybrid models, including the Prius, due to concerns that the brakes might not engage properly when going over rough roads. Honda also cruised into the headlines, recalling vehicles with air bags that could deploy with too much force and rupture, causing serious personal injury to motorists or even death.

If you don't drive a Toyota or Honda affected by the safety recalls, you may be grateful. But know this: There are hundreds of auto-related recalls that don't ever make the news. Visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website to search a database to see if your vehicle appears on any recall lists. Whatever make or model of car, truck, or SUV you drive, drive it safely out there. Winter isn't done with us yet.

Stern O'Malley defends storm response, warns roads will remain 'perilous'
The Baltimore Sun Feb. 11, 2010

Runaway Toyotas
ABCNews.com (Special Section)

Honda Recalls 437,000 More Cars Over Airbags
Associated Press, FoxNews.com Feb. 9, 2010

New details in crash that prompted Toyota recall
LATimes.com Oct. 25, 2009

Related Web Resources

Maryland Department of Transportation -- Winter Storm Information

Toyota.com: Recall Information

Honda.com: Press Release on Recalls

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Posted In: Automobile Accidents , Pedestrian Accidents , Truck Accidents , Wrongful Death

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Maryland traffic accident deaths have been on the decline in recent years -- down to a five-year low of 591 fatalities in 2008, as compared to 643 deaths in 2004. Deaths due to drunk-driving are also down -- 152 deaths in 2008 compared to 211 deaths in 2004. (Source: NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts Maryland 2004-2008.) That's encouraging news for those of us who get in our cars, trucks, or SUVs every day and venture out on Maryland's streets and highways. But it's little consolation if you're among the people who lost their lives -- or the grieving families and friends they left behind.

In an effort to keep the numbers of Maryland drunk driving car accidents and fatalities going down, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley has ordered a task force to organize and create a new state driving safety initiative. The Maryland Alcohol Safety Action Program (MASAP) hopes to reduce the number of repeat drunk-driving offenders by tracking those dangerous problem drivers "from the point of arrest, through adjudication, completion of treatment and beyond."

Baltimore, Maryland wrongful death lawyers know the carnage that can result when alcohol-impaired drivers get behind the wheel. Sometimes it seems the only thing that stops chronic repeat drunk-driving offenders is when their recklessness finally takes a life and they're convicted of vehicular homicide. We've all heard those sad, maddening news stories about some innocent person who lost their life because a repeat drunk-driving offender took to the road again under the influence -- despite multiple DUI citations.

The creation of Governor O'Malley's new program to follow repeat DUI offenders was recommended by the Task Force to Combat Driving Under the Influence of Drugs and Alcohol, which worked to strengthen Maryland's DUI laws and programs in 2007-2008. His executive order follows a memorial ceremony held this past December, to remember the victims whose lives were senselessly cut short on Maryland's roadways due to alcohol related traffic accidents.

Maryland Forms New Alcohol Safety Action Program
Governors Highway Safety Association newsletter
Directions in Highway Safety, Winter 2010, Vol. 12, No. 3

MARYLAND REMEMBERS DUI VICTIMS AND FIGHTS BACK
Maryland Department of Transportation press release, Dec. 9, 2009

Related Web Resources

TASK FORCE TO COMBAT DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS & ALCOHOL
Maryland State Archives, Dec. 16, 2009

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)

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Posted In: Automobile Accidents , Drunk Driving Accidents , Motorcycle Accidents , Truck Accidents , Wrongful Death

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Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety reports that Maryland is among a handful of states that get good or "green" marks for highway safety. However the group believes that Maryland teen traffic accidents could be prevented with tougher state laws restricting teenage drivers.

Maryland has a Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program for teens and has adopted an all-driver ban on texting while driving (see blog entry on Maryland texting and driving ban).

Still The Washington Post reported that Md. "failed to make the grade in five areas, four of them restrictions on teen drivers and the fifth a requirement for use of interlock devices by all offenders." An interlock device is a handheld breath testing unit used to monitor whether drivers who have been charged with drunk driving -- a main cause of fatal highway accidents in Maryland and around the country -- are in fact under the influence when they attempt to start their vehicles. The device disables the car's ignition if the driver does not exhale a sober breath sample.

An experienced Baltimore County car accident injury lawyer keeps current on state laws governing teen drivers. They are aware of the heightened risk that occurs when teens get behind the wheel, particularly if they're texting, talking on cell phones, distracted by other young passengers in the car -- and if alcohol or drugs are involved. (See related blog item on teen driving laws in Maryland.)

The Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety group has issued a 2010 roadmap of recommendations urging states to pass additional safety regulations related to teen driving, impaired driving, child passenger safety, and other safety issues. DC joined Maryland in getting overall good marks for highway safety. Our neighbor Virginia, however, got poor or red marks. The Post wrote that the act of driving over Potomac River bridges brings motorists into dangerous territory for car, motorcycle, or truck and SUV accidents.

Va. is ranked among the worst states for highway safety
WashingtonPost.com Jan. 11, 2010

Related Web Resources

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

The 2010 Roadmap to State Highway Safety Laws

Safe Roads 4 Teens: Maryland Teen Driving Laws

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Posted In: Automobile Accidents , Drunk Driving Accidents , Motorcycle Accidents , Truck Accidents , Wrongful Death

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Lawmakers and public safety advocates hope 2010 will be a safer year on our nation's roads and highways, with more states adopting laws like the one in Maryland that prohibits texting while driving. For anyone who hasn't jumped on board the wireless communications bullet train -- texting is typing and sending "text messages" using a cell phone, Blackberry, or other hand-held device.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that despite advances in wireless communications, "Greater sophistication in these technologies may present greater physical and cognitive challenges for drivers than traditional information sources." Texting while driving is considered by many states including Maryland to be a form of "distracted driving" that can lead to serious and fatal traffic accidents.

Maryland Ban on Text Messaging While Driving
Back in the good old days...reading the newspaper, eating a sandwich, tuning the radio, and applying makeup were the primary forms of driver distraction. Then came the new wireless technologies, bringing the convenience of mobile communications to the driving experience -- and with them new traffic safety hazards. Now drivers talk on cell phones, send text messages, and fiddle with GPS devices. Car, SUV, truck accidents and pedestrian accidents can occur when a driver takes his or her eyes off the road even for an instant doing any of those activities.

Maryland is one of 19 states along with the District of Columbia and Guam that ban text messaging for all drivers. Illinois, Oregon, and New Hampshire are the most recent states to join Maryland in making texting while driving illegal. And with good reason: NHTSA estimates that in 2008 -- 5,870 people died and 515,000 were injured in car accidents where at least one form of driver distraction was reported on the police crash report.

Maryland car accident injury attorneys are all too aware of how quickly things can go wrong out on our roads and highways. We applaud the other states that have joined Maryland in banning text messaging while driving.

2010 Laws Target Texting, Smoking, Cooking
CBSNews.com Dec. 31, 2009

An Examination of Driver Distraction as Recorded in NHTSA Databases (PDF document)
NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts Sept. 2009

Related Web Resources

Maryland State Highway Safety Administration

Governors Highway Safety Association webpages:

Maryland Highway Safety Laws

Cell Phone Driving Laws 2010

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Posted In: Automobile Accidents , Pedestrian Accidents , Truck Accidents

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With the holiday season in full swing, everyone is scrambling. There's last-minute shopping, preparing for holiday parties and feasts, wrapping up year-end projects at work -- and increased travel by air, rail, and road. Unfortunately, drunk driving car accidents are also part of the holiday picture in Maryland and around the country.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced that state law enforcement across the country will be cracking down on drunk drivers this holiday season, with the "Over the Limit, Under Arrest" campaign. People who overindulge in alcohol at family gatherings, work parties, New Year's Eve celebrations, and other holiday get-togethers pose a risk of serious personal injury (including debilitating brain or spine injury) or death to themselves and others. Nationally, 13,470 people were killed in 2006 in alcohol-related traffic accidents.

Maryland Drunk Driving Statistics and Holiday Traffic Accidents
Baltimore County, Maryland car accident lawyers know the human stories behind the statistics. In Maryland, 189 people died in drunk-driving accidents in 2006. And while the Maryland state rate of drunk-driving accident fatalities has been on the decline in recent years (178 deaths in 2007 and 152 in 2008 -- a decline of 12.5%), we know that even one death is one too many. (Source: NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts Maryland, 2004 - 2008).

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that nationally, more fatal drunk-driving car crashes occur at night (36%) and on the weekend (31%) -- just when holiday parties are most likely to be held. In Maryland, we have snow, ice, and the rest of winter's fury adding to the hazards on our roads and highways.

So please: Drive sober, within the speed limit, and defensively this holiday season -- and be alert if you're coming home from a party. The night-time fatal drunk driving accident rate is four times higher than the day-time rate (9%). That's a sobering figure to keep in mind when you're driving to or from your destinations this holiday season. (Source: Traffic Safety Facts 2006 Data, Alcohol-Impaired Driving, NHTSA)

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Announces Intensive Holiday Drunk & Impaired Driving Crackdown & Advertising Blitz
NHTSA Press Release, Dec. 7, 2009

Fatalities and Fatality Rates in Alcohol- Impaired-Driving Crashes by State, 2007-2008 (download PDF)
NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts: Research Note, Dec. 2009

Related Web Resources

Over the Limit, Under Arrest 2009 Campaign

Maryland Department of Transportation: Traveler Alerts

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Posted In: Automobile Accidents , Drunk Driving Accidents , Motorcycle Accidents , Pedestrian Accidents , Truck Accidents , Wrongful Death

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A fatal pedestrian accident took place this past weekend in Baltimore County, Maryland, involving a tanker truck.

Maryland State Police reported that on Saturday morning, a pedestrian stepped into the path of an Exxon tanker truck at Harford Road and Interstate 695. The man, a 57 year old resident of Parkville, Md., died of his injuries at the scene. The Baltimore Sun reported that alcohol was not a factor in this fatal Maryland truck accident. No further details were available.

Baltimore County truck accident attorneys are familiar with regulations in place governing the safe operation of commercial vehicles, such as tanker trailer trucks. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which is part of the U.S. Dept. of Transportation, works to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving large trucks and buses.

The FMCSA reports on its Safety Tips for Pedestrians website that pedestrians are at "a major disadvantage" when crossing roads and intersections where large commercial trucks and buses travel. Pedestrians may not always be visible to drivers of large commercial vehicles, which take longer to brake and stop than automobiles.

Police identify pedestrian killed by tanker truck
BaltimoreSun.com Dec. 7, 2009

Related Web Resources

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)

FMCSA: Safety Tips for Pedestrians

Maryland State Police

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Posted In: Automobile Accidents , Pedestrian Accidents , Truck Accidents

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Anne Arundel County, Maryland, police reported that a fatal car pedestrian crash occurred Mon. Nov. 30 in Severna Park, Md.

The deadly car and pedestrian accident took place around noon on Ritchie Highway near Cypress Creek Rd. According to news reports, a Chestertown woman, age 64, and a man, age 43, from Arnold, Maryland, were standing next to a minivan that had stopped because of a motor vehicle accident. A Jeep Cherokee driven by an 18-year-old man crashed into a vehicle stopped at a traffic light, setting off a four-vehicle chain reaction that pushed into the two bystanders. The woman pedestrian died of her injuries and three other people suffered personal injuries.

Maryland pedestrian accident lawyers are well versed in state driving laws and issues surrounding driver liability, when a serious car or truck accident occurs and someone is hurt or killed on our state's roads and highways.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), though car-pedestrian fatalities decreased by 13 percent from 1997 to 2007 -- still 4,654 pedestrians lost their lives on U.S. roadways in 2007. Most pedestrian accidents occur in urban areas, at night, under normal weather conditions, and where walkers are not in crosswalks. (Source: NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts 2007 Data: Pedestrians)

No further details were available on this fatal Anne Arundel County, Maryland car and pedestrian accident.

MARYLAND: Pedestrian killed in 4-car crash
Associated Press Dec. 1, 2009

Related Web Resource
NHTSA Pedestrian Portal

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Posted In: Automobile Accidents , Pedestrian Accidents , Truck Accidents , Wrongful Death

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This Thanksgiving, as is the case every holiday season, law enforcement will be on the lookout to pull over speeders, reckless drivers, and drug- and alcohol-impaired drivers to prevent Maryland car accidents.

Though 2008 saw a decline in Thanksgiving travel, gas prices have stabilized to a level more drivers can live with, and the AAA predicts an uptick in holiday travel this year. That means more cars on Maryland's roads and highways as people travel to and from our fair state to visit family. Other factors contributing to danger on Maryland roadways this holiday season:

> County and wildlife experts report that deer-vehicle collisions in Maryland occur in the thousands every year. Exact numbers are hard to gauge, as it's unknown how many deer-car crashes occur that don't get reported. Deer in the roadway are a concern for holiday drivers, particularly as dusk comes earlier with the days getting shorter, and animals are active at dawn and dusk.

> Thanksgiving, football, and alcohol go together like turkey and stuffing. Unfortunately, all that merry-making can turn lethal when someone who's had too much holiday cheer picks up the keys and hits the road. Fatal drunk driving accidents ended the lives of 179 people in Maryland in 2007 (Source: NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts Maryland 2004 - 2007).

As Baltimore County car accident lawyers, we've seen how families can be torn apart when someone drinks and drives on the holiday or any other time in Maryland. A serious motor vehicle accident doesn't just ruin someone's holiday dinner. It can end a life or cause permanent, debilitating injury, such as brain and spine injury.

Whether you drive a motorcycle, car, truck or SUV -- be safe out there this holiday season and avoid accidents. Take your time, drive defensively, be aware of what's around you, and don't give Maryland police a reason to pull you over.

AAA Thanksgiving travel forecast: Highways more crowded
CNNMoney.com on Yahoo! Finance Nov. 18, 2009

Earthspan.org: Assessment of Deer Vehicle Collisions in Maryland

Related Web Resources

AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety

St. Mary's County Dept. of Public Works, Maryland: Deer Safety

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Posted In: Automobile Accidents , Drunk Driving Accidents , Motorcycle Accidents , Pedestrian Accidents , Truck Accidents

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The Baltimore Sun reports that city police are reviewing a 911 call placed shortly before a Johns Hopkins University student was killed in a fatal hit-run pedestrian accident in Baltimore City, Maryland.

On Friday Oct. 16, 2009, in the mid-afternoon, neuroscience student Miriam Frankl, age 20, was attempting to cross St. Paul Street at University Parkway when she was struck by a pickup truck. The driver in this fatal Baltimore City pedestrian - pickup truck accident fled the scene. Ms. Frankl suffered serious head wounds and died of her injuries at Maryland Shock Trauma Center.

Police later apprehended and charged Thomas Meighan Jr. of Carroll County, Maryland, in relation to the death of Ms. Frankl. News reports state that Mr. Meighan has a lengthy history of drunk driving traffic violations in Maryland, including another DUI hit-and-run arrest in Northwest Baltimore this past summer.

Police are now reviewing a 911 call from a man who wanted to report a white pickup truck driving in Baltimore City erratically about 90 mins. before Ms. Frankl was struck and killed. The Sun reports the transcript reveals initial confusion between the caller and police dispatcher, then apparently a decision was made that a cruiser would not investigate (see link below to 911 call transcript).

Maryland Pedestrian Fatalities and Drunk Driving Statistics
Baltimore City wrongful death lawyers may be consulted by individuals and families who suffer personal injury or lose someone they love because a driver got behind the wheel intoxicated, without regard for public safety. Some sobering facts:

> 116 people in Maryland lost their lives in fatal pedestrian traffic accidents in 2007.

> Over one-third of all fatal Maryland car accidents involved alcohol-impaired driving in 2007 (179 out of 614 traffic deaths).

(Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Traffic Safety Facts Maryland 2003 - 2007.)

Police to review 911 call in student's death
BaltimoreSun.com Nov. 13, 2009

Driving down the road to ruin
BaltimoreSun.com Nov. 1, 2009

Related Web Resources

JHU family celebrates student’s life
The JHU Gazette Nov. 9, 2009

Mothers Against Drunk Driving

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Posted In: Automobile Accidents , Drunk Driving Accidents , Pedestrian Accidents , Truck Accidents , Wrongful Death

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What would you guess are among the most dangerous jobs in Maryland? Construction? Roofing? Electrical work? You'd be right on all those counts, but some of the top causes of fatal occupational injuries in Maryland may come as somewhat of a surprise. According to the U.S. Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), of the 59 people who lost their lives due to work-related accidents in Maryland in 2008...

> Transportation accidents (which include air, rail, highway transportation including freight trucking accidents, nonhighway transportation, and being struck and killed by a vehicle, e.g., construction site worker pedestrian accidents) accounted for 17 deaths;

> 9 fatalities resulted from Assaults and Violent Acts (including self-inflicted injury);

> 12 were victims of Falls;

> 10 died due to Contact with Objects or Equipment;

> and another 10 perished due to Exposure to Harmful Substances.

Maryland Occupational Injury Death Rates Decline
The good news from the Bureau of Labor Statistics is fatal occupational injuries are down across the United States, including significant reductions in Maryland (59 work related deaths occurred in 2008, compared to 82 deaths in 2007 and 105 deaths in 2006).

Total U.S. workplace deaths in 2008 amounted to 5,071 -- down from 5,657 in 2007. Deaths from falls -- a major hazard for construction workers -- were down, as were fatal transportation accidents. Workplace homicides declined, but sadly, workplace suicides went up in 2008. The BLS reports all these numbers are preliminary, and final figures will be made available in April 2010.

As Maryland Work Injury Lawyers, we have seen all these types of work-related injuries and fatalities. Many families are unaware that they may be entitled to Maryland Workers' Compensation benefits even after their family member has died. That is why it is so important to contact an experienced Md workers' compensation attorney to find out what benefits you may be entitled to -- before accepting an offer from the employer or speaking to their attorney or insurance company representative.

NATIONAL CENSUS OF FATAL OCCUPATIONAL INJURIES IN 2008
United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Aug. 20, 2009

Maryland Division of Labor and Industry
Fatal occupational injuries by industry and event or exposure, Maryland, 2006 (XLS doc)

Related Web Resources

Maryland Division of Labor and Industry Research and Statistics
Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH)

Bureau of Labor Statistics, State Occupational Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities

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Posted In: Automobile Accidents , Construction Accidents , Premises Liability , Truck Accidents , Workers Compensation , Wrongful Death

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Baltimore City Police have questioned a Carroll County, Maryland man regarding a truck involved in a hit-and-run pedestrian accident that killed a Johns Hopkins University student. According to news reports, the 20-year-old victim was crossing the 3500 block of St. Paul Street at University Parkway when she was struck by a white Ford F-250 pickup truck traveling at a high rate of speed. She later died at Maryland Shock Trauma Center.

The vehicle involved in this Baltimore hit-run truck accident sped off, however a witness took down the Maryland license plate number. That and news reports informing the public to keep a lookout helped police locate the vehicle. Police have questioned but not arrested a Carroll County, Maryland man, who has a lengthy history of traffic offenses, including 4 driving under the influence (DUI) arrests going back to the mid-1990s.

The individual being questioned has another DUI trial coming up in Dec. for an incident that occurred in July. He is charged with multiple offenses, including reckless driving and failure to stop at the scene of an accident involving bodily injury or death.

Maryland Pedestrian Traffic Accident Statistics
Baltimore pedestrian accident lawyers often work with individuals and families when someone is injured or killed due to negligent, reckless and/or impaired driving. In 2007, pedestrian traffic accidents took the lives of 116 people in Maryland -- the highest number in five years. Of the total 614 Maryland traffic fatalities for 2007 -- 179 involved alcohol-impaired driving (NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts Maryland 2003 - 2007).

Baltimore City Police continue to investigate this fatal Maryland traffic accident and have not arrested the Carroll County truck driver, who remains "a person of interest."

Police: Owner of truck in hit-and-run is 'person of interest'
Carroll Eagle, Oct. 21, 2009

Hit and Run Death Reveals Disturbing Past
ABC2News.com Oct. 21, 2009

Hopkins student dies of injuries
BaltimoreSun.com Oct. 18, 2009

Related Web Resources

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore Police Department

WalkingInfo.org

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Posted In: Automobile Accidents , Drunk Driving Accidents , Pedestrian Accidents , Truck Accidents , Wrongful Death

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The Baltimore Sun reported that a semi truck driver faces multiple charges after a deadly Maryland highway truck crash that took the life of a 57-year-old woman from Edgewood.

The fatal SUV - truck accident occurred Sunday in the early morning hours on Pulaski Highway in White Marsh, Maryland. According to news reports, the woman's 2003 Chevy Tracker SUV was struck by a Kenworth semi truck, which entered the highway from Stevens Rd. The victim died at Maryland Shock Trauma Center, where her husband remained in critical condition. The truck driver, from Virginia, will face a number of charges. No further details were available on this fatal accident.

Another semi truck accident involving two tractor trailers and a pickup truck took place in Frederick County, Maryland, on Tues., closing down the eastbound side of I-70 near Bill Moxley Rd. Fortunately, no one was injured or killed in this multi vehicle accident, which involved a semi truck jackknifing and spilling a haul of metal railing into the highway. A second tractor trailer struck the roadway debris, rupturing the truck's gas tank. A Chevy pickup truck was also involved in this Maryland highway accident. The cause of the first truck's jackknife has not been reported.

Harford County, MD truck accident lawyers are well versed in the laws and safety regulations governing the operation of these mammoths of the highway. The U.S. Dept. of Transportation has 100s of specific safety regulations in place pertaining to the operation of large commercial trucks. Excessive speed and lack of sleep sometimes contribute to these deadly tractor-trailer accidents. In addition, using cell phones and texting while driving have become critical safety concerns in the United States. (See link to Distracted Driving Summit, below.)

One killed in truck-SUV crash in White Marsh
The Baltimore Sun Oct. 12, 2009

Police investigating fatal collision in White Marsh
The Baltimore Sun Oct. 11, 2009

Accident closes eastbound I-70 in Frederick County
Herald-Mail.com Oct. 13, 2009

Related Web Resources

United States Department of Transportation:

Federal Highway Administration Safety Program

Distracted Driving Summit

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Posted In: Automobile Accidents , Truck Accidents , Wrongful Death

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The Baltimore County City Council passed an act concerning speed cameras designed to thwart motor vehicle accidents and pedestrian accidents that occur in school zones. Bill 61-09 Speed Monitoring Systems, which went into effect Oct. 1, 2009, authorizes county law enforcement, in consult with other agencies, to use and enforce citations issued by speed monitoring systems in school zones.

The bill defines "speed monitoring systems" as "a device with one or more motor vehicle sensors producing recorded images of motor vehicles traveling at speeds at least 12 miles per hour above the posted speed limit." Drivers will be subject to a $40 fine. An amendment to the bill limits the number of cameras to 15. The one councilor who dissented felt that more police -- not speed cams -- was a better way to address the problem.

In addition to the county bill targeting speeders in school zones, a separate state law now allows speed cameras at work zone sites; two have been placed in Baltimore County -- one on I-695 at Charles Street and another on I-95 between I-895 and White Marsh Blvd.

Baltimore County car accident lawyers may provide legal assistance in cases where serious car crashes, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, and truck accidents occur due to drivers speeding through school and work zones -- where people on foot are moving in and out of the roadway.

The National Safety Council (NSC) reports that school zones as well as construction work sites are particularly hazardous areas when motor vehicles travel too fast. The Council estimates that every year, some 15,000 people perish and hundreds of thousands suffer personal injuries due to motor vehicles speeding in these high foot-traffic areas. Children getting on and off school buses are especially vulnerable, as are road workers and police who direct traffic at work sites.

Two speed cameras will operate in Baltimore County starting today
ExploreBaltimoreCounty.com Oct. 1, 2009

School speed cameras get Balto. County nod
BaltimoreSun.com Sept. 9, 2009

Related Web Resources

COUNTY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE COUNTY, MARYLAND
Legislative Session 2009, Legislative Day No. 13
Bill No. 61-09 (PDF file)

Safe Speed - Automated Enforcement Program
Baltimore County, Maryland

Baltimore County Police Department: Speed Cameras

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Now that students are back to school and working people have all but forgotten their summer vacations, we're seeing the usual uptick in fall foot traffic. As Maryland pedestrian accident attorneys, we've handled many unfortunate cases where someone walking to or from school or work was injured or killed by an errant driver. Now we have to wonder if some technologies are making walking even more dangerous.

A research report from earlier this year noted that Japan is making strides to build hybrid cars that make more noise. Now the U.S. is also looking at the issue of hybrids being too quiet for pedestrian safety. Apparently these energy-saving vehicles are so much quieter than conventional cars and SUVs that pedestrians may simply not hear them coming. This presents a challenge for the motor vehicle industry, which has always strived to make vehicles quieter, the ride "smoother," and reduce noise pollution.

Researchers suggest auto manufacturers should "add engine noise" to hybrid vehicles to avoid pedestrian accidents. Hybrids running in electric mode on low speeds may be difficult to hear. Older people with hearing loss, vision-impaired people -- as well as distracted pedestrians wearing headsets, iPods, or talking on cellphones -- may simply not hear a nearly silent hybrid car approaching as they step into the street or intersection.

Traffic accidents in Maryland involving pedestrian fatalities numbered at 116 in 2007. That's a five-year high, up from a low of 95 in 2006. While Maryland's total number of traffic fatalities are down, the number of pedestrians who lost their lives in motor vehicle accidents is up (NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts: Maryland 2003 - 2007).

Nationally, a total of 4,654 pedestrians were killed and more than 70,000 were injured in 2007. It will be interesting to see how safety advocates and the motor vehicle industry respond to the issue of vehicles that are now too quiet.

Noise -- the lack of it -- a problem with silent hybrid autos
DelawareOnline.com Sept. 27, 2009

Japan may add noise to quiet hybrid cars for safety
PhysOrg.com July 3, 2009

Hybrid cars too quiet for pedestrian safety? Add engine noise, say human factors researchers
PhysOrg.com Nov. 17, 2008

Related Web Resource

NHTSA Traffic Safety: Pedestrian Safety Program

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Posted In: Automobile Accidents , Pedestrian Accidents

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The Baltimore Sun reported that a driver was killed this weekend in a fatal hit-and-run Baltimore County car accident.

According to news reports, the fatal hit and run crash occurred Saturday night at 10 p.m. in Baltimore Highlands at the intersection of Virginia Ave. and Annapolis Rd. The suspect, who was driving a cargo van, allegedly fled the scene of the accident but was later apprehended by police and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. The driver of the car that was struck by the van perished and a passenger suffered personal injury. The Sun reported that the driver was 20 years old and lived on Virginia Avenue, Baltimore. The suspect, age 54, is also from Baltimore.

Baltimore County accident lawyers are familiar with the many hazards of driving on Maryland's roads and highways. Some regional statistics...

Baltimore County and Baltimore City Traffic Fatalities for 2007
In the state of Maryland in 2007, there were 179 alcohol-related motor vehicle deaths (involving drivers with blood-alcohol levels above the legal limit of .08). Of fatal traffic accidents for that same year, 216 involved speeding and 120 involved an intersection. There were 72 deaths in Baltimore County (12 percent of the total for the state) and 47 in Baltimore city (8 percent of the total). (NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts Maryland 2003 - 2007)

In this fatal hit/run car accident case, the suspect was apprehended. Hit-and-run scenarios include drivers who failed to stop their vehicles following a car, SUV, motorcycle, truck accident, or pedestrian accident; who flee on foot; and/or those who cause an accident and either fail to exchange information, report the accident or offer assistance at the scene.

In some cases, where the hit/run suspect is never found, the victims' own auto insurance may "stand in" for the at-fault driver's insurance and provide coverage for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and property damage resulting from the accident. As always, it is best to consult an experienced Maryland injury attorney in hit and run auto accident situations. You may want to do this even before you contact your insurance company, so that your attorney can clearly explain the various scenarios which may unfold in this complex situation.

Victim identified in Baltimore County crash
The Baltimore Sun, Sept. 14, 2009

Driver dies in hit-and-run
The Baltimore Sun, Sept. 13, 2009

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Posted In: Automobile Accidents , Drunk Driving Accidents , Wrongful Death

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Labor Day traditionally heralds the end of summer. It's an opportunity for family and friends to get together one more time before diving back into the fall season's school-and-work grind. Not surprisingly, this long holiday weekend typically sees a spike in alcohol-related traffic accidents nationwide.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) / National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is ramping up its public awareness safety campaign in an effort to reduce the number of Labor Day car, truck, and motorcycle accident injuries and fatalities. Called "Drunk Driving: Over the Limit, Under Arrest," the campaign brings together law enforcement and public safety advocates to drive home the message that drunk driving is not an accident, nor is it a victimless crime.

The DOT reports that last year, 40% of all fatal motor vehicle accidents that occurred over Labor Day weekend were due to drinking and driving. Law enforcement will be cracking down on impaired driving this holiday weekend for drivers of all types of vehicles including motorcycles, cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks.

NHTSA reports that in 2007, some 13,000 people were killed in highway crashes involving drivers or motorcycle riders whose blood-alcohol levels were .08 or higher, above the legal limit set in all 50 states, DC and Puerto Rico. The agency wants to get the message across that drunk driving deaths can be prevented if people take precautions, such as designating a sober driver when they plan on consuming alcohol.

Maryland Drunk Driving Fatality Statistics
In Maryland, 179 people died in 2007 in alcohol-related traffic accidents. Though any death due to drunk driving is one death too many, the number in Maryland is down from a five-year high of 211 drunk driving deaths in 2004--in part thanks to law enforcement and public awareness safety campaigns such as this one (NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts Maryland 2003-2007). Too often, Maryland car accident lawyers witness how families' lives are changed forever when a party-goer drinks too much and gets behind the wheel. Be safe this Labor Day weekend. It's supposed to mark the end of summer -- not someone's life.

Stop Impaired Driving: Campaign Headquarters

Law Enforcement August/Labor Day Crackdown: Fact Sheet

Related Web Resources

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD):
Law Enforcement Officers Prepare for Labor Day Weekend

Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP):
Sober Ride Program

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Posted In: Automobile Accidents , Drunk Driving Accidents , Motorcycle Accidents , Truck Accidents , Wrongful Death

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We started seeing them around the middle of August: Pickup trucks with open flatbeds overflowing with randomly packed furniture (often an old couch poised precariously). Vehicles with luggage, boxes, and all sorts of things loosely strapped to roof racks and flapping in the breeze. Pieces of all of the above on the side of the highway -- and sometimes in the roadway itself.

Then, there are the cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs that go whizzing past you with the backseats, hatchbacks, and passenger compartments filled above the window tops with stuff. It's amazing there's any room for the driver.

It's the start of the annual back-to-school pilgrimage made by students attending college or university in Baltimore, Maryland and across the mid-Atlantic. And you don't have to be a Maryland car accident attorney to know an accident waiting to happen when you see it. The fact of the matter is poorly secured loads on the outside of vehicles, as well as unsecured cargo inside the car, are a real hazard to motorists on our nation's highways.

Unsecured Cargo and Auto Accidents
Poorly secured items on the exterior of the vehicle may suddenly break loose, becoming projectiles on the highway, potentially causing a fatal car crash. These hastily done packing and tie-down jobs can also cause accidents after the fact, when items that have fallen from a truck bed or roof rack land in the road and become road debris, and are struck by an unsuspecting motorist, who then looses control of their vehicle.

Likewise, anything in the cargo or passenger area of a car, if not secured, can become a dangerous projectile that could hurt the car driver or passengers in a serious car accident. Research findings presented by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) at the University of Baltimore in 2004 showed that even seemingly harmless objects such as text books can cause personal injury or death when a serious car accident occurs. NHTSA writes:

Unsecured cargo is also a potential injury source - e.g. text books, portable DVD players, golf clubs, softball equipment, water heaters, laptops, bowling balls, etc. (NHTSA, Crash Assessment for Field Triage “Rules and Exceptions”, Nov. 4, 2004)

So when you or your kids pack up for college, please take special care and make sure everything is secure on the inside and outside of your vehicle -- for the sake of the driver, his or her passengers, and the lives of the other motorists sharing Maryland's highways.

Related Web Resource
NHTSA, Crash Assessment for Field Triage, “Rules and Exceptions”, Nov. 4, 2004

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Posted In: Automobile Accidents , Truck Accidents

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A 28-year-old woman driver faces charges of running a red light in a Baltimore, Maryland traffic accident last Thursday involving Olympic gold medal swimming champion Michael Phelps. According to the Baltimore Sun, the accident occurred Thurs. Aug. 13 around 9 p.m. at East Biddle and North Calvert Sts. The woman, driving a Honda Accord, allegedly ran a red traffic light, striking a Cadillac Escalade driven by Phelps.

The woman suffered slight personal injury in the Baltimore traffic accident and was treated for neck and shoulder injuries at Maryland Shock Trauma Center. She must have been even more embarrassed when she learned that she struck the vehicle of one of the world's most famous Olympic athletes.

Phelps and his three passengers were not injured, though the driver's side airbag deployed and the front of his Escalade was damaged. Phelps was raised in Rodgers Forge, Baltimore County, and now lives in a condominium in the Baltimore waterfront neighborhood Fell's Point. The Baltimore Police Department told the Sun that Phelps presented an invalid Michigan driver's license to officers. Phelps was given a $40 citation and will need to appear in court. He also told police that he had one beer an hour before the accident. No Breathalyzer test was given. A car or truck accident with an outsized SUV like Phelps' Cadillac Escalade could have been a lot worse. Luckily no one was seriously hurt in this traffic accident involving a driver running a red light.

Aggressive Driving: Running Red Light Traffic Accident Statistics
Baltimore injury lawyers like us know that running a red light can result in serious injury and fatalities for the drivers and passengers of the vehicles involved, as well as for innocent pedestrians involved in such careless traffic accidents.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) considers "running red lights" to be a most dangerous form of aggressive driving: In 1998, NHTSA estimated that motorists running red lights caused some 89,000 crashes across the country, resulting in 80,000 injuries and 986 fatalities. NHTSA says that running a red light is the number-one cause of traffic accidents in urban areas. (NHTSA Traffic Safety Digest, REGION I New England Stop Red Light Running Workshop; see link below to the Federal Highway Administration's Stop Red Light Running Program.) This Baltimore crash involving Mr. Phelps is now part of those red-light running traffic accident statistics. Fortunately everyone survived, this time.

Woman to be cited in Phelps accident
Driver of other car to face charge of running red light
BaltimoreSun.com Aug. 15, 2009

Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps involved in car accident in Baltimore, Maryland
Associated Press, NY Daily News Aug. 14, 2009

Related Web Resources

Stop Red Light Running Program

Michael Phelps, U.S.A. Olympic Swimming Team

Fell's Point, Baltimore

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Posted In: Automobile Accidents , Pedestrian Accidents , Truck Accidents

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According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), of the 614 Maryland car accident deaths that occurred in 2007, pedestrian deaths numbered at 116. That's 116 people who died trying to get to where they were going on foot -- whether it was to school, to work, to the store, to walk the dog, or to visit a neighbor or friend. Maybe some were just trying to get home. They didn't make it.

For the same year (2007), across the U.S., 4,654 pedestrians died and an estimated 70,000 or more were injured in motor-vehicle related pedestrian accidents. (NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts: Maryland 2003-2007)

As experienced Maryland pedestrian accident lawyers, we know what can happen when walkers find themselves in the wrong place, at the wrong time -- in the path of an oncoming vehicle.

We've seen many different circumstances where car, motorcycle, SUV, and truck accidents turned even more tragic when people on foot got critically injured or killed in Maryland traffic mishaps. NHTSA recommends many of the same "common sense" methods our mothers taught us for keeping safe when traveling on foot:

1. Cross at intersections. Most people who are hit by cars are struck when they are not in a crosswalk. Some municipalities will fine drivers who fail to stop for and give right of way to pedestrians in a crosswalk.

2. Use crossing signals. They're there for a reason. A stop light can be your best defense against being struck by a motorist who is on their cell phone with the stereo blaring, tearing down the road after a nerve-wracking day at work.

3. Look left, right, AND left again. THEN cross. Remember what mom said about looking both ways? Do it, then look left again before setting foot into the roadway. Motorists are in a terrible hurry these days. In a split second, particularly if you're crossing a curved road, a car can be fast upon you on the left -- a driver that doesn't expect to see a pedestrian in the road.

4. Make eye contact with drivers. Even drivers stopped at a stop light or stop sign. Some drivers who are not paying attention may try to make a right-hand turn after you've entered the crosswalk. There's also the problem of motorists running yellow lights or making "rolling stops" and going through stop signs. A crosswalk will not save your life if the driver still doesn't know you're there. Making eye contact is a smart safety measure.

5. Wear light-colored clothing. Have you ever had to slam on your brakes because you were driving at night, and suddenly a pedestrian appeared seemingly out of nowhere? Don't assume drivers can see you at night, even on city streets. Carry a flashlight if you have to walk on rural, poorly lit roads.

NHTSA reports that in 2007, most traffic-related pedestrian fatalities took place in urban areas (73%), in normal weather conditions (90%), at night (67%), and where people were not crossing in intersections (77%). Most victims were male. (NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts 2007 Data: Pedestrians) Children and the elderly are particularly at-risk populations for traffic pedestrian accidents -- topics we will cover in future blog entries.

Remember, even better than "walking away from an accident" is avoiding one in the first place. That's true for pedestrians as well as motorists.

NHTSA Pedestrian Safety Portal

Related Web Resources

WalkingInfo.org

Maryland Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee

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Posted In: Automobile Accidents , Motorcycle Accidents , Pedestrian Accidents , Truck Accidents , Wrongful Death

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Have you ever traveled on the Baltimore Beltway or another Maryland roadway and noticed your fellow drivers engaging in activities other than steering the 4,000-pound SUV beneath them? Car crashes caused by drivers reading the newspaper, fiddling with the stereo, putting on makeup, and chatting on cell phones -- only to lose control of their vehicles or miss a road obstacle and crash -- are sadly, nothing new.

Now we traffic-frazzled Maryland commuters can add texting to the list of distracted-driving activities that can cause serious car, SUV, motorcycle and truck accidents. Highways aren't the only places texting poses a risk -- a teenager texting a friend while driving down their quiet neighborhood street could cause a fatal car pedestrian accident.

A recent study conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute concluded that texting (i.e., typing and sending messages on a cell phone or wireless hand-held device) while driving is even more dangerous that previously thought, and that texting has indeed become the most dangerous of all distracted-driving activities.

Maryland traffic accident lawyers like us see the worst of what happens on the state's highways and roadways. We know too well that even normally good drivers can cause a car, truck, or motorcycle accident by being distracted, even for an instant. Some states, such as Virginia, have banned texting while driving.

Though the Virginia Tech study focused on long-haul trucks (outfitted with video cameras for research purposes), they believe their findings apply to all drivers -- not just commercial truck drivers. Over 18 months, the video cams recorded that in the moments before a crash or near-miss traffic accident, the truck drivers looked down at their texting devices for nearly 5 seconds -- enough time at highway speeds to cover the length of a football field. We've said it before, and it's worth repeating: Drive carefully out there. Keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road -- and your fellow drivers.

Texting Raises Crash Risk 23 Times, Study Finds
The New York Times in Yahoo! Finance July 28, 2009

Related Web Resource

Virginia Tech Transportation Institute

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Posted In: Automobile Accidents , Motorcycle Accidents , Pedestrian Accidents , Truck Accidents

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State and city officials are looking at ways to curb Baltimore, Maryland car accidents caused by speeding. In May, Maryland legislators passed a law which allows speed cameras to be posted within one half mile of schools and construction sites. Now the Baltimore City Council has voted an initial thumbs-up to installing speed cameras in those vulnerable places. If the measure passes, the speed cameras could start going up around Baltimore construction sites and schools by October.

Maryland law requires that signs be posted alerting motorists that the speed cameras are in use. Speed cameras snap photos of license plates of motorists going more than 12 miles per hour above the posted speed limit. A $40 ticket would then be sent to the address connected to the vehicle's license plate registration. The hope is the cameras will deter speeding drivers, who can cause fatal Maryland traffic and pedestrian accidents.

Baltimore and Maryland Speeding Fatalities
According to the U.S. Dept. of Transportation, 216 speeding-related fatalities occurred in Maryland in 2007. There were 47 Baltimore city traffic deaths that same year, and 72 traffic fatalities for all of Baltimore County. (Source: Traffic Safety Facts Maryland, 2003-2007, NHTSA)

A Maryland accident attorney may assist families in car, truck, and motorcycle accident cases where personal injury or death may have occurred due to someone else's reckless or impaired driving. In 2008, the National Safety Council (NSC) announced that it endorses automated enforcement measures to reduce traffic accidents nationwide, including the use of red-light cameras and speed cameras.

The NSC reports that school zones, construction work sites, and railroad crossings are particularly vulnerable when motorists run through red lights and exceed the speed limit. The safety advocacy group estimates that 15,000 people die every year and hundreds of thousands suffer personal injury due to motor vehicles speeding in these areas. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration wants to raise awareness of speeding as a public safety issue. Many motorists who believe "everyone speeds" don't think they will get a traffic citation if they're only driving 5 or 10 MPH above the posted speed limit.

Baltimore speed-camera measure advances
BaltimoreSun.com July 8, 2009

Speed Cameras' Image Enhanced
Senate Revives Bill to Allow Use of Technology Beyond Montgomery
The Washington Post, April 3, 2009

Related Web Resources

NHTSA: National Forum on Speeding

Wikipedia: Traffic enforcement camera

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Posted In: Automobile Accidents , Motorcycle Accidents , Pedestrian Accidents , Truck Accidents , Workers Compensation , Wrongful Death

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A Baltimore County car crash that left two young people dead and another in critical condition is believed to have been caused by illegal drag racing, authorities report.

Two bystanders were killed and two suffered personal injury last Sunday when one car crashed into another on the westbound side of Interstate 70. Witnesses reported that a crowd had gathered to watch drag racers on the eastbound side of I-70 where the highway abruptly ends. Police had been observing this little-used area of the highway, which is tempting to amateur street racers. Cars parked on the roadside began to leave when they spotted the police cruiser. According to news reports, that's when a 2009 Chevy Impala struck the rear of a 2004 Chevy Cavalier.

The crash set off a chain reaction and two young bystanders on the shoulder of the road -- a woman age 22 and a man age 20 -- were struck and killed. A third bystander was struck and treated for serious personal injury and released, and a fourth was in critical condition at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore.

The stretch of highway where this fatal Maryland accident occurred is the result of a blocked expansion of the interstate into Baltimore city dating back to the 1960s. Maryland State Police and State Highway Administration officials are looking into ways to curb illegal street racing, including the use of video cameras and rumble strips.

According to the U.S. Dept. of Justice (DOJ), there is no database of street racing related fatalities at this time. A report for law enforcement published by the DOJ (see link below) notes that illegal drag racing has been depicted in films for years, including Rebel Without a Cause, American Graffiti, and Grease, and most recently in The Fast and the Furious. Identifying drag racing locations -- such as this site in Baltimore County, Maryland where young lives of pedestrian bystanders were lost -- is among the steps the DOJ recommends for police and highway authorities who seek to curb illegal street racing in their states and communities.

Md. police look to deter racing after deadly crash
Examiner.com June 22, 2009

Related Web Resources

Racers Against Street Racing

U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Community Oriented Policing Services
Street Racing: Problem-Oriented Guides for Police

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Posted In: Automobile Accidents , Pedestrian Accidents , Wrongful Death

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A national survey conducted by auto club AutoVantage rates Baltimore, Maryland, as the USA's no.-3 most courteous city to drive in. Does this surprise you? Or sound about right? The top city was Portland, Oregon, followed by Cleveland, then our beloved city.

The AutoVantage survey was conducted to determine the causes of road rage, which can lead to car and truck accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death on the road. New York City ranked no. 1 for having the angriest and most aggressive drivers, unseating long-time champ Miami, which had topped the list for the past 4 surveys. NYC was followed by Dallas Fort Worth and Detroit as the places with the worst road rage.

The survey found that the top causes of road rage were other drivers driving badly (i.e., speeding, tailgating, failing to use turn signals, cutting each other off, or close-shave lane changing), talking on cell phones, and making obscene gestures. Other causes included bad weather, road construction, or simply people who are tired, angry, stressed, in a hurry, or otherwise "having a bad day." That pretty much covers just about everyone on the road, wouldn't you say? Yet Baltimore's courteous drivers have made the national news. Go Baltimore!

Baltimore car accident attorneys like us often see the worst in the area's drivers when we go to court to fight for clients who've been hurt in accidents due to the negligence or recklessness of others. It's good to hear positive news like that reported in the survey.

So let's give Baltimore drivers a hand for being so courteous. But still watch it out there when you're driving on our roads and highways and bridges: it's the minority of drivers who are rude, aggressive, angry -- and worse -- who can cause trouble leading to serious Maryland car crashes.

AutoVantage Road Rage Survey Reveals Best, Worst Cities
The Auto Channel June 16, 2009

Top Road Rage Cities: Baltimore Is Charming
abc2news.com June 16, 2009

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Posted In: Automobile Accidents , Motorcycle Accidents , Truck Accidents

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News sources reported that a man from Cecil County, Maryland, died when he was struck by a truck as he loaded a moped into his parked vehicle.

According to news reports, this Maryland hit-and-run death occurred in the early evening on June 12. The victim, a 44-year-old Elkton man, was crushed between his car and the pickup truck that hit him, driven by a 55-year old man. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

Charges may be filed against the driver of the truck, pending a decision by the Cecil County State Attorney. This fatal car truck accident occurred on Elkton, Maryland area roads.

The U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), has examined hit & run car accidents in the context of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. NHTSA reports that "it is well-known to law enforcement that many drivers flee the scene of a nighttime crash to conceal their alcohol-impairment." (Source: "Open Container Laws And Alcohol Involved Crashes," NHTSA, DOT HS 809 426, April 2002.)

According to Maryland state law, drivers involved in serious motor vehicle crashes are to remain at or as close to the accident scene as possible without obstructing traffic. The exact circumstances of this fatal Cecil County traffic accident remain under investigation.

Cecil Co. Man Killed in Hit-And-Run
WBOC 16 News June 15, 2009

Related Web Resource

Cecil County Maryland Government

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Posted In: Automobile Accidents , Drunk Driving Accidents , Wrongful Death

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This past Memorial Day weekend, hoards of Baltimore, Maryland, and other Mid-Atlantic residents and visitors traversed the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. The dual-span bridge is one of Baltimore's most memorable historic landmarks and the subject of picture postcards. It's also been the subject of controversy surrounding its maintenance, repair and safety, and the site of Baltimore traffic accidents -- some of them deadly.

If you live or work in the Baltimore-Washington Metro area and you use the bridge to get where you need to go, you've no doubt been driven crazy time and time again by the bottlenecks that occur on the Bay Bridge. You've experienced headaches and frustration due to the ongoing redecking and restoration project, which causes officials to close lanes in spans of the bridge. If you don't like heights, being stuck in a traffic jam over the water isn't your favorite place to be. As Maryland personal injury lawyers, we're aware of the legal cases that arise following traffic accidents on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.

For example, a current lawsuit in the news concerns a fatal car crash that occurred on the Bay Bridge in 2007. The families of three men killed in a multi-car accident are suing the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) and a number of drivers for $19 million. The accident occurred when a trailer being pulled by an SUV disconnected, setting off a chain reaction that involved multiple vehicles. Three men were killed and five other people suffered injuries.

According to a recent news report, the attorney for the clients suing the state in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, court asserts that the MDTA knew accidents had previously happened during two-way traffic on one span of the bridge that did not have a barrier. The state is claiming that two-way traffic was not a factor in this fatal Chesapeake Bay Bridge accident.

In 2008, a harrowing tractor-trailer truck accident on the Bay Bridge involving two other cars -- one of which was driven by a woman who, according to news reports, said she fell asleep at the wheel following a wedding -- caused the truck to hit the sides and go over the side of the bridge, killing the truck driver. The truck, which swerved to avoid the car, broke through the bridge's railing -- causing the structure's safety to be questioned.

Lawsuit accuses state of negligence in fatal crash
Examiner.com April 25, 2009

Bay Bridge Crash: 'It Was Like a Bomb Had Gone Off'
The Washington Post August 12, 2008

Related Web Resources

Maryland Transportation Authority Homepage

MDTA Bay Bridge

Wikipedia: Chesapeake Bay Bridge

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Posted In: Automobile Accidents , Truck Accidents , Wrongful Death

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According to the Annapolis, Maryland police, two bicyclists were hospitalized last Friday for injuries suffered in an Anne Arundel County bicycle-car accident. The accident took place when a motorist parked on Main Street in Annapolis opened his car door into the path of the oncoming cyclists. One injured cyclist was taken to Anne Arundel Medical Center and the other to Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore.

The accident occurred on Bike to Work Day, a national and regional event to promote bicycling as an alternative means of transportation. The event attracted more than 1,000 riders in Baltimore. An experienced Maryland car accident lawyer helps families of a bicyclist injured or killed in a traffic accident determine if they have a legitimate claim against the operator of a motor vehicle.

Maryland Bicycle Traffic Accident Statistics and Helmet Laws
As we've discussed in the past, when motorcycle accidents occur on Maryland's highways and roadways, the operator is often at a huge disadvantage when a car, SUV, or truck accident occurs. Bicycle riders are at a disadvantage for many of the same reasons that put motorcyclists at risk: it takes them longer to brake and stop, they are more exposed to weather conditions and obstacles in the roadway, and when they are involved in a traffic accident, they are physically vulnerable to catastrophic injuries.

In 2007, 698 bicyclists died due to injuries suffered in accidents on our nation's roadways, accounting for 2 percent of all traffic fatalities. Of the 614 Maryland traffic deaths that occurred that year, 7 were pedacyclists. (Source: NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts 2007 Data: Bicyclists and Other Cyclists.)

The Maryland Bicycle Helmet Law "requires all bicyclists under the age of 16 to wear a bicycle safety helmet when riding on public property." Certain counties in Maryland have their own laws. For example, in Montgomery County, the law applies to riders under 18, and in Sykesville, Maryland, bicyclists of all ages must wear a safety helmet.

2 bicyclists hospitalized after accident in Annapolis
BaltimoreSun.com May 15, 2009

Bike to Work Day attracts record number of riders
BaltimoreSun.com May 15, 2009

Related Web Resources

Maryland’s Bicycle Helmet Law

Baltimore Metropolitan Council: Bike to Work Day 2009

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Posted In: Automobile Accidents , Motorcycle Accidents , Truck Accidents

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A trucker from Cecil County has been killed in a commercial truck accident on Connecticut's Interstate 95. According to news reports, Woodrow Phelps Jr., 68, of Elkton, Maryland, was killed May 13 when his tractor-trailer rig, heading northbound on I-95 in Milton, Connecticut, around 5:30 a.m., struck an SUV, setting off a chain-reaction.

News reports say six vehicles were involved in the chain reaction accident, including one other tractor trailer. According to State Police, Phelps, who had been driving a 2005 Freightliner for Penske Truck Leasing, struck an SUV that was merging onto the highway from a right-lane on-ramp. Phelps was pronounced dead at the scene. The SUV driver, who complained of leg pain, was taken to an area hospital.

The Associated Press reported that stretch of highway where the fatal motor vehicle crash occurred was undergoing work by the Department of Transportation, with traffic reduced to one lane. Police reported that the work crew was picking up from an overnight project when the accident occurred. Highway traffic was closed for eight hours following the crash. State police are investigating this fatal highway accident.

Maryland Large Truck Accident Statistics
The U.S. Dept. of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that in Maryland in 2007, large trucks were involved in 69 roadway deaths. Because of their sheer size and weight, large commercial trucks need more room to brake, stop, and maneuver than passenger cars.

Maryland Intersection and Roadway Departure Accidents
As experienced Maryland car truck accident lawyers see in too many of their cases, roadway on-ramps, off-ramps, and intersections are frequently involved in fatal accident scenes.

NHTSA reports that in Maryland in 2007, of the total 614 traffic fatalities, 120 deaths involved intersections and more than half -- 362 fatalities -- involved a roadway departure (which is defined by the Federal Highway Administration as when a driver leaves his or her lane to the right or the left). Roadway departure crashes tend to be more severe, cause the majority of highway accidents, and account for 59% of all U.S. traffic fatalities (Source: FHWA.gov).

Trucker from Md. dies in crash on I-95 in Conn.
BaltimoreSun.com May 14, 2009

Police Continue Probe Of Fatal Truck Crash On I-95 In Milford
Hartford Courant.com May 13, 2009

Related Web Resource
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Safety Program

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Posted In: Automobile Accidents , Truck Accidents

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that single-vehicle traffic deaths in Baltimore County, Maryland have declined in recent years -- 45 deaths in 2007, as compared to 51 deaths in 2003. (Source: NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts for Baltimore County 2003-2007).

Single motor vehicle crashes may be caused by a number of factors, including

• driving under the influence


• driving while fatigued or distracted


• exceeding the speed limit or going too fast for road conditions


• weather and road conditions


• swerving to avoid road debris, animals, or other obstacles


• swerving to avoid another driver


• errors in driver judgment causing loss of vehicle control

The Baltimore County Police Department offers maps of traffic fatalities and causes for 2002 - 2007 (see link below). NHTSA reports that overall Baltimore County traffic deaths have been on the decline -- 72 deaths in 2007, down from 86 deaths in 2003.

While statistics show improvement in Baltimore County's overall vehicle accident fatality rates, that's of little comfort if you're one of the unfortunate families who loses someone in a fatal car, SUV, truck accident or motorcycle crash.

Even in single vehicle collisions, another driver may be held liable if they cause you to have an accident. Actual vehicle-to-vehicle contact is not necessary. For example, let's say someone comes barreling toward your car on a dark evening, swerves and enters your lane of travel--causing you to leave the roadway and have an accident. If this driver can be identified, they are going to held liable for causing an accident, even if they do not hit your vehicle. Even if the driver flees the scene in this scenario, you would still be eligible to file what is called a "phantom vehicle" claim with your insurance company. Your company would then "stand in the shoes" of the at-fault driver, and (hopefully) negotiate a settlement with you or your attorney.

Finally, defective automotive equipment, tires, or faulty repairs could have contributed to the accident, and if so, the mechanic or manufacturer can be held liable for their negligence. A Baltimore County accident lawyer relieves grieving families of the burden of filing claims and when necessary, litigating to bring a responsible party to justice.

Baltimore County Maryland Traffic Fatality Maps

NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts: Maryland 2003-2007

Related Web Resources

Baltimore County Police Department

Roadtrip America: Wear Your Seat Belt

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Posted In: Automobile Accidents , Drunk Driving Accidents

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A county police officer involved in a Harford County hit-and-run accident that took a man's life may face up to seven years in prison. Officer Dane Hall, 29, of Perryville, Maryland, plead guilty to negligent homicide while intoxicated in addition to leaving the scene of an accident in the death of Antonio Martinez, 28.

In this unfortunate case -- as we Maryland car accident lawyers have seen time and time again -- the lives of not one but two families are changed forever when someone's alcohol-impaired driving causes a car accident that takes someone's life.

According to news reports, Hall admitted he had been drinking with several other police officers at an after-shift party the night of January 27, 2008. Hall left the party in the early morning hours of Jan. 28 and drove his Nissan Pathfinder into the back of Martinez's Ford Explorer on I-95 near the Maryland House rest stop. The impact sent the Explorer spinning out of control before it flipped over and landed in the southbound lane.

Officer Hall claimed that though he thought he hit something and knew his airbag deployed, he didn't see anything and drove his vehicle home. State Police found his license plate in the wreckage, linking Hall to the fatal accident. Hall will be sentenced July 24 and could face up to 7 years in prison -- the maximum sentence allowed in the plea agreement with the state.

This case of a Harford County, Maryland police officer convicted in a fatal hit-and-run drunk driving accident shows that alcohol-impaired driving can affect anyone, regardless of their profession.

Harford County, Maryland Car Accident Statistics
According to National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) data gathered for the year 2007...

• Of the 29 traffic fatalities in Harford County, 6 deaths involved alcohol-impaired driving.
• In comparison, Harford County drunk-driving deaths were lower than in neighboring Baltimore County, which saw 31 traffic fatalities due to alcohol-impaired driving (urban areas in Maryland have a higher traffic fatality rate than in rural areas). In nearby Carroll County, 1 of the 21 traffic deaths was due to drunk driving.
• The state of Maryland had 614 traffic fatalities during that year, and of those, 179 deaths were attributed to drunk driving.

County officer guilty in fatal wreck
HometownAnnapolis.com April 18, 2009

NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts for Maryland 2003-2007 (searchable by county)

Related Web Resources

Harford County, MD, Government Home Page

Maryland State Police

Posted by Jeff Butschky | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Automobile Accidents , Drunk Driving Accidents , Settlements & Verdicts , Wrongful Death

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Last week, NHTSA announced that projected numbers of motor vehicle fatalities across the U.S. in 2008 will fall to a near 50-year low (the actual counts will be released this August). A continued drop in Maryland traffic accident deaths is expected, in keeping with trends across the country. Let's look at some Maryland car crash statistics available today:

• In 2007, a total of 614 people died in motor vehicle accidents in Maryland, down from 650 fatalities in 2003.
• Of those 614 fatalities, 179 involved alcohol-impaired driving and 216 involved speeding.
• More people died in urban traffic accidents (369 deaths) as compared to rural locations (245 fatalities) in Maryland in 2007.

Baltimore County, Maryland Traffic Accident Statistics
The NHTSA website allows visitors to research Maryland traffic deaths by years, county, and type of accident. Let's look at Baltimore County, for example.

• In 2007, Baltimore County traffic accidents caused 72 fatalities, as compared to 86 deaths in 2003.
• Single-vehicle crashes caused 45 deaths in 2007, down from 51 deaths in 2003
• Large truck accidents caused 6 deaths in 2007, down from 8 deaths in 2003
• 17 pedestrians died in motor vehicle accidents in 2007, down from 21 in 2003
• Motorcycle crash fatalities increased, up from 7 deaths in 2003 to 13 deaths in 2007
• Alcohol-impaired driving deaths also went up, from 24 in 2003 to 31 in 2007

Public safety programs and laws measure their effectiveness with statistics. So any time the numbers of traffic fatalities go down, we know something is working. But what we've also learned as Baltimore County car accident lawyers is that behind the stats are people. For every single traffic fatality there is a story of somebody going somewhere who didn't make it. Fewer deaths on Marylands roads and highways is always good news. But like we've said before, even one motor vehicle accident death is too many when it's someone you love (or you).

NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts for Maryland 2003-2007

NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts for Baltimore County 2003-2007

Related Web Resource

Baltimore County, MD, Government Home Page

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Posted In: Automobile Accidents , Drunk Driving Accidents , Motorcycle Accidents , Truck Accidents , Wrongful Death

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) predicts that the nation's motor vehicle traffic fatalities for 2008 will have declined to a level not seen since 1961. NHTSA projects that the total number of traffic-related fatalities for the U.S. in 2008 will be 37,313 deaths -- down 9.1 percent from the 2007 statistic of 41,059 fatalities. (NHTSA will report the actual numbers in August 2009.)

NHTSA attributes the decline in car crash deaths to a number of factors, including...

• improvements in motor vehicle technology


• tougher enforcement of seat belt laws


• law enforcement efforts to get repeat drunk-driving offenders off the road


• an increase in use of public transportation


• fewer people driving due to higher gas prices and the economy

Maryland Car Crash Fatalities
Maryland is among 16 states to achieve a 90% or more rate of seat-belt use along with our neighbors Delaware and District of Columbia. Michigan had the highest seat-belt use rate of 97%, while Wyoming, Massachusetts and New Hampshire had the lowest rates, with less than 70 percent of drivers in those states buckling up.

In 2007, there were 614 Maryland car crash deaths (NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts, Maryland 2003-2007). In the new report, Maryland, DC and Delaware, which are in NHTSA region 3, are expected to see a 12% decline in fatalities in 2008 as compared to 2007 -- one of the highest rates of car crash fatality decline in the country. Interestingly, the region with the highest expected decline in car crash fatalities -- region 1, New England, expected to see a decline of 14% -- has some of the same states with the lowest rate of seat belt use. Region 6, which includes Texas and surrounding states, is expected to have the lowest decline of just a little over 1% -- but a decline in deaths nonetheless.

Of course, even one motor-vehicle related death due is too many if it's you or someone in your family. A Maryland car accident lawyer works with bereaved families to relieve them of the burden of the insurance claims process and when called for, litigation. The new NHTSA statistics show that safety programs, law enforcement, and improvements to motor vehicle equipment and technologies do save lives. But driving defensively is always wise -- it was in 1961, and it still is today in 2009.

Early Estimate of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities in 2008
NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts March 2009

Traffic deaths decline as more people are buckling up
ConsumerReports.org April 6, 2009

Related Web Resource

Newest safety technology: Cars that avoid crashes
San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News March 20, 2009

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Posted In: Automobile Accidents , Drunk Driving Accidents , Truck Accidents , Wrongful Death

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Some Maryland motorcycle riders would like the state to relax its mandatory helmet law, which was enacted in 1992 to decrease the rate of Maryland motorcycle crash fatalities. Senator John Astle (D-Annapolis), who is himself a biker, is behind the latest push in the General Assembly to allow exemptions to the helmet law for some cyclists.

Sen. Astle presented a proposal to the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee in Annapolis, Maryland, earlier this month which would allow a helmet law exemption for motorcycle riders aged 21 or older who have been licensed to operate a motorcycle for at least two years, or who have completed a safety course approved by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation or the Motor Vehicle Administration.

Maryland Fatal Motorcycle Crash Statistics
According to the Maryland Motorcycle Safety Program, motorcycle crashes are on the rise, up from 1,749 in 2005 to 1,804 in 2006. This rise in fatal motorcycle accidents in Maryland corresponds with national statistics: According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorcycle operator deaths have increased an alarming 138 percent -- amounting to 4,155 fatalities in 2006, up from 1,742 deaths in 1997 (NHTSA, "An Analysis of Motorcycle Helmet Use In Fatal Crashes," Aug. 2008).

Maryland is one of several states with a mandatory helmet law for all motorcycle operators. Bikers who want the law relaxed say helmets encroach on their personal freedom. Those who object to changing the Maryland motorcycle helmet law say not only does it save lives, but it cuts down on the costs and burden incurred by the insurance industry and the health care system when motorcyclists involved in crashes suffer serious injury or death.

The Maryland motorcycle helmet law is challenged every year in the legislature. The argument for maintaining the law may seem obvious to those of us who prefer to drive with four tires on the pavement beneath us: Motorcyclists are at a significant physical disadvantage when involved in a crash with other motor vehicles. An experienced Maryland personal injury lawyer looks at the details surrounding a motorcycle accident to determine who may be at fault and whether there is a compensable case to pursue.

Motorcyclists: 'Let those who ride, decide'
HometownAnnapolis.com March 16, 2009

Related Web Resources

Motorcycle Safety Foundation

Maryland Motorcycle Safety Program: Choose Safety for Life

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Posted In: Automobile Accidents , Motorcycle Accidents , Wrongful Death

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The AAA has a new report on the hazards of teen driving, not only for the young drivers behind the wheel but to their passengers, people in other cars, and pedestrians. The report states that in fatal auto accidents involving teenage drivers, the majority of people killed are passengers and others involved besides the young drivers themselves.

As Baltimore Maryland injury lawyers, my partners and I are aware of what can go wrong when a young driver makes a mistake in judgment or loses control when operating a motor vehicle. Some national statistics from the AAA report:

• In the U.S. between 1998-2007, crashes with drivers aged 15 to 17 resulted in the deaths of 28,138 people.
• Of the total number killed, about 37% were teen drivers themselves, with 10,388 teenage drivers losing their lives in auto accidents.

Maryland Law and Teenage Drivers
Maryland car accidents involving teenage drivers are on the minds of our state's insurance officials and lawmakers. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) made a statement before the Maryland Senate Committee on Judicial Proceedings on Senate Bill 265 presenting research on the hazards of teenage driving—particularly when passengers are involved and when teens drive at night. From the IIHS statement:

• In Maryland, between 1998-2007, in fatal car crashes involving 16 to 19 year old youths -- 353 young drivers and 230 passengers were killed. About 39% of the deaths were passengers.
• When a Maryland driver is 16, the ratio in fatal accidents is about 50-50, with near equal numbers of drivers and passengers killed.

Since 1979, Maryland has had a graduated licensing law with nighttime driving restrictions for teenage drivers. Maryland also restricts the numbers of passengers these young drivers may carry. These and other safety measures can and do reduce fatal auto accidents in Maryland: The AAA reported that over the last decade, NHTSA data have shown a reduction in teen driver deaths as well as fatalities for others involved in teen driving accidents. Links for both the AAA report and IIHS statement are below.

Teen Drivers Pose Bigger Threat To Others
WBALTV.com Feb. 27, 2009

Related Web Resources

AAA Report: Teen Crashes: Everyone Is At Risk
People Fatally-Injured In Motor Vehicle Crashes Involving 15- to 17-Year-Olds

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:
Statement before the Maryland Senate Committee on Judicial Proceedings on Senate Bill 265:
Passenger and Nighttime Restrictions for Young Drivers

Posted by Jeff Butschky | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Automobile Accidents , Pedestrian Accidents , Wrongful Death

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Have you ever been stopped in highway traffic while a medical helicopter lands to transport victims of a Maryland car crash to the hospital? It's a heart-stopping sight, and we can only hope that the helicopter gets the victims to the hospital in time. Now Maryland lawmakers are reevaluating the state's emergency medical services since a crash involving a state helicopter claimed four lives last fall.

The Maryland State Police medical helicopter program has been under scrutiny since a Sept. 27, 2008 crash killed four people in Prince George's County, Maryland. The helicopter was on its way to a hospital 25 miles away when it was diverted to Andrews Air Force Base in foul weather and crashed -- killing the pilot, a paramedic, a medical technician, and one of the car accident victims. An 18-year-old injured in the Charles County Maryland traffic accident survived the helicopter crash. Legislation is now being proposed that would separate Maryland law enforcement from rescue functions.

The subject of medical helicopter accidents has received national attention lately, as such accidents have been on the rise since the 1990s due in part to the closing of emergency rooms in rural areas and an aging US population. National and state safety officials are reconsidering whether some patients would be safer and just as well served by using regular ground ambulance transports. Triaging methods used by emergency responders are also being questioned.

Members of the National Emergency Medical Services Pilots Association attended a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) hearing in Washington, DC, earlier this month, to discuss ways to prevent such tragic accidents. The NTSB reported 28 deaths in seven fatal medical helicopter accidents last year -- up from seven deaths in two crashes in 2007. Wrongful death lawsuits can follow such accidents, e.g., if the air medical transport companies are found to be negligent in the maintenance and repair of their aircraft.

MedEvac System Works for Marylanders
DelMarvaNow.com Feb. 14, 2009

Md. EMS Is Pressed To Share Triage Study
The Washington Post Feb. 2, 2009

Medevac Helicopter Crash Kills 4 in Maryland
FoxNews.com Sept. 28, 2008

Related Web Resources

Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems

National EMS Pilots Association

NTSB Helicopter Emergency Medical Services

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Posted In: Automobile Accidents , Motorcycle Accidents , Pedestrian Accidents , Truck Accidents , Wrongful Death

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We've been talking about why Maryland drivers should seriously consider upping their auto liability insurance to as much as their budgets can afford. (See Parts 1 and 2 of my series on "Buying Auto Insurance in Maryland," below.) People who have had the misfortune of being injured in a Maryland car accident are always shocked and amazed at how quickly their medical bills can pile up -- and how minimum liability coverage maxes out just as fast. Here are four more types of auto insurance coverage.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
Our clients are hard-working people who often don't have a lot of extra money to cover their medical bills and lost wages if they're hurt in a Maryland car crash. Personal Injury Protection or "PIP" is a no-fault coverage that serves like an "emergency fuel tank" for relatively fast payment of medical expenses and wage loss related to an accident. Under Maryland law, drivers are not required to carry PIP insurance, but it's a coverage you will want to purchase. If you're in an accident -- say that nice little old lady from my earlier articles rear-ends you on her way to church -- you can use your own PIP to pay your bills quickly. It's no-fault coverage, so even if the other driver's insurance company starts haggling with, "We're not sure if it's our client's fault...," you won't have to wait. Your own PIP will cover that nagging emergency room bill and a couple weeks of lost wages while the insurance companies investigate. It's also cheap--figure $30-$100/year.

Medical Payments Coverage
Med-Pay is a supplemental coverage, similar to PIP, that only pays medical bills (not lost wages), in the event you are injured or killed in a Maryland car crash. Again, it is inexpensive, and an excellent way to ensure payment of your medical expenses, quickly, after your accident claim.

Rental Reimbursement Coverage
If that little old lady damages your car and you're left without wheels, how are you going to get around? Rental insurance costs peanuts and provides you with transportation if you're in an accident and the other driver's insurance company investigates for liability. An investigation can take months and meanwhile, you're off the road and going nowhere fast. Get your own no-fault rental coverage and make sure it pays enough. Some rental only pays $10 or $20 a day toward renting a car in Maryland. That won't buy you much. It costs about $40 to $50 a day to rent a mid-sized car from a major car rental agency.

Umbrella Coverage
Last but not least, as you get older and accumulate more assets, there's an option called Umbrella Coverage. This type of coverage provides a "liability blanket," which sits above your other coverages and pays only in the rare event that your underlying coverage is used up. Take a close look at the value of your home, versus the amount of liability coverage you currently carry. If you are driving around with $100,000 of liability coverage and you own a $300,000 house, guess what you are going to lose if you accidentally kill or seriously injure someone, and your liability coverage exhausts? Umbrella Coverage costs about $100-$200 a year and protects your assets in the event of a catastrophic Maryland motor vehicle accident where you're found liable.

Our law firm is dedicated to fighting for clients who have the misfortune of being in a car, truck or SUV accident in Maryland. Auto insurance sounds kind of boring and people figure, "Why spend money on something I probably won't use?" Our advice is "Get as much auto insurance as you can afford." Trust me, if you're in an accident in Maryland, you'll be glad you did.

Related Web Resources

Maryland Insurance Administration:

A Consumer Guide to Auto Insurance

Other consumer publications for autos, motorcycles, and RVs

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Posted In: Automobile Accidents , Help! I've Been In An Accident! , Truck Accidents , Wrongful Death

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Last month, we discussed why the minimum Maryland auto insurance liability coverage of $20K per person/$40K per accident, mandated by law, is risky business for anyone who drives more than that "little old lady who only drives to church on Sundays" that used car salesmen used to be so fond of. We recommended increasing your liability coverage to as much as your budget can afford, in the event you're liable in a Maryland auto, truck, or motorcycle accident where people in the other vehicle get hurt and you get sued. The other type of auto insurance required of all drivers under Maryland law is Uninsured Motorist coverage.

Uninsured and Underinsured Coverage for Maryland Auto Accidents
As a Baltimore Maryland injury lawyer, I've seen far too many personal injury cases where good people got caught up in a bad situation because they were involved in a Maryland car crash and they didn't have enough auto insurance -- and neither did the other driver. Or maybe the other driver didn't have any insurance at all, which is common in Maryland.

Liability insurance protects the other guy if you're found to be at fault in a Maryland car, truck, or SUV accident that causes personal injury. Uninsured Motorist coverage or "UM" is that same protection but flipped around to protect you. Say you're driving around, not doing anything wrong, and out of the blue -- somebody hits you. And that other driver doesn't have any auto insurance. Your own insurance company will stand in the shoes of that person and put on the negligent driver's hat, and will negotiate with you (and your Maryland car accident lawyer, if you retained one) -- just like the other driver should have. That's what UM coverage provides.

Minimum UM coverage required in Maryland is the same as liability insurance: $20K per person /$40K per accident. UM insurance also includes UIM coverage -- Underinsured Motorist -- where your insurance company will stand in for underinsured drivers as well. Say you get rear-ended by that nice little old lady and you need a back fusion, and you have a third-of-a-million-dollars in bills -- and she has minimum coverage, $20,000. You would receive her $20K, but then your insurance company would be responsible for the balance, up to the amount of coverage that you purchased. That's where we see UM insurance come into play all the time. If 10 percent of Maryland drivers are uninsured, a full third are tooling around Maryland with lousy coverage. So if you get hit by one of those guys, you won't be bound by their lower coverage if your UM has higher limits.

Liability and UM are usually bound together, so if you purchase $100,000 liability coverage, that's the most UM you can get. We recommend Maryland drivers get between $100K and $500K liability and UM. It's all about preparing for what we all hope and pray never happens. But if you are in a car accident in Maryland where personal injury occurs -- having more than the minimum car insurance helps protect your hard-earned personal assets.

Next installment of "Help! I've Been in an Accident!": Buying Auto Insurance in Maryland (Part 3): PIP or Med-Pay, Rental, and Umbrella Coverage.

Related Web Resources

Maryland Insurance Administration:

A Consumer Guide to Auto Insurance

Other consumer publications for autos, motorcycles, and RVs

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Posted In: Automobile Accidents , Help! I've Been In An Accident! , Motorcycle Accidents , Truck Accidents , Wrongful Death

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In lean economic times, people cut corners in places they never did before -- cutting out visits to the doctor and other important things. It may be tempting to think about cutting your auto insurance liability coverage. But as a Maryland auto accident lawyer who's battled with insurance companies on clients' behalf for decades, let me advise you... Don't do it!

Karma is a funny thing. When people think "What are the odds...?" of their having a car or truck accident in Maryland -- and they cut their auto insurance liability coverage to save a few bucks -- next thing they know...along comes an accident. People should re-examine their Maryland auto insurance coverage every year, before the policy renews. Your financial situation changes as you move through life and career, and your auto insurance should keep pace if you don't want to lose everything you've worked for if you're liable in a car or truck accident in Maryland.

Why Minimum Insurance Coverage in Maryland Is Risky Business
Under Maryland Law, the minimum amount of liability coverage required is $20K for bodily injury per person, $40K for bodily injury per accident, and $15K property damage. That means if you're liable in a Maryland auto, truck, or SUV crash and the other driver gets hurt and sues you, your auto insurance will only pay a maximum of $20,000 per person toward any judgment rendered against you. If you're liable in a crash where four people are injured, then the maximum $40,000 coverage has to stretch four ways. You can see how it starts to add up. Sadly, these coverage amounts wouldn't even come close to satisfying a serious injury judgment against you. That's when the other attorney is put in the thankless position of having to go after your house or other assets.

If you've got something to lose -- a house, a retirement account -- INCREASE your coverage for as much as you can afford. Even if you're light on assets, you can increase your coverage to $50K per person/$100K per accident for maybe another 50 bucks a year. As you get older and acquire more assets -- increase the coverage to at least $250K per person/$500K per accident. Maryland lets you shop for insurance on the Internet and elsewhere, so long as the company you select is licensed in Maryland. Shop around and compare rates, and get the best liability coverage your money can buy. In the event you're in a car, truck, or SUV accident in Maryland and someone gets hurt and sues you -- you'll be glad you did.

Next installment of "Help! I've Been in an Accident!": Buying Auto Insurance in Maryland (Part 2): Uninsured Motorists and Other Optional Coverage

Related Web Resources

Maryland Insurance Administration:

A Consumer Guide to Auto Insurance

Other consumer publications for autos, motorcycles, and RVs

Posted by Jeff Butschky | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Automobile Accidents , Help! I've Been In An Accident! , Truck Accidents

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A fiery single-vehicle auto accident on a Baltimore Beltway interstate 695 exit ramp has claimed the lives of two people. The accident occurred at 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 9 as a 2002 Ford van drove off the Baltimore Beltway exit ramp for westbound Baltimore National Pike. The van hit a pole and a tree and caught fire. Tragically, the occupants were killed. As of our blog publication, the names of the two deceased people had not been released.

Highway ramp safety is a critical concern on the Baltimore Beltway and other highways in Maryland, Delaware, Washington DC, and around the USA. Highway on-ramps and off-ramps are frequently the sites of serious car and truck accidents. Drivers exiting the highway too fast can quickly lose control of their vehicles when hitting the curves and grades of highway off-ramps. And motorists who enter highways from on-ramps too fast or too slow, or who fail to yield to the flow of oncoming highway traffic, can also cause motor vehicle accidents.

Maryland car accident lawyers like my partner and I read about far too many bad accidents on the Baltimore Beltway and other Mid-Atlantic highways, such as this terrible case. A routine drive to work, to school, or to go shopping can turn tragic in a heartbeat. When you're taking a ramp on the Baltimore Beltway or any highway, be aware of the road, the traffic around you, and take it slow. Your life and the lives of your passengers depend on it.

Accident on Beltway ramp in Catonsville kills two
BaltimoreSun.com Jan. 9, 2009

Related Web Resources
Maryland State Highway Administration

Maryland.gov Motor Vehicles & Transportation

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Posted In: Automobile Accidents , Truck Accidents

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Maryland and other Mid-Atlantic drivers who own a Nissan Frontier, Pathfinder, or Xterra, model years 2005 through 2009, should drive carefully to their nearest dealership. Your driver and passenger airbags might not deploy if you're in a truck accident with your Nissan.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), Office of Defects Investigation, reported that Nissan North America is recalling nearly a quarter of a million Nissan Frontiers, Pathfinders, and Xterras due to a faulty air bag sensor. Vehicles affected were sold or registered in 20 cold weather states -- including Maryland, Delaware, the District of Columbia, and West Virginia.

According to the NHTSA website, a problem could occur if rock salt used to treat slippery roads, along with snow and water, gets into the Nissans' front crash zone sensor housing. This could cause rusting and signal interruption -- which could result in the airbags not opening in a motor vehicle accident. Air bag failure in the event of a crash could lead to personal injury or death.

Nissan will replace the faulty parts with a redesigned sensor free of charge. As of our blog publication, no schedule had been released to notify owners of the recall campaign.

Maryland car accident lawyers understand the importance of airbags in preventing personal injury on the road and saving lives. If you own or drive one of these Nissan model trucks from the affected years, contact your nearest Nissan dealer right away. Or see the links before for more information on this Nissan truck airbag sensor recall for Maryland, DC and other Mid-Atlantic states.

Urgent Recall Alert: Nissan Xterra, Pathfinder, Frontier
U.S. News & World Report Jan. 07, 2009

Web Resources

SaferCar.gov: Defects & Recalls (Search on NHTSA Campaign ID number: 08V690000)

Nissan Vehicle Recall Form

Posted by Jeff Butschky | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Automobile Accidents , Truck Accidents , Wrongful Death

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If you've had the misfortune of being in a car crash in Baltimore Maryland or anywhere in the Mid Atlantic region, you may have suffered physical injuries and your car may be banged up, even totalled. On top of those damages -- you're in a race against time. My last two blog entries for "Help! I've Been in an Accident!" dealt with what you should keep in your glove box (Dec. 18) and why you should always call the police (Dec. 22). This article offers some insight on witnesses and insurance companies.

Ask Witnesses for Their Phone Numbers on the Spot
It's amazing how frequently people change their stories. If you're in a car accident in Maryland and other people pull over, remain calm. NEVER GET UPSET. Approach the witnesses and say, "Listen, you saw what just happened. I really might need you. Could I please have your name and number?" Most folks will agree to that.

Human nature is an amazing thing. Most of the time, when people react to an emergency, they'll do the right thing. They'll run into a burning car to save a stranger. But after someone witnesses a car or truck accident, a funny thing can happen. When time passes, people start logically thinking, "Oh crap. I'm gonna end up being the key witness in the middle of a six-month jury trial." Human nature's better side starts to fade away and people become reluctant to "get involved" as time passes. It's imperative, in an accident, to get the facts -- whatever they are, good or bad -- locked in right away before people have a chance to think too much. Get witnesses' information, then...

Call Your Insurance Company and a Maryland Car Accident Lawyer
Maryland insurance carriers have their car accident response routine down to a science. As soon as an accident is reported, outside adjusters -- many of them retired police officers or state troopers -- hit the ground running to evaluate what happened. You've seen these folks driving around in the Geico and Progressive cars. They will bang on your door and they can be a little bit intimidating. What they're doing is the same thing really that we're doing as Maryland auto accident attorneys -- they're going out to get the facts quickly and to lock in the story.

Nobody wants anybody to lie, but it really is a foot race when there's a car, truck, or motorcycle accident in Maryland. Time is not on your side. You may not know it, but the other party's insurance company is busily working and contacting people to swing the odds in their favor. It's very important to contact an experienced car accident lawyer who can work with your insurance company and get started right away fighting for you.

Posted by Jeff Butschky | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Automobile Accidents , Help! I've Been In An Accident! , Motorcycle Accidents , Truck Accidents

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As someone who's been a Maryland car accident attorney for much of my career, I understand the stress my clients feel when they've been in a car, truck, SUV, or motorcycle accident in or around Baltimore and the Mid Atlantic region.

A motor vehicle accident ruins your day. It's shocking, nerve wracking, and can cause personal injury and wrongful death. Even in the best-case scenarios where the driver walks away uninjured from the crash, the emotional and mental stress takes its toll. And sometimes when the driver walks away OK, the vehicle isn't as lucky. Damages can be costly and repairs can be time-consuming.

So I understand why, when an auto accident happens, sometimes people just want to get the heck out of there. The flight response kicks in. But let me give you some advice that could save you time, money, aggravation -- even your life: ALWAYS call the police from the scene of an auto accident in Maryland or wherever it happens. Even if the other driver says, "Let's just exchange information and not call the police." Bad idea. Here's why:

• The police serve as a buffer between you and the other driver. People get hot under the collar after an accident and can become irrational and even violent. There are maniacs out there and people with guns and weapons in their vehicles. You don't know who just hit you or vice versa. Dial 911 from your cell phone and get the police on the scene asap.


• The police keep everyone honest. There are usually two sides to every story and every car accident. Let the police ask the questions and sort out what happened. The other driver may not be as honest as you and may not have the proper documentation in his or her vehicle.


• Ask the responding police officer to file a report. Even if the officer opts not to do this, he/she will provide you with an information exchange sheet, which will contain details and relevant information which you would perhaps neglect to get yourself. If you've been in an accident, you are probably in a fog and you may not remember details after the fact (see my "Just in Case" blog entry of Dec. 18, 2008 on taking pictures and notes at the Maryland car accident scene). Let the police do their job to document the incident.

The unexpected can and does happen on Maryland highways and roads. If you're in a car crash in Maryland, resist the knee-jerk reaction to just "exchange information" with the other driver and book it out of there. That person may be uninsured and may not even give you their correct name and phone number. Call the police. It's their business.

Next installment of "Help, I've Been in An Accident!": Witnesses, insurance companies, and lawyers (Oh My!).

Related Web Resources

Maryland State Police

Baltimore Police Department

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Posted In: Automobile Accidents , Help! I've Been In An Accident! , Motorcycle Accidents , Truck Accidents , Wrongful Death

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Drivers navigating the highways, bridges, and roads of the Greater Baltimore Maryland and Mid Atlantic area don't like to think about being in a motor vehicle accident. No one does.

As a Maryland car accident lawyer representing people who've been injured in vehicle crashes for many years, no one I've known ever planned to have a car accident on the way to work on the Baltimore Beltway I-695 or on a bridge crossing Baltimore Harbor. They didn't plan to have a car crash half a mile from home while going out for pizza. But car and truck accidents do happen, and there are some things you should keep in your vehicle "just in case." Being prepared can make all the difference in coming out on the other end of your Maryland car accident in better shape.

License, Registration, and Proof of Insurance
The State of Maryland requires all drivers to keep their vehicle registration and proof of insurance in their car, van or SUV at all times. Most Maryland drivers know they need to have their driver's license on them and their registration in the glove box, but many don't know they also need proof of insurance -- that little slip of paper the auto insurance company gives you when you renew your policy every year. If you don't have it, that's a ticketable offense. You've already been in a car or truck accident, you don't need a ticket to add insult to injury.

A Picture Tells the Story (And So Does the Debris)
Buy one of those disposable cameras at the drug store and throw it in your glove box. They only cost a few bucks, and that way if you are in a car accident in Maryland, you can photograph and preserve the evidence before the police and the fire crews sweep the debris away. (You can use a cell phone camera if you don't have anything else on hand, though the pictures taken by cell phones aren't always the best quality.)

The plastic, glass, and other debris at an accident scene falls exactly where the crash occurred. If you survive your accident and it's safe to take pictures, do so. That way, when the other guy points the finger at you and says, "You swerved into my lane," your photos will show otherwise. (At the same time, if debris from your car is 4 feet into his lane, you're in trouble.) Keep a pen and pad of paper in your glove box, too, to record important information.

Next installment of "Help! I've Been in An Accident!" will cover why you must always call the police if you're in a car accident. It's the right thing to do -- and the safe thing for you.

Related Web Resource

Maryland Dept. of Transportation Traveler Information

Posted by Jeff Butschky | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Automobile Accidents , Help! I've Been In An Accident! , Truck Accidents

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Charges against a Port Republic, Maryland driver blamed in a fatal motorcycle crash were dropped Nov. 5, because the State Trooper who made the traffic violation charges against her was not present at the trial due to a court scheduling error.

In Calvert County District Court, Sarah E. Brown, 50, faced charges of negligent driving, failure to yield right of way, and failure to secure a child under 8 in a safety seat in a collision on Aug. 1 that killed motorcycle rider Larry G. Hogan II, 43.

Also a resident of Port Republic, Maryland, Hogan worked for Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative for over two decades. He volunteered for the Dunkirk and St. Leonard fire departments and he enjoyed bowling. He was also a motorcycle enthusiast. Hogan was riding his motorcycle when motorist Sarah E. Brown turned her vehicle left onto Broomes Island Road and failed to yield to the motorcyclist. Hogan's bike hit the rear of her vehicle and he suffered fatal injuries.

The case went to trial Nov. 5 in Calvert County District Court. But Judge Robert Riddle dropped the charges against Brown when Maryland State Police Trooper David Saucerman -- the charging police officer in the case -- failed to show up in court. Apparently the Annapolis District Court, which notifies police officers of trial dates, made a misprint that listed Brown's court date as Jan. 5, and not Nov. 5. Calvert County State's Attorney Laura Martin promised the victim's family she would review the prosecution charges. Mr. Hogan's grieving family must be wondering, "How can this happen?"

I wish that I could say that this is the first time that we have seen this type of confusion on the part of the courts and investigating police. Unfortunately, it is usually the innocent victim and their families who suffer as a result of this neglect. In Maryland civil matters, it is the injured individual (the Plaintiff) who has the burden of proving his or her claim. While this District Court error does not bar the family from suing civilly, it certainly will not help the civil case. The lesson to be learned here is that one must be proactive with all parties involved in matters such as this, including the courts and authorities. One phone call to the courts or the police officer could have avoided this result.

Charges dropped in death of biker: Scheduling confusion kept officer out of court
Nov. 7, 2008 SoMdNews.com

Driver not sentenced in motorcycle death due to court scheduling error Clutch & Chrome Nov. 18, 2008

Related Web Resources

Motorcycle Safety Foundation: For Car Drivers

Maryland State Police

Posted by Jeff Butschky | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Automobile Accidents , Motorcycle Accidents , Wrongful Death

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A Baltimore County Circuit Court jury awarded a seriously injured woman $250,000 in damages after she was struck by a car while attempting to cross a Baltimore Beltway construction site on foot. The Maryland car accident that resulted in pedestrian Sandra Lee Meade being hit and seriously injured occurred at a construction site near the Baltimore Beltway on Dec. 3, 2003. Meade had parked her car on the southbound side of Westland Boulevard at Circle Drive in Baltimore, Maryland before planning to catch a bus to her job at the IRS. She was hit by a car while illegally crossing the street at a construction zone operated by Pennsylvania based general contractors Dick Corp.

The area where the pedestrian car accident occurred was under construction to widen the outer loop of the Baltimore Beltway, Route 695. Meade was crossing the intersection diagonally to catch a northbound bus when a car traveling south on Westland Boulevard struck her. The Maryland woman sustained lifelong brain and spinal cord injuries, and has been living in a nursing home since this terrible pedestrian car accident occurred. The driver was not named in the lawsuit, as the plaintiff's family felt he was also a victim.

Ms. Meade’s attorney argued at trial that the general contractor failed to keep the area safe for pedestrians, citing poorly placed barriers and confusing line painting. The jury concluded, however, that because the Plaintiff was crossing the street illegally, they could not hold the Dick Corp. liable for any of her injuries.

Fortunately, Ms. Meade's wise attorney had separately negotiated what is known as a "high/low agreement" with counsel for the Defendant. This type of agreement is legally binding in Maryland, and basically states that, no matter what result a Judge or Jury reaches, basic minimums and maximums of insurance coverage will apply. This one legal maneuver, by an experienced attorney, avoided the $ZERO verdict, which the Jury felt compelled to hand down, based upon Maryland's harsh law of contributory negligence.

Meade's original lawsuit sought $8 million in damages. The $250,000 she was awarded -- which her family must use to cover her lifelong medical and nursing home expenses -- represented the "low" end of the settlement. The bottom line here is that Maryland Law, especially the harsh doctrine of contributory negligence, can be brutal. That is why legal representation is so important to people injured in Maryland car and pedestrian accidents.

Woman Struck in Work Zone to Get $250K Maryland Daily Record, Nov. 16, 2008

Related Web Resource

WalkingInfo.org

Posted by Jeff Butschky | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Automobile Accidents , Pedestrian Accidents , Premises Liability , Wrongful Death

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A Frederick County, Maryland prosecutor has indicated that charges will not be filed against Trooper Dale Derr in the November, 2006 death of pedestrian Randy Rakes. This despite an internal State Police investigation, concluding that Trooper Derr, 23, was driving 83 miles per hour on the shoulder of the road before he hit the 38-year-old Rakes, who died at the scene.

Rakes’ family has filed a $15.8 million civil lawsuit against both Trooper Derr and the Maryland State Police. In a final attempt to spur a more detailed and thorough investigation, attorney David Ellin of Baltimore City, has sent a letter directly to the offices of Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, asking him to intervene in the case. Ellin noted that the statute of limitations for civil charges is about to expire because the accident happened nearly a year ago.

The accident occurred near Rakes’ Finksburg, Maryland home, but the case was turned over to Frederick County, Maryland prosecutors due to the policy of the Carroll County State’s Attorney’s Office not to handle cases involving Carroll County law enforcement officers.

Frederick County prosecutor Kirsten Brown told the Carroll County Times that a decision was made in May not to charge Derr because there wasn’t enough information to prove that the trooper’s speed caused the crash. Interestingly, the internal Maryland State Police investigation concluded that the crash likely could have been avoided if Derr had been driving closer to the 55-mile-per-hour speed limit.

The State Police are clearly protecting their own on this one. By way of additional information, young Trooper Derr wasn't speeding on his way to an emergency call, or to a horrible traffic accident, or other time critical function. Rather, Derr told investigators that he had just finished his shift and was driving to his barracks (without lights or sirens activated) to drop off paperwork when the accident occurred. In other words, he was wrapping it up for the day, and headed home thereafter. 83 mph on a shoulder for this? Give me a break. The Rakes family, and the citizens of Maryland, deserve much better from 'Maryland's Finest'.

Posted by Jeff Butschky | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Automobile Accidents , Pedestrian Accidents

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Vehicle Trailer Was Not Properly Secured, But Authorities Say No Current Maryland Laws Exist To Charge Responsible Driver

The Baltimore Sun reports that the driver of a Lincoln Navigator, who failed to properly secure his trailer will not be criminally charged, despite a clear finding of responsibility for the deadly multi-car collision on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge this May. According to a lengthy police investigation, the driver of the Navigator, Stephen A. Burt of Rockville, Maryland was responsible for the deadly collision, however, prosecutors have decided that they have no grounds for charging him with any traffic offenses. Investigators determined that Burt had failed to use a safety hitch pin to secure the single-axle trailer to his vehicle. Without the pin to hold the trailer latch securely, the trailer came loose as it bounced on the westbound span of the bridge, according to the report.

Investigators concluded also that the chains used to pull the trailer were too long, allowing the front of the trailer to hit the ground, after it came unsecured.

Notwithstanding these findings, the Anne Arundel County state's attorney's office concluded that "no current regulations exist" that would justify charges in the case.

Continue reading "Anne Arundel County, Maryland State's Attorney Says No Charges Planned In May, 2007 Fatal Chesapeake Bay Bridge Accident" »

Posted by Jeff Butschky | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Automobile Accidents

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