Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog

Single-vehicle accidents can be caused by a number of factors; from poor maintenance procedures to defective vehicle equipment. An automobile accident involving just one vehicle can also be related to driver error, such as a distraction of some sort -- cell phone use or texting -- even physical impairment, such as alcohol or drug use. As a Maryland auto accident lawyer, my firm works with the police to find the true cause of fatal or near-fatal accidents, and to learn if there is third-party involvement.

Any injuries sustained during a car crash can be severe enough to keep a person from earning a living and supporting his or her family. Medical expenses only add to the burden a family must endure during the victim’s convalescence. A recent news item shows just how easily someone’s life can be turned upside down in an instant.

According to news reports, police found a man lying on the eastbound shoulder of Interstate 68 on October 4 in the morning hours, an apparent victim of a single-vehicle crash. Investigators determined that the out-of-state driver had been ejected from his vehicle after it struck a guardrail sometime before 7am.

The accident took place near Hancock, MD, according to initial police reports. Brian Steven Justice, 42, of Clearville, Pennsylvania, was driving his Toyota Camry west along I-68 when for some reason it veered into the guardrail in the westbound center median at the 74-mile marker. Justice was apparently thrown from his vehicle, which no doubt contributed greatly to the severity of his injuries. When police arrived on the scene at 7:03am, officers called for emergency medical help.

Justice was treated and then flown by helicopter to Washington County Hospital with what Maryland State Police said were “very serious injuries.” According to reports, the man’s condition later that day was still critical. He was expected to be transferred to the Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore.

At the time of the report, a cause had yet to be determined, however is would seem that defective equipment cannot be ruled out. The Maryland State Police of the Hagerstown were involved in the investigation.

Pa. man seriously hurt in Interstate 68 crash, Herald-Mail.com, October 5, 2009

A man from Parkton, Maryland, was sentenced by a Baltimore County court to 20 years in prison for fatally injuring a Hereford, MD, woman when he smashed a stolen pickup truck straight into the victim’s home this past August. According to news reports, 30-year-old Aubry Miller Jr. will serve 10 years in jail for vehicular manslaughter and another 10 for felony auto theft. As a Baltimore auto accident attorney, my first thought is for this woman’s family, since she was killed by simple being at home that fateful night.

According to police reports, Mary Patricia Sullivan was fast asleep at 5am in the lower floor of her house on York Road in Hereford, Maryland, when the stolen truck driven by the defendant left the road, traveled across the yard and drive through the exterior wall of the 46-year-old’s bedroom, killing her instantly.

Police investigators determined that the thief had been on a spree of thefts, and was driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs when he killed Sullivan. The owner of the vehicle had only just noticed that truck was missing when the collision occurred.

Reportedly, Sullivan’s two youngest daughters -- Shannon Meehan, 17, and Aidan Meehan, 15 -- were asleep in a second-floor bedroom. Neither was injured in the crash. Sullivan’s oldest daughter, 19-year-old Caileigh Meehan, made a tearful statement to the court prior to the sentencing on September 28.

Court records show that Miller has been charged with various crimes 28 times. Apparently he was convicted of theft in Prince George’s County in 1999 and again in 2001; two thefts in Anne Arundel in 2000 and a third in 2004; unauthorized removal of property in Baltimore County in 2003, and again in 2006; and theft and assault in Howard County in 2005.

After killing Sullivan, Miller reportedly walked away from the crash. The only way police were able to track him down was when they found a cell phone in the truck with the voicemail recording: “Hey, you’ve reached Aubry.”

At the time of her death, Sullivan was project manager of a study on sexually transmitted diseases at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine’s Division of Infectious Disease. There was no mention of a husband, and considering this the woman’s daughters have sadly been deprived of a mother and provider.

Parkton man sentenced in Hereford vehicular manslaughter case, ExploreBaltimoreCounty.com, September 28, 2009

Multi-vehicle auto accidents can occur day or night, but the results are very often serious. Head-on collisions especially can result in severe or life-threatening injuries, and many times death. Aside from the emotional anguish, a fatal car accident can cause great strain the victim’s family especially if that person was the primary bread-winner for the family.

As Maryland automobile accident lawyers, our firm is able to help families make it through these difficult times. Lebowitz-Mzhen, LLC handles cases not unlike a recent accident that took the life of one woman and injured the drivers of two other vehicles. According to news reports, a young woman from Ellicott City was driving westbound on Route 108 near Ten Mills Road just before midnight on Friday, October 2, when her vehicle crossed the centerline into oncoming traffic near Clarksville, MD.

Somehow the Toyota Corolla belonging to 20-year-old driver, Melissa Moody, of the 11600 block of Masters Run crossed the double-yellow line and sideswiped an eastbound Lexus IS 350 being driving by Joanne Chan, 32, a Brookeville resident in Montgomery County. According to police reports, Moody’s Corolla then hit a second eastbound Hyundai Elantra belonging to 29-year-old Derrick Jordan of Columbia, Maryland.

By the time emergency rescue personnel arrived at the scene Moody was already dead. According to police, the other two drivers where taken to Howard County Hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

At the time of the report, police had not determined a cause for the accident. However, depending on the age of the deceased woman’s vehicle, defective equipment is a possible cause. A faulty steering component or poorly-maintained tire can cause fail causing a vehicle to veer into traffic. From the initial report, however, the crash may have resulted from driver error, fatigue or some distraction. All of which will have to be investigated and finally determined by accident reconstruction experts.

Ellicott City woman, 20, killed in three-car accident, BaltimoreSun.com, October 3, 2009

To be sure, the beautiful fall colors bring everyone out to the country. But fall also is a time for increased deer collisions. Dangerous? You bet. More than one car or truck accident has been caused by deer randomly crossing Maryland’s roads. Trying to avoid a deer on the highway can also have unintended consequences, such as vehicle rollovers or hitting another vehicle. In such cases, serious injury or even death can result.

As Maryland automobile accident attorneys, we know the damage a 400-pound buck can cause as it crashes through a vehicle’s windshield. It’s wise during these cooler days to be aware of the area you’re driving in; and make certain that if you’re a passenger you remind the driver to proceed with caution in areas with high incidences of deer collisions.

According to a recent study by State Farm Insurance, the rate of car versus deer collisions in the United States has gone up by 18.3 percent in the past five years. Released just last month, the report estimated there were 2.4 million incidents in which deer and vehicles collided in the two-year period between July 1, 2007 and June 30, 2009 – that’s about 100,000 every month.

West Virginia remained the state with the highest likelihood of a deer strike with a 1-in-39 chance a drive will end up in a too-close encounter with a deer that can cause serious injury to the motorist and extensive body damage to the car. Michigan was the next most-likely state to hit a deer followed by Pennsylvania and Iowa.

The study said early evening and the late-autumn months were most likely times for collisions to occur. For safety, drivers are urged to be wary of posted deer-crossings, use their high-beam headlights when driving in the country and remember that deer are herd animals, so if you see one there are probably others nearby.

Deer crashes in U.S. up in past five years, UPI.com, September 28, 2009

It can happen to anybody, and the results are tragically similar no matter who the individual may be. Auto accidents can take a person’s life as quickly as a blink of an eye. Injuries are more likely, but the root cause is always suspect. In the recent case of the untimely death of a Maryland law enforcement professional, the question of driver error versus defective equipment comes into play. As a Maryland automobile accident attorney, my firm runs into situations like this all of the time.

According to reports, a Baltimore police officer died following a terrible single-vehicle accident on Black Rock Road. The 32-two-year-old off-duty patrolman was apparently on his way to work, driving his pickup truck eastbound just before 2pm in the afternoon of September 24.

Jason Simons, who was a seven-year veteran of the Baltimore Police Department and assigned to the Towson precinct, apparently lost control of his vehicle in a sharp turn on a wet section of roadway. Investigators said that the vehicle hit a guardrail and then flipped onto its top, trapping the officer. When emergency crews arrived they extricated Simons from his truck and treated him. He was flown to Shock Trauma, however he died before doctors could save him.

This crash was still under investigation at the time of the news report. The wet road may have played a role in the accident however, as a veteran police officer on his way to work it is hard to imagine that driver error was to blame. Only time will tell, but crashes such as this can many times be linked to defective equipment.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a automobile accident due to poorly designed parts or components, or because of someone else’s negligence, I recommend that you consult with an experienced auto injury attorney to determine your options.

Officer dies after car crash, WTOP.com, September 24, 2009

Drunk driving in Baltimore and other parts of Maryland contribute substantially to annual traffic deaths. Many innocent people are killed or injured every year by drivers operating cars, trucks and SUVs under the influence of alcohol. This negligent behavior by these motorists causes much pain and suffering to individuals and families affected by their actions. As Maryland automobile accident attorneys, Lebowitz & Mzhen LLC is dedicated to helping those injured by drunk drivers.

A recent article mentioned a sobriety checkpoint near the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, that was dedicated to the memory of a young college coed who lost her life to the senselessness of a drunk driving accident. Traveling north on Maryland’s Route 1 the evening of September 24, motorists would have noticed an odd sight: a large photo of a smiling college-age girl.

The photo of Amanda Moore, a UMBC student who was killed by a drunk driver four years ago when she was 22, was placed at the front of a sobriety checkpoint set up by University Police.

According to the news article, Moore’s family and friends watched as police arrested nine people for driving under the influence between 11pm and 3am that evening. Her parents even drove eight hours from Myrtle Beach, S.C., to observe the checkpoint. The family, it was reported, felt every arrest was a personal victory, cheering as drivers were walked in handcuffs to the police station.

If you, a family member, or a friend is injured as a result of a drunk driving accident, we highly recommend that you contact a qualified automotive accident lawyer. You deserve to be compensated for the medical costs, lost wages and emotional costs of a drunk driving accident.

Drunken driving checkpoint yields 9 DUI arrests Thursday, DiamondbackOnline.com, September 28, 2009

A young man from Baltimore County, MD, was tragically killed after the vehicle that he was driving left the road near the junction of Interstate 83 and the Baltimore Beltway. The single-car accident occurred on a southbound I-83 offramp near Lutherville, Maryland. According to police, 17-year-old Kwest T. Logan, a resident of Cockeysville, was headed to the westbound Baltimore Beltway when his vehicle veered off the roadway and crashed some distance from the interstate.

As a Maryland car accident attorney, I know that a crash such as the one described here could have happened as a result of a number of causes. Driver error is always a possibility, however defective steering parts, a blow-out from old or improperly maintained tires, or warn out brakes could be the cause. In the end, defective equipment can many times be due to the negligence of another person or company.

In this case, according to the news report, Logan’s black 1997 Nissan Maxima for some reason left the roadway and hit a tree about 75 feet from the offramp, most likely during the evening hours of Sunday, September 27. It wasn’t until the next morning that a passing motorist called police after noticing light reflecting off the car while driving in slow-moving traffic during morning rush hour.

Police and emergency vehicles arrived at the scene of the accident around 10am Monday morning, however the young man, who was a senior at Dulaney High School, was already dead. In their preliminary investigation, police believe Logan not wearing his seat belt at the time of the crash. There were no other occupants, according to police. According to the news article, Logan's mother called Baltimore County police to report the teen missing around 9pm the night before.

Baltimore County teenager killed in crash on I-83 ramp, BaltimoreSun.com, September 29, 2009

Will a recent decision by officials in Washington, D.C., to eliminate the annual vehicle inspections previously required of District residents result in more auto accidents, injuries and deaths? That’s a good question and one that will require at least a few years to assess. As Maryland car accident attorneys and personal injury lawyers, our first thought is for the safety of all drivers and pedestrians on this state’s roadways. Will cars owned by D.C. drivers be anymore accident-prone? Only a mechanic can know for certain.

A recent op-ed piece brought this to mind. Since a poorly-maintained vehicle is much more likely to have something go wrong, it would seem logical that we might see more accidents involving the vehicles driven by District of Columbia residents, such as failed brakes, incorrectly aimed headlamps, breakdowns on the highway and other traffic hazards.

As of October 1, citizens of Washington, D.C., will apparently have one less annual concern, but the rest of us may pay for it in increased accidents. According to reports, the District has ended its safety inspection program, although this doesn’t include anything related to a vehicle’s emission system -- hence, emission inspections will continue as usual.

The District’s decision was reportedly made in an attempt to trim the cost of maintaining a car in the D.C. area, which will increase property taxes and also cut administrative costs. This supposedly will allow D.C. a better chance to tackle their budgetary issues.

To some, the elimination of the annual inspections is a drastic measure than may leave some wondering about the ultimate savings if, in fact, it leads to more accidents, stalled cars, and worse traffic tie-ups. Apparently, many safety experts have also expressed alarm at the prospect of un-inspected vehicles driving around the Maryland and Virginia landscape.

The District is apparently leaving any safety inspection requirements to local municipalities. Virginia is one of only 18 states that actually requires annual or biannual safety inspections, while here in Maryland the law requires a safety inspection only at the time that a car is sold.

The major concern here is, of course, safety on the road, which will impact drivers in multiple jurisdictions. All we can say is drive carefully when in D.C.

Editorial: Time for Inspection, loudouni.com, October 8, 2009

Automobile accidents happen for a variety of reasons, not the least of which are defective parts or poorly designed vehicle components. As Maryland auto accident lawyers, the legal professionals at Lebowitz & Mzhen, LLC represent numerous clients who have been hurt as a result of negligence on the part of another person or corporation. Recently a news article brought up the subject of defective equipment and possible death or injury that can result to car, truck and SUV drivers and their passengers.

According to news reports, car maker, Toyota, has recalled nearly four million vehicles across the United States in what the media says is “Toyota’s largest-ever U.S. recall campaign. The problem is apparently with the removable driver-side floor mat, which could possibly cause the vehicle’s gas pedal to become stuck, resulting in a possible high-speed runaway situation leading potentially to a crash.

The recall involves popular Toyota models such as the Camry -- the top-selling passenger car in America -- and the company’s hybrid Prius models. News reports state that Toyota is working with officials from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to find a fix for the problem.

This type of defect, while seemingly simple in nature, is indicative of the equipment problems that can cause a motorist to lose control of a vehicle and perhaps become injured or even be killed. Because this problem could cause a high-speed situation, other drivers, pedestrians and occupants of other vehicles could be endangered.

The NHTSA said it had received reports of 102 incidents in which the accelerator may have become stuck on the Toyota vehicles involved. It was unclear how many led to crashes but the inquiry was prompted by a high-speed crash back in August in California. At that time, a Lexus careened out of control, hitting speeds in excess of 120mph. The family inside the vehicle made a frantic call to 911 to say that the accelerator was stuck and they couldn't stop the vehicle.

Anyone hurt as a result of such an incident should contact a qualified personal injury lawyer experienced in handling automotive accident cases. No matter how innocuous the problem, almost any vehicle defect can become a safety concern. Don’t take your wellbeing or that of your family for granted.

Toyota, Lexus Mat Recall: 3.8 Million Vehicles Recalled Over Floor Mats, HuffingtonPost.com, September 29, 2009

A Baltimore County woman died from injuries sustained when her Honda Civic veered from a southbound lane of Interstate 795, traveled across the median and entered the northbound lanes where it was hit by a delivery truck. According to Maryland State Police, the 21-year-old driver identified as Amy L. Brooking initially survived the head-on crash with the truck, but later died after being admitted to Sinai Hospital.

As Maryland auto accident lawyers, we have seen this kind of scenario before. It is difficult to imagine a driver intentionally crossing an interstate median and heading into opposing traffic. Assuming the driver did not have some kind of an episode prior to the crash, one explanation for this accident could be a catastrophic failure of one of the vehicle’s critical systems or parts, such as the steering assembly, a suspension component or even a blown tire. One or more defective parts or components could have cause the young woman’s vehicle to go out of control.

According to police reports, the delivery truck attempted to maneuver out of the way of the Honda, which caused the truck to flip over on its side. Although emergency medical personnel were dispatched to the scene as quickly as possible to assist and transport the injured drivers to the hospital, Brooking’s injuries were such that doctors and nurses could not reverse the damage. She was declared dead shortly after being admitted. The driver of the truck, 32-year-old William K. Dodge of Hanover, PA, was taken to Northwest Hospital Center for treatment of what were assumed to be non-life threatening injuries.

Police did not know the root cause of the accident, which took place just north of Owings Mills Boulevard. An investigation was ongoing at the time of the report.

Woman Killed In I-795 Accident, WJZ.com, September 22, 2009

As Maryland auto accident lawyers, our office has represented numerous clients injured as a result of a drunk driving traffic accident. Many of these people did nothing more prior to being in a car wreck than happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Although there could be a number of reasons for the apparent increase in drunk driving accidents, a recent article points to one surprisingly sobering statistic.

According to the Washington Post, there appears to be a definite rise in the number of female drivers being arrested for drunk driving lately. Unfortunately, not every drunk driver is arrested before causing an accident. Our firm, Lebowitz & Mzhen, LLC has helped many victims of drunk drivers recover costs related to severe and sometimes fatal accidents.

Maybe TV has made mid-day wine-tasting parties look fashionable, enticing stay-at-home moms and real housewives to gather at friends’ homes to sip wine or mixed drinks with their friends. And while the television characters may get home just fine, in reality the aftermath caused by a drunk driver will more than likely end up on the local news, not the prime time lineup. Drunk drivers can and do cause serious injury accidents here in Baltimore, over in D.C. and across the entire area.

According to the Post’s article, while four times as many men as women are arrested nationwide for drunk driving, the number of women facing drunk driving charges reportedly increased by 29 percent during the decade that ended in 2007. In that year, 162,493 women were arrested for driving while intoxicated, according to FBI statistics. Surprisingly, arrests of men declined more than seven percent during the same period.

If there is a silver lining to this story, fatalities involving women driving drunk are not necessarily skyrocketing. For example, in Virginia the number of highway fatalities attributed to drunk female drivers fell from 50 in 2007 to 34 last year; the number attributed to intoxicated men increased from 235 to 242. And in Maryland, the number of intoxicated women involved in fatal crashes held steady at 16 from one year to the next; the number of intoxicated men dropped from 141 in 2007 to 122 last year.

Regardless, the trend for drunk driving arrests seems to be up for women. Man or woman, the consequences of driving drunk can be devastating to the hapless victims who come into contact with these thoughtless people. If you or someone you love has been hurt in a traffic accident, I highly recommend that you contact an experienced auto accident attorney to determine your options.

Rise in Drunken-Driving Arrests of Women Deplored, WashingtonPost.com, August 20, 2009

Single-vehicle traffic accidents can be both serious and deadly. In Maryland, we see numerous car crashes involving just one vehicle, and many times a rollover is involved. Sad to say, but many passenger vehicles, such as pickup trucks and SUVs, do not always provide the necessary protection in the case of vehicle rollover. Being experienced auto accident lawyers, we are able to represent victims and their families in cases where a car or truck crashes due to defective equipment or poorly-maintained roadways.

In a recent news article, a Walkersville man was killed this past Friday in the late afternoon. According to Maryland State Police, officers responded to a single-car crash along MD-194 at Stauffer Road. Initial police reports indicate that the driver, Roger Robinette, was speeding along that stretch of road when he apparently and lost control of the vehicle.

According to reports, Robinette’s car went airborne then rolled over on impact, coming to rest in a nearby cornfield. During the crash, the driver was thrown from the vehicle, which caused him to sustain life-threatening injuries.

First responders on the scene administered first aid then transported the driver to Frederick Memorial Hospital where doctors worked to save his life. Unfortunately, the man died some time later from the injuries he received in the accident.

At the time of the report, authorities were still investigating the crash but they said alcohol was not a factor in the accident. Although it appears speed and driver error may have been the main cause of the automobile accident, there is a chance that defective equipment may have played a part. In such as case, there could be grounds for a wrongful death claim against the vehicle manufacturer or parts supplier(s).

We always recommend that families of victims contact a qualified auto accident lawyer to assess the facts and determine if there are grounds for a case. Having an attorney on your side to represent you and look out for your best interests during a potentially difficult time will make all the difference in the world.

Walkersville Man Killed In Car Crash, 4YourState.com, October 2, 2009