Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog
Maryland State Police reported that one person died as the result of a three car accident in Washington County.
The incident happened in the early afternoon on Old Route 40 eastbound near the intersection of Toms Road, between Funkstown and Boonsboro.
Police reported that an older man and woman were driving in a Nissan truck, and were waiting in the travel lane for oncoming traffic to clear so they could make a left turn onto Toms Road. Then, according to officers, an Oldsmobile driven by a 22 year old man traveling down the eastbound lane collided into the rear of the Nissan truck, for unknown reasons. The impact of the collision caused the truck to flip onto the drivers side, forcing it into oncoming traffic, where it was then struck by a GMC Envoy, containing a 72 year old driver.
Police say the driver of the Nissan truck was pronounced dead at the scene, and the passenger was flown to Shock Trauma by helicopter for treatment of life threatening injuries. The drivers of the other two vehicles were taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Based on the limited amount of information surrounding the collision, it is difficult to ascertain how the collision occurred. However, it stands to reason that the initial collision between the Oldsmobile and the Nissan truck must have occurred at an excessive speed in order to cause the completely stopped vehicle to flip onto its side.
According to Maryland’s traffic laws, excessive speeding, depending on just how excessive it is, can actually result in criminal charges. There are two relevant charges, which shed light on the potential options available in personal injury cases.
Reckless driving is defined as operating a motor vehicle either (1) in a wanton or willful disregard for the safety of persons or property or (2) in a manner that indicates a wanton or willful disregard for the safety of persons or property.
Negligent driving is defined as operating a motor vehicle in a careless or imprudent manner that endangers any property or the life or person of any individual.
At face value, satisfying the requirements of either of these violations could potentially prove fault in the civil law context, which carries essentially the same definition in regards to proving negligence. In a civil lawsuit, however, a successful negligence claim must additionally show that it was such negligent driving that proximately caused the plaintiff’s (person bringing the lawsuit) harm.
If you were hurt, or a loved one was killed, as a result of another person’s negligent driving, you may potentially be entitled to financial compensation in order to reimburse you for medical expenses, pain & suffering, physical therapy, lost wages at work, and as the circumstances may indicate funeral expenses and/or loss of companionship.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a car accident in Maryland, contact the experienced car accident attorneys at Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers immediately. We have many years of experience in advocating aggressively on behalf of individuals and families who have suffered due to personal injury or wrongful death as a result of a car accident. We will work to secure you the compensation that you deserve so that you can focus on recovering from your injuries. If you believe that your car accident was caused by someone else’s negligence, please contact us today by calling 1-800-654-1949, or through our website, in order to schedule your free initial consultation.
More Blog Posts:
Maryland State Trooper in Critical Condition Following Shoulder Collision, Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog, published October 18, 2013
Street Racing Suspected in Multiple Vehicle Collision, Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog, published October 7, 2013