Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog

Once again drinking and driving has been pointed to as a contributing factor in yet another car accident in Queen Anne’s County. As a Baltimore personal injury lawyer and car accident attorney, I know all too well how alcohol can play a big role in traffic collisions. The pain inflicted on others as a result of another person’s negligent behavior can be extensive and long lasting.

In this latest incident, two people died when the vehicle in which they were riding crashed along a stretch of Maryland’s Route 8. According to news accounts, the accident happened around 8am on a Sunday morning when 41-year-old Victor A. Smith of Annapolis apparently lost control of his BMW, which then crossed the center line into oncoming traffic.

The Smith had been driving his black BMW northbound along Route 8 near Great Neck Road in Stevensville when the accident occurred. As the car veered into southbound traffic, 46-year-old Agnes C. Phelps tried to avoid Smith’s BMW by pulling off to the side of the road and onto the shoulder, according to police reports. Even so, Phelps’ car was hit by the BMW, which then caused both vehicles to leave the roadway.

As a result of the collision, two of Smith’s passengers died. Based on reports, the front seat passenger, 35-year-old Reginald L. Dean, was thrown from the car, while 33-year-old Teshawn D. Parker was partially ejected from the rear seat. Police reports indicate that none of the occupants in the BMW was wearing a seatbelt.

Police arriving on the scene noted that Smith had a strong smell alcohol on his breath. Emergency crews treated the two drivers, each of whom were then flown to Maryland Shock Trauma Center. In addition to alcohol, state police believe that speed was also a factor in the crash.

2 killed in accident in Queen Anne's County, BaltimoreSun.com, August 1, 2010

Automobile injury accidents can be severe and cause tens of thousands of dollars in medical and related costs. It’s bad enough to be saddled with these costs without having them be caused by another driver’s negligence. As Maryland auto injury attorneys, my firm helps people who have suffered injuries from cuts and bruises to closed head injuries and spinal damage.

A recent news story showed what can happen when someone fails to consider the safety and wellbeing of others as a result of their own mistake. According to reports, six people were sent to the hospital following a car crash with a man running from the police in the early morning hours of July 4th. The chase began when a Maryland State Police trooper, already at the scene of a previous accident on Route 33, observed an oncoming being driven erratically.

The officer was sitting in his vehicle when he noticed the approaching vehicle obviously weaving and crossing the roadway centerline. Pulling away from the scene of the first collision, the trooper followed and then pulled over a Ford Explorer. While interviewing the SUV’s driver, the patrolman recognized the smell of alcohol on the driver’s breath. When the officer requested the man to exit his vehicle, the driver instead drove quickly away, nearly hitting the policeman in the process.

The 19-year-old driver, later identified as Armand J. Cornish, led the patrolman on a chase from Route 33 onto the Easton bypass and then onto Route 50 eastbound. Additional traffic enforcement patrols from the Easton Police Department and Talbot County Sheriff's Office were called to assist in the pursuit.

News accounts indicate that the chase continued along Route 50 at speeds exceeding 100 mph, during which police reportedly saw beer cans being thrown from the fleeing vehicle. Officers attempted to stop the suspect using stop sticks on the eastern side of the bridge in Cambridge. The man’s Explorer rolled over the stop sticks and seconds later hit the back end of an eastbound Mustang. Cornish then apparently lost control of his sport utility vehicle, which traveled across the median and then across the westbound lanes of Route 50. It came to rest on an adjacent pedestrian sidewalk.

Continue reading "Dorchester County Man Arrested for Drunken Driving-related Injury Accident on Maryland's Route 50" »

Police can only do so much to curb the dangerous driving behaviors that we all see on our highways, rural roads and city streets. It’s not uncommon to have a bad injury accident or even fatal traffic collision caused by another driver’s impatient and belligerent actions on a public road. These kinds of crashes, which involve SUVs, sedans, pickup trucks and even motorcycles, can cause bodily injuries ranging from bumps and bruises to deep cuts and even fatal traumatic head injuries.

With the pace of everyone’s working and private lives ever increasing, it’s not difficult to see why people are in a hurry, but there is no excuse for endangering other drivers as a result. As Maryland automobile accident lawyers, we applaud law enforcement’s efforts to reduce the amount of aggressive driving on our streets and in doing so perhaps limit the number of accidents as well.

One area of note is a stretch of Interstate 97, which apparently is the focus of the latest police crackdown on aggressive driving. Anne Arundel County police officers and state troopers, 45 in all using vehicles and a police helicopter, were part of a month-long program to target and ticket offenders on the I-97 corridor in Anne Arundel County.

According to police organizers, police were focusing their attention on impatient drivers who speed, tailgate, honk, abruptly switch lanes, and badger cars in front of them who are already doing the speed limit. In the process, police conducted a twice-weekly detail that began on May 5, saturating the interstate with marked patrol cars, as well as the county’s unmarked Dodge Charger police cruiser.

In just five details, reportedly staggered throughout the month, officers stopped 273 vehicles and issued more than 100 tickets for speeding and aggressive driving, amoung others. They also handed out 258 warnings to drivers and issued 13 state equipment repair orders. Four people were reportedly arrested, including a Baltimore man suspected of breaking into a Severn man's home minutes before the traffic stop.

County, state police target aggressive drivers on I-97, HometownAnnapolis.com, May 24, 2010

Alcohol use is one of the biggest factors when it comes to traffic accidents. To say that an individual is not responsible for his actions when drunk is to ignore the fact that the very same person made a conscious decision to begin drinking in the first place. Regardless of a person’s intent when entering a bar or taking a drink at home prior to getting into a motor vehicle, the results of such actions can be long-lasting, if not permanent or even fatal.

As Baltimore auto accident lawyers, I and my associates work to help victims and their families recover from tragic and life-changing car and truck collisions. Adding alcohol or prescription drug use into the equation turns an already sad event into a regrettable and heartrending experience for all of the affected parties.

Not long ago a news article caught our attention in which excessive vehicle speed and possibly alcohol consumption were likely factors in the fatal crash of an SUV along Perring Parkway. The single-vehicle accident occurred in the early evening hours on a Sunday, killing a six-year-old boy and injuring seven other passengers and the driver.

Based on police reports, the sport utility vehicle was apparently going southbound on the 6400 block of Perring Parkway around 6pm when for some reason the driver lost control of the vehicle. The truck traveled across the median and then rolled several times, ejecting all of the passengers, according to reports. The vehicle came to rest in the northbound lanes of the 6500 block of the parkway.

Baltimore City firefighters responded to the accident, including eight medic units from Baltimore County and the city of Baltimore. Crews treated eight patients who were scattered about the crash site. Police said that most of the passengers appeared to be teenagers and that many of the victims sustained varying degrees of fractures, cuts and bruises.

Victims were transported to Johns Hopkins Hospital, Johns Hopkins Pediatrics, Maryland Shock Trauma Center and Sinai Hospital. Six-year-old Jaeden Dulin was critically injured in the crash and died at Johns Hopkins Hospital where he being treated for his injuries.

Police investigators said initially that they believed speed and alcohol to be factors in the crash, however at the time of the article not cause had yet been established by the Baltimore City police.

Speed, alcohol possible factors in SUV crash on Perring Parkway, police say, BaltimoreSun.com, June 01, 2010

Eight hospitalized in Perring Parkway accident, BaltimoreSun.com, May 31, 2010

Two accused criminals have been charged in connection with a car crash that eventually led to the death of an elderly man. The accident occurred in late April in Northwest Baltimore when the two suspects allegedly fled police and subsequently hit the victim’s vehicle.

Based on police reports, 86-year-old Elbert Davis was driving his Chevrolet Monte Carlo at the time he was hit by the pair of fleeing suspects. The men, 29-year-old Umar Burley and 26-year-old Brent Matthews, were arrested following the accident. Davis and another elderly passenger were the only occupants of the Monte Carlo. Davis suffered a heart attack as a result of the crash and died later that day.

Police reports show that the plainclothes detectives who attempted to arrest the two suspects prior to the accident did not initiate any car chase, which police authorities said would be against department policy. News reports indicate that the detectives were driving in the general direction that the suspects had fled when they came upon the accident scene less than a mile away. According to reports, Davis was the father of a city police officer.

Police reports state that Detective Wayne Jenkins had pulled his unmarked vehicle in front of the suspects Acura as another detective, Sean Suiter, pulled in behind the car. As the detectives approached the suspects, Burley maneuvered his car away from the scene without striking the police vehicles and fled eastbound on Belle Avenue.

At the crash scene, detectives saw the Acura smoking and heavily damaged. Davis' Monte Carlo reportedly had been pushed through hedges and onto the front yard of a home.

Davis was taken to Maryland Shock Trauma Center, where he was later pronounced dead. His passenger, 81-year-old Phosa Cain was listed in serious condition at the time of the news report. Burley was briefly taken to Sinai Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and was released.

Suspects in crash that killed man held without bond, BaltimoreSun.com, April 29, 2010

An out-of-state driver being pursued by police recently caused another innocent motorist to be hurt during a chase that ended with the suspect’s vehicle lying on its side. As a Baltimore auto accident attorney, I know how an unsuspecting driver can become a hapless victim of someone else’s mistake or misdeed. In this particular case, the victim received various injuries which required him to be transported to the hospital for treatment and observation.

According to news reports, a police chase ended badly for one man after his sport utility vehicle hit one vehicle and crashed into a utility pole. The incident began when a Maryland state police trooper observed the driver of a late model Honda Pilot operating his vehicle in “an aggressive manner” around 8:30am in Funkstown, MD.

The officer then saw the driver pull up to a red traffic signal behind two cars at the intersection of Baltimore Street and Edgewood Drive. Surprisingly, the man pulled past the two stopped vehicles and drove through the red light. According to police reports, the driver headed northbound on Edgewood Drive, but just prior to reaching Dual Highway he apparently made an abrupt U-turn and started going back south.

The Pilot allegedly hit a Jeep that was stopped in traffic, swerved and then hit a small wall at the intersection of Edgewood Drive and Stouffer Avenue. The vehicle ran into a nearby utility pole before rolling onto its side. The driver ended up in the hospital with a head injury as a result.

The driver, identified as 21-year-old Brian P. Bennett, kicked out one of the windows on the Honda and attempted to flee from the officer, who drew his weapon and ordered the man to lie on the ground. Once in custody, Bennett was charged with 13 different counts, including exceeding the speed limit, negligent driving, reckless driving, driving on suspended license, failure to stop after an accident and attempting to elude a uniformed police officer.

Chase ends in crash in Funkstown, Herald-Mail.com, March 18, 2010

Negligent drivers, whether they operate passenger vehicles or commercial delivery trucks or tractor-trailer rigs, should be help accountable for their actions behind the wheel. In Maryland, the penalties for reckless driving involving fatalities can appear to be hardly sufficient considering the results that are evident. Not a week goes by that it seems we hear at least one news story of a traffic fatality on one of this state’s busy roadways.

As a Baltimore automobile accident lawyer, I and my colleagues fight a seemingly never ending battle for car crash victims and their families. It makes not difference whether a person is hurt as a result of a semi truck hitting their car or another passenger vehicle slamming into their sedan, minivan or SUV. The pain and suffering sustained during the accident and afterward can be substantial.

Not long ago we reported on a bill introduced into the Maryland state legislature that would increase the penalties for drivers found guilty of reckless and negligent driving in instance where the driver’s action led to the death or serious injury of another individual. It’s heartening to know now that the bill has already received support in the form of a successful vote in the Senate and will soon be moving on to the House.

According to news reports, the bill introduced by Sen. Bryan Simonaire and known as the Joseph Norfolk Act was initially inspired by the June 2007 traffic death of Cpl. Scott Wheeler of Millersville. The 31-year-old Wheeler, Howard County police officer, was struck by a passing car while on patrol duty. The office was reportedly hit a Nissan Sentra on Route 32 after he attempted to pull the driver over for speeding. He died several days later. At the time of that crash, investigators said the 24-year-old woman driving the Nissan didn't see Wheeler in the road. She eventually paid $310 in fines.

If passed by the House, this new law would set the maximum fine for both negligent driving and reckless driving at $1,000 – double the current fine. The bill also calls for a loss of license for up to 180 days if the defendant is convicted. At the time of the news article, there was as yet no date set for a vote in the House.

Reckless driving bill passes state Senate, HometownAnnapolis.com, March 17, 2010

Throughout Maryland and the Washington, D.C., area, even law enforcement professionals can find themselves the victims of bad drivers. As a Baltimore personal injury and auto accident lawyer, every month my office is contacted by individuals who have been hurt as a result of the negligence of another driver. This recent automobile crash involving a county police squad car is just another example of the frequent lack of responsibility exhibited by certain motorists.

According to Baltimore County Police, the department was at the time of the latest news report looking for the operator of a vehicle that struck and damaged a police car as well as injuring the patrolman at the scene. The hit-and-run accident happened on February 17 in the early morning hours in the Essex area. Fortunately, the crash did not result in serious injury to the officer.

Based on reports, the officer was driving eastbound on Eastern Boulevard near Chesapeake Park Plaza when a white man driving a dark-colored Honda passenger car attempted to execute a U-turn and ended up hitting the patrol car's rear passenger side. Because one of the officer’s tires blew out he was unable to pursue the suspect.

Following the traffic accident the officer was transported to Johns Hopkins Bayview Hospital where he was treated for apparently minor injuries when his head impacted the door frame of the patrol car, according to news reports.

Although investigators believe the accident itself was not intentional, at the time of the news article, police had not found the individual and were reportedly searching for a black 2006-2009 Honda Civic SI Coupe with a loud exhaust system. The nature of the accident likely caused considerable damage to the suspect’s vehicle. According to police the Honda probably sustained damage to its left-front bumper and headlight. The car may also have white paint on it from the officer's vehicle.

Driver Sought In Police Car Hit-And-Run, WBALTV.com, February 24, 2010

There probably isn’t a car or truck driver out there who hasn’t at one time or another experienced the effects of aggressive driving. Whether you travel Maryland’s highways for a living or commute to school or work in Annapolis, Columbia, Washington, D.C., or anywhere else for that matter, auto accident statistics point to aggressive and otherwise dangerous drivers as one of the most frequent causes of traffic accidents.

In fact, the American Automobile Association (AAA) stated last year that more than 55 percent of all fatal car, truck, SUV and minivan wrecks in the Maryland area (as well as across the nation) were caused by some kind of aggressive driving. These accidents more than likely resulted in numerous personal injuries and related claims.

As experts in the area of automobile accident and injury law, I and my colleagues have personally dealt with individuals caught up in the unfortunate aftermath caused by aggressive drivers, such as traumatic brain injuries and even death.

Drive anywhere in Maryland and you will likely see the actions of a small but dangerous minority of drivers operating their vehicles in what can only be described as belligerent and aggressive behavior. For the majority of careful and thoughtful motorists, these scofflaws can cause us more than a few headaches, literally.

According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, which has conducted numerous analyses of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) statistical data, found in 2009 that one in every three fatal automobile accidents can be directly linked to excessive speed; one of the hallmark characteristics of an aggressive driver.

Sadly, society being as fast-paced as it is only contributes to the problem. While AAA produced a survey in 2009 that found eight out of 10 people polled said that aggressive driving is a serious traffic safety concern, the organization also learned that at least half of those surveyed said they exceeded the posted highway speed limit by 15 mph over the last 30 days.

While it is obvious that even the driving public at large needs some introspection on the subject, there are things most of us can do to help make our streets and highways safer. First is to identify aggressive driving and stay clear of that individual.

Some of the behaviors that accompany aggressive driving behavior include, ignoring red traffic signals and stop signs, blocking or otherwise preventing other drivers from legally passing, driving illegally on the shoulder of a roadway, failure to yield right of way, and speeding.

But be careful. Those well-intentioned motorists who have tried to counter the actions of aggressive drivers -- such as getting in front of the offender and slowing down -- can sometimes cause an escalation in that person’s anger level, which can lead to a dangerous confrontation. All in all, it’s better to simply report instances of blatantly aggressive driving to the local law enforcement agency and keep yourself and your family out of harm's way.

There may still be a debate as to whether “speed kills,” but one thing is for certain, the higher the speed the more severe an accident is likely to be. In this regard, speed does make for more deadly auto wrecks. And while automobile accidents are typically caused either by driver error or as a result of faulty or defective equipment, when high vehicle speed is added to the mix, serious injury and sometimes death can result.

While speeding in cities occurs, the speeds involved are not as high as those on rural roads, highways and expressways. High speeds can also contribute to roll-over accidents, especially with vehicles that have high centers of gravity, such as SUVs (sport utility vehicles) and minivans. In construction zones, car-pedestrian accidents can also be caused by excessive vheilce speed. Whatever the cause, speeding doesn’t help the situation.

Recent news indicates that the radar speed cameras in used around the Baltimore area are doing what they’re designed for. According to news articles, Maryland highway officials say nearly 8,800 citations were issued during the first six weeks of the state's speed camera enforcement program.

Back in November, State officials began photographing vehicles that exceeding the posted speed limit by 12mph or more on three separate stretches of highway marked as work zones. All citations resulting from the campaign included a $40 fine.

To give motorists proper warning, signs were apparently posted in many work zones, regardless of whether a camera was being used, which read, "Speed Photo Enforced: Work Zone.” According to news reports, the cameras were installed in a pair of white Jeeps that rotated among the three locations: Interstate 95 between White Marsh Boulevard and Interstate-895, around the Charles Street exit of Baltimore's Beltway and along the Intercounty Connector construction area on I-95 in Prince George's County.

8,800 speed camera citations issued in 6 week, HometownAnnapolis.com, January 18, 2010

It goes without saying that street racing has no place on public roads. Aggressive driving can and usually does result in injuries. For those who would argue the point, I suggest you buy a helmet, join a bona fide racing organization like the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA), and take your car on a closed course where proper car and spectator safety measures are in effect.

As an automobile accident attorney and personal injury lawyer, I read all too frequently of innocent motorists and pedestrians killed or injured by one or another case of aggressive driving. It makes little difference if it’s a so-called “planned” event like an illegal street racing meet, or if it’s a spur of the moment, road-rage incident, people can and do get hurt. A high-speed crash can cause broken bones, head and neck injuries, or even death. Spectators can also be killed by a driver’s mistake, which then invites possible vehicular homicide charges.

According to news reports, concrete barriers have been added to Interstate 70 in an effort to try and cut down on the amount of street racing incidents. This latest change followed a fatal car accident last year that claimed the lives of two spectators during one of many illegal speed events.

Police reports show that a Chevy Impala driven by Donniel Raeburn, 26, of Pikesville veered out of control striking and killing Mary Kathryn Abernathy, 21, and Jonathan Henderson, 20. Raeburn was recently arrested and currently faces two charges of negligent manslaughter by auto and negligent homicide by auto. If convicted, he could spend decades in prison.

Following that fatal July 2009 accident, the state’s highway authority made changes at the end of I-70 where much of the racing had been going on. Known as a street racing hot spot, there are now new lane markers indicating a narrowing of the roadway -- the tail of the interstate is now just a single lane.

Still, police say that street racing is nearly impossible to stop. In addition to last year’s two deaths, a similar accident two years ago in Prince George's County claimed eight other lives.

Eastern Baltimore Co. Man Charged In Fatal I-70 Crash Reporting, WJZ.com, January 18, 2010

Aggressive driving is the cause of many accidents on Maryland’s highways and city streets. Whether it’s road rage, joy-riding or just plain showing off, aggressive drivers can hurt or injure other innocent motorists without much concern for their own safety. As a personal injury attorney and car accident lawyer serving the residents of Baltimore and surrounding areas, I have seen the result of fast, thoughtless drivers over the years.

Car, truck and SUV accidents can easily result in multiple injuries to occupants and bystanders, especially in a dense urban setting. Regardless of the reasons, injuries from these kinds of accidents can include bruising and abrasions, broken bones, neck and back injuries and even fatal brain trauma.

A recent article points out how sometimes it is the aggressive driver himself who gets hurt during an accident of his own making. According to police, Clemmis Tommy Futrell, of the 3400 block of Winterberry Court, in Reisterstown, was changing lanes quickly while moving in and out of traffic along Reisterstown Road in the morning hours of January 11.

As the man approached the Garrison Forest School, he apparently ignored the red light in the front of the school. In doing so, Futrell’s Ford Expedition struck a passenger car driven by Baltimore resident, John S. Banks, who was trying to turn left into a nearby Home Depot parking lot. Banks was reportedly unhurt in the crash.

The force of the impact caused Futrell’s vehicle to crash into a BGE utility pole before overturning on the side of the road. Emergency crews responding to the accident found Futrell unconscious and trapped in his truck. After extricating the driver and treating him at the scene, they transported him by medivac chopper to Baltimore’s Shock Trauma Center. He was discharged later that day.

Reisterstown Road crash result of aggressive driving, ExploreBaltimoreCounty.com, January 12, 2010

Roll-over crashes are often a result of high-speed accidents or overly quick steering maneuvers. Sport utility vehicles (or SUVs) are particularly susceptible to these kinds of accidents. To make things worse, many light trucks, such as SUVs and pickup trucks, are not always designed with enough strength in the roof structure. In the event of a roll-over, the roof can be crushed sufficiently to seriously injure or kill the driver or passengers.

As a Maryland auto accident lawyer, my job is to help people recover the costs of an accident caused by another person’s negligence. This includes not only other drivers who may be at fault, but also the automobile companies who design and manufacture the vehicles whose roofs don’t always protect the occupants.

A recent accident on Northbound I-97 is an example of this kind of accident. It’ also shows how aggressive driving can cause other motorists harm, not to mention injury to the perpetrator as well. According to police, a 39-year-old driver was seriously hurt when his GMC Yukon crashed and rolled over on the interstate after hitting an out-of-control car that had been allegedly speeding moments before.

Based on news reports, witnesses told police that a Mitsubishi Lancer was traveling at more than 90mph on the afternoon of January 12 before the driver apparently lost control and hit a guardrail. Police reports show that the Mitsubishi driver had been weaving in and out of traffic prior to the accident. The driver reportedly lost control of the passenger car near Quarterfield Road.

After striking the guardrail, the vehicle bounced back into traffic and was hit itself by the larger Yukon, which then overturned on the roadway. The Mitsubishi ended up on the left-hand shoulder of the roadway.

After emergency crews arrived, the Yukon driver was taken by ambulance to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore with serious injuries. Police said charges are pending against the driver of the Mitsubishi, who was not seriously injured.

Man seriously injured in I-97 accident, Hometownannapolis.com, January 13, 2010

A serious traffic accident can happen to anyone, anytime and almost anywhere. A recent news report shows that not only everyday motorists can be hurt or killed in truck or car crashes, experienced and highly trained law enforcement professional can also be hurt. Injuries from highway collisions can range from bruises and minor cuts to head and brain injuries. It’s not uncommon for a person to be seriously injured and later die from those injuries in the hospital.

According to reports, 39-year-old Trooper Kenneth Myers Jr. and another Maryland State Trooper were carrying out traffic enforcement duties on Route 50 around mid-day on January 19 when the accident occurred. Police reports indicate that Myers, of the Easton State Police Barrack, was driving an unmarked police car eastbound on Route 50. The 2006 Ford Crown Victoria carrying the two troopers was chasing another vehicle that was exceeding the posted speed limit and traveling around 80mph.

Details at the time of the news reports were not completely clear, however it is known that Myers cruiser hit a 2004 Toyota Avalon driven by 75-year-old Marjorie MacSorely at the intersection of routes 50 and 731 shortly after noon, according to reports. Based on police statements, it appears that MacSorely’s vehicle pulled into the path of the oncoming police cruiser.

Police could say how fast Myers, who has been working for the state police for four years, was driving at the time of the vehicle collision. Crash scene investigators will be going over all of the evidence to determine the cause of the wreck, and it is not know if the Myers had activated the emergency signal equipement on his cruiser or if the patrol vehicle's lights were working correctly or faulty. Police spokesmen said that the crash was serious and “something that we certainly don't want to ever have happened,” said Greg Shipley of the Maryland State Police.

First responders to the crash scene treated Myers, who was then flown to the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. According to reports, a second Maryland State Police helicopter transported MacSorely to Peninsula Regional Medical Center. The woman’s daughter, 50-year-old Kathy MacSorely of Trappe, MD, was taken to PRMC by ambulance.

All three victims were reported to be in stable condition at the time of the news article.

Trooper, 2 others stable after crash, DelmarvaNow.com, January 20, 2010

3 Injured in Route 50 Crash Involving Md. State Trooper, WBOC.com, January 21, 2010

A flagman at a Buckeystown construction site along Maryland’s Route 85 was killed by a construction vehicle while working his shift. According to news reports, Maryland State Police arrived at the scene to find the road construction had died after being crushed by a construction truck driven by another co-worker. I and my colleagues have seen the results of this kind of fatality on more than one occasion. As a Maryland auto accident lawyer I also understand how a family can be devastated by the loss of a primary bread-winner.

In this particular instance, the accident occurred just before 3pm on a Friday afternoon. Police reports say that Carroll Michael Rehmert of Brooklyn Park, MD, was working on foot as a flagman near the intersection of Route 85 and Lime Kiln Rd when he was killed. The 57-year-old man was an employee of LAI Construction, according to news reports.

At the time of the incident, Rehmert was working as in an area where damaged lines in the road were being repaired. He had stopped traffic in the northbound lanes when the truck backed over him, pulling Rehmert under the rear axle.

Tragically, after Rehmert had been pulled beneath of the truck, the driver ran over the man a second time when he panicked after realizing what had happened. The operator of the bucket truck was identified as 37-year-old Anthony Wayner Lamburn of Alum Bank, PA. Rehmert was pronounced dead at the scene.

Both men worked for LAI Construction, a Maryland-based company located in Perry Hall, Maryland. At the time of the news report, police had not yet determined if charges would be filed in the case, and an investigation was continuing. It was also not known if the accident had been reported if officials at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) had been contacted regarding this fatal incident.

Construction Worker Killed in Buckeystown, Your4State.com, November 6, 2009

Tragedy can strike at any time. For many people, an SUV, pickup truck or passenger car crash can spell the difference between a happy future and a sad end. As Maryland automobile accident lawyers, Lebowitz & Mzhen, LLC has the experience to help families of traffic accident victims make it through a very difficult time.

Nothing good can come out of the death of a loved one caused by a severe vehicle collision or other fatal traffic accident, especially if that person is the breadwinner in the family. But talking to a personal injury lawyer is always a good idea. A recent single-vehicle crash reminded me of how transient life can be.

According to reports, a Gaithersburg, MD, man was killed in a single-vehicle wreck not long ago on a stretch of Maryland 464. Maryland State Police identified the man as Ruo Y. Zhao. Police reports indicate that the 26-year-old was driving a 2008 Mitsubishi westbound on Point of Rocks Road, just east of Lander Road, at what the authorities describe as a high rate of speed. This was stated, according to police, by a witness who saw the car prior to the crash but did not see the actual event.

Cpl. Todd Hill of the Frederick barrack said that Zhao may have hit some standing water on the roadway. This could have resulted in the vehicle’s tires hydroplaning and causing a lost of steering control. Depending on the age of the tires or whether they had unusually heavy wear, this could be an instance of defective equipment as one possible contributing factor in the accident.

Police believe that the driver likely could not regain control of his vehicle, which traveled from the westbound lane across the eastbound lane and continued off the road, striking several trees. Sadly, the driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to police, Zhao's identity was released only after relatives living in China were notified of his death. Based on a preliminary investigation, police feel that the crash was a clear cut case of driver error combined with high speed and poor weather. Personnel at the scene found that the vehicle split into several large pieces upon impact with the trees, confirming their suspicions of speed being a factor.

Gaithersburg man killed in Frederick Co. crash, WTOP.com, October 19, 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

There is a time and place for everything, but public roads should never be used for illicit racing events. News articles indicate that a recent early-morning drag race that resulted in two pedestrian deaths occurred on a portion of Maryland’s I-70 interstate well known locally for similar illegal speed events. According to authorities, early on the morning of June 21 two young people were killed when one of the drivers lost control of his vehicle and struck several cars and spectators on the side of the roadway.

As an automobile accident attorney, my office is able to represent victims and their families who have experienced a loss such as this, where a pedestrian is injured by a car, SUV or truck. Sadly, this type of accident could have been avoided, especially if the spectators realized the dangers involved. That Sunday morning in Baltimore County, 21-year-old Mary-Kathryn Michele Abernathy of Columbia, MD, and 20-year-old Jonathan Robert Henderson of La Plata in Charles County were killed when a westbound 2009 Chevrolet Impala went out of control. The accident investigation is ongoing and no determination has been made on whether the cause was driver error or defective equipment.

According to police, the accident set off a chain-reaction crash that also caused severe injury to the driver of the Impala, 26-year-old Donneil Raeburn of Pikesville, and Paul Alan Duffy, 22, of Elkridge. The Impala struck a 2004 Cavalier owned by Duffy, who was standing outside his vehicle, which in turn was pushed into the rear of a 1995 Acura Integra owned by Henderson, who had been standing with Abernathy. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.

Rescue personnel treated Raeburn and Duffy, then sent them to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center in critical condition. Raeburn was still in critical condition several days later, while Duffy was treated and released later that day.

This stretch of I-70 is a dead end -- undeveloped since the 1980s -- which makes it a popular site for young drivers. Local residents are very familiar with the frequent late-night speed events that take place more or less in their backyards. Maryland State Police and the State Highway Administration have been in discussions regarding ways to discourage these activities. Ideas include rumble strips or cameras to monitor activity on that part of the road. The sooner this is addressed the better it will be for everyone, except of those two young adults who senselessly lost their lives that Sunday morning.

Drag racing frequent event at site of deaths on I-70, BaltimoreSun.com, June 24, 2009

Fully 56 percent of all deadly vehicle crashes in Maryland and across the entire U.S., which result in numerous personal injury claims annually, are the consequence of aggressive driving behavior, according to a report by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

As experts in the area of automobile accident law, we at Lebowitz and Mzhen, LLC have seen the unfortunate aftermath caused by aggressive drivers, such as traumatic brain injuries and even death. The AAA Foundation’s analysis of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data shows that one in three deadly car crashes can be attributed to speeding alone. This coincides with a nationwide telephone survey conducted last year by the foundation. In that survey, the AAA Foundation Traffic Safety Culture Index, almost eight out of 10 people rated aggressive driving as a serious, or extremely serious, traffic safety issue.

Curiously, the survey also found that many of those same people polled believed that their own driving habits could from time to time be termed aggressive in nature. Half said they exceeded the posted highway speed limit by 15 mph within the last 30 days, while a startling 15 percent admitted speeding on neighborhood streets by upward of 15 mph over the limit.

The foundation’s report listed a number of examples of aggressive driving, such as ignoring red lights or stop signs, preventing others from passing, driving illegally on the shoulder, failure to yield the right of way, and speeding. Even those who try to counter the actions of aggressive drivers, by traveling slowly in the passing lane, for instance, can many times increase the tensions between drivers that may even lead to a confrontation.

Unfortunately, this only confirms that there is a great deal of aggressive driving on our public roads, much of which could be avoided but will likely continue to be with us for some time to come.

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