Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog

Drinking and driving is a quick way to put oneself into the hospital, or worse. There is no end to the good arguments for curbing drunk driving, while there is no legitimate rationale to defend the practice. Every year, tens of thousands of people are hurt or killed by drunken drivers, including the offenders themselves. Even when there are no other factors that might contribute to a crash, just being impaired can be a cause in and of itself for a serious or fatal traffic accident.

As Maryland personal injury lawyers, I and my staff understand how circumstances can conspire to create the opportunity for a tragic car, truck or motorcycle accident. How a driver reacts when such conditions occur can make the difference between a simple fender-bender, a serious roadway collision, or a fatal car or commercial truck wreck. A driver who actively drinks and drives only increases the chances of his or her being less able to respond quickly to an accident situation.

One type of automobile crash can be caused by a failure of a car or truck's safety or critical operating systems, such as steering or braking component failure or malfunction. When a defective component that is critical to controlling a vehicle fails, the driver may not be able to avoid an accident. Being drunk at the time of a catastrophic mechanical failure only makes it more difficult to react to the event.

Continue reading "Maryland Auto Accident News: Police Suspect Faulty Wheel and Alcohol in Baltimore Beltway Single-car Crash" »

For those who think that winning a defective vehicle suit following an injury-related traffic accident or fatal roadway crash involving a car, truck or motorcycle, you may want to reconsider. As much as it is heartening to believe you have an open and shut case of product liability, the fact is these kinds of law suits are typically heard by juries that may or may not understand the technical details involved.

Furthermore, as Baltimore auto accident lawyers and Maryland personal injury attorneys, we know that bringing in a professional or expert witness for the plaintiff’s side is more than a good idea; it’s often necessary if the court is to allow a case to continue. In the interest of justice, having all the necessary tools at one’s disposal can make the difference between winning a case on its merits, or losing due to partial measures.

A recently-decided appellate case (D. Show and M. Federici v. Ford Motor Company) demonstrates what can happen if the plaintiff either chooses not to hire an expert witness or believes his or her case can stand on the general facts alone. In this particular instance, the plaintiffs’ 1993 Ford Explorer was involved in a traffic collision, during which the SUV rolled over, injuring the occupants, David Show and Maria Federici.

According to court records, the plaintiffs’ vehicle was moving through a roadway intersection at about 30mph when it was hit by another car in the vicinity of its left-rear wheel. As a result of the impact, the Explorer rolled over. In such cases, it’s not uncommon for the driver and passengers inside the vehicle to receive injuries ranging from cuts and bruises to broken bones and closed-head trauma. Under some circumstances, fatalities can result from a car crash such as this.

In bringing their suit against Ford, Show and Federici contended that the Explorer was defective because its design rendered it unstable. However, the basis for this claim was apparently insufficient and the suit was removed under the diversity jurisdiction and the parties consented to a final decision by a magistrate judge.

Unfortunately for the plaintiffs, they failed to designate an expert to testify regarding the vehicle’s design as it applied to stability and operational control of the vehicle. Because of this, the magistrate judge ruled that the lawsuit could not go forward without the necessary expert testimony, granting summary judgment to Ford Motor Company.

Continue reading "Maryland Injury Law Update: Defective Vehicle Suit? Having Expert Witnesses Can Make or Break a Case" »

Few would argue that most any car, truck or motorcycle accident has the potential for serious personal injury or even death. Certainly, even the most minor of automobile wrecks has the capability of causing a fair amount of bodily injury, if the circumstances are right. In fact, there should be no surprise to know that seatbelt usage and well-designed airbag systems can be life savers in low to medium speed accidents.

Striking one’s head on a hard automotive interior surface during a medium- to high-speed road accident can result in not only deep cuts and blood loss, but may also cause traumatic brain injury that can potentially lead to temporary or permanent disability. Emergency responders arriving at the scene of a mild to severe auto, bike or commercial trucking crash will usually recommend that victims be treated by a doctor to rule out any serious complications from a bump to the head.

Traumatic brain injury, also referred to as closed-head trauma, can result in a number of problems, some immediate and others that may develop over time. Along with head and neck injuries, damage to a person’s spinal cord can also have deleterious effects on one’s current and future health, not to mention the ability to hold a job and make a living for one’s family.

Of course, when considering any possible traffic wreck, preventing injury would be the first line of defense, which includes avoiding accidents altogether, or at the very least lessening the effects of a crash.

Continue reading "Maryland Rollover Accidents Represent One of the Most Dangerous and Catastrophic Roadway Crashes" »

Some things that occur in this life are just not right, and everybody knows it. When an individual is seriously hurt or killed in a traffic accident, there are no words that one can say to the family of that victim, yet as friends, relatives and neighbors we try to offer some measure of comfort and condolence. Large organizations, while comprised of living, thinking and feeling persons, are less adept at providing a sympathetic ear or shoulder on which to cry.

As Maryland personal injury lawyers who serve the residents of Baltimore, Frederick, Hagerstown and the District, we see on a regular basis the pain and suffering that families and individual experience following horrendous trucking accidents, automobile collisions and motorcycle wrecks. The fact is, there are no words that can adequately ease the grief of a mother or father that has lost a son or daughter to a tragic roadway accident.

A while back, in May of this year, a young woman died in a fatal single-vehicle car crash along a stretch of Rte 32 in Columbia, MD. At the time, 21-year-old Sarah Stebbins was planning to enter Howard Community College in the fall. A 2008 graduate of Howard High School, Stebbins was a racing enthusiast and, according to news account, an award-winning equestrian rider; on the day of her death, Stebbins was coming home from her job at the Gray Pony Saddle and Tack Shop in Highland, Maryland.

According to news reports, the woman died when her vehicle crashed into a guardrail on Rte 32 after she apparently lost control of the vehicle. No mention was made in this latest news item whether or not the accident was a result of driver error or defective vehicle equipment. However, that is not the crux of the story.

Continue reading "State of Maryland Bills Deceased Driver for Damage to Guardrail following Fatal Rte 32 Car Accident" »

How often have we all read the words, “Accident victims were evacuated to local hospitals by Medevac helicopter,” yet it’s not often that people give much thought to the life-saving advantages of a medical chopper flight to a not-so-local hospital. While many readers might consider medevac services truly useful only when an individual is injured in car accident that occurs in a remote part of the countryside, such as a state park or other more rural setting, it’s not uncommon to have emergency responders call for a medical evacuation chopper in instances where the best medical care more than a 30-minute ambulance ride from the scene of a severe car or pedestrian traffic accident.

The fact is, medevac helicopters can get a person injured in an auto accident to the right medical facility for treatment of specific or life-threatening injuries. It can be said that in a percentage of accidents, just taking an injured driver or passenger to the closest hospital may not be in that person’s best interest. This is especially clear in cases of traumatic brain injury -- also known as closed-head injury -- where the nearest local medical facility is poorly equipped for such specific and critical care.

As Baltimore auto accident lawyers and Maryland personal injury attorneys, I and my staff understand the importance of getting a car, truck or motorcycle accident victim stabilized as quickly as possible to avoid future complications. So many factors come into play following a highway collision that only the medical personnel at the scene can assess each victim and determine the most immediate and effective care.

Continue reading "Baltimore Auto Accident News: Medevac Choppers Help Get Victims of Traffic Accidents to Hospitals Quickly" »

Although it’s difficult to imagine, at least for those who haven’t been in a car crash, a single-vehicle accident can be quite serious for those involved. And while the circumstances of a single-car or single-truck wreck are unique, the results are typically similar depending on the severity of the crash and the type of vehicle involved.

As personal injury attorneys serving residents of Baltimore, Frederick, Hagerstown and Washington, D.C., we have experience in helping victims of car, truck and motorcycle accidents. It’s probably true that a single-vehicle auto accident can cause as much damage and bodily harm as a multi-vehicle collision, naturally when more than one vehicle is involved the number of occupants caught up in a crash can up the ante from an injury standpoint.

In single-vehicle accidents, again depending on the circumstances, police and auto accident lawyers look at all the possible causes. While driver error is certainly at the top of the list, other factors such as weather, road conditions and even the vehicle’s mechanical condition are considered as potential contributing factors. In the case of mechanical problems, there is always a chance that a faulty component or other critical part may have caused the accident, or at least exacerbated the outcome for the victims.

Faulty safety equipment, such as airbags, seatbelts and car seats, can result in more serious injuries than typical for a car in perfect operating condition. Poorly maintained vehicle equipment, such as tires and brakes, may have contributed to the accident by not allowing the driver to avoid a collision or cause the vehicle to go out of control and result in a secondary crash.

Whatever the cause, the police investigators typically look for the causes of an accident and other factors that may have contributed to the severity of the wreck. Insurance companies will always have their own people looking into the cause of a car, bike or commercial trucking accident. The evidence that turns up will likely drive the course of the investigation, insurance claims and subsequent law suits, if any.

Continue reading "Baltimore Auto Accident News: Maryland Woman Dies in Single-car Anne Arundel County Rollover Crash" »

Any time a vehicle rolls over following a multiple-vehicle traffic collision or single-car wreck, the occupants of that car, minivan or SUV could be injured in a number of ways. Besides being thrown against numerous hard surfaces within the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle as it rolls, occupants have been known to be ejected during such a crash event.

As Maryland personal injury lawyers representing victims of serious traffic accidents, I and my colleagues know that half of all deaths in rollover vehicle crashes are the result of a person being thrown from the vehicle. Rollovers are rather common with sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) as well as large, 15-passenger vans, mainly due to these vehicles’ higher centers of gravity. But even smaller passenger cars have been known to roll over given the right circumstances.

In any case, it is well known that a vehicle’s occupants are much more likely to be killed or seriously injured if they are ejected from the car or truck during a crash. This is because of the much higher chances that a person will come in contact with a hard object, which can result in traumatic brain or spinal injuries, paralysis, internal bleeding and multiple fractures.

A recent news article described a two-car traffic wreck along a stretch of Interstate 95 that sent two people to the hospital. According to reports, a Honda Accord and a Mazda collided together near the I-895 interchange around the border of Baltimore and Howard counties. According to Maryland State Police, the accident was reported at a little before noon on a Thursday morning.

Based on police reports, the cause of the crash was not known at the time of the news article, however, initial reports indicated that one of the vehicles overturned as a result of the crash. The driver and passenger riding in the Honda were attended to by emergency responders before being taken to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center after a Thursday morning collision near the Baltimore-Howard County line. The Mazda’s driver was reportedly uninjured, according to state police.

No mention was made of whether the accident was caused by human error or as a result of defective vehicle equipment, such as faulty steering system components or a blown tire. Police investigators were apparently still looking into the crash at the time fo the news article.

Vehicle Overturns on I-95, Sends Two to Shock Trauma, Patch.com, March 3, 2011

Many vehicle accidents happen for reasons not initially understood. Although driver error is many times to blame, other factors such as bad weather conditions, improper signage or a poorly-designed roadway can contribute to a serious car, truck or motorcycle accident. When fault is found with a driver, numerous reasons are possible including impairment due to alcohol or improper prescription drug use, drowsy driving, distracted driving due to cellphone operation, or medical emergency, as well as others.

As Baltimore car accident attorneys and Maryland personal injury lawyers, our job is to find evidence of negligence on a driver’s part that may have led to a collision that injured another individual. In instances of a fatal wreck, there is always the possibility of a wrongful death lawsuit depending on the circumstances and facts specific to that case. Occasionally, an accident is caused by failure of a critical automotive component, such as a steering tierod, brake system part, poorly maintained tires, or a damaged suspension component, among others.

Not long ago, 69-year-old Ray S. Linebaugh died in a collision with a Megabus parked on the shoulder along a stretch of I-70. Linebaugh, a Hagerstown resident and former head of the Joint Veterans Council of Washington County, was reportedly driving westbound on the freeway when for some reason his pickup truck veered across the median and entered the opposing traffic lanes near the Big Pool exit.

Based on police reports, Linebaugh’s vehicle careened into the disabled bus as it was parked on the roadside awaiting for a repair vehicle and second bus to transfer the passengers. Linebaugh was declared dead at the scene, while several other people who were passengers on the bus received minor injuries and were taken to the hospital.

Police reported that another vehicle carrying a woman and her two children crashed as the driver attempted to avoid the out-of-control pickup truck as it crossed the eastbound lanes. The mother and kids also received injuries as a result of the incident and were taken to the hospital for treatment.

Continue reading "Washington County, MD, Accident News: Hagerstown Man Killed in Multi-car Crash on Interstate 70" »

Bodily injuries suffered as a result of an automobile accident can range from minor cuts and bruises, to broken bones and closed-head injuries. The latter, also referred to as traumatic brain injuries, can spell serious trouble for victims of traffic collisions. Yet as scary as head trauma can be, the recovery can turn out to be quite amazing, according to some experts.

As a Baltimore car and truck accident lawyer and Maryland personal injury attorney, I and my colleagues have seen the aftermath of many car, truck and motorcycle wrecks, as well as the human toll. But as the story of U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords has shown, the road to recovery from traumatic brain injury can be just this side of miraculous.

While it’s surely too early to tell -- according to medical professionals a patient’s progress in this area is best measured at the six- to 12-month mark following a closed-head injury -- Ms. Giffords progress shows that there is hope for many people who have suffered serious trauma to the brain.

According to a recent article, while recovery from closed-head injuries can be a long and uncertain road, patients can exhibit recoveries that are nothing short of amazing. Experts in this medical field urge caution and remind the public that traumatic brain injuries take many forms and lead to various outcomes.

Gunshot wounds to the head, as well as serious brain injuries caused by high-speed car and motorcycle crashes can result in extensive damage to the various parts of the brain controlling speech, motor control and memory. Recovery can take years, and start with a grueling routine of speech and physical therapies. Even the most simple tasks have to be relearned, such as getting dressed, eating and speaking again.

Still, it’s no secret that the brain itself has tremendous capacity to rebuild and renew damaged areas. Evidence from research with animals indicates that the brain has the ability to reorganize and regenerate, producing new synapses as it grows additional neurons and blood vessels.

Experts say that the process of recovering from traumatic brain injuries can take years, even after initial improvements. In fact, many victims continue to make progress as far as three to five years later. For Ms. Giffords, we can only wish her the best for a swift and full recovery.

Recovery from traumatic brain injury a long, uncertain road, BaltimoreSun.com, January 21, 2011

Read almost any news story covering a serious rollover accident in Maryland or Washington, D.C., and you will likely learn about a victim who was killed or critically injured as a result of the traffic accident. Drivers who attempt maneuvers at high speeds in a sport utility vehicle or family minivan can sometimes find themselves out of control and possibly flipping the vehicle on its side.

A rollover car, truck or bus crash can cause terrible bodily harm to driver and passengers alike. In cases where passenger restraint devices fail to hold the occupants in place, head and neck injuries can easily result; traumatic brain injury is just one of a number of life-threatening outcomes of these rollover-type car or truck accidents.

As Maryland personal injury lawyers, I and my legal staff have been trained to help victims of car, truck and motorcycle collisions. Sadly, many rollover incidents can be fatal, and not only because of the injuries sustained when an occupant impacts the hard interior surfaces of the vehicle.

Many rollovers can cause one or more occupants to be ejected from the vehicle and onto the roadway. In fact, it is well known that drivers and passengers alike in greater danger of being killed or seriously injured if they are thrown from a vehicle during a crash. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has conducted studies that show vehicle occupants who experience partial or complete ejection from a passenger vehicle are three-times more likely to be killed as those who remain inside the car or truck.

The NHTSA has maintained over the years that seatbelt use is one of the primary ways that a passenger can avoid being ejected from a vehicle involved in a traffic accident. Even so, it was announced not long ago that the federal government has instituted a new law requiring car makers to develop additional countermeasures to help prevent unbelted adult passengers from being thrown from a car or SUV during a crash, according to news reports.

Going into effect in 2013, the new ruling will require every new car or truck under 10,000 lbs to be equipped with this anti-ejection countermeasures by 2018. What this means is that in less than eight years every new vehicle must be able to prevent an unbelted adult passenger from moving any further than 4 inches beyond a vehicle’s side window opening during a traffic accident.

Continue reading "Maryland Rollover Accident Update: New NHTSA Rule Looks to Reduce Occupants Ejected During Automobile Crashes" »

Single-vehicle accidents can be caused by a number of factors, not the least of which is human error. While lapses in judgment or loss of concentration on the highway can lead to a serious auto wreck, mechanical problems can also cause a driver to lose control of a vehicle. In those types of cases, defective vehicle equipment is a likely reason for a crash.

As a Maryland car accident lawyer, I realize that every traffic wreck has its own characteristics, which means that no two accidents can be treated quite the same. All the more reason to enlist the services of a qualified legal professional, especially in situations where someone has lost their life in tragic wreck possibly caused by another individual’s negligence.

A short time ago, a young woman was killed on I-70 in Howard County when she apparently lost control of her vehicle while trying to avoid another, slower moving vehicle. According to police reports, 24-year-old Ashley Marie Matthews was driving a Ford Explorer carrying her and two other passengers. The sport utility vehicle (SUV) was traveling west on I-70 in Ellicott City when it came upon an unidentified white-colored SUV, which was reportedly going slower than Matthew’s Ford.

Apparently in an attempt to avoid hitting the other vehicle, Matthews tried to steer her truck around the other vehicle but could not maintain control of the Ford, according to Maryland State Police. As a result, the Explorer apparently rolled over fatally injuring the driver and seriously injuring the other two passengers.

Emergency responders arriving at the crash site declared Matthews dead at the scene. The other two passengers, 27-year-old Brandon Phillip Gaskins and 22-year-old Trevell Leigh Brooks, were taken transported to Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore for treatment. At the time of the news report, Gaskins was listed in serious condition; Brooks reportedly had non-life-threatening injuries. Based on initial police findings, alcohol and speed were likely major factors in the crash.

State police identify I-70 crash victim, BaltimoreSun.com, January 2, 2011

Anyone who reads the morning paper or clicks on the local news should be no stranger to the stories of so-called rollover traffic accidents that appear on a fairly frequent basis all around the state. With the large number of sport utility vehicles (SUVs) plying Maryland’s highways and rural roads, rollover automobile crashes are not uncommon. As such, serious injuries and occasional fatalities are also quite common in this type of traffic accident scenario.

As a Baltimore personal injury lawyer, my firm has seen its share of victims from these kinds of violent car crashes. A fair percentage of rollover accidents involve a single vehicle, though multi-vehicle collisions can also precipitate a rollover, depending on the situation and road conditions at the time of the accident.

One thing remains relatively consistent for this category of auto wreck; the occupants are at high risk for severe and even fatal injury. This is due the rolling action of the vehicle, which can dislodge an occupant from their seated position and throw the individual against solid objects within the vehicle. Brain trauma, head and neck injuries, and other bodily injury can also result during such events.

Older SUVs in particular may not have sufficient strength in the A-pillar area, which can be crushed and cause the driver or front passenger to come into contact with the roof of the truck. In other cases, an occupant can even be ejected from the vehicle and thrown onto the roadway.

Depending on various factors, a rollover can seriously injure one or all of the occupants. Not long ago, a Middletown family was involved in a tragic crash that killed the father and critically injured his wife and hurt their two young kids. According to news reports, 30-year-old Paul V. Haxton driving his family in their 2005 Trailblazer around 6pm when the vehicle failed to negotiate a curve in the road.

The truck reportedly left the roadway and ran into a ditch. Based on police reports, the SUV hit a cement culvert, overturning and then rolling several times. In the process, the man and his wife, 29-year-old Trina Haxton who was sitting in the front passenger seat, were both ejected from the truck.

According to the news report, the father was pronounced dead at the scene. The mother survived the crash and was taken by helicopter to Baltimore Shock Trauma where she was listed in critical condition. The couple’s two children, 4-year-old Lyndsey and 6-year-old Hayley, were sitting in the back seat and reportedly suffered only minor injuries -- they were both taken to Kent General Hospital for medical treatment and later released, according to police.

Middletown man dies in Christmas Eve crash, DelmarvaNow.com, December 25, 2010

A rollover accident, no matter what the circumstances, adds an extra level of danger and potential injury for the occupants of that vehicle. While minivans, SUVs and pickup trucks are prime candidates for rollover accidents due to their inherently higher center of gravity, even passenger sedans and other relatively short vehicles have been known to roll over during a traffic accident.

When a rollover crash occurs, the relatively weak roof supporting structure of some vehicles can collapse, causing injury to the driver and other occupants of the car or truck. Traumatic head and neck injuries can be sustained in such wrecks, both of which can cause life-threatening or life-altering medical conditions. Fatalities are quite common in such accidents.

As a Maryland auto accident lawyer, I and my staff have the skills to represent victims of such accidents who wish to recover costs such as medical expenses, lost wages and other financial troubles caused as a result of this kind of horrendous crash.

Based on news reports, a single-vehicle rollover accident happened along Rte. 50 in Anne Arundel County near Annapolis, MD, injuring a number of the vehicle’s occupants. According to the Anne Arundel Co. Fire Department, a total of seven persons were hurt as a result of the incident.

Reports indicate that the accident happened in the early afternoon on a Saturday. After apparently receiving word of a car wreck, emergency responders arriving on the scene found a rolled over white sedan near the northbound lane of Route 50. Fire department officials stated that all seven passengers sustained some kind of injury as a result of the crash.

Five adults -- from 20 to 41 years old -- were treated and then taken to Shock Trauma either by ambulance or helicopter. All had what authorities described as serious but non-life threatening injuries. Medics on the scene also treated two young children -- perhaps only two- and 5-years old. Those kids were taken to the University of Maryland Hospital in Baltimore with minor injuries.

Although the reason for this rollover was not immediately known, police were still investigating the cause at the time so of the news article.

Vehicle rollerover sends seven to the hospital, ABC2news.com, August 21, 2010

Rollover accidents can result in rather serious, if not life-threatening injuries. As Maryland personal injury lawyers and car accident attorneys, I and my staff have seen dozens of automobile, motorcycle and trucking accident victims throughout our careers.

Most traffic accidents result in some kind of bodily injury, but when it comes to rollovers, head and neck injuries are much more common. Depending on the circumstances, an occupant who is not belted-in can occasionally be ejected from the vehicle during the crash, which usually means severe injuries and many times can result in an untimely death.

It’s a sad fact that a family who loses a bread-winner -- such as a single working mom or a father who is trying to hold down multiple jobs to support the family -- has a much harder time of it when a motor vehicle fatality takes a life. That moment can come quickly and unexpectedly -- there is never a good time for any life altering car accident to happen, especially to the survivors.

Not long ago, a Hagerstown resident was critically injured during a single-vehicle accident along Burnside Bridge Road. According to police, 45-year-old Jeffrey Rehfeld was driving his pickup truck in Sharpsburg near the 18300 block of Burnside Bridge Rd in the late afternoon. Just after 4pm, the man apparently lost control of the truck, which went off the right side of the road, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

Based on police reports, Rehfeld must have overcorrected, causing the truck to skid across the road, then after hitting an embankment it rolled at least one time. Emergency responders arriving at the scene of the crash apparently provided medical aid to the motorist before transporting him to R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore.

At the time of the news report, the victim was listed in critical condition. Washington County Sheriff's Office will likely investigate the causes of the crash, although no mention was made as to whether defective vehicle equipment was to blame for the driver initially losing control of the truck.

Hagerstown man critically injured in crash, HeraldMail.com, August 31, 2010

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Automobile wrecks, including trucking-related crashes, can cause severe injuries to drivers and passengers. Traffic accidents on high-speed roads can result in even worse injuries and sometimes fatalities. When it comes to vehicles with higher centers of gravity, a rollover accident is very possible depending on the circumstances. Head, neck and back injuries can result when an SUV, minivan or other large vehicle rolls over on the highway.

Being Maryland auto accident attorneys, my office sees numerous victims of rollover crashes every year. The cost of medical care and reticence on the part of insurance companies to pay claims only makes the physical injuries of a car, motorcycle or trucking-related accident that much more painful. Recovering from cuts and bruises, spinal damage and traumatic brain injury is just the start of a traffic accident victim’s path to normalcy.

Recently a double rollover accident caused injury to three individuals on Maryland’s Route 665 near Annapolis. According to news reports, the crash occurred in the late morning when two vehicles collided and rolled over on in the westbound lanes of Route 665. Based on information from the fire department officials, it took 12 firefighters almost 10 minutes to free a 31-year-old woman trapped inside one of the vehicles.

That victim was treated at the scene and then transported to Baltimore’s Maryland Shock Trauma Center with reportedly life-threatening injuries. Two other people in the second vehicle also suffered serious injuries during the ordeal. According to the news reports, a 73-year-old woman and 76-year-old man were taken by ambulance to the shock trauma center for treatment of their injuries.

Three injured in rollover crash, HometownAnnapolis.com, March 1, 2010

Being personal injury lawyers representing individuals in Maryland and Washington D.C., our office sees the sad results of car, truck and SUV accidents every month. Although many traffic collisions do not cause fatalities, these kinds of auto wrecks can produce serious and long-term injury to one or more passengers in a vehicle. Pedestrians as well can be affected by car and truck accidents in city centers.

Cuts and bruises are the most minor of injuries, but during high-speed collisions head, neck and spinal damage can easily be sustained by the occupants of a vehicle. While seatbelts and airbags do provide a fair amount of protection, severe and sometimes fatal injuries often do occur.

Tramatic Brain InjuriesHead injuries, many times referred to as traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are very commonplace in emergency rooms across Maryland and the rest of the U.S. More than a million people receive some kind of TBI every year as a result of a car, minivan, SUV or pickup truck crash. Traumatic brain injuries are usually caused by a blow to the head, quite uncommon in medium- to high-speed car or truck accidents. The impact from such a crash can cause a disruption of the brain's neurological functions, the severity of which can range from a mild concussion to severe brain damage, coma, or even death.

It’s a known fact that more than five million persons across the U.S. are living with disabilities caused by a TBI incident. The leading causes of these injuries include motor vehicle crashes, motorcycle or bicycle accidents, even slip-and-fall accidents. When such accidents occur due to another person’s negligence, this is cause for a possible legal suit.

Spinal Cord Injury
Car accidents can also result in serious back and neck injuries. Anyone who can walk away from a high-speed trucking accident or car crash can count themselves lucky, however it is possible to sustain a spinal cord injury in such accidents, the effects of which could remain with you for months or years to come.

The most common types of spinal cord injuries (also known as SCIs) are the compression type as well as the contusion type. A compression injury to a person’s back can cause excess pressure on the individual’s spinal column, including the flexible discs separating the individual vertebrae. A contusion type of injury can result in bruising of the spinal cord.

As with severe head trauma, a person suffering from these types of traumatic spinal injuries, caused by or resulting from another individual’s negligence, should consider seeking the services of a qualified legal professional. Because of the potential lingering effects of such spine-related injuries, no one should take themselves for granted. Your health is one of your most important assets, and you must protect yourself.

It is quite tragic when any person dies from a preventable accident. The sorrow and grief attached to an event such as a traffic collision or highway rollover accident can shock a family to its core. As a Maryland auto accident and personal injury lawyer, I have first-hand experience helping individuals and relatives recover from such a heartrending loss.

Whether you live in Frederick, Rockville Bowie or Hagerstown, the loss of a loved one from a car or truck wreck can leave deep wounds, both emotionally and financially. The pain can be even worse if that accident was found to be the result of another person’s negligence or thoughtless behavior. In cases such as this, it may be appropriate to file a wrongful death claim against the party that caused the accident in the first place.

Claims of this type give the family of the victim a chance to receive compensation for the loss of their loved one. While financial reparations can never substitute for the loss of love, companionship and intimacy after the death of a family member, the award for such a wrongful death claim can easy the suffering and help the family survive that huge loss.

It is must be repeated that the loss referred to here includes not only the deceased himself but also to the loss of the comfort, love and financial support that the individual would have provided to his family if the tragic event had not occurred in the first place.

Sadly, many automobile accidents do result in the death of one or more occupants. This can be dependent on the speed and road conditions at the time of the crash as well as the number of other vehicles involved. Variability of these factors can mean the difference between a simple fender-bender and a life-ending event, which can be caused by fatal head injuries or other effects. When another party is at fault, there is a chance that wrongful death is involved.

Please remember that the death of a loved one doesn’t does not take away the family's rights to be compensated for their loss. Nor does it preclude recovery for the suffering and pain of the person who has died because of the wrongful or negligent act.

Continue reading "Baltimore Traffic Accident Update: Fatal SUV and Car Crashes may Trigger Wrongful Death Law Suits" »

No matter where you live or work in Maryland, be it Owings Mills, The District, Annapolis or Columbia, car wrecks, pickup truck crashes and SUV rollovers can happen without notice. In fact, traffic accidents across the state injure hundreds of people every year. Some of those injuries and even a few deaths could likely have been prevented had the occupants been wearing their seatbelts.

As an experienced auto accident lawyer in the Baltimore area, my years of helping others recover from injury accidents have taught me that certain habits can save lives; others, however, can sadly contribute to the loss of life on our public streets and highways. One habit I’m always happy to see is when a person buckles that safety belt. It’s a small part of every driver’s daily ritual, but it’s a significant one.

Seatbelt use is usually pointed at as one of the top reasons why people survive automobile wrecks. There are many out there, I suspect, who feel that airbags and other safety devices do a better job, but that’s not necessarily true -- all of these systems work together to imporve passenger safety. As basic as they may seem, safety belts play a key role in protecting occupants in the case of severe traffic accidents, including head-on collisions, roll-over accidents and other potentially fatal crashes.

It makes little difference what type of vehicle you drive -- SUV, pickup truck, luxury sedan or economy passenger car -- wearing your seatbelt mean the difference between living through a bad car or truck accident and dying in one.

Every week, it’s possible to hear more than one news report that shows a crash survivor was using his or her seatbelt at the time of the collision. Similarly, one can also find instances where the lack of safety belt use most likely played a significant role in the death of a driver or passenger. At best, broken bones or traumatic brain injury have been known to occur when an un-belted person impacts a stationary object within the vehicle during a crash.

Rollover accidents in particular are very dramatic and can happen independently, or as a result of an initial collision. This kind of accident can cause serious bodily injuries including broken bones and lacerations, as well as head and spine trauma and internal injuries. Lack of seatbelt use in a rollover crash can be fatal since the occupants themselves become projectiles, occasionally be ejected from the vehicle altogether during the incident.

While it is true that many car and truck accidents cannot be avoided, being prepared for the worse by wearing your seatbelt is an easy way of increasing the odds in your favor -- odds that can often be stacked against automobile drivers and passengers in our fast-paced and many times highly distracted commuting environment.

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