Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog

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 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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