Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog
According to Maryland State Police, an 18 year old young woman died last week, when she lost control of her vehicle in Taneytown and was hit by a van as a result.
Just after 8 last Monday morning, officials say the young woman was driving her car northbound on Md. 194, when she lost control of her vehicle while coming around a curve. The woman’s car then reportedly rotated into oncoming traffic, and was hit by a van. The young woman was pronounced dead at the scene, and the man driving the van was taken to the hospital for minor injuries.
While the cause of the accident remains unknown, it is under investigation.
What stands out about this unfortunate accident is the young age of the woman killed, and the circumstances in which the incident occurred. While it is still under investigation, it seems that the two potential causes were either distracted driving or driving inexperience.
In an attempt to minimize the number of accidents in which young drivers are involved, Maryland has adopted a graduated licensing system, which is referred to in DMV literature as the “Rookie Driver Program.”
Under the graduated driving laws, teenagers under 18 on the road, whether driving with a learner’s permit or provisional license, are prohibited from using any wireless communication devices while driving, except in the case of an emergency.
Additionally, teens under 18 with a provisional license, are prohibited from driving between the hours of midnight and 5 am without supervision. Furthermore, during the first 5 months (151 days) of the provisional period, teen drivers are not allowed to have any passengers under the age of 18, unless they are accompanied by a qualified supervising driver (a licensed driver 21 or older, with at least three years of driving experience), or the passengers are direct family members (e.g. siblings, a spouse, a child, or another relative living at the same address as the driver).
However, the fact is that even with these provisional licensing laws, the leading cause of death for teenagers is motor vehicle accidents. According to at least one report, over 11,000 teens were killed by car accidents in 2009 alone. Therefore, parents and teens alike should keep in mind their substantially higher risk of becoming involved in a car accident, and drive as cautiously and safely as possible, minimizing distractions as much as feasible.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a car accident as a result of someone else’s negligence, you should contact the experienced car accident attorneys at Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers. Our lawyers have extensive experience advocating on behalf of individuals and families who have suffered due to personal injury or wrongful death in Maryland. If you believe that your car accident and resulting injury was caused as a result of someone else’s negligence, please contact us today by calling 1-800-654-1949 or through our website, in order to schedule your free initial consultation.
More Blog Posts:
Single Vehicle Car Accident in Silver Spring Ends in Tragedy, Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog, published June 7, 2013
America’s Roads Allegedly Safe as Ever, Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog, published May 31, 2013