Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog

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

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

Apparently one needn’t be driving, riding in or even remotely thinking about operating a motor vehicle to be involved in a traffic accident. As a Baltimore automobile accident and injury lawyer, I have heard about some rather interesting car collisions in my time. From single-car wrecks and auto-pedestrian collisions to multiple-vehicle crashes and commercial trucking accidents, Maryland residents are hurt or killed on a surprisingly regular basis on and near our public roadways.

In what could be described as an automobile-restaurant collision, three individuals where hurt and a commercial eatery put temporarily out of business when a motorist apparently lost control of her sport utility vehicle in the Chestnut Hill Shopping Center parking lot and drove straight into the front of a local Vietnamese restaurant in Beltsville, MD.

News reports indicated that a number of customers and restaurant staff were inside the PHO 88 restaurant around half past noon when woman drove her Honda Pilot through the brick and glass storefront of the eatery. According to police reports, three male patrons, reportedly in their 30s, received minor injuries in the crash. The two ladies in the Honda were not injured, according to authorities.

Emergency crews from Prince George's County Fire and EMS responded to the scene following the accident. Responders rendered first aid to the injured men and then transported them to a local hospital for additional treatment and observation. The restaurant itself reportedly sustained significant damage and the local building inspector declared it uninhabitable until the damage could be repaired.

3 injured when car hits restaurant, WashingtonPost.com, June 25, 2010

An alleged illegal immigrant has been charged with negligent driving in connection with a fatal traffic accident on I-83 last month. The single-vehicle crash, which reportedly involved speeding and alcohol use, happened in the early morning hours of June 21. The passenger in that car was killed as a result of the wreck.

As a Baltimore personal injury lawyer and auto accident attorney, my staff has represented victims of car, SUV and truck accidents as well as their families and estates. A fatal car or truck accident leaves a huge hole in the victim’s family, both emotionally and financially. Especially in cases where the victim was the sole breadwinner, his spouse and children can be overwhelmed by the medical costs and loss of income.

Insurance companies may not be very cooperative or take a long time to pay any benefits, leaving the family to cover the mounting expenses at the risk of losing their home and other possessions during what is likely the worst time of their lives.

A recent news report shows how a person can become a victim of a car crash caused in large part by the negligence of another individual. According to reports, 22-year-old Freddy Cortez Flores of Hyattsville was allegedly driving drunk on the morning that he lost control of his vehicle, killing his passenger, Carlos O. Cardoza Portillo, as a result.

Police reports indicate that Flores was driving north along I-83 near Guilford Ave. just before one in the morning. The driver apparently lost control of the car and swerved across the right-hand lanes causing the vehicle to strike the Jersey wall. Investigators believe that Cortez Flores was traveling about 65mph in a 40mph zone.

Portillo, who was wearing a safety belt at the time, was partially ejected following the impact with the wall. He was then dragged against the Jersey wall for nearly 600 feet before the vehicle came to a stop. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officers at the scene noted that Cortez Flores' speech was slurred and they also detected the distinctive smell of alcohol on the man’s breath, according to police reports. In a police interview conducted in Spanish, Cortez Flores said he had swerved to avoid an unknown vehicle that had swerved into his lane. He also admitted to police that he had consumed four beers prior to the accident -- his blood-alcohol level was measured at 0.09 percent.

Although Cortez Flores apparently had a valid Maryland driver's license, Police believe that he was in the U.S. illegally. Officers contacted the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which placed an immigration detainer on the man.

Illegal immigrant charged in I-83 crash that killed passenger, BaltimoreSun.com, June 22, 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

She survived with just cuts and bruises, but Rachel Ankrom is far from fine after a harrowing late-night automobile accident on a Maryland interstate that left three of her friends dead after a nightmarish ordeal. As parents we all worry about our youngsters, teenagers and young adults barely out in the world who have less real-life experience than their mothers and fathers, so it’s natural that we worry about them.

As Baltimore car accident and injury lawyers, my office has represented families who have lost loved ones in tragic car, truck and motorcycle accidents. Whether you are young or old, there is no guarantee that any driver will avoid a deadly traffic accident. While most accidents don’t result in death, the chance of a fatal car, minivan or truck wreck is always present on our highways or rural roads.

A recent news story pointed out how terrible a car accident can be. Sadly, the crash mentioned here took the lives of three individuals, while only one of their group survived to talk about the experience. Based on news accounts, the 18-year-old survivor, Rachel Ankrom of Fayette City, was riding in a vehicle with her friends through Maryland on their way to Ocean City, MD, when the vehicle apparently went out of control.

According to police, the car went off Interstate 68 and rolled down a hill. Investigators believed that excessive speed likely had some hand in the cause of the crash. One testimony to seatbelt use, Ankrom was reportedly the only one of the four occupants who was wearing one, which miraculously saved her life.

Still the youngster did not escape injury. Based on reports, doctors were surprised that she survived. In addition to sustaining cuts and bruises, Ankrom also had a partially collapsed lung, lacerated kidney, bruised spleen and a portion of her part of her ear was torn off. Hospital officials say that the 18-year-old has another seven months of recuperation time yet ahead of her.

The accident apparently took the girl by surprise, who remembered seeing the 46-year-old driver being ejected from the vehicle before losing consciousness herself. Originally in the back seat, when she awoke the next morning she found herself in the front seat. She crawled up the embankment and signaled for help.

Aside from speed, there was no addition information on the cause of this terrible crash, although defective steering components or a blown tire could also have caused the accident. Police likely are looking into a possible factors.

Local Teen Survives Tragic Car Accident, KDKA.com, May 15, 2010

Negligence comes in many forms. Individuals who operate their vehicles in a thoughtless or aggressive manner can cause traffic accidents that result in personal injury. Similarly, the state government and local municipalities have a responsibility to the public’s general welfare, which should include proper maintenance of public roadways, pedestrian sidewalks and other public works-related projects.

Unfortunately, due to ever increasing budget cuts and other belt tightening measures, predictions are cropping up regarding the impact of poor roadway maintenance and its future effect on car, SUV and motorcycle crashes and other road accidents. When safety is compromised, unnecessary property damage and injury can be a result. Wrongful death can also be a result of individual or corporate negligence.

As Maryland personal injury lawyers, we travel the same city streets and rural roads that everyone does. Single-vehicle accidents can be caused by damaged pavement or deteriorating roadway and traffic control infrastructure. Sadly, it appears that the current economic downturn will cause more vehicle damage and could even result in some unnecessary fatalities.

According to a recent report from the U.S. Public Interest Research Group Education Fund, Maryland motorists already pay an added $425 in vehicle costs because of rough roads -- this is more than 25 percent higher than the national average of $335. The report looks at how states applied federal funds for maintenance of their aging highways and bridges. While Maryland has a history of major road construction, the report makes a point to praise the state for targeting funds at repair of infrastructure ahead of funding new construction.

Reportedly, Maryland drivers have certainly felt the impact of poorly maintained roads. According to the report, in 2008 the state ranked 37th (in percentage of road quality) with 41 percent of roads in "less than good" condition. Compare that to the national average of 45 percent. What probably won’t come as a surprise to many drivers, Baltimore had the 15th-highest additional repair and vehicle accident costs due to poor roads -- $589 per year.

One bright spot, if you can call it that was the finding that -- as of December 2009 -- only seven percent of Maryland’s bridges were categorized as "structurally deficient," defined as having a major defect in either the supporting structure or a crack in the roadway. While anything short of 100-percent safe should be of concern, compared to the national average of 12 percent, Maryland is doing better than most states.

Continue reading "Maryland Drivers Expect More Roadway-related Accidents; More Vehicle Repairs Due to Poor Road Conditions" »

Single-vehicle auto wrecks can happen for a variety of reasons. While driver error is quite common, other causes can be attributed to these kinds of traffic accidents, with results ranging from simple cuts and bruises to head and spine trauma. Depending on the sped of the crash and other circumstances, fatalities are not uncommon.

Weather conditions as well as the state of the roadway can also be contributing factors in a car crash involving only one vehicle. As Maryland automobile accident lawyers, we are often called upon to represent individuals and their families in cases of defective vehicle equipment. Such cases can include failure of safety systems, broken or poorly maintained steering components, worn or damaged tires or suspension components.

Under the right circumstances, a defective vehicle component can prove to be an accident waiting to happen. At highway speeds, such component failures can result in death or severe injury to the driver and passengers. A recent accident along Route 301 near Mill Branch Road is a situation where defective equipment may be suspect.

Although police accident investigators had not yet determined a cause, the accident in question took the life of 62-year-old Nancy Lynne Jackson of Wakefield Lane in Bowie, MD. According to Maryland State Police, Jackson apparently lost control of her 2003 Toyota Camry while traveling northbound along the highway.

For an unknown reason, the woman’s car veered off the road and into a wooded area. Police responding to the crash around 2:30pm apparently found Jackson dead at the scene and confirmed by the forensic medical examiner. Police reports indicate that Jackson was the sole occupant of the vehicle and no other cars were involved in the accident, according to the State Police.

Bowie woman dies in single car crash, Gazette.net, April 18, 2010

Everyone is concerned over maintaining the safety of their loved ones. Relatives and close friends all hope for the safe arrival of families traveling across the state or just across town. One group that gets a considerable amount of attention are those younger folks in their teens and growing up to be adults. As a Maryland injury lawyer and auto accident attorney, I’ve seen the statistics and I know how scary it is for parents of teens and young adults.

When it comes to car, truck and motorcycle accidents, young people are definitely over represented in terms of deaths and injuries sustained on the road. It’s not surprising then that parents go grey just about the time their kids take their first driving lessons. While it’s difficult to change the habits of entire age groups, a recent article gave us hope that here in Maryland, parents can sleep somewhat more soundly at night.

According to a news article, automobile accident statistics support the notion that young people (those aged 15-20 years old) are at increased risk of getting into a motor vehicle accident than any other group. It is disheartening to note that while this age group makes up less than seven percent of the general population, it accounts for 14 percent of all car accident cases.

A recent survey of teen driver safety was recently published by U.S. News & World Report magazine. The good news, at lease for Maryland residents, is that our state ranks fourth in a compilation of the best states for teen drivers. Those who live in the District can rest even more soundly, as Washington, D.C., scored the top ranking.

To determine this ranking, researchers looked at 11 indicators affecting teen driving safety. Five were based on U.S. government driving, accident, and road quality statistics, while the other six relied on independent ratings of each state's driving and safety laws from the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

A sampling of the ranking variables include: safety belt, teen driving, DUI/DWI, distracted driving, and motorcycle helmet laws, as well as individual state statistics such as ratings of road conditions, average vehicle miles traveled per capita, and average percent of teens in each state with driver's licenses.

Safest states for teenaged drivers, Examiner.com, March 19, 2010

It’s already been discussed here that a recent study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that cellphone bans do not appear to lower the incidence of traffic accidents. Even so, Maryland legislators are still moving toward a proposed law that will ban hand-held use of cellphones and mobile devices when operating a motor vehicle.

Anything that can reduce automobile and trucking-related highway crashes would be a good thing, since thousands of people are killed in traffic wrecks every year around the U.S. As a Baltimore car accident attorney, I’m on the side of the victims and I know that every driver should be doing his or her part to cut down on the carnage on our public roads.

I’ve seen what can happen to the occupants of a passenger car when it’s hit by another vehicle. Cuts and bruises are the least of the injuries a person can sustain in a crash. Traumatic brain injury is common, as is damage to the neck and spine, any of which can put a person in a wheelchair sometimes for the rest of their life. The question here is would a ban on hand-held cellphones be too much of burden, even if it saved the life of just one person?

Consider your answer carefully because the life you save may be your own, or that of a loved one. An editorial in the Baltimore Sun speaks to this very issue as Maryland faces a ban on hand-held cellphone use.

Of course, nearly every motorist at one time or another has seen all manner of vehicle being driven hazardously. This includes instances of failure to yield where appropriate, drifting into oncoming traffic or suddenly making a turn without an appropriate use of turn signals. I’ll wager that, at least in the past 10 years, these kinds of activities may well have been caused by a so-called distracted driver with a cellphone to his or her ear.

The new Maryland law would restrict driver cellphone use to only hands-free devices. Although it isn’t quite clear that such technology (usually a headset or vehicle-mounted microphone/speaker arrangement) improves matters much, but it may be the new law of the land as Maryland joins the growing number of jurisdictions that ban drivers from using hand-helds.

Continue reading "Baltimore Auto Injury News: Will Banning Hand-held Cell Phones Reduce Fatal Maryland Traffic Accidents?" »

Defective equipment suits, also referred to as product liability lawsuits, against Japanese car manufacturer Toyota are cropping up all over the county. I and my colleagues have the skills and experience to represent individuals who believe their vehicle had a defect that led to an accident involving personal injury or death. Of course, nobody wants to be in an automobile wreck, but from time to time forces beyond a driver’s control can result in a terrible crash.

Head and neck injuries are typical of some high-speed traffic collisions, while bruises, cuts and minor lacerations may be the only injuries in a lower-speed car or semi-truck collision. Whatever the cause, injuries can be costly, not only from a financial standpoint but also over the longer term as some people never fully recover emotionally or physically from a horrible accident.

The latest spate of defective equipment claims against Toyota allege poor accelerator design in a variety of the manufacturer’s models. According to a recent news article, two local D.C. residents have filed suits against Toyota for accidents that left them in need of medical treatment.

The two Washington, D.C., area drivers have joined nearly 300 personal injury and class-action lawsuits filed across the country against Toyota Motor Corporation. In their lawsuits, Andrew Flury of Pasadena, MD, and retired Army Col. Harry Williams of Woodbridge state that they each suffered severe injuries after the Toyota model vehicles they were driving suddenly accelerated.

This unexpected acceleration is an issue that has generated a major recall of millions of Toyota vehicles. In the case of two D.C. residents, their suit blames an electronic throttle system for the unintended acceleration. Reportedly the suit claims that the system also operated without a brake override system that could have prevented throttle problems.

In the cases of Andrew Flury, the suit states that on April 29, 2008, he and his wife were headed to dinner in his 2005 Toyota Echo along Water Street in Baltimore. As he approached a stop sign, Flury said that he applied the brakes but instead of stopping, the car accelerated into the intersection and collided with a sport-utility vehicle.

Flury and his wife were knocked unconscious and suffered head injuries. The husband was in a coma for more than a month. He is now partially paralyzed on his right side and has what his attorney calls "serious cognitive impairments that will affect him for the rest of his life." He has been unable to return to his job as a sales manager for a technical job placement firm.

Two Washington area drivers sue Toyota, alleging acceleration problems in cars, WashingtonPost.com, March 15, 2010

As a Maryland auto accident attorney, I know how costs can add up for the average family. When a car, truck or motorcycle accident causes a wage earner to be hospitalized for injuries suffered during a crash, medical costs and lost earnings can put many families into a terrible bind. Because carrying auto insurance on your vehicle is required by law, premiums are another cost that simply cannot be avoided.

Recently, news out of Annapolis shows that the state legislature is working on a bill that would likely increase insurance premiums for nearly every one of the 61,000 Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund customers. At the time of the news article, the bill passed through the House despite the protestations of the Republican side.

The bill would require policyholders to carry a minimum security of $30,000 for individuals and $60,000 for multiple drivers. Currently those minimums are $20,000 and $40,000 respectively and have not changed since 1972 when MAIF was established following legislation that made auto insurance mandatory.

According to new reports, House GOP leaders argue that the higher premiums would cause some MAIF policyholders to drop their coverage altogether and bump up other insurance carriers' rates. The argument is that this will hurt people at the bottom end of the socioeconomic ladder; effectively a burdensome tax increase.

As law, average premiums in Baltimore city would increase by 9.3 percent, or $174, to $2,035. In inner Prince George's County, rates would go up by 8.2 percent, or $89, to $1,178, according to MAIF estimates. Opponents argue that the increases would put automobile insurance out of reach for some policyholders.

On the other hand, the bill’s supporters say that increasing the minimum security is long overdue. According to a spokesman for the Maryland Association for Justice Inc., "It's to make sure someone who gets injured by a negligent driver is compensated so they can pay their medical bills and receive their lost wages."

The argument for the bill includes the rational that current minimums were set in 1972 when the average household income was $11,800 and gasoline cost 50 cents a gallon. According to the article, the $20,000 minimum security would be equal to $101,600 in today's dollars, which means that the value of that coverage has gone down significantly.

Minimum auto insurance limits could rise, Gazette.net, March 26, 2010

Having seen a number of car, commercial truck and SUV collisions over the past few months, it’s important to remind anyone who has been involved in a recent traffic accident that bodily injuries sustained as a result of a crash should never be compared to the damage that your vehicle may have received.

Why do I say this? The reason is simple, many insurance companies will attempt to paint a victims level of injury with the same brush as that of the vehicle involved in the accident. There is rarely a correlation between the two. And even if there was, you should always consult with a qualified Maryland injury attorney before signing any documents related to the accident.

Having represented hundreds of car-crash victims, I and my staff know that it is very easy for the occupant of a passenger vehicle to become seriously hurt in a traffic accident even though the repairs to the vehicle itself are relatively minor.

When it comes to traffic accidents, human beings aren’t nearly as robust as an iron and steel automobile. Still, defense attorneys and insurance companies tend to make the familiar, yet always deceptive argument that equates vehicle damage to bodily injury. Do not accept this reasoning under any circumstances.

Whether you live in Glen Burnie, the District, Annapolis, or Baltimore, car accidents can and do happen anywhere, any time -- some with horrendous results. Insurance companies will typically attempt to downplay the severity of an accident in an effort to get a reduced settlement for the victim and his family. Very often, they will introduce evidence such as out-of-focus snapshots of the vehicle’s damage, sometimes not even showing the worst aspects of the crash.

With these kinds of techniques, you likely won’t see the lawyers for the insurance company bringing any experts to testify about the direct and causal relationships between the amount of property damage and the extent of the victim’s personal injuries. It’s well known in the medical field that brain trauma as well as neck injuries can result from accidents that result in only slight or moderate damage to the vehicle itself.

My suggestion is not to become one of the hundreds of car crash victims who settle for less than what they deserve simply on the say so of an insurance company representative. Your future and the future happiness of your family is worth the time and effort to consult a professional legal expert. Don’t shortchange yourself unnecessarily.

No matter where you live or work in Maryland, injuries and potential fatalities are always lurking on the road. Even those trained for the worst can be caught off guard by a traffic accident. Whether you drive a passenger car or commercial truck, a surprise on the road can put you or a family member in the hospital. As a Baltimore injury lawyer and auto accident attorney, I understand all too well the worst-case results of a vehicle collision on a highway, city street or rural route.

We read recently of the tragic passing of one of Maryland’s finest, a Prince George’s police officer whose car hit some black ice during a spate of bad weather as he was responding to a call. The single-vehicle crash put the man in the hospital back on February 27. According to reports, 27-year-old Officer Thomas Paul Jensen died on March 9 from injuries he received during that crash.

Officer Jensen had been hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit at Prince George's Hospital Center since the crash that occurred when he lost control of his vehicle on a patch of black ice and collided with a telephone pole in College Park, said a police spokesman.

Jensen was responding to a priority call around 6:55 a.m. to assist the fire department with a disorderly person who was believed to be under the influence of PCP, Copeland said. He was driving on Baltimore Avenue when he lost control at the intersection of Greenbelt Road.

The man, who followed in his father’s steps when he decided to enter into law enforcement, was an avid hockey player and always eager to help out those around him, according to friends and family. In his sad passing, he leaves behind his newlywed wife of just five months.

Prince George's policeman, 27, dies from car accident injuries, Gazette.net, March 11, 2010

In my Baltimore injury law office we often hear of accidents involving service vehicles. Taxi cabs, hire cars, limousines and shuttle busses can all be involved in traffic collisions. As passenger, you can be seriously injured in even the simplest automobile accidents. It doesn’t take much to cause an unbelted occupant of a motor vehicle to sustain broken bones, cuts and bruises and even debilitating injuries.

Every Maryland resident who rides as a passenger in a cab, bus or other type of fare-paying transportation should be aware of the potential problems associated with uninsured carriers. And even if you don’t travel in these potentially costly conveyances, you may have an elderly relative or friend who often uses one to get to and from the supermarket or other metropolitan location.

This is especially important because, as we all know, automobile accidents can happen anywhere, any time. People on a fixed budget will find uninsured cabs and hire cars particularly difficult to turn when they offer such low fares. But you must ask yourself the question, “Is it worth the possibly devastating medical or work-loss costs should you become a victim of that driver’s error or negligence?”

It is important to keep in mind that if you or a loved one becomes injured in a vehicle that is not properly insured, you may have a very difficult time recovering medical and other costs. Legitimate cab and hire car companies are more expensive for many reasons, but one good reason is that they carry the proper insurance. As a Maryland auto accident lawyer, I am well aware of the risks involved in riding with an uninsured or under-insured driver.

And while it may not seem so at the time, hailing a budget-priced cab or hire car could be financially irresponsible if that vehicle is involved in an accident with you riding inside.

Even supermarket managers and owners of grocery stores do not realize the liability that they could incur by allowing uninsured "courtesy drivers" to solicit their customers’ business. These so-called “hackers” operate illegally in part because they do not care to pay for commercial auto insurance, which the law requires.

Based on reports, the Maryland Auto Insurance Fund, which provides coverage for many sedans and taxis, currently has a base rate of about $4,000 per year for such vehicles operating in Baltimore. Hackers may very well have personal auto insurance, but that doesn’t always cover them if they injure a paying customer, especially if they are operating their vehicle without the knowledge of their insurance company.

The point here is you should always think twice when choosing paid transportation. At the time, it may seem penny wise to hail that cheap “hacker” cab rather than a legitimate, yet more expensive insured taxi. But that low fare may not be such a great deal if you are hurt or severely injured in a crash.

With all of the attention being focused on cell phones and other in-vehicle distractions one would think that bans on handheld cellphones and curbs on texting would at least contribute to a reduction in automobile and trucking accidents. As a Maryland injury lawyer in the Baltimore area, I too was surprised to hear the latest news from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

According to news articles, an IIHS Study has determined that cell phone bans have not reduced accidents even though hands-free usage is apparently up. Reportedly, the study looked at the data and came up with this unexpected revelation. Considering just the frequency of traffic accidents prior to and after enactment of laws that ban the use of handheld cellphones, researchers found that there was no discernable reduction in the number of automobile crashes.

The information for this report came from the Highway Loss Data Institute, a research organization funded by the insurance industry. The group reviewed the monthly collision rates for insurance claims for vehicles three years old or newer in the months prior to and after bans on handheld phone use went into effect.

The areas analyzed included New York (November 2001), Washington, D.C. (July 2004), Connecticut (October 2005), and California (July 2008). That data set was then compared with nearby areas that had no ban in place -- for instance, when researchers looked at D.C. they then compared those figures with statewide trends in Virginia and Maryland, and with the city of Baltimore.

Even with adjustments made for economic swings, seasonal changes in driving routines, and other variables, the researchers concluded that laws banning handheld cellphone use simply aren't reducing crashes. Although some might say that handheld use continues, which may be why the trend hasn’t shifted downward, the IIHS still holds to its conclusion.

According to reports, the IIHS has pretty much confirmed that handheld phone use is down in areas with bans in force, which would seem to preclude the argument that the bans simply aren’t working.

So even though large-scale studies by organizations such as the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute has found that drivers using handsets were at several times greater risk of a crash or near-crash when dialing and up to 23.2 times the risk when texting (for truck drivers), the IIHS results are at best confusing.

Continue reading "Maryland Auto Accident News: Insurance Institute Says Cell Phone Bans Don’t Reduce Traffic Wrecks" »

Some have likely heard this said: “That wasn’t such a bad traffic accident; the damage to the vehicle was minimal.” If you haven’t, then you probably have not dealt with an insurance company as a plaintiff in an injury case. Having represented hundreds of victims of car, truck or sport utility vehicle (SUV) crashes, my firm understands that it is quite easy to be seriously hurt in an automobile accident even though the repairs to the vehicle don’t amount to much at all.

This is a case of major bodily injuries, yet relatively minor vehicle or property damage. Sadly, this familiar, yet deceptive argument is used very frequently by defense attorneys and insurance companies when auto collisions are concerned. And it’s one of the best reasons to consult a personal injury lawyer experienced in the area of auto accident law.

Whether you live in Baltimore, Annapolis, Columbia or the D.C. area, car accidents can occur most anywhere, some of them with devastating consequences. Insurance companies many times will try to downplay the extent of an accident to try to justify a reduced settlement to the injured parties. This is done sometimes by introducing evidence in the form of distorted, grainy or out-of-focus photos showing minor vehicle or property damage.

But this is done without offering any expert testimony regarding the direct and causal relationship between the extent of the property damage and the victim’s bodily injuries. Brain trauma as well as neck injuries can occur even when a vehicle has sustained minimal outward damage itself. Yet every year, hundreds of auto accident victims settle for less than what they deserve due to these kinds of tactics.

The purpose of the defense is to disprove, usually by false implication, what has been proven by medical evidence and expert testimony -- typically by a licensed physician. It’s easy to forget how much energy is released – or inflicted on a victim’s body -- as a result of a traffic accident. Yet insurance company attorneys will usually make no mention of the sudden and very high energy forces that are transmitted throughout a motor vehicle in the milliseconds following a collision.

Continue reading "Maryland Auto Injury Update: So-called Minor Car or SUV Accidents can Cause Serious Personal Injury" »

Everyday, families in and around Maryland lose loved ones who have made a difference in the lives of people throughout their community. Unfortunately, a traffic accident can suddenly and tragically put an end to anyone’s life in an instant. The emotional scars that losing a mother, daughter, friend or colleague can last for years, if not forever. As an injury lawyer practicing in the Baltimore area, I help families of victims recover damages from negligent parties who cause fatal car, truck or SUV crashes.

Sadly, any monetary damages can only alleviate the pain of loss. Nothing can bring a person back who has been killed by a careless motorist, drunk driver or deficient product safety. Recently, I was reminded of the senseless randomness of traffic accidents. According to a news article, Alisha Mae Deneen, young teacher from Washington County died in a single-car accident on I-81 at the railroad crossing north of Maugansville Road.

According to the State Police, the accident happened sometime prior to 5:30pm on New Year’s Day after a passer-by noticed the woman’s vehicle on the railroad tracks. Reports indicate that the 31-year-old Deneen was driving a 2009 Infiniti G37x, which apparently crossed the median, overturned and fell on to the tracks below. The exact time of the accident had not been determined at the time of the news article. Emergency personnel found the driver dead at the scene.

A single-vehicle crash can be caused by any number of reasons, from driver error or defective equipment to an animal crossing in front of the vehicle or even debris on the roadway itself. Whatever the cause, police investigators will determine it in time. Meanwhile, Deneen’s family, as well as the students at Clear Spring Elementary School where she taught, will likely miss her dearly.

Deneen remembered for smile, rapport with students, Herald-Mail.com, January 3, 2010

No matter if you’re from Annapolis, Washington, D.C., Baltimore or anywhere else in Maryland, more than one person has seen the result of a roll-over accident on a highway or rural road. Roll-over crashes are particularly common with sport utility vehicles (or SUVs), which have a high center of gravity and can tip over much more easily than a sedan or other low-slung passenger car. Minivans can also be involved in roll-over crashes in Maryland, meaning multiple passengers can be hurt or killed as a result.

As Maryland car accident attorneys, I and my colleagues have represented dozens upon dozens of victims of motor vehicle collisions, including roll-over accidents. Seatbelts, of course, save lives and I stand by their use. But in a roll-over situation, not even a seatbelt can save a person 100 percent of the time.

A recent article pointed up the danger of driving not only an SUV, but also mixing possible drug or alcohol use with vehicle operation. According to reports, an out-of-state motorist was involved in a single-vehicle accident along U.S. 15 near U.S 40. The accident occurred just after 4pm on January 7 when 37-year-old Michael Edward Brooks apparently swerved his sport utility vehicle off the southbound lane of U.S. 15.

The man’s SUV ended up at the bottom of an embankment near West Patrick Street in Frederick County, according to Maryland State Police. After rescue personnel arrived at the scene, the Pennsylvania resident was treated and then flown to Washington County Hospital with several injuries he received when the vehicle overturned during the accident. Fortunately for the driver, it appears that none of his injuries were life-threatening.

Due to the nature of the crash, police investigators checked the interior of the vehicle and found some type of illegal paraphernalia, however charges were still pending at the time of the news report. Emergency workers also rescued the man’s injured dog, which was trapped inside from the SUV. Rescue workers attached to the Independent Hose Company turned the dog over to the Frederick County Animal Control.

SUV driver injured in crash, FrederickNewsPost.com, January 08, 2010

Product liability suits arise out of faulty or poorly designed parts or components. In the case of automobile accidents, defective vehicle equipment, such as tires, steering system parts, brakes or air bags can either result in injury or death, or exacerbate the effects of a car or truck crash. As Maryland auto injury attorneys, my firm understands that car and truck collisions happen for all kinds of reasons including defective equipment.

A defective automobile part or component can cause a driver to lose control of his or her vehicle resulting in a possible traffic accident and personal injury. Depending on what system or safety equipment failed, the resulting wreck can cause injuries from cuts and bruises to serious internal bleeding, damaged organs and even fatal brain or spinal trauma.

According to reports, a 36-year-old Baltimore County resident lost his life when his truck went out of control, slid down an embankment on Mount Carmel Road and crashed. According to police, Richard Winkler III, of the 3200 block of Mount Carmel Road, was driving his 1990 Chevy pickup in the westbound lane near Masemore Road in Parkton just after 11pm when the truck crossed the center line, overturned and rolled down an embankment.

Emergency crews attempted to rescue and revive the man, however he was pronounced dead at the scene. It was unknown at the time if the roll-over was to blame for the man’s death or if he died as the truck hit the bottom of the embankment. Police were unsure, at the time of the report, whether or not the accident was caused by the record-breaking snowfall in the area or if it was due to defective vehicle equipment or driver area. An investigation was no doubt needed to determine the cause.

Man dies after crashing his truck in Parkton, BaltimoreSun.com, December 22, 2009