Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog

Almost every driver on Maryland roads has heard the phrase, “Speed Kills,” but fewer among us know of someone who has actually died as a result of a speeding-related traffic accident. Over the years, as Maryland personal injury lawyers representing individuals hurt as a result of car, truck and motorcycle crashes, I and my legal staff have read of numerous roadway collisions where excessive speed was a contributing factor.

Whether you commute in the Baltimore area, or Howie, Gaithersburg or the District, no doubt many readers have seen the aftereffects of car and trucking-related wrecks in which one or more people have been injured or killed. Depending on the speed of such an accident -- not to mention the mass of the vehicles involved -- the injuries received by the victims can range from minor cuts and bruises to more serious compound fractures and back injuries. Some of the most serious and life-threatening injuries sustained by victims of highway wrecks include spinal cord damage and closed-head trauma.

The latter of these injuries can mean weeks or months, sometimes years, of recovery following the initial hospital stay. Some victims of high-speed interstate and rural route car accidents can become permanently disabled and unable to perform even the most basic daily functions. In such cases, an individual’s quality of life can be greatly impacted following the aftermath of a truck or passenger car crash that may have been caused simply by another driver’s inattention or perhaps outright negligent actions.

Continue reading "Baltimore Personal Injury News: Speeding Blamed in Fatal Howard County Traffic Accident that Killed Two Teenagers" »

As Baltimore auto accident attorneys, my firm represents individuals injured as a result of a car, motorcycle or trucking-related highway collision. Naturally, being Maryland personal injury lawyers, we understand the factors that can contribute to a serious or fatal traffic wreck. As such, we know that vehicle speed and mechanical issues (defective equipement problems), weather conditions, traffic patterns and other factors can have a significant bearing on whether or not a motor vehicle accident will be minor or, at worst, fatal.

Of course, as many individuals who have survived horrendous car and commercial truck wrecks already know, luck is also a significant factor in these kinds of severe roadway crashes. Regardless, injuries do occur and fatalities are also quite common for high-speed accidents and those where vehicles of vastly different weights are concerned.

As mentioned previously, vehicle speed is a key factor in determining the severity of a traffic accident. With every doubling of vehicle speed, the crash energy is essentially quadrupled. This is why the old saying, “speed kills” is not just a popular phrase with police and other safety experts. That said, as drivers ourselves, we can understand that the practical considerations of modern life necessitate highway speeds despite the increased danger should a collision occur.

Nevertheless, driving faster than conditions will permit or attempting maneuvers that the vehicle was not designed to handle at high speeds can be disastrous for the car and its occupants. Whether one lives in Rockville, Annapolis or the District, it’s likely that as a motorist you have witnessed the aftermath of some kind of traffic accident. Multiple-vehicle crashes are some of the most common, but single-car and truck wrecks are also frequent occurrences on the state’s roadways.

Continue reading "Maryland Auto Accident News: Police Say Excessive Speed Contributed to Fatal Calvert County SUV Crash" »

Almost anyone can be hurt or killed in a traffic accident. That’s a sad fact of life in a densely populated state such as Maryland. Throw in the usual, and mostly preventable causes -- such as drinking and driving, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of prescription medication, driving while distracted, and even drowsy driving -- and you will find that more and more people are hurt or fatally injured in traffic accidents every day.

It’s unfortunate that most of the injuries caused by drunken drivers are usually sustained by the other victims, not the suspect. As Maryland personal injury lawyers, I and my colleagues have seen the more tragic results of DWI and DUI accident cases, inlcuding serious traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and internal organ damage have been known to occur. The recovery time for individuals who receive serious or critical injuries in car, truck and motorcycle crashes can range from weeks to months, with full recovery not always achieved until years later for an unlucky few.

Just last month, a Harford County sheriff's deputy was seriously injured in the line of duty along a stretch of Rte 40 out in Joppa, MD. The accident, according to police reports, happened in the early morning hours on a Wednesday when an allegedly drunk driver went out of control and hit the Deputy Brad Sives who was stopped in his patrol car at the intersection of Routes 40 and 152.

Based on reports, the four-year sheriff's department veteran was waiting for the green signal when the collision occurred. According to news article, the accident happened after 2am when a late model Nissan 350Z driven by 21-year-old Kevin Johnstone of Edgewood, Maryland, was turning right onto westbound Rte 40 at what police described as a high rate of speed.

The driver of the sports car apparently lost control and hit the roadway’s median, which sent the vehicle into the air and impacting the left side of the patrol car. The force of the impact caused severely damaged the deputy’s vehicle which was shoved across the southbound travel lanes and onto the shoulder of Rte 152. The officer was reportedly trapped in his vehicle for nearly 45 minutes.

Emergency responders from Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company arrived on the scene and were able to extricate the Sives from the damage patrol car. After likely being treated at the crash site, the patrolman was flown via medevac helicopter to Maryland Shock Trauma in Baltimore where he was admitted for treatment of apparently minor injuries. News reports indicate that the officer was released from the hospital later that same morning.

According to police reports, Johnstone had one passenger with him at the time of the crash. Police stated that both occupants of the Nissan were wearing safety belts and were apparently uninjured in the accident.

At the time of the news articles, Johnstone was charged with driving while intoxicated, driving under the influence per se, reckless and negligent driving, as well as failure to control his vehicle’s speed in order to avoid a collision. The suspect was still being held in Harford County’s Inter Agency Processing Center at the time of the reports.

Accident investigation and cleanup was still underway at the Rte 152/40 intersection several hours following the two-vehicle wreck. The roadway was reportedly reopened to vehicle traffic by 7:45am that same morning.

Suspected drunk driver crashes, injures Harford deputy, BaltimoreSun.com, June 15, 2011

Harford County Deputy Hit by Alleged Drunk Driver, Patch.com, June 15, 2011

Reckless driving is one of the many causes of car and truck accidents throughout Maryland and the United States as a whole. Call it what you will; road rage, street racing, driving while angry, or just plain aggressive driving, this kind of behavior on public roads is the main ingredient of a recipe that can only serve up injury and potential death.

As personal injury lawyers serving the residents of Frederick, Baltimore, Hagerstown and Washington, D.C., we represent the victims of automobile accidents from all across the state. Besides so-called minor injuries such as superficial cuts, abrasions and bruises, many victims of traffic accidents can suffer more serious and life-threatening injuries like closed head trauma, damage to internal organs and spinal cord injuries.

Sadly, some victims die from their injuries even after they have reached a hospital. These people usually did nothing more than be in the wrong place at the wrong time, and for that indiscretion they and their families pay the ultimate price. In such cases, a wrongful death claim against the negligent party is not out of the ordinary.

A little while ago, a Maryland teenager from Halethorpe, MD, was the subject of scrutiny when police indicated that the young man was allegedly racing with another vehicle along a southbound stretch of Ridge Rd in Anne Arundel County. According to police, 16-year-old Buck J. Benny ignored the pleas of his passengers to slow down during a Wednesday night drive home from Patapsco Valley State Park. The vehicle, a Plymouth Acclaim, was filled with a number of the teen’s friends and relatives, including a three-year-old toddler sitting on the lap of one occupant.

Continue reading "Anne Arundel Accident News: Reckless Driving Blamed in Single-Car Crash that Killed 3-Year-Old" »

Traffic accidents that take innocent lives are some of the most regrettable events anyone has to face. Recently, the Maryland legislature assed House Bill 363 that essential says drivers who are found guilty of being grossly negligent in fatal car crashes will be facing a new prison term option from courts across the state.

According to news reports, the general assembly approved the bill that calls for "grossly negligent" drivers who are determined to have caused a fatal traffic accident will be looking at mandatory jail time. Previously, even reckless drivers' actions were found to have resulted in a deadly automobile or motorcycle crash were not always help to account for another person’s death.

Under Maryland’s current statutes, a motorist could be facing jail following a fatal car-bike crash, but only if it can be proven that the defendant was grossly negligent. Many experts have suggested that some of the state’s prosecuting attorneys feel gross negligence is an extremely high standard to reach in court. The approach, according to earlier reports, was to get lower the standard to something closer to “substantial deviation from the standard of care.”

Naturally, demonstrating “substantial negligence” is typically more difficult than “ordinary negligence,” however it is easier than meeting the standard for “gross negligence.” It has been suggested that the standard of substantial negligence would apply to more instances of, say, vehicular homicides in which the defendant was found to be going twice the speed limit on a winding country road, or passing a slower vehicle on a blind curve.

Nevertheless, the new jail-time penalties likely to be used by state and local prosecutors’ offices may begin to make a dent in what seems to have become the painful and all too common occurrence of deadly car-bicycle accidents. The goal, as suggested by many observers, is to thwart the sometimes reckless behavior of motorists and even to reduce or eliminate fatal biking accidents, not unlike the way that DWI and DUI laws have helped to reduce the number alcohol-related traffic accidents, injuries and fatalities.

As Maryland auto and motorcycle accident attorneys and Washington, D.C., injury lawyers, my office has seen the results of road accidents involving passenger cars, commercial trucks and bicycle riders enough to know that new laws designed to protect cyclists and pedestrians are a step in the right direction.

Continue reading "Maryland Personal Injury News: AAA Joins Victims’ Families in Pushing for Stricter Vehicular Homicide Legislation" »

As a Baltimore automobile and trucking accident lawyer, I understand how easily a car crash can happen. Whether one is traveling on a city street in Annapolis, Washington, D.C., or Rockville, or if you are on the Beltway, even the simplest of mistakes or driving errors can result in a serious injury accident. As a motorist myself, I know that obeying our traffic laws is one way to help avoid the effects of a tragic car wreck.

Unfortunately, there are drivers among us who for one reason or another choose to tempt fate and drive in a less than safe manner. Exceeding the posted speed limit, weaving in and out of traffic, or driving without regard to the safety of other motorists can lead to a bad traffic wreck involving one or many vehicles. An aside here, some motorists are at higher risk when they become caught up in a traffic accident, namely motorcycle riders, due to less protection against bodily injury.

In any event, aggressive driving of almost any kind can not only precipitate a serious collision, but can also exacerbate the effects of a crash. From compound fractures of the arms and legs, to internal bleeding and closed-head injuries, a high-speed accident can surely result in serious medical complications, and sometimes even death. Some argue that surviving a motor vehicle accident may be worse, especially in cases where spinal cord damage occurs, leaving the victim paralyzed sometimes for life.

A news article pointed out the extreme downside of aggressive driving. Sadly for one Dundalk resident, her haste one evening on the Beltway apparently resulted in her own death. The only fortunate thing that can be said is nobody else was seriously injured as a result of that woman’s actions.

Continue reading "Maryland Injury News: Aggressive Driving Cited in Fatal Car Crash that Killed Baltimore County Woman" »

You won’t find any argument from us; when it come to aggressive driving -- whether its road rage, joy riding or illegal midnight drag races on public roads -- fatal accidents resulting from unlawful driving behavior can only be viewed is negligence of the worst kind. Willful disregard for the safety of ones passengers, other motorists and innocent bystanders cannot be tolerated in a civil society.

Traffic laws are put in place primarily for the safety and well-being of all those who share the road. Whether one drives a passenger car, motorcycle, delivery truck or 18-wheel tractor-trailer rig, it’s all to easy under normal circumstances to become involved in a highway collision or rural traffic wreck. Injecting high-speed, sometimes alcohol-related street racing or other illegal vehicle operation only invites disaster.

As Maryland personal injury lawyers, I and my colleagues know that tragedy is just one mistake away when motor vehicles are involved. Even under “normal” driving conditions a typical crash can lead to serious injuries for the driver and passenger. Add to that highway speeds and heavier vehicles, like a commercial truck, and you’re looking at the potential for traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage and possibly death.

A recent news article showed that there is justice, even though nothing can ever bring back a loved one killed in a senseless auto wreck. Such was the situation when a court pronounced a verdict of guilty in the case of the fatal drag-racing deaths of two spectators back in 2009.

According to court records, 27-year-old Donneil Raeburn was found guilty of two counts of vehicular homicide, as well as reckless driving, failure to control his vehicle’s speed and operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. Raeburn was also injured when he lost control of his Chevy and struck two pedestrians and during an illegal early-morning drag race along a stretch of I-70.

Police reports had indicated that the defendant’s blood-alcohol content (BAC) was over two times the legal limit in Maryland; the measurement was made several hours after the incident. The man could get up to 20 years in prison for his part in the fatal crash.

The victims, 20-year-old Jonathan Henderson, and 21-year-old Mary-Kathryn Abernathy were reportedly struck from behind by Raeburn’s Impala. The force of the crash caused terrible bodily injuries to both pedestrians, inflicting a range of wounds including massive head injuries and internal bleeding from torn aortas. No date for final sentencing was given at the time of the news article.

Guilty verdict in drag-racing deaths of two people, BaltimoreSun.com, April 1, 2011

Statistics tend to bear this out, but it should come as little surprise that younger drivers have a higher incidence of traffic accidents than more mature drivers. This is not an indictment of young people or their driving habits, but is simply a matter of fact that most every insurance company knows, as evidenced by the typically higher policy premiums charged to families with drivers in their 20s.

As Baltimore auto accident lawyers and personal injury attorneys, I and my colleagues know how easily a traffic accident can take a person’s life. Car crashes, like commercial trucking accidents and motorcycle wrecks, happen with uncomfortable frequency throughout the state of Maryland and the Washington, D.C. area as well. One simply way of increasing one’s odds of surviving a serious car or truck collision is to wear a seatbelt. Combined with airbags, this can make walking away from a crash many times more likely.

Unfortunately, safety belt use is not always observed by young and old alike; but as fate doesn’t discriminate, these unbelted drivers and passengers run the risk of severe injuries such as broken bones, deep lacerations, internal injuries, spinal cord damage and closed head trauma. Not long ago a teenage girl died after the car in which she was riding went out of control and crashed into an oncoming vehicle.

According to police reports, 18-year-old Ashley Nicole Stewart was seated in the front passenger position of a Chevrolet Cobalt when the driver lost control. Based on news articles, 19-year-old Mark Buchanan was driving the Cobalt southbound along a stretch of Grier Nursery Road in Harford County, MD. The accident occurred around 1:30pm near Miller Road when for some reason the vehicle crossed over the centerline and then hit a 2001 Chevrolet truck head-on.

Neither Buchanan nor Stewart, both residents of Jerrettsville, were wearing their seatbelts, according to police. The force of the impact apparently trapped the young woman inside the vehicle until she could be extricated by emergency responders. Once rescued, she was Medevaced to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, but died a short time later.

Buchanan and the driver of the pickup, 32-year-old Jorge Velazquez, reportedly survived the crash with non-life-threatening injuries. Velazquez was transported via ambulance to Upper Chesapeake Hospital for treatment of possible injuries.

Charges against Buchanan were pending review, according to the article, by the state's attorney's office. Buchanan reportedly was found guilty last November of speeding on Rte 165 after being cited for driving 73mph in a 40mph zone, this based on electronic court records stated in the news article.

Jarrettsville teen dies of injuries suffered in 2-vehicle accident, BaltimoreSun.com, February 16, 2011

Recent North Harford grad killed in crash, ExploreHarford.com, February 16, 2011

As most people might agree, intentional actions that result in injury to or death of another individual are certainly more heinous than those which occur as a result from a so-called accident or other outside influence. Still, anytime a person is killed or injured in an automobile or motorcycle accident, the party at fault should be held responsible for the collision, depending on the circumstances, of course.

As Maryland auto accident lawyers and personal injury attorneys, we know the extent that victims and their families must endure the consequences of a serious traffic collision. Regardless of the cause, the costs of such an event can be staggering to a family even of modest means, with the subsequent surgeries, rehabilitation time and possibly long-tern care. It’s only right that the responsible party be held accountable for that pain and suffering.

As many people know, these kinds of highway and urban crashes involve a range of vehicles, from small two-wheeled motorcycles to large and heavy 18-wheeled commercial trucks. Although it’s hard for most law-abiding and thoughtful people to imagine, some accidents are hardly that -- they are intentional in the eyes of the law.

Based on news reports, Calvert County police believe that a Christmas Day car crash in the Chesapeake Beach area was allegedly caused on purpose by a Maryland man who intentionally struck another car severely injuring two other persons. According to police reports, the incident took place just after 4pm along a stretch of Rte 261 when a Chevy pickup driven by 24-year-old Stephen M. Stanley hit a Ford SUV from behind as that truck was entered the northbound lanes of the roadway.

Stanley, a resident of Lusby, MD, allegedly struck the 2003 Ford Explorer being driven by 17-year-old male, whose was being accompanied by a family member, 50-year-old Becky Olynik, both Chesapeake Beach residents. The force of which the collision apparently caused the Ford to go out of control; the resulting crash caused both occupants to be ejected from the vehicle, according to news reports.

The two victims were attended to at the scene by emergency personnel from local fire departments including North Beach and Prince Frederick. They were both taken to Prince George's Shock Trauma facility for treatment of their various injuries. Although the young man was released within days, at the time of the article, the older woman was still in the hospital with what officials said were rather severe injuries.

The Calvert County authorities stated that they believed the crash was intentionally caused by Stanley, who police say was allegedly driving while under the influence at the time of the collision. As a result, police charged the man with two counts of first-degree assault, DUI and reckless driving, among others. According to reports, Stanley reportedly had two outstanding arrest warrants from the Maryland DNR.

Assault charges filed in accident, SoMDNews.com, December 29, 2010

A head-on collision and subsequent multi-car crash along Marley Neck Boulevard in Glen Burnie sent four individuals to the hospital in what police believe was a case of reckless driving. As a Maryland personal injury attorney, even I am shocked at the number of highway accidents and traffic deaths attributed to reckless or aggressive driving. Not only are the actions of the motorists who cause such crashes appalling, but these kinds of incidents should never happen in the first place.

In situations where a person has been killed due to thoughtlessness or outright negligence on the part of another driver, my heart goes out to the family of the victim. Any time someone dies due to careless or reckless operation of a passenger car, commercial truck or motorcycle, motor vehicle, there is a possibility of a wrongful death lawsuit. In such cases, consideration must be made for the emotional suffering of the victim’s family, as well as financially, especially when the victim may have been the sole breadwinner for a young family.

In a recent news article, we saw that a 21-year-old motorist was apparently driving recklessly prior to a terrible car collision in Anne Arundel County. According to police reports, Patrick Ryan Galliher was driving a Mercury Cougar in what police described as a reckless manner when his vehicle crossed the centerline and hit a Toyota Corolla head-on.

Prior to the wreck, which occurred on a Saturday afternoon, Galliher’s vehicle had been observed passing other vehicles in the moments leading up to the head-on crash with the car of Saulius Kasiulionis, 36. In a chain reaction, the Corolla was struck by a Nissan Murano following behind, as well as a Mercedes sport utility vehicle.

The force of the crash caused Galliher to be ejected from the Mercury; police said that the driver was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident. Emergency responders arriving on the scene transported him to Maryland Shock Trauma where he was listed in serious but stable condition at the time of the news report.

Continue reading "Baltimore Car Injury News: Reckless Driving Suspected Injury Accident in Anne Arundel County" »

A 20-year-old Maryland man died after he apparently lost control of the vehicle he was driving and then crashing into a house along a stretch of Rte 103. Although there was no specific cause given by police at the time of news report, accidents like this can sometimes be the result of defective vehicle equipment such as a faulty steering or braking system.

As Maryland auto accident lawyers, I and my colleagues represent victims of car and motorcycle accidents, as well as victims’ families in cases where a collision results in the death of the driver or occupants. Single-car accidents like the one discussed here can range from minor injuries, such as cuts and bruises, to serious injuries, like compound fractures, internal injuries and spine/head trauma.

According to police, the man who died was a resident of Elkridge, MD. Bryan Thomas Bolster, who apparenlty died at the scene of the accident, was reportedly the only occupant of a BMW he was operating, which left the roadway a little before 11pm and hit a house. The force of the wreck caused the car to burst into flames, which then spread to the house, catching the structure on fire as well.

Based on news reports, eye witnesses described the crash to police saying that Bolster’s vehicle was apparently going at a high rate of speed along Montgomery Rd, also known as Rte 103. Once it left the road, the BMW hit the front porch of the home, in which there were two occupants. Those people and their pets were able to exit the building safely following the crash.

Local residents reportedly stated that accidents in that particular area were not so uncommon. According to authorities, Bolster had pleaded guilty to speeding violations twice in the past.

Driver Killed in Crash Friday Was 20-Year-Old From Elkridge, Patch.com, December 12, 2010

Car, truck and motorcycle accidents happen with alarming frequency these days. In an editorial that asks the question of whether the police in Baltimore have trouble driving well, the author says that the answer depends on who one asks. Not surprisingly, we all expect police officers to maintain exemplary driving records, on- and off-duty. And why not? We expect that most every law enforcement officer receives extensive training in high-performance driving. And, we know that traffic patrol officers spend many hours each day driving hundreds of miles as part of their job.

Still, there is the reality that police officers are human, and just like most of us, they can suffer from the same distractions and potentially deadly driving situations that civilian motorists face. As the editorial writer suggests, pointing to a couple single-vehicle car crashes involving Baltimore officers this past fall, these accidents raise doubts about the quality of training, management and culture of the Baltimore force.

Surprisingly, the columnist said that while he received numerous complains about his column, he heard nothing from the Baltimore PD brass, nor the city’s commissioner of police.

One retired police officer responded to the author’s article, suggesting that sometimes things just go wrong. This is true, as many a Maryland motorist would likely attest; dangerous situations do occur from deer running into the road to another driver’s actions causing distraction at an inopportune moment. As a Maryland auto accident lawyer, I know that the range of possible factors that can lead to a car or motorcycle wreck are too numerous to list here.

To be fair, police officers take an oath to serve and protect the public, yet we ask of them almost super-human abilities. When an officer is racing to the scene of a traffic accident involving a minivan or passenger car and a commercial truck, time can be of the essence and seconds can litterly mean the difference between a serious injury and an untimely and tragic traffic death.

Continue reading "Baltimore Traffic Safety News: Maryland Negligent Car Accidents Can Involve Police and Civilian Drivers" »

A paralyzed man who had served seven years in prison for a terrible traffic accident in which a Hagerstown couple were killed in 2002 was recently arrested for violating a condition of his ongoing probation, that of not getting behind the wheel of a motor vehicle in Maryland. As a Maryland auto accident attorney and personal injury lawyer, I’ve seen many cases where a motorist was convicted of negligent manslaughter and sentenced to multiple years in prison.

According to news reports, 31-year-old Matthew David Meyer of Ellicott City, Maryland, has been on probation for several years now, having served his jail time for the deaths of Gerald and Mary Dietrich of Hagerstown, MD. Based on police reports, however, Meyer was taken into custody in mid-December by Howard County Sheriff, James Fitzgerald, a couple weeks ago for violating a no-drive order as part of his probation agreement.

Meyer had been sentenced to serve seven years in jail, as well as receiving another seven-year suspended sentence following his plea of no contest to two charges of vehicular manslaughter. The charges arose out of an October 23, 2002, car accident in which the Dietrichs, 59 and 61 years old, were killed when their pickup was hit by a BMW driven by Meyer. In situations such as this, a wrongful death lawsuit is one option that the family of the victims can choose to pursue.

According to court records, the prosecutors for the State of Maryland have recently stated that they considered Meyer “an assassin on wheels.” Meyer had reportedly been paralyzed in a 2000 crash in Pennsylvania but was still driving, according to reports, prior to fatal wreck that killed the Dietrichs. As condition of Meyer's seven-year probation was that he not be allowed to operate a motor vehicle in Maryland.

The order to issue the warrant signed last December 9 by Judge W. Kennedy stated that Meyer was still on three years' probation following his release from prison in 2008 and was issued a Maryland driver's license in April 2010 after completing a driver-improvement program.

Reports show that Meyer was cited for driving "at a speed in excess of reasonable and prudent" on June 29; the officer in charge reportedly clocked Meyer’s vehicle at 84mph in a 40mph zone. Less than a week later, on July 4, he was cited for another motor vehicle violation, according to the court order.

A hearing on the alleged violation of Meyer’s probation is scheduled for February 16, according to court records. If he is found in violation, Meyer could be facing another seven years in prison.

Driver imprisoned for manslaughter charged with violating probation, Herald-Mail.com, December 21, 2010

Ellicott City paraplegic, convicted in couple's death, accused of driving again, BaltimoreSun.com, December 22, 2010

Outside of driver error, single-vehicle traffic accidents can sometimes be caused by poorly maintained safety equipment, such as brakes or tires, or faulty component design or manufacture. Also know as defective equipment, incorrectly functioning vehicle parts and components can be a contributing factor associated with serious car, motorcycle and commercial truck accidents.

As Baltimore automobile injury accident lawyers, I and my colleagues have seen the results of car, truck and motorcycle crashes that have been caused by defective equipment. Situations involving bad part design that lead to a serious or fatal traffic collision go under the heading of products liability. The sad reality in many cases is that the accident could perhaps have been avoided if proper engineering or manufacturing procedures were followed.

As recent single-car accident, though not necessarily caused by a defective automotive component, nonetheless sent a man to the hospital with serious bodily injuries. According to news reports, the 20-year-old Prince Frederick driver was heading westbound along Leitches Wharf Road when for some reason he lost control of the vehicle. Police reports indicate that the crash, which occurred about one mile from Stoakley Road in Calvert County, MD.

Authorities said that the man, Joseph Wesley Raymond Hall, was found in critical condition inside his 2006 Honda Civic, which was seen resting against a nearby tree off the roadside. Emergency responders treated the man at the scene and then sent him to Baltimore Shock Trauma with serious and life-threatening injuries.

Based on news reports, police crash investigators said the driver’s vehicle skidded across the double yellow center line on and entered the east bound lane Leitches Wharf Road, then it left the roadway and hit a tree lying on the ground. The initial impact causes the vehicle to rotate counterclockwise before it hit a larger standing tree on the passenger side. Police said that the driver was belted in, but that speed and alcohol were also factors in the crash.

Prince Frederick Man Seriously Hurt in Single Vehicle Accident, SoMD.com, November 01, 2010

As a Baltimore auto injury attorney and personal injury lawyer, I and my colleagues have seen all manner of severe and fatal automobile wrecks. Many crashes are caused by simple human error, while others can be the result of defective vehicle components, poor judgment, or worse, conscious decision to violate the laws of the State of Maryland.

Malicious or not, these kinds of terrible car accidents can and do claim innocent lives. Regardless of whether the accident involves an automobile, motorcycle of commercial truck, a driver who over-indulges in the consumption of alcohol, prescription medication or illegal narcotics before getting behind the wheel can many times be the cause of a deadly DUI crash. Other individuals, such as the two men implicated in a fatal car accident last month, actively choose to break the law and end up killing or maiming another person.

This latest crash combined a joyriding scenario with drinking and driving. The result was sad, yet not unexpected considering the potential for injury that high vehicle speeds and impaired vehicle operation can cause. According to the news, three innocent people are now dead as a result of a car theft gone wrong on a Sunday night.

Based on Baltimore County police reports, two men who had previously stolen a Lincoln Town Car were driving at a high rate of speed along West Ostend St. The Lincoln hit a second car carrying one female and two male passengers just after 11:30pm. The accident occurred near the intersection of W. Ostend and South Hanover streets, according to police reports.

The victims, all teenagers, were taken to Baltimore’s Shock Trauma Center but doctors were unable to save any of them. All three died early Monday morning from injuries sustained during the accident.

Police officers who were nearby when the crash occurred pursued the two suspects after they left the accident scene on foot and caught them not far from the crash. One suspect, Charles Johnson, believed to be the driver was charged with three counts of vehicular manslaughter as well as vehicle theft. News reports show that the man was also charged with possession of marijuana, a controlled dangerous substance. Authorities indicate that Johnson was already on probation for other instances of theft and records show that he did not have a valid driver's license a the time of the crash.

At least two dead after crash with stolen vehicle, BaltimoreSun.com, November 1, 2010

Crash Involving Stolen Car Kills 3, WBALTV.com, November 1, 2010

Over the past year we’ve seen lot of traffic accidents resulting from aggressive driving. While it might be a dream to hope for complete harmony on Maryland’s roadways, the fact of the matter is being civil and courteous to your fellow motorists makes for a safer and more event-free commute. Sadly, there is a portion of the driving public that either has no thought for others or is simply too focused on their own agenda to worry about another individual’s rights or safety.

As Baltimore auto injury attorneys, my firm has represented dozens of people injured as a result of another person’s negligence. Aggressive drivers, it is now known, account for a large number of car and truck wrecks every year here in Maryland and across the U.S. Regardless of whether you living in Hagerstown, Rockville or Frederick, MD, you probably take one or more of Maryland’s highways to get to work, school or to go shopping. And the chances of getting caught in an accident caused by an aggressive driver are pretty high these days.

It’s a fact that the American Automobile Association (AAA) estimated that more than half of all fatal passenger car and commercial truck crashes were the result of some type of aggressive driving. Those who survive such accidents can end up with serious injuries as well as long-term medical problems, the cost of which can be a continuing burden on the individual and his or her family for years after the actual crash.

Based on the finding by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety using data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), found that one in three deadly car crashes are directly related to speed. Speeding is one of the primary traits of the aggressive driver.

The point we would like to make is that in this day and age, with society moving at such a past pace, doing your part to be a good driver may not be enough. As responsible adults, we must all be diligent and aware of the surrounding traffic on the road. Avoiding potentially dangerous accident situations caused by those few aggressive drivers is one way to protect yourself and your family from a tragic event.

Be cautious. Experts advise drivers to fight the impulse to impede an obviously aggressive driver by getting in front of him in an effort to slow him down. While it may seem like a good idea at the time, police and other traffic safety experts will tell you that it may only escalate the aggressive driver’s bad behavior and put you and your passengers in danger of an accident.

Considering the potential risk, it is a much better idea to simply report incidents of blatant aggressive driving to your local police department or the Maryland State Police. As the saying goes, “Be safe and arrive alive.”

Once again the senseless loss of life hits the news. This time, Maryland State Police point to speeding and aggressive driving as the likely cause of a horrendous accident that left three adults and one toddler dead in the aftermath. Describing the crash, law enforcement authorities say that the multi-car crash was “uncommonly violent.”

As a Baltimore personal injury lawyer who represents victims of traffic collisions and other automotive accidents, I have helped individuals following bad accidents. This particular crash likely should never have happened. One can only feel for the families of those killed and hope that the survivors make full and rapid recoveries.

According to the news reports, the head-on collision and subsequent deaths and injuries began when a Nissan Cube stuffed with seven individuals was being driven in what police termed and aggressive manner northbound along Rte 113. Based on reports, the driver of the vehicle was traveling very fast and passing other cars on the road in posted “no-passing” zones.

Finally, around 5pm, 53-year-old Carmelo Dominguez apparently attempted to pass a tractor-trailer rig, once again in a no-passing zone. During the attempt, the Nissan collided head-on with a southbound Honda CRV. According to police, the force of the impact caused the Nissan to be thrown upward against the side of the semi trailer.

As a result of the crash, four of the seven occupants in the Nissan were killed, including the driver. Of the four, the driver’s wife, 48-year-old Evelyn E. Morales; their daughter, 23-year-old Natasha E. Dominguez; and the man’s grandson, Jose Dominguez, just two years old.

Three other occupants in the Nissan were injured, including two other young children -- Yasmine Dominguez-Astacio, 4, and Christina Gonzalez, 9. All three were transported to Baltimore’s Johns Hopkins Hospital for treatment of their injuries.

Drivers of two other vehicles were also injured, including 41-year-old Mary M. Jones who was listed in good condition at the time of the news report, and 23-year-old Daniel H. Nelson. Nelson was taken to University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center where he was listed in critical but stable condition. The driver of the semi was not hurt in the crash.

Speeding driver blamed for crash that killed four, DelmarvaNow.com, November 4, 2010

Single-vehicle accidents number in thousands across the country every year. As a Baltimore and Washington, D.C., automobile accident attorney and personal injury lawyer, I have seen, up close, the aftermath of multi-vehicle and single-car wrecks. Just because there is no other vehicle involved, such as a semi tractor-trailer or other large vehicle, many people could be excused for thinking that these kinds of one-car accidents are less serious -- they would often be wrong.

Serious bodily injury and even death can occur as a result of a single-vehicle accident. Not long ago, a Boonsboro, MD, driver was charged in connection with SUV accident that sent him and two passengers to the hospital. According to news articles, the crash happened just before midnight on a Saturday along a stretch of Alternate U.S. 40, just east of Maryland Avenue.

Police reports indicate that the accident, which occurred between Middletown and Frederick, Maryland, was possibly the result of reckless driving. Although details were sketchy, police statements indicate that the driver, 19-year-old Job Smith, may have ignored traffic signs in the area prior to his SUV leaving the roadway and colliding with a tree.

Following the traffic accident, police and other emergency responders found the vehicle and three occupants near the roadway. Smith and one of his two passengers, Ashleigh Shepherd, also of Boonsboro, were helicoptered out to R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. A third occupant, Lucas White of Frederick, was taken to Washington County Hospital. He was subsequently discharged.

Smith was reportedly released from Shock Trauma a couple days after the accident, while Shepherd was released several days after that. The third person also left the hospital not long after. According to the news, Maryland State Police have charged Smith with a number of violations, including reckless driving, negligent driving, failure to obey a traffic control device and failure to wear a seatbelt.

Boonsboro man charged in connection with SUV accident, Herald-Mail.com, August 26, 2010

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.

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