Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog

When Driver Assist Fails After a Serious Crash

March 28, 2026 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Ford’s BlueCruise system is back in the national spotlight after federal investigators scheduled a public hearing on two fatal 2024 crashes involving 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles operating in BlueCruise mode. According to the NTSB, both crashes involved the Ford vehicles striking stationary vehicles at highway speeds, and Reuters reported that no braking or steering input was detected before impact in either event.

That matters because BlueCruise is marketed as a hands-free driver assistance system, not a self-driving system. Even so, the real-world question after a violent crash is rarely as simple as “the driver should have paid more attention.” A serious injury case can raise harder questions about system design, driver monitoring, warnings, foreseeable misuse, and whether the technology performed the way a reasonable consumer would expect.

For Maryland families, this is the kind of story worth watching because more vehicles on local roads now come equipped with partial automation. Systems like BlueCruise can change how a crash is investigated. Electronic data, manufacturer instructions, software behavior, onboard alerts, and event timing may all become central evidence in a case that might once have looked like an ordinary rear-end collision.

Car Accident in Prince George’s County, Maryland: What to Do and How to Protect Your Claim

February 24, 2026 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

A car accident in Prince George’s County can leave you dealing with injuries, vehicle damage, and an insurance company that is already working to limit what it pays. Maryland law gives injured drivers and passengers the right to pursue compensation for medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering — but the steps you take in the hours and days after the crash directly affect the strength of your case. Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers has recovered over $90 million for clients injured in collisions across Maryland, including crashes along the Capital Beltway, Route 301, and the Baltimore-Washington Parkway in Prince George’s County.

What Should You Do After a Car Accident in Prince George’s County?

The actions you take at the scene and in the days that follow create the foundation of your injury claim. Missing even one step can give the insurance company room to dispute your damages.

Waldorf, MD Crash With Multiple Extrications Injures Four Drivers and Passengers

January 30, 2026 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

When a crash is severe enough that firefighters have to cut people out of vehicles, everything gets heavy at once. A normal night turns into ambulance rides, worried calls, missed work, and paperwork that shows up before you even feel steady again. Reports out of Waldorf describe an overnight collision that left multiple people trapped and injured, with four taken to hospitals. Families in this spot usually want the same first answer: how fault gets sorted out and how insurance is supposed to cover the damage.

Maryland also adds a tough wrinkle. Insurance companies often look for any argument that the injured person shares blame, and that can block compensation. Staying calm and keeping good records early can make a real difference later, especially when pain and treatment do not follow a neat timeline.

What The Early Reports Say Happened In Waldorf

Wrong-Way DUI Crash On I-95 In Howard County Claims Two Lives

December 6, 2025 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Wrong-way crashes tend to create a certain kind of shock for families, because the collision itself often feels senseless. In the early Sunday morning crash on I-95 near MD 216 in Howard County, Maryland State Police reported that a Toyota traveling the wrong direction struck a Chrysler head-on, leading to two deaths and two people with serious injuries. With a report that alcohol may have played a role, many people immediately wonder how responsibility gets evaluated and which insurance coverage actually pays.

What The Initial Police Information Suggests About Fault

Maryland State Police described the Toyota as traveling southbound in the northbound lanes before the head-on impact. When a driver enters an interstate in the wrong direction, liability often points strongly in that direction, especially when impairment is part of the investigation. Police also reported criminal charges against the Toyota driver that include counts tied to impaired driving and deaths caused by driving conduct.
Even when fault appears clear, a civil claim still runs on evidence. Investigators and insurers generally look at physical roadway signs, debris fields, vehicle damage, event data recorders, surveillance footage if any exists near ramps, and witness accounts. Troopers also reported that the crash involved multiple impacts and required a lengthy response, which often means more documentation, more reconstruction work, and a longer timeline before a final investigative file is complete.

Maryland Car Crash Claims After Smith v. Sheehan And Pre-Impact Fright Damages

November 22, 2025 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Maryland’s appellate court recently clarified that in some car accident cases, you can recover for the fear you feel in the seconds before a second collision, not just for the physical impact itself. In Smith v. Sheehan, the court confirmed that “pre-impact fright” is a valid category of non-economic damages when supported by evidence, including objective signs of emotional distress. This ruling can increase the compensation available in serious Maryland car crash claims, especially multi-impact collisions.

If you lived through a terrifying sequence where your vehicle spun, slid, or headed toward another impact, that emotional experience may be compensable in addition to your physical injuries. Understanding how the court views pre-impact fright helps you and your lawyer build a more substantial claim from the start.

How Smith v. Sheehan Changed The Conversation About Fear During A Crash

In Smith v. Sheehan, a driver in Baltimore County felt a violent rear-end impact that sent her car spinning into a guardrail. She testified that after the first hit, she screamed, prayed, and believed she might die before the second impact. The trial judge refused to give a jury instruction on pre-impact fright, reasoning that the doctrine only applied before the first impact, which she did not see coming. The jury awarded modest non-economic damages, and the plaintiff appealed.

Maryland Car Accident Attorneys Address Dangers of Poorly Designed Roadways

October 31, 2025 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

A recent pedestrian death in Harford County has once again raised questions about safety along Route 1. The victim was struck and killed while attempting to cross the busy road, highlighting ongoing concerns about whether state and local authorities are doing enough to protect the public.

If you are injured on a dangerous roadway, liability may extend beyond individual drivers. Government agencies and contractors can sometimes be held accountable when roadway design, poor maintenance, or delayed safety upgrades contribute to a fatal or life-altering crash. Speaking with an attorney can help you determine whether your case involves this type of claim.

How Roadway Design Can Increase the Risk of Accidents

Fatal Collisions Involving Fleeing Drivers Threaten Innocent Maryland Bystanders

September 30, 2025 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

If a loved one was killed or injured when a driver fled police pursuit, you may feel overwhelmed, but you are not without legal recourse. Recent incidents in Prince George’s County reveal a troubling spike in civilian casualties. Over two months, three innocent people, including a 3‑year‑old child, lost their lives in crashes caused by drivers attempting to evade law enforcement. Those families now face the challenge of seeking justice when the criminal system may not fully account for civil losses.

Even though drivers may face criminal charges like vehicular manslaughter or DUI, the civil courts evaluate wrongful death and injury based on negligence. That standard focuses on whether a driver caused harm through reckless or dangerous conduct. When officials confirm the driver had other options and chose to flee, that may support compensation claims, even if criminal charges lag.

How Maryland Law Applies to Victims of Reckless Police Pursuits

Maryland recognizes wrongful death claims when someone dies due to another’s negligent actions. A driver who flees from police engages in reckless behavior and may be liable for resulting harm to bystanders. Even if charges are pending or unresolved, civil courts will assess whether that behavior caused loss and emotional suffering.

Pursuing a Wrongful Death Claim After a Montgomery County Rollover Collision

August 31, 2025 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Rollover collisions are among the most hazardous events on the road. When a vehicle flips, seat belts may fail, structural damage can be catastrophic, and occupants often suffer serious head or spinal injuries. In this case, the woman was thrown from her vehicle, which often signals a high-speed impact or angle of collision that overwhelms the car’s safety systems.

When a left turn is involved, investigators will look closely at who had the right of way and whether speed or distraction contributed to the crash. Your attorney can request accident reconstruction reports, camera footage, and black box data to build a complete picture of what happened.

What a Wrongful Death Claim Can Provide

What Maryland Drivers Should Know After the Fatal Head‑On Crash in Fort Washington

July 22, 2025 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

A fatal head-on collision on Allentown Road in Fort Washington on June 20, 2025, left one person dead and two others injured after a vehicle reportedly crossed into the opposite lane. Incidents like this raise difficult legal and practical questions for those affected, including how fault is determined and what recourse may exist under Maryland law.

When a serious crash occurs, especially one involving a fatality, issues of liability, insurance, and recovery often follow quickly. In Maryland, understanding how civil claims work after a collision can help clarify what steps are available in the aftermath of a traumatic event.

Why Head‑On Crashes Cause Such Severe Consequences

New Maryland DUI Law Raises Serious Safety Concerns for D.C. Drivers and Victims

July 4, 2025 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

As of June 1, 2025, Maryland has enacted new laws increasing penalties for drivers convicted of driving under the influence. While these changes may seem like a matter for criminal courts, they also reflect an ongoing threat to public safety. For families in Washington, D.C., where roads and drivers constantly cross state lines, these changes signal heightened risks for anyone sharing the road with an impaired driver.

The rise in penalties should not only deter drunk driving but also reinforce the seriousness of the harm impaired drivers cause. If you or someone you love has been injured in a crash involving alcohol or drugs, these new rules strengthen the argument for full civil accountability.

What Changed on June 1 and Why It Matters

The new law assigns twelve points on a Maryland driver’s license for any DUI conviction. That point level results in immediate license revocation. In addition, Maryland has expanded its ignition interlock requirements under Noah’s Law, applying the device more broadly even for drivers receiving probation before judgment. According to coverage from WBAL and CBS News Baltimore, the law also targets repeat offenders more aggressively and increases state patrol enforcement during high-risk periods like summer holidays.

These changes matter for D.C. residents because Maryland drivers routinely enter the District for work, recreation, or travel. A driver impaired in Prince George’s County can cause life-altering harm just minutes from downtown D.C. In many personal injury cases, victims are left to cope with catastrophic injuries, medical debt, and long-term trauma while the driver responsible may simply face administrative penalties. Maryland’s increased penalties demonstrate that the state now recognizes the seriousness of the consequences of impaired driving.