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

A single-vehicle passenger car accident can be the result of a number of factors, including defective vehicle components, bad weather, poorly maintained road surface, or driver error. As a Maryland car accident lawyer, I and my staff understand the pain and suffering that any serious traffic collision can inflict on drivers and passengers.

Whether the crash involves a single automobile, such as a sedan, minivan, SUV or pickup truck; a motorcycle or other two-wheeled motor vehicle; or a commercial truck, such as an 18-wheeler, box truck, or delivery van, the injuries sustained by the driver and/or passengers can be extensive depending on the circumstances.

Police investigators usually work to determine the cause of any serious accident to determine the contributing factors and ultimately who was at fault. In many cases, driver error is found to be the main reason for a car or truck crash -- other factors can be listed such as excessive speed, alcohol or drug use, poor visibility, etc.

A recent accident along the Capital Beltway left a 69-year-old Maryland man dead. According to police, 68-year-old Ulric Wair was headed south on Interstate 495 in a Nissan Maxima along the inner loop on a late Wednesday afternoon when he attempted to exit the expressway apparently at the last minute.

Maryland State Police troopers believe the driver steered his vehicle across the far two right lanes and shoulder and then hit a guardrail. The force of the collision with the railing caused Wair’s car to flip over causing him severe head trauma.

Emergency responders were called to the scene to administer medical attention however the man died at the scene from his injuries. The man was traveling alone in his car at the time of the accident and police believe that speed may have been a contributing factor in the accident. Alcohol was ruled out by investigators.

Man, 68, Killed In Capital Beltway Accident Near Oxon Hill, WUSA9.com, July 21, 2010

The actions of one individual can sometimes have severe and irreversible consequences for many other people. A moment’s distraction on the road can cause a serious traffic accident the result of which can mean injury or death of another person. As a Baltimore injury accident attorney representing automobile accident victims and their families, I have the skills to help these individuals recover from what is certainly one of the most traumatic events in their lives.

Whether a collision is caused by a drunk driver, hit-and-run driver, underinsured or uninsured motorists, resulting injuries can range from whiplash and burns to spinal cord paralysis and permanent nerve damage. The saddest outcome is the death of an innocent driver whose only mistake was being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

A recent news article illustrated how the simplest accident can result in a tragic and awful outcome. According to reports, a Leonardtown teenager was killed while driving her vehicle along Point Lookout Road. Based on police reports, 16-year-old Shelby Wood was killed on a mid-July afternoon when her car was struck from behind by another vehicle.

The young girl was apparently traveling southbound along Point Lookout Road near St. Andrew's Church Road in the later afternoon. After being rear-ended by the initial collision, the girl’s vehicle was pushed into the oncoming lane of traffic where it was struck a second time by another car.

Emergency crews treated the teen at the scene and then transported her by ambulance to St. Mary's Hospital where she unfortunately died from her injuries not long after. Although police believed the accident was not caused by speed or alcohol, they were still investigating the crash at the time of the article.

Leonardtown Teen Shelby Wood Killed in Car Accident, MyFoxDC.com, July 13, 2010

It’s no secret that many traffic accidents are caused by impaired drivers. A subset of this group includes individuals who cause injury and death because they are intoxicated by alcohol, prescription medicine and illegal drugs (also referred to as controlled dangerous substances or CDS). People who are not fully in control of their faculties due to taking drugs or consuming alcohol can be the source of serious traffic collisions involving passenger cars, motorcycles and commercial trucks.

As a Maryland automobile accident attorney, I know the seriousness of injuries sustained by occupants of motor vehicles caught up in these kinds of impaired driving crashes or DUI-related accidents. What may be disconcerting to many people out there is that prosecuting these DUI offenders is not as simple as it may seem.

This is a shame, because thousands of people are killed or injured every year by the thoughtlessness of these individuals. From simple cuts and bruises to broken bones and permanent disability -- even death -- there is too much suffering imposed on so many by so few who lack a social conscience. Yet recourse against these irresponsible few is difficult according to experts.

A recent article points out the there is a delicate balance between individuals who have a legitimate need for prescription medication and the public good. More and more it is becoming common for drivers to be charged with driving under the influence of drugs following a car or commercial truck accident. According to law enforcement authorities, although drunk driving deaths have reportedly been dropping, there has been an increase in accidents caused by drivers impaired due to prescription painkillers, anti-anxiety medications, sleep aids and other powerful drugs.

The situation has become increasingly worrisome for police officials nationwide because, unlike the effects of beer, wine and hard liquor, there is no agreement on what level of drugs in the blood driving impairment occurs.

Of course, the behavioral effects of legally prescribed drugs varies from one person to the next. Some drugs, such as anti-anxiety medications, can reduce driver’s level of alertness and reduce reaction time. Stimulants, on the other hand, can promote risk-taking and impair a person’s ability to judge distance. Then there is the issue of mixing prescription medication, taking these legal drugs with alcohol or even illicit drugs. All of which can make worsen a driver’s level of impairment, causing a sharp increase in the chances that a driver will cause a traffic accident.

Continue reading "Baltimore Car Accident News: Drug-impaired Drivers Injure Many, But Prosecution for DUI Difficult" »

Defective vehicle equipment can be the cause of many accidents however the reasons for the specific fault are not always apparent. A car, truck or motorcycle crash can happen out of a number of causes, such as poorly manufactured tires, damaged or neglected safety systems, poorly designed yet critical vehicle components, such as steering and suspension, or sometimes incorrect maintenance of certain mechanical parts.

As a Baltimore automobile and trucking accident lawyer, my main concern is for the victims of traffic collisions and victims' families. The burden of medical costs and lost wages can combine to put a strain on family members at one of the worst times of their lives. Add to this the possible death of a primary breadwinner due to fatal vehicle crash and you have a recipe for tragedy beyond that of the original car accident.

Recently, an Abington, MD, resident was killed when her vehicle left the roadway along a stretch of Interstate 695. According to news reports, 48-year-old Danita Marie Hasselbarth was driving her 1994 Chevy Camaro north along Harford Road toward the Baltimore Beltway. Once on the merging ramp the woman’s car apparently started to drift off the right-hand side of the road onto the adjoining grassy area next to the roadway.

Police investigators believe Hasselbarth then over-steered her vehicle in order to bring it back onto the road. Reports indicate that the driver lost control of her vehicle causing the car to spin and skid backwards toward a concrete barrier. Police reports show that the barrier at that point was positioned in such a way that it acted as a ramp and caused the car to be flipped over onto its roof.

There was no mention of fire, however when emergency responders arrived to assist the driver the paramedics from Baltimore County pronounced her dead at the scene.

Abingdon woman dies in I-695 car crash, ABC2News.com, July 11. 2010

As a Baltimore car and trucking accident lawyer, I am constantly aware of the preciousness of life. Looking at the news from day to day I am also reminded of the fragility and transitory nature of our lives here on Earth. This is especially true when it comes to the tens of thousands of unnecessary injuries and deaths that occur on our nation’s highways and city streets each year.

To anyone who picks up a newspaper or follows the evening news, it will come as no surprise that we as drivers live but scant moments away from possible death or severe injury. A recent news article brought that thought home lately when I read of a former Maryland resident who lost her life on a highway out West where she lived with her family.

According to reports, 40-year-old Kristen Ardinger Karn formerly of Hagerstown, MD, died recently following a tragic head-on car crash in Wyoming earlier this month. The accident occurred on a Monday morning while Karn was driving along a stretch of Highway 22 when her 2005 GMC Yukon was hit head-on by another vehicle.

Based on information from local highway patrol officers, a Ford F-150 pickup truck being driven eastbound by 40-year-old Cresencio Perez-Avila for some reason drifted into Karn’s lane. Highway patrolmen said a preliminary investigation showed that Perez-Avila’s truck went left of the centerline and collided with Karn’s vehicle.

Emergency crews arriving at the crash site pronounced Perez-Avila dead at the scene, while they administered medical attention to Karn before she was flown by helicopter to a regional medical center for further treatment. Amazingly, Karn’s child, who was in the right rear passenger seat.

Sadly the woman died from her injuries the next day. According to reports, Karn’s family and friends said the accident happened just when the woman’s life was beginning to peak; she had not long ago given birth to her first child.

Former Hagerstown woman dies after Wyoming crash, Herald-Mail.com, August 11, 2010

While we would all like to think that a church might be one of the safest places, there is much to be said about the dangers lurking in any vehicular traffic situation, be it a parking lot, pedestrian crossing or even a quiet street. There are hidden threats that all of these places present to drivers and pedestrians alike. As a Baltimore automobile accident attorney, I’ve certainly examined my share of pedestrian, car and truck accident scenes, but finding a fatal accident outside a church on Sunday is probably the farthest from anyone’s imagination.

That said, there is a caveat to every person who has walked through a parking area or public roadway: Be careful out there. Especially in places that give us the most comfort and feeling of security, this is where many people drop their guard and possibly increase their risk of bodily harm. While fatal pedestrian accidents may be fewer near a place of worship, the mix of people and cars means that the danger always exists. Any death is tragic, but such deadly accidents should be avoidable if all concerned are doing their part to thwart trouble.

According to a news report, two older parishioners were killed and a third person injured when a sport utility vehicle driven by 63-year-old Mary G. Camilleri suddenly accelerated in reverse hitting the three people. According to a spokesperson for the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, Camilleri’s vehicle slammed into another SUV and pushed it onto a sidewalk on North Seton Avenue. The vehicle then continued backwards and struck the pedestrians as they were attempting to cross the road. It came to a stop after hitting another parked car.

According to reports, 53-year-old John Cillo and Patricia Mauro-Cillo, 64, were both killed. The 89-year-old mother of Mauro-Cillo, Marian Derosa, was seriously injured.
News accounts stated that a parish nurse tried to revive John Cillo using a defibrillator kept in the church prior to the arrival of emergency personnel. Derosa was treated at the scene and then transported to Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore for additional medical attention and observation.

At the time of the article, investigators for the Frederick County Sheriff's Office were planning to meet with the state's attorney regarding possible charges against Camilleri.

Charges weighed in deaths of 2 outside Emmitsburg church, BaltimoreSun.com, August 9, 2010

Two people killed outside Emmitsburg parish, CatholicReview.org, August 10, 2010

Highway traffic accidents involving automobiles and heavy vehicles, such as 18-wheelers and commercial delivery trucks, can result in serious injury to the hapless occupants of the smaller passenger car. As a Maryland personal injury lawyer, I’ve seen trucking accidents that have killed some, yet miraculously allowed others to walk away. Mostly, however, these kinds of car-truck collisions can lead to tragic results.

A recent news article pointed out the fatal nature of such collisions on public roads. According to reports, a Westminster, MD, crash involving four separate vehicles took the life of a young Maryland teen this past month. Based on police reports, the collision happened on a stretch of Maryland’s Route 27 when a northbound Saturn driven by 19-year-old Nicholas Louis Vidi for some reason veered into the path of a southbound garbage truck. The young Sykesville resident reportedly died at the scene of the accident, which occurred in Carroll County just south of Kate Wagner Road.

As a result of the initial crash, two other vehicles following Vidi’s Saturn also were caught up in the accident. A Honda Civic driven by Barry Mulligan narrowly avoided Vidi’s Saturn, but was hit by a fourth car driven by Lori Ann Lowe of Westminster. Lowe and the driver of the garbage truck, Jeannette Zelaya of Westminster, were injured during the incident according to police.

Emergency crews arriving at the scene could not revive Vidi. They treated Lowe and Zelaya before transporting the two to Carroll Hospital Center for non-life threatening injuries. Mulligan reportedly refused medical treatment. Although defective equipment is always a possible cause, at the time of the article police were still looking into the reason for the crash.

Westminster Maryland car-truck collision: Teenager killed after 4-car wreck, TopWireNews.com, July 22, 2010

Drinking and driving is one of the most common and most preventable causes of traffic accidents that modern society has faced. Deaths and injuries resulting from drunk drivers make the headlines of Maryland’s newspapers and local TV news programs more often than anyone would care to see.

Recently, a former high school football star from the River Hill school district was sentenced to a year and a half in jail after being convicted of a DWI-related traffic death late last year of a family friend. The accident happened in late November when now 23-year-old David Erdman was driving a 17-year-old friend, Steven Dankos, in his pickup truck in Howard County, Maryland.

A resident of Ellicott City, Edman pleaded guilty last May to negligent homicide as a result of driving while intoxicated. The charges stemmed from an early morning crash on November 30 when Erdman’s pickup hit several stone pillars. Dankos, who had been traveling in the bed of the pickup truck, was thrown from the vehicle to the ground. Police said that the vehicle was speeding at the time of the crash, which no doubt increased the severity of the accident.

According to news reports, Dankos, Erdman and Erdman's younger brother had all been out on the road following a round of post-football-game parties when the vehicle ran veered off Folly Quarter Road and hit the obstruction. Police said that Erdman's blood-alcohol content (BAC) reading following the crash was 0.21 percent -- or almost three times Maryland’s legal limit. The three occupants had been drinking at parties, according to court documents, some of which had been held in homes where the teens' parents allowed the drinking.

Erdman, who reportedly has already completed a 25-day outpatient alcohol abuse program, was sentenced to five years. However, the judge suspended all but 18 months of that sentence. Erdman will reportedly serve time in the Howard County Detention Center with the recommendation that he be considered for a work release program.

The case highlighted the fact that parents of the partiers had allowed underage teens to drink in their homes; certainly a senseless tragedy that may have been avoided if the adults in charge had been more responsible. Erdman shared the bulk of the blame as he reportedly could have accepted an offer from another friend to drive him and his friends home. , and she said the crash might not have happened at a lower speed. Police found the truck had been speeding on the rural roadway at the moment of the crash.

Former football star gets 18 months for drunk-driving death , BaltimoreSun.com, August 5, 2010

Head-on collisions are one of the most terrible traffic accidents that can happen. Fatalities are quite common in such instances, while broken bones, head, neck and back injuries, and serious internal injuries are also commonplace. As a Baltimore personal injury attorney and Maryland automobile accident lawyer, I understand well the physical and emotional trauma that can result from such a violent car crash.

The reasons for head-on highway collisions vary as well. Driver error, intoxicated driving, distractions in the vehicle and external factors can lead to a serious and many times fatal accident. Outside of driver error, one possible reason for any kind of traffic accident can be defective vehicle equipment.

Defective automobile equipment and components, such as braking, steering or other critical systems, can fail unexpectedly and cause a driver to lose control of a car, SUV or commercial truck. Poorly designed or incorrectly manufactured car and truck parts can be the source of both serious and minor auto accidents.

Automotive safety equipment, especially should be test and validated to be certain it is ready to perform correctly over tens of thousands of miles. Owners of a variety of defective vehicles have found out the hard way when parts or components have failed prematurely. The lucky ones escape with just some cuts and bruises. Other are not so lucky.

A recent crash on Seashore Highway may or may not have been the result of defective vehicle equipment. The only thing for certain is that one woman died as a result and several others were seriously injured during the accident.

According to news reports, a Baltimore woman was driving east on Route 18 in early July when her vehicle suddenly veered into the oncoming lanes near Bridgeville, MD. The 24-year-old driver died of injuries sustained when her Nissan Altima crashed into a westbound Chevrolet truck just before 8am on a Wednesday morning.

According to local police, Melissa Marie Mohl suffered severe head trauma as a result of the accident. The driver of the truck, 61-year-old Charles Cave Sr. and his passenger 12-year-old Demetrius Price were also injured in the collision. Mohl’s one-year-old son was a passenger in the Nissan. The baby was injured as well.

Emergency personnel arriving at the scene treated the victims, who were transported to local hospitals. Mohl was taken to Nanticoke Hospital where she later died of her injuries. At the time of the news article, the police were still investigating the cuase fo the accident.

Baltimore woman, 24, killed in crash near Bridgeville, DelmarvaNow.com, July 11, 2010

As Baltimore automobile accident attorney, I hear about numerous fatal car crashes that occur throughout Maryland every year. Some collisions happen as a result of driver error, while others are sometimes caused by defective vehicle equipment, such as poorly maintained brakes and tires, faulty safety components or defective suspension or steering systems.

Whatever the cause of a traffic accident, car-pedestrian collisions can be some of the worst, which also includes car-motorcycle and car-bicycle crashes. In all of these kinds of collisions, the person on foot or on two wheels has a very good chance of being severely hurt or even killed as a result.

A recent news article showed that one man, a Columbia resident, was sentenced to six months in jail following the death of an elderly woman he hit with his vehicle in November 2009. According to reports, 82-year-old Ayten Icgoren died the day after she was struck while trying to cross the street near the Owen Brown Village Center.

Police reports indicated that two witnesses saw 53-year James Walden Beaman Jr. hit the woman with his pickup truck and then leave the scene of the accident. The witnesses stated that Beaman's white Toyota wobbled and seemed to skid as he tried to stop on the wet pavement. Icgoren apparently tried to get out of the way but wasn’t fast enough to escape injury.

Police said that the driver then drove a short way to the village center, then reportedly returned after police and paramedics arrived at the scene of the collision. Although Beaman plead not guilty last May, but reportedly agreed to the facts presented by the prosecution during a hearing.

It was only recently that Beaman was sentenced to 18 months in jail, but most of the sentence was suspended with the defendant having to spend just six months in jail. Convicted for failing to stop for a pedestrian in a crosswalk as well as leaving the scene of the accident, the man was also ordered to complete 500 hours of community service, plus two years of supervised probation.

Columbia man jailed for hit and run, BaltimoreSun.com, July 15, 2010

Additional recalls have been announced by several of the large automobile manufacturers; Ford, Chrysler and Toyota. The most recent safety recalls include 33,700 small commercial vans made by Ford Motor Company and are due to the vehicle’s headliner not being able to meet all required safety parameters specified for occupant head protection.

As Maryland automobile accident attorneys, we have experience in recall-related injury claims in the Baltimore, MD, and Washington, D.C. areas. The Ford recall is just one of numerous safety-related recalls that can affect the ability of a vehicle occupant to survive a serious car or truck crash. According to reports, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says that the Ford defect increases the risk of injury to the driver or passengers in the event of a traffic accident.

Ford reportedly advised its dealers to stop delivery of its Transit Connect model, which include vans produced between December 2008 and May 2010. The hold on deliveries would supposedly be in force until a suitable revision of the vehicle’s headliner design could be produced and installed on those vehicles.

In addition to the Ford recall, Chrysler reportedly recalled as many as 22,000 vehicles, including certain versions of the 2010 Jeep Wrangler and Liberty SUVs, Ram 1500 pickup trucks, and Dodge Nitro models all manufactured between April and May of this year. The vehicles, according to reports, could have been built using incorrect brake lines, which reportedly could result in brake fluid leaks with potentially disastrous results.

A set of recalls, this time from automotive giant Toyota, involves thousands of Lexus models which may have been assembled using faulty engine valve springs. According to reports, the defective valve springs could result in a vehicle stalling while traveling on the road. This particular problem reportedly affected cars made between July 2005 and August 2008. According to the Reuters news service, Toyota has known about the problem for three years.

The second Toyota recall affects 17,000 Lexus hybrid models. NHTSA testing apparently detected a potentially dangerous condition that could cause gasoline to spill from the vehicle during a rear end collision. Toyota reportedly was trying to replicate the agency’s findings with tests of its own.

Since October, Toyota has recalled nearly nine million vehicles for a range of defective equipment issues, including sticking accelerator pedals, brake system problems, poorly-fitting interior floormats, and sudden unintended acceleration issues. According to news reports, more than 200 personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits have been filed against Toyota claiming that the company’s products caused the injuries and fatalities.

Ford Motor, Chrysler recall vehicles, Reuters.com, July 9, 2010

Latest Toyota recall based on three-year-old reports, FoxNews.com, July 7, 2010

17,000 Lexus luxury hybrid, Associated Press/Google.com, June 25, 2010

Being a Maryland personal injury lawyer and automobile accident attorney practicing in the Baltimore area, my firm has the experience and skill to represent individuals hurt as a result of another driver’s negligence. We also help families of victims killed in motorcycle crashes, passenger car wrecks, or commercial truck accidents. It goes without saying that fatal pedestrian accidents can be quite disturbing for the victims’ families.

While there are many factors to consider in every automobile accident case, it is important to remember that as drivers, we all have a responsibility to be observant when it comes to watching out for pedestrians. Certainly, when a person uses a designated crosswalk, there is a relative expectation of safety for the individuals crossing the roadway. Pedestrian accidents can and do happen with sometimes tragic results.

But every case is different, which is why we rely on police reports, eye witness testimony and other knowledgeable sources. A recent traffic accident shows what can happen under all the wrong circumstances. According to news reports, a 41-year-old Rosedale, MD, resident was unexpectedly killed along Interstate 695 when he was struck by a passing vehicle.

Police reports showed that Alvarino D. Vigil was apparently trying to walk back to his residence somewhere off the expressway after leaving his disabled vehicle on the shoulder of the interstate, near the I-95 interchange. Police believe Vigil was struck by the other vehicle as he was trying to cross the merging lane from I-95, police said.

The report coming out of the Maryland State Police headquarters stated that the driver of the vehicle that struck Vigil suffered only minor injuries. She was transported to Franklin Square Hospital where she was treated and subsequently released.

Although the accident was still under investigation at the time of the news article, police investigators believe that the accident was not a result of speed or alcohol, but likely due to pedestrian error.

Man Hit, Killed By Car On Beltway, WBLTV.com, June 29, 2010

When it comes to automobile, truck and motorcycle accidents, negligence comes in many different forms. Whether a minor fender-bender or a full-blown fatal traffic collision, the responsible party should be held accountable for his or her actions. For those individuals who have caused the death of another person, no excuse should be acceptable; not to the family of the victims, nor to local law enforcement.

Drunk driving is certainly one of the more common causes of car crashes in the Baltimore area and elsewhere across our state. It’s a shame that so many people die every year due to abuse of alcohol. As Maryland car accident attorneys, I and my colleagues consider the pain and suffering of the families of victims, not to mention the costs and lost income caused by a bad automobile wreck.

A sad story caught our attention the other day involving a retired Maryland couple who died in a pointless out-of-state car crash. According to the news article, 56-year-old Thomas Cypress was charged with DUI manslaughter for the February 2009 crash that claimed the lives of Robert and Paulette Kirkpatrick. Following his trial in a Miami-Dade courtroom, Cypress was sentenced to 12 years in prison -- a negotiated deal that spared the man a possible maximum 30-year sentence.

Courtroom testimony indicated that Cypress' blood-alcohol level was triple the legal limit in February 2009 when he veered his truck into the opposing lane hitting the Kirkpatrick’s rental car head-on. According to news reports the couple, who were also grandparents to several young children, was in the area for an art show and vacation.

Police said that Cypress was driving on a suspended driver’s license (a result of a previous drunken driving charge). Prior to that, he had been arrested by police on two separate occasions for DWI.

Once his 12-year sentence is up, Cypress will be required to go into an alcohol rehabilitation program, serving 10 additional years of probation and agree never to drive a motor vehicle again. Apparently as part of the deal, Cypress must pay $120,000 to the Kirkpatricks’ family in order to fund a scholarship in the victims' names. According to reports, the survivors signed off on the deal.

Deadly driver Thomas Cypress sentenced to 12 years, MiamiHerald.com, July 1, 2010

As parents will no doubt attest, teenagers can be easily distracted by a wide range of external stimuli. While this may be amusing to some, and a frustration to their parents and teachers, it is serious business once these kids start to driver motor vehicles. Driver’s education can only go so far to warn these future drivers to be aware of potential and deadly distractions on the road. But apparently much more needs to be done, as recently released government data suggests.

As a Maryland and D.C. auto accident attorney, I understand the myriad of ways that a driver can become distracted on the road, the result of which is many times a traffic accident. New and inexperienced drivers can be especially susceptible to having their concentration diverted. In some cases, and more often than any parent of a teenage driver would like to think about, fatalities can result. In short, distracted driving may be killing more American teenagers than ever before.

According to U.S. Government data, more than 4,000 teenagers lose their lives in traffic accidents that are caused predominantly by "distracted driving." This includes distractions from having too many noisy occupants in the vehicle to talking on a cellphone while operating a passenger car. However, a new bill recently introduced by Congress may help in reducing this terrible trend.

According to estimates, of the more than 30,000 highway traffic deaths that happened in 2008 across the U.S., nearly 12 percent involved 15- to 20-year-old drivers. Records show that most of the deaths were a result of distracted driving. According to Allstate Insurance, the main cause of distracted-driving wrecks is cellphone use.

According to the insurance company’s statistics, texting while driving makes an accident 23 times more likely to happen. Just reaching for a cellphone as it is ringing means you are nine times more likely to have an accident versus normal driving. These two acts, according to the article, is similar to having four beers and driving.

The U.S. Department of Transportation says distracted driving is a critical problem, and has called it an epidemic in America because nearly every American -- including a lot of teenagers of driving age -- owns a cellphone and believes that he or she can safely “talk and drive.” Many experts believe it simply cannot be done at all.

Distracted Driving Killing More American Teens, VOANews.com, June 24, 2010

Getting over a serious traffic accident is no easy feat, and as a Maryland auto accident lawyer and personal injury attorney I know first-hand what people go through to recover from a car, truck or motorcycle crash. Being hit while in the relatively protected shell of a motor vehicle is usually much more preferable to being hit while on foot.

The human body is a wonder of biology and natural engineering, but our bodies where never meant to withstand the impact force of a 3,000-pound car, SUV or minivan traveling even as slow as 25 miles per hour. The injuries sustained by a person when confronted with a colliding vehicle can vary from amazingly slight to life-threateningly deadly. Broken bones, lacerations and traumatic head injuries number just a few of the resulting conditions after a car or truck crash.

Earlier this year a Baltimore woman was hit by a car while just outside of her own vehicle. According to a recent news article, that April 2 hit-and-run accident left 40-year-old Miki Scholtes with no income and hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills, since she did not have health insurance at the time of the crash. Three months later, she is still recovering, bound to a wheelchair with only the hope of walking again, while the driver of the car that injured her has yet to be located.

The accident, a tragedy by any measure, occurred on an April afternoon when Scholtes was packing up after her latest job on St. Albans Way. According to reports, the self-employed painter and home improvement contractor was about to head to her next appointment, opening the driver door of her vehicle when she was hit by a passing blue blue GMC pickup truck with Maryland tags.

The force of the impact bent back the side door of Scholtes' Ford Ranger and threw her about six feet into the air. In the process, her pelvis was reportedly snapped in half, and one of her femurs was broken in four places. A roofer working on a nearby building saw the event, but could not read the license plate number of the vehicle that hit the woman.

The news article stated that Scholtes was at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center and Maryland General Hospital for about a week, after which she started rehabilitation at University Specialty Hospital located in downtown Baltimore. Apparently unable to pay all of her bills, she reportedly plans to move into her parents’ home in Hillendale after she is released.

Friends and family have worked ceaselessly to help gather donations to cover Scholtes’ car payments and car insurance. Meanwhile, she is applying for Social Security assistance in paying her hospital bills.

Hit-and-run victim "has some really fantastic friends', ExploreBaltimoreCounty.com, June 22, 2010

If anyone needs an example of how distracted driving can result in senseless automobile accident injuries or traffic fatalities, look no further than the pages of your local newspaper. It seems that every day we read about one person or another hurt or killed by the negligence of another driver. As Maryland car accident attorneys, I and my staff recognize the need for better driver education and improved driving safety training.

Smart phones, iPods, vehicle navigation systems, even the lowly car radio; each of these devices and countless other distractions all conspire in their own way to take motorists’ attention from the primary task at hand… driving down the road in a careful and thoughtful manner. This is not just empty rhetoric; newspaper articles and television news anchors constantly describe terrible accidents that maim or kill dozens of Maryland residents every month on our roadways.

A recent story, which may not have gotten much press was that of a 30-year-old Baltimore woman who died following a bad three-car accident in Howard County as she apparently waited to turn left into a local neighborhood. According to reports, the accident occurred just before 8am in Fulton, MD, as Jasmine Ann Brisson was driving her Dodge Neon westbound on Scaggsville Road.

Police reports show that while the woman was waiting to make a left turn onto Fulton Estates Court, her vehicle was hit from behind by a much larger Ford Excursion SUV. The force of the crash pushed the economy car into the eastbound lane, where it was struck again by a Dodge minivan.

Rescue workers arriving on the scene administered medical treatment to Brisson, who was then transported to Howard County General Hospital. Sadly the woman died from her injuries at the hospital. The Grand Caravan driver was also treated at the scene but did not have any life-threatening injuries, according to the police.

At the time of the news report, police were still conducting their investigation; however preliminary findings suggest that the SUV driver may have been distracted when the large truck hit the smaller Neon passenger car. The collision was still under investigation, but based on preliminary information spokeswoman Elizabeth Schroen said the crash appears to have been caused by distracted driving

City woman fatally injured in Howard Co. crash, BaltimoreSun.com, June 8, 2010

As auto accident attorneys practicing in the Baltimore area, I and my colleagues have seen the aftermath of some of the worst of Maryland’s car and truck collisions. Traffic accidents can kill and maim the occupants of a passenger in a split second. What is tragic is that many accidents could have been avoided if it weren’t for driver negligence.

A frequent cause of traffic accidents is drunken driving. To some, driving under the influence of alcohol is the height of driver negligence because it is something that should be in every motorist’s control not to get behind the wheel in an intoxicated state. To choose to drink knowing that one will be driving in an impaired condition is at least an irresponsible act, at worst it can be a death sentence to some unknown and unsuspecting victim.

To often it seems, the people whose negligence results in the death of another individual are punished only after the fact, which is cold comfort to the families of the victims. In the conclusion of a rather sad story that began last year, a woman has finally felt the hand of justice following the fatal drinking and driving accident that led to the deaths of two men in 2009.

According to news articles, Kelli R. Loos was sentenced to 10 years, which is at the high end of the state-recommended guidelines for a case of this kind. Loos will likely not serve all that time in jail. According to reports, she will receive credit for the 10 months she has already been held in jail since the accident.

Loos will also be eligible for parole in 20 months because vehicular manslaughter is considered a nonviolent crime under state rules. Add into the equation the state's good behavior credits which could make Loos eligible for mandatory release in as little as 3 1/2 years.

Last summer, the 33-year-old Loos had rear-ended a pickup truck on the beltway, causing that vehicle to crash through a guardrail and roll down an embankment, landing on its roof 60 feet below. The accident killed 37-year-old Franklin Manzanares and 39-year-old Gradys Mendoza.

Following the crash with the pickup truck, Loos fled the scene and reportedly drove toward Virginia. She crashed her vehicle again while attempting to exit the Beltway onto Georgetown Pike, hitting a highway sign. Not long after that, police took her into custody where she subsequently registered a blood-alcohol content (BAC) of 0.20 percent on a breathalyzer.

At sentencing in drunk driver's fatal accident, competing pleas for justice, WashingtonPost.com, May 21, 2010

It’s a sad fact of life that people die senselessly in car, truck, SUV and motorcycle accidents every year here in Baltimore and across the state. Pedestrians are the most vulnerable, since they are both difficult to see and have little if any protection from a 3,000-pound motor vehicle. Highway workers number as part of this group of individuals killed or maimed each month on Maryland’s roadways.

As a Maryland car accident attorney and personal injury lawyer, I know that many accidents can be prevented. Unfortunately, the statistics speak for themselves and show that severe injuries, such as neck and head trauma, are common in pedestrian crashes. We are never surprised, sadly, that such collisions can result in pedestrian deaths as well.

A recent news story shows how deadly a nighttime traffic accident can be for a lone individual on a dark stretch of highway. According to reports, a highway worker was killed in during a late-night collision, after which the driver of the car fled the scene. Even though Ghassen Sabra had an active warning light on the nearby work truck he was using, the 52-year-old was still struck and killed while doing highway maintenance work late at night in Anne Arundel County.

Based on police reports, Sabra was clipped by a car and left for dead in the center lane of Route 50. An 18-wheel tractor-trailer then ran the man over when the truck’s driver had no time to stop. The accident occurred around midnight in a non-construction zone. This was apparently the first fatal car accident involving a highway worker in Maryland since 2006. Sabra’s untimely death raised to eight the number of highway workers killed over the past five years.

Preliminary investigation by police showed that Sabra was working in the left lane of eastbound U.S. 50, either setting up or removing traffic-counting devices, at the time he was hit. Sabra, who was wearing reflective clothing at the time of the accident, was thrown into an adjacent lane where he was run over by the big rig.

Continue reading "Maryland Highway Worker Killed in Apparent Hit-and-Run on U.S. 50 in Anne Arundel County" »

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