Articles Posted in Drunk Driving Accidents

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.

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A tragic crash in Anne Arundel County has left one woman dead and a repeat DUI offender facing severe legal consequences. The February 17 collision on Mitchells Chance Road near Hamlet Club Drive involved a Chevrolet pickup veering into oncoming traffic and striking a Ford truck head-on. The Ford’s passenger, a 74-year-old Upper Marlboro resident, suffered critical injuries and later died at the hospital.

This case highlights the devastating consequences of impaired driving. Families impacted by such reckless behavior often struggle with medical costs, funeral expenses, and long-term financial hardship. Legal action against the responsible party may provide relief and hold repeat offenders accountable.

How Impaired Driving Led to This Fatal Crash

A well-known cast member from The Real Housewives of Potomac has been sentenced to one year in jail following a drunk driving crash in Montgomery County. The conviction stems from a March 2024 arrest, where the driver was found guilty of multiple charges, including negligent driving and failure to control speed to avoid a collision. While acquitted of reckless driving, the court issued a strong sentence, citing the individual’s history of previous traffic offenses.

The judge overseeing the case expressed skepticism that the four known drunk driving incidents over the past 17 years represented the full extent of impaired driving. Given the repeated nature of the offenses, the court determined that a more serious consequence was necessary. Along with the jail term, the driver must pay over $2,000 in fines and be prohibited from operating a vehicle for a year after release.

Repeat DUI Offenses and Public Safety Concerns

When someone gets behind the wheel while intoxicated, they aren’t just breaking the law—they are also putting everyone around them at risk. In Maryland, drivers who cause accidents while under the influence can be held accountable through criminal charges and in civil court through personal injury lawsuits. In DUI cases, Maryland law provides a critical legal concept known as negligence per se that can make it easier for victims to prove the impaired driver’s responsibility.

In Maryland, driving under the influence is illegal under Maryland Transportation Code § 21-902. This law protects the safety of everyone on the road by prohibiting impaired driving. When a driver violates this law and causes an accident, they are automatically considered negligent because they’ve broken a safety law intended to prevent the exact type of harm that occurred.

DUI accidents are among the most devastating types of crashes, often resulting in severe injuries or fatalities. In Maryland, families who lose loved ones in such accidents have legal options to pursue justice and compensation. Understanding your rights under Maryland law is essential if you are dealing with the aftermath of a DUI-related death. A Maryland DUI accident attorney can help you work through these tragic incidents and recover the compensation you deserve.

Fatal DUI Accident in Wicomico County Leads to Manslaughter Charges

In a tragic early morning crash on May 19, three lives were lost due to a head-on collision involving a driver suspected of driving under the influence. The accident occurred on US 13 near Fruitland when a vehicle traveling in the wrong direction collided with another car carrying a young family. The crash claimed the lives of a 21-year-old man, a 20-year-old woman, and their 1-year-old child.

Dangers of Driving Under the Influence in Maryland

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 dangerous road conditions and generally exercise poor judgment when driving. Drivers operating under the influence make bad driving decisions, misjudge driving maneuvers, and are unable to fully concentrate on the road. Unfortunately, Maryland drivers are no exception to this trend and are all too familiar with the dangers of drivers operating their vehicles under the influence. According to a Center for Disease Control (CDC) study, 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. Recent local news coverage discussed a fatal DUI crash that tragically resulted in a death.

According to the news coverage about the recent crash, the tragic incident occurred around 11:03 PM, on April 1, 2024. The Maryland crash occurred on Route 228 and resulted in the death of one individual and left another in serious condition. Upon arrival, law enforcement officers discovered a devastating scene where a Chevrolet Malibu had collided head-on with a Ford F-150. The preliminary investigation by troopers reveals that the Malibu was traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of Route 228 near Sharpersville Road at the time of the collision. The Malibu, operating in the opposite direction of traffic, struck the Ford. Investigations into the crash point towards alcohol impairment and driver error as contributing factors. Maryland State Police are conducting a thorough investigation into the incident and have appealed to the public for any witnesses to come forward.

Dangers of Driving Under the Influence in Maryland

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. Recent local news coverage discussed a dangerous crash where impaired driving is a suspected cause.

According to the news coverage about the recent crash, the accident occurred early in the morning around 5:00 am before the sun came up on a particularly curved portion of Shreve Road. According to the report, alcohol is suspected to be involved. News coverage of the incident states that the car came over a hill and into a curve of Shreve Road before veering off the street and hitting a tree. At that point, the car spun out or started to roll, crossing Pioneer Lane before coming to rest many feet away. The teenagers that were in the car at the time were scattered around the street having been thrown from the car wreckage. The local fire department, police, and EMS responded to the scene, rescuing the seven teenagers who were involved in the violent crash. Of the seven individuals in the car, the six passengers all experienced life-threatening injuries. At one point, the Fairfax police department launched a helicopter to scan the area for passengers. At the time of reporting, all six passengers were still in the hospital.

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.

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.