A Maryland woman who reportedly drove her car into Wakefield Lake was lucky to narrowly escape her submerged vehicle.
The Charles County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that the woman will face charges stemming from her texting while driving accident.
Police say that the 25 year old woman was driving north on the St. Charles Parkway when she accidentally veered off of the road, causing her car to hit a tree, and then ricochet into Wakefield Lake, some 20 yards from the roadway. She reportedly escaped from the vehicle, which was submerged in approximately five feet of water, through the driver’s side window. She apparently admitted to officers that she had been texting and driving when she lost control of the vehicle. The incident remains under investigation.
According to Maryland law, texting while driving is illegal for all drivers. Noting the serious dangers associated with the practice, Maryland lawmakers recently decided to make violations of the ban a primary justification for traffic stops and ticketing. Prior to this change, officers needed an additional reason to pull vehicles over.
While it doesn’t appear to be the case here, single vehicle accidents such as this one can either be caused by or have an adverse affect on other people, even when a collision with a second vehicle does not occur. Negligent drivers can cause injury to the passengers in their vehicle or pedestrians. Alternatively, the person responsible for causing the accident may not be involved in the collision at all.
Single vehicle accidents are actually quite common, and can be caused by a wide array of circumstances. Common examples include factors such as: slowing suddenly to miss another collision, swerving to miss an object in the road, or having to react to aggressive or otherwise imposing drivers on the road. If you were involved in a single vehicle accident, you may be entitled to recover for the injuries you suffered if they were the result of someone else’s negligence. An experienced car accident attorney can discuss your case and any potential legal options available to you.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed as a result of a single vehicle accident in Maryland as a result of someone else’s negligence, you should contact the experienced car accident attorneys at Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers. Our firm has extensive experience representing individuals and families who have suffered due to personal injury or wrongful death as a result of single vehicle car accidents in Maryland. We can help you recover compensation for your injuries, medical bills, lost wages, and other damages suffered as a result of your car accident. 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:
At Least One Dead in Oxon Hill Four-Car Accident, Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog, published September 6, 2013
Several Deaths in 7 Vehicle Accident on Route 32 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog, published August 30, 2013