Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog
Late last month. one woman was killed in Middletown, Maryland when she was involved in an accident with a pick-up truck. According to one local news source, the accident occurred around eight in the evening on a Thursday night.
Evidently, the accident occurred on Route 40A when the driver of a pick-up truck that was heading westbound crossed over into the eastbound lane. As the truck crossed over into oncoming traffic, it collided head-on with a Toyota Corolla.
The passenger in the Corolla sustained serious injuries in the accident. She was taken to the hospital but was unable to overcome her injuries and died a short time later. The driver of the pick-up truck was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the Corolla was also hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries.
Police are still conducting their investigation into the cause of the accident. However, at this early point they do believe that alcohol was a contributing factor in the fatal crash. Charges are pending against the driver of the pick-up truck.
DUI Accidents on Maryland Roads
According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, each year there are approximately 141 fatal accidents that involve some level of alcohol intoxication each year. This accounts for approximately one-third of all traffic fatalities across the State of Maryland.
Despite the known dangers involved with drinking and driving, people continue to get behind the wheel after drinking. In Maryland, any time a driver gets behind the wheel with a blood-alcohol content of .08 or more, they are legally intoxicated and can be cited for DUI. If they cause an accident while driving under the influence, they can then face additional criminal charges.
In addition to criminal charges brought by the state, those who cause a DUI accident can also be held civilly liable for the injuries (or deaths) that they caused by their decision to drink and drive. These lawsuits, brought under the legal theory of negligence, allow for the innocent victims of drunk driving to hold a responsible party accountable for their actions.
In order to prevail in a traditional negligence lawsuit, a plaintiff must meet several elements. However, when attempting to prove a negligence suit based on a DUI accident, the plaintiff must only prove that the defendant’s conduct caused their injuries. In other words, it is assumed that the defendant’s conduct was, in fact, negligent because it is proscribed by law.
Have You Been Injured in a Maryland Drunk Driving Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been involved in a serious or fatal Maryland DUI accident, you may be entitled to monetary damages. However, the road to recovery can often be tedious, requiring you to deal with insurance companies whose business depends on them paying out as little as possible on accident claims. To ensure that you are treated fairly, be sure to retain a dedicated personal injury attorney to assist you with the preparation of your case. Call 410-654-3600 today to set up a free initial consultation with a Maryland personal injury attorney.
More Blog Posts:
Personal Injury Plaintiffs Lose on Appeal Due to Inadmissible Expert Testimony, Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog, published February 17, 2015.
One Man Dead after Fatal Howard County Accident Involving Snow Plow and Icy Roads, Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog, published February 24, 2015.