Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog

Fatal Wrong Way Crash Leaves Nine Injured and One Dead

August 31, 2023 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Automobile accidents involving larger vehicles are trucks can be devastating. The mass, speed, and size of larger vehicles increase the severity of collisions, turning crashes into fatal encounters. Many people have a fundamental understanding of the risks associated with driving near larger vehicles, such as semi-trucks, but not many people just how dangerous these crashes have become. According to the statistical analysis organization Policy Advice, truck accidents have increased by 52% since 2009, and 74% of all fatal passenger vehicle accidents include large trucks. A local news article discussed a recent fatal Maryland automobile crash.

According to the news article about the fatal crash, the accident occurred on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, resulting in one dead and nine injured. According to investigators, a white Mercedes SUV was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of I-270, towards the outer loop of I-495 when it crashed into a Lexus and a Nissan Pathfinder in Montgomery County. In total, five adults in the Lexus were injured and transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital while two adults and three children were injured in the Nissan Pathfinder. The driver of the Nissan, a woman, was transported by an ambulance to a nearby hospital, where she was declared deceased. A 23-year-old man from Macon, Georgia was identified as the alleged wrong-way driver in the white Mercedes SUV. He was arrested with charges pending after initially fleeing the scene after the crash.

What Are Truck Accidents So Dangerous?

Accidents involving trucks, campers, and other large-sized vehicles such as SUVs are more dangerous than other types of collisions for a number of reasons. Trucks, especially very heavy ones such as semi-trucks inherently result in more serious accidents when they are involved in crashes due to their weight, size, and speed. These features similarly make accidents involving SUVs more dangerous, as SUVs tend to be larger than sedans and other standard automobiles. Additionally, the conditions that many truck drivers operate under force them to drive extreme distances, resulting in fatigue. Further, large emergency response trucks, such as fire trucks, are often driving at extremely high speeds and operating under different driving rules than ordinary traffic, creating more opportunities for accidents. Finally, commercial trucks also carry heavy cargo, complicating truck crashes and accidents.

Two Dead in Fatal Maryland Accident

August 22, 2023 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Maryland fatal accidents can occur for a variety of reasons. Drivers may be distracted, speeding, or even operating their vehicle under the influence. When a fatal accident occurs, the responsible driver hurts both victim and their surviving loved ones. After losing a loved one in a fatal Maryland accident, you may wish to hold the responsible party accountable through a wrongful death action.

For example, according to a Maryland State Police news report, two people lost their lives in a multi-vehicle accident. The fatal crash occurred in Prince George’s County on I-95 when a Dodge Charger in the right lane attempted to pass a tractor-trailer by moving to the middle lane. The vehicle then rear-ended a Hyundai Elantra traveling in the left lane, causing both vehicles to veer into opposite sides of the road. The Hyundai then caught fire. Sadly, the Hyundai driver and passenger died at the scene. The Dodge driver was transported to the hospital for his injuries.

How Can You Recover Damages After a Fatal Maryland Accident?

If you have lost a loved one in a fatal Maryland accident, you can bring several actions against the responsible driver. First, you can bring a wrongful death claim, which allows a victim’s loved ones to recover damages so long as the victim, had they survived, would have a claim against the driver. Accordingly, to prevail on a wrongful death claim, the plaintiff must prove the defendant owed the deceased a duty of care, breached that duty through their negligent behavior, that their negligence caused the fatal accident, and that the victim died as a result.

Reckless Driving Suspected in Fatal Three-Car Maryland Crash

July 30, 2023 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

One of the hallmarks of reckless driving is illegal speeding. Unfortunately, the probability of death or serious injury rises with impacts at higher speeds. According to some estimates, the risk of serious death or injury doubles for every ten miles per hour over 50 miles per hour that a vehicle is traveling. As a result, pedestrians and bicyclists struck by cars driving 40 miles per hour are eight times more likely to die than a pedestrian or bicyclist struck at 20 miles per hour. A recent news report detailed a fatal car accident.

According to the news report, the crash occurred in the evening on Tuesday, June 13, when a Mercedes, operated by a 34-year-old man crashed into a Subaru, killing a couple, and causing a third car to be hit. The two people in the Subaru were a 75-year-old man and a 77-year-old woman, both of whom were pronounced dead at the scene by emergency responders. The prosecutor in the case did not state if speed was a factor in the crash, and investigators appear to be waiting for data from the Mercedes to determine the driver was speeding. Law enforcement officials did say, however, that the Subaru had very extensive damage to the side where it was hit. The driver of the Mercedes experienced serious injuries himself and was transported to the hospital. The third car struck, a Hyundai, was also hit by the Mercedes. The driver of the Hyundai experienced minor injuries and was transported to the hospital.

The case is currently being investigated as a case of reckless driving, and the driver of the Mercedes was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree aggravated manslaughter and two counts of second-degree vehicular homicide. He is currently being held pending a pre-trial detention hearing in Superior Court. According to the Department of Transportation, the crash shut down Route 27 for hours on Tuesday evening, as the crash occurred during rush hour.

Alcohol Impairment Suspected to Be the Cause of Fatal Maryland Car Accident

June 30, 2023 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Throughout the nation, alcohol-impaired drivers are a major cause of car accidents. Impaired drivers are extremely dangerous on the roads for a number of reasons. Drivers impaired by alcohol suffer from reduced levels of concentration and slower reaction times when processing their surroundings. Additionally, drunk drivers experience inferior hand-eye coordination and they are more likely to use poor judgment and suffer from memory loss while under the influence. All of these factors greatly increase the likelihood of impaired drivers being involved in car crashes. Signs of impaired drivers on the road include but aren’t limited to, quicker than usual acceleration or deceleration, weaving across the road, erratic breaking, slow responses to traffic signals, or excessively slow driving (10 mph below the speed limit). When driving, exercise extreme caution if you spot any of these signs from other drivers on the road. In 2016, Maryland implemented stricter drunk driving laws throughout the state, including harsher penalties and an Ignition Interlock Program.

How Common Are DUI Accidents in Maryland?

Unfortunately, Maryland sees more than its fair share of alcohol-impaired drivers. Over the last five years, almost 800 people in Maryland have been killed in crashes involving impaired drivers and over 10,000 people per year die throughout the United States in alcohol-impaired crashes. Each year, tens of thousands of people are arrested throughout Maryland for drunk or impaired driving. Maryland currently deploys a specialized team of Maryland State troopers assigned to the State Police Impaired Driving Reduction Effort (SPIDRE) to enforce impaired driving laws. Since 2013, State Troopers in SPIDRE have taken more than 4,000 impaired drivers off of Maryland roads. A recent news report detailed a Maryland car crash.

According to the news report, the fatal accident occurred in the early morning on Thursday, March 1, when a Lincoln MKC traveling north in the southbound lanes of Route 295 near Arundel Mills Boulevard crashed head-on into a Hyundai Tucson. Currently, investigators believe impaired driving may have been a factor in the crash. Maryland State Police responded to the crash around 2:45 am. Investigators said that the driver of the Hyundai Tucson, a 62-year-old woman from Baltimore, Maryland, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Anne Arundel County Fire Department. Two passengers in the Hyundai, a 29-year-old man, and a 33-year-old man, were transported by ambulance to the hospital. The driver of the Lincoln MKC, a 33-year-old woman, was also transported by ambulance to the hospital.

Three-Vehicle Car Crash Involving Alcohol and Speed Leads to One Fatality

May 31, 2023 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Driving while under the influence of alcohol and drugs is never a safe or legal option. Drivers should take care to ensure that they plan ahead if intending on being under the influence by finding other transportation options, such as using a ridesharing app. On top of risking the lives of yourself, your passengers, and other motorists and pedestrians sharing the road, perpetrators can face criminal liability. Different jurisdictions have different protocols for charging perpetrators with crimes depending on the circumstances. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 32 people in the United States die in drunk-driving-related crashes every day.

According to a recent news report, a fatal three-vehicle car crash occurred in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. The crash occurred on southbound Ritchie Highway and Maryley Station Road in Glen Burnie, Maryland. A 35-year-old man was operating a vehicle traveling southbound and approaching an intersection but failed to stop for a red traffic signal. The vehicle struck two vehicles. As a result of the accident, the driver of the first vehicle that was struck was pronounced dead at the scene, while the 35-year-old driver was transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries and his 13-year-old passenger was transported to a medical center with non-life-threatening injuries.

Evidence suggested that the 35-year-old driver may have been under the influence of alcohol and that excessive speed may have also played a role in the accident. The driver is facing multiple criminal charges, including, but not limited to, negligent manslaughter, homicide while under the influence of alcohol, and driving under the influence of alcohol while transporting a minor.

Driving Under the Influence Suspected Cause of Fatal Three Car Maryland Crash

April 28, 2023 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Over the past five years, nearly 800 people in Maryland have been killed in crashes involving impaired drivers and over 10,000 people per year die throughout the United States in alcohol-impaired crashes. Each year, tens of thousands of people are arrested on Maryland roads for drunk or impaired driving. The state currently deploys a specialized team of five trained Maryland State troopers assigned to the State Police Impaired Driving Reduction Effort (SPIDRE) to enforce impaired driving laws. Since 2013, State Troopers in SPIDRE have taken more than 4,000 impaired drivers off of Maryland roads.

What Makes Drunk Driving So Dangerous?

Alcohol-impaired drivers are particularly dangerous for a number of reasons. Impaired drivers have reduced levels of concentration and slower reaction times when processing their surroundings. Additionally, drunk drivers suffer from lesser hand-eye coordination and they are more likely to use poor judgment and suffer from memory loss while under the influence. All of these factors greatly increase the likelihood of impaired drivers being involved in car accidents. Signs of impaired drivers on the road include but aren’t limited to, quick acceleration or deceleration, weaving across the road, erratic breaking, slow response to traffic signals, or excessively slow driving (10 mph below the speed limit). When driving, exercise extreme caution if you spot any of these signs from other drivers on the road. In 2016, Maryland implemented stricter drunk driving laws throughout the state, including harsher penalties and an Ignition Interlock Program. A recent news report detailed a Maryland car crash.

According to the news report, the fatal accident occurred in the afternoon on March 30, when a 2008 Toyota Tundra was traveling southbound on Ritchie Highway when it ran a red light. The Toyota Tundra drove through the intersection and collided with a 2007 Chevrolet Equinox turning left into the Marley Station Mall. A third vehicle, a 2013 BMW, that was turning left into the mall was hit by the other two vehicles in the process. The 36-year-old passenger of the Chevrolet Equinox was pronounced dead at the scene. The 60-year-old driver was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. The 35-year-old driver of the Toyota Tundra was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, while the 13-year-old passenger suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the BMW was not injured. According to the police, evidence suggests that the driver of the Toyota Tundra was under the influence of alcohol and speeding at the time of the accident. The crash remains under investigation by the Traffic Safety Section of the Anne Arundel County Police Department.

Maryland Hit-and-Run Accident Leads to Death of Pedestrian

March 31, 2023 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

The rules and laws of the road have been put in place for a reason: to help keep all road users safe. Whether it is coming to a complete stop at a stop sign, or using proper turning signals to indicate maneuvers when appropriate, following the local and federal rules can play a huge role in keeping others safe. Road users range from drivers of cars, large trucks, motorcycles, motorized scooters or bikes, pedestrians, and more. In addition to other vehicles on the road, car users must be mindful of pedestrians who may be using crosswalks or attempting to cross a road at any given time.

According to a recent news report, a pedestrian was struck while crossing the street in Prince George’s County, Maryland. A white truck ran a red light and struck the pedestrian in the crosswalk. Authorities believe that the driver left the accident scene, but later returned. The accident is still being investigated.

When tragedy strikes pedestrians, it can be a shocking and painful experience. Figuring out what to do after a loved one is severely injured in an accident may lead to loved ones scrambling to figure out what to do next. Connecting with an experienced personal injury lawyer can help.

Car Plunges into a Maryland House and Lands Upside-Down

February 21, 2023 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

There are times when the details of a car crash sound like the details are coming from a script from a movie. Cars crashing into homes, cars plunging into the water, cars launching and spinning mid-air, etc. However, sometimes these accidents occur in real life and are dangerous for everyone involved.

According to a recent report, a driver survived a shocking car crash in Chillum, Maryland. An SUV was launched, spinning into the air and landed upside-down in the wall of a house. The vehicle’s back wheels were almost touching the partially-collapsed ceiling of the home. As a result, part of the wall of the home collapsed, and a part of the staircase was visible from the outside. After the crash, the driver of the vehicle was able to exit the car himself. According to initial reports, the driver was traveling up a hill, ended up spinning in the air, and landing on the inside of the house. Luckily, neither the driver nor anyone in the home was injured.

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Driver Charged in Fatal DUI Crash in Annapolis

January 21, 2023 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is not only dangerous but highly illegal. The chances of crashes and fatal accidents increase when drivers are inhibited because they are less able to react to situations that come up on the road or exercise poor judgment while driving. Unfortunately, Maryland drivers are all too familiar with the dangers of drivers operating their vehicles under the influence. According to a study by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Maryland drivers reported driving after drinking at a higher rate than the national reporting rate. In fact, between 2009 and 2018, 1,515 people were killed in alcohol-involved crashes in Maryland. The CDC has found that over 10,000 people per year die in such crashes throughout the country. A recent article discussed a local fatal crash where alcohol was involved.

According to the news article about a recent crash involving an intoxicated driver, the accident occurred in the evening around 7:15 p.m. on Sunday, December 18, when a 2001 Volvo S80 with a driver and a passenger was traveling on Solomons Island Road approaching eastbound Route 665 when the vehicle left the right side of the roadway and struck a utility pole, crashing. The crash was a single-vehicle accident. Immediately following the collision with the utility pole, the passenger, who was in the front seat, was transported to a nearby hospital with life-threatening injuries. The passenger was later pronounced deceased. Due to roadside observations, the driver of the car was determined to be under the influence of alcohol and placed under arrest by authorities for further testing. The crash is currently under investigation by the Traffic Safety Section

Does My Negligence Affect My Maryland Case?

Contributory Negligence is a legal concept that potentially prevents plaintiffs in an accident case from receiving recovery for injuries resulting from a crash if their negligence contributed to the accident to any degree. Essentially, even if the negligence of the operator of another vehicle is largely responsible for the accident, if the plaintiff was even a little negligent, it is possible they will not be able to recover compensation. In Maryland, contributory negligence is interpreted very broadly, allowing minor negligence by the plaintiff in personal injury cases to defeat even very strong claims.

Maryland Crash Involving High-Speed Leads to Three Fatalities

December 21, 2022 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

It is no surprise that speeding can lead to serious and devasting injuries for the driver involved in speeding and for other motorists, passengers, and pedestrians. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2020, speeding killed 11,258 people, or an average of 30 people a day. Some of the risks that result from driving a vehicle at a high rate of speed include losing control of the vehicle, the increased degree of crash severity and severe injuries, and increased economic damages. Speeding is considered a form of aggressive driving. The high rate of speeding-related accidents may be attributed to multiple factors, including road rage, alcohol-impaired driving, running late, and traffic congestion.

A recent news report revealed that there was a multi-vehicle crash in Elkton, Maryland. A Hyundai was traveling east at a high rate of speed when it struck the passenger side of a Honda Civic as the driver attempted to make a left turn. The driver of the Hyundai and the driver and passenger of the Honda were all declared deceased at the scene. The highway was closed for six hours following the crash.

What Are the Maryland Driving Laws and Statute of Limitations?

In the state of Maryland, drivers are required to abide by the maximum speed limit and also always drive at a safe speed, which is required by the basic speeding law. A driver is in violation of Maryland’s maximum or absolute speed laws if they drive over the absolute speed limit. For example, if the absolute speed limit on a particular road is set at 40 mph and a driver exceeds that limit, they are in violation of law. Additionally, in Maryland, motorists must always drive at a safe speed under the circumstances. When these laws in Maryland are violated, it can put other motorists and pedestrians, and the speeding driver, at risk. If you are injured as a result of another driver’s speeding, you may be considering bringing a lawsuit to recover damages for any injuries you suffered as a result. In Maryland, for personal injury suits, there is a statute of limitations of 3 years, or in other words, a plaintiff will have a three-year deadline by which they must file their claims, with the time period starting at the date of the car accident.