Articles Posted in Automobile Accidents

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Summer is officially here, with the kids out of school, family vacations planned, and cookouts, get-togethers, and other parties on the calendar. It’s a happy time where we can all look forward to longer days and some well-earned rest and relaxation with friends and loved ones.

It’s also the most dangerous time for serious and fatal traffic accidents in Maryland.

The time span between Memorial Day and Labor Day is known as the “100 Deadliest Days” for traffic crashes across the United States. Maryland is already off to a bad start this summer, with CBS News Baltimore reporting 13 traffic accident fatalities across the state this month as of June 15, 2026 — including 2 pedestrians, a passenger, and 10 drivers, data shows.

A number of factors contribute to this critical public safety issue, including…

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The cargo ship accident that caused the partial collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge (I-695) into the Patapsco River in Baltimore, Maryland on March 26, 2024 resulted in the tragic deaths of six road construction workers. This catastrophe left our nation in shock and our communities heartbroken for the men who lost their lives, as well as their grieving families.

In the year and months since the Key Bridge disaster, commuters driving through the Baltimore Metro Region have grappled with some of the worst traffic congestion in the nation. According to media reports citing Census Bureau data, Maryland overall now ranks as having the second-worst commuter times in the country. Patience is thin as drivers rerouted around the bridge are spending exponentially increased time on their daily work commutes; headaches shared by others simply trying to get to and from where they need to go.

The worry of traffic accidents also increases as congestion can be a factor contributing to motor vehicle accidents — from rear-end collisions where cars are following each other too closely, to more serious, road-rage fueled crashes as frustrated drivers stuck in traffic try to change lanes and get ahead of the mess.

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Summer has once again gone by too fast, and — to the chagrin of Maryland’s school-aged children — school is back in session.

For Maryland kids and parents, back to school means adjusting to new schedules, getting used to new teachers, reconnecting with classmates, and growing up just a little bit more. For Maryland motorists, it also means being aware of school buses back on the road and children walking to and from school, moving quickly on and off the sidewalks.

Unfortunately, in the U.S., school transportation-related traffic accidents account for an average 111 deaths a year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Young pedestrians are particularly vulnerable: Between 2012 and 2021, more than half (53 percent) of school-aged pedestrians killed in school transportation-related crashes were between 5 and 10 years old.

Maryland school zones and school buses have a specific set of traffic regulations to ensure school children get to and from school safely. Let’s take a look at some current Maryland traffic laws designed to protect school children on and off the school bus and in and around school zones.

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Anyone who has purchased a new motor vehicle in the last 10 years knows these sure aren’t your grandparents’ trusty old sedans. Today’s driver assistance technologies are designed to make driving easier and safer, with the potential to save thousands of lives.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in 2020, sadly, 38,824 people died in motor vehicle crashes — many of which were tied to human error.

Today’s car tech includes warning systems that alert drivers to potential accidents before they happen, as well as collision intervention systems that can react and brake faster than a driver. We even have driving control assistance technologies designed to keep our cars a safe distance from others and make sure we’re staying in our lanes.

How are these new automotive technologies impacting driving safety? Continue Reading

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In the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, fewer vehicles were on our nation’s roadways, as people worked from home, schools and businesses closed their doors, and states issued stay-at-home orders and other emergency restrictions. Now, two-and-a-half years into dealing with the coronavirus, professionals are returning to their offices, schools are back to onsite learning, businesses have resumed operations, and public health restrictions have eased or been lifted.

If life is getting back to normal, then why are motor vehicle accident fatality rates the highest they’ve been in years? This disturbing national trend can be seen here in Maryland, where 255 auto accident deaths have already occurred as of July 1, 2022, according to Zero Deaths Maryland.

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Maryland’s cell phone laws prohibit the use of hand-held cellphones and texting while driving. Despite these strict laws, we still see plenty of people talking on their phones and texting while driving. And that’s not all. Distracted driving includes anything taking the driver’s attention off the road, including eating; reading a book or newspaper; adjusting onboard infotainment systems; shaving, putting on makeup, and other act of personal grooming; attending to pets and children; and a host of other distracting activities.

Today’s modern vehicles have all the comforts and conveniences of home and office. Unfortunately, all these distractions can lead to auto accidents that could have been prevented.

Zero Deaths Maryland reports 115,916 Maryland traffic accidents in 2019, with 32,918 injury crashes and 48,656 people injured in those accidents. The group also reported 82,503 property damage crashes in 2019. With all the ways drivers can be distracted in their automobiles, it’s no surprise to learn that distracted driving is among the top causes of auto accidents in Maryland. While not the sole cause of accidents with injury and death on our roadways, distracted driving is at the top. The latest data from Zero Deaths Maryland shows…

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that despite people driving less during the COVID-19 pandemic, motor vehicle accident fatalities have actually increased.

NHTSA estimates for 2020 show that 38,680 people died in U.S. motor vehicle traffic crashes — the largest projected number of fatalities since 2007. This figure represents an increase of about 7.2 percent over the 36,096 crash fatalities reported in 2019.

This rise in traffic accident deaths is in contrast to the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) report that overall vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in 2020 decreased by about 13.2 percent, compared to miles traveled in 2019. The decrease in driving during the 2020 coronavirus crisis can be attributed to a number of factors, including…

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In late May, we reported on how the Maryland courts have continued to move through their phased reopening plan. The good news is during Phase V, the courts have resumed full operations (with some social distancing and public health safety measures still in place), including jury trials — many of which had been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The not-so-great news is despite the Maryland courts’ efforts to get back to business as usual (which can move at a glacial pace), insurance claims continue to be backlogged. This can be a source of great frustration for Marylanders with auto accident injury claims. Being injured due to another driver’s negligence or recklessness is bad enough. Waiting for insurance claims to be processed and badly needed compensation payments to be made just adds insult to injury.

This is one more reason why we urge anyone with a motor vehicle accident claim to consult with an experienced Maryland injury attorney who knows how to deal with the insurance companies. The current backlog of insurance claims is due to a number of factors….

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Several new Maryland motor vehicle laws went into effect on October 1, 2020 — on issues ranging from motor vehicle insurance coverage to license plate border violations, to electronic sales of motor vehicles, and emissions law exceptions for active duty military personnel.

The Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA) reports of the 300 bills it monitored in the 2020 Maryland General Assembly session, 35 have a direct impact on the department, its customers, transportation-related issues, and potentially—your driving. Here are a few of the new Maryland traffic laws now in effect.

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Maryland road warriors… If you’re heading out of town or state for Thanksgiving, expect plenty of company. AAA reports that nationally, motor vehicle travel for Thanksgiving week 2019 is expected to increase by 3 percent compared to last year – with some 49.3 million cars hitting the road in the U.S.

Sounds inviting? AAA Mid-Atlantic reports that the majority of Marylanders traveling for Thanksgiving will be hitting the road – with 1,042,500 residents (91 percent of state travelers) getting to their destination by auto. To avoid a motor vehicle accident or other problems on the road this Thanksgiving, AAA and the Travel Channel offer some good-sense travel advice…

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