Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog

Popular Illegal Drag Racing Venue in Baltimore County is Site of Recent Pedestrian Deaths

July 15, 2009 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

There is a time and place for everything, but public roads should never be used for illicit racing events. News articles indicate that a recent early-morning drag race that resulted in two pedestrian deaths occurred on a portion of Maryland’s I-70 interstate well known locally for similar illegal speed events. According to authorities, early on the morning of June 21 two young people were killed when one of the drivers lost control of his vehicle and struck several cars and spectators on the side of the roadway.

As an automobile accident attorney, my office is able to represent victims and their families who have experienced a loss such as this, where a pedestrian is injured by a car, SUV or truck. Sadly, this type of accident could have been avoided, especially if the spectators realized the dangers involved. That Sunday morning in Baltimore County, 21-year-old Mary-Kathryn Michele Abernathy of Columbia, MD, and 20-year-old Jonathan Robert Henderson of La Plata in Charles County were killed when a westbound 2009 Chevrolet Impala went out of control. The accident investigation is ongoing and no determination has been made on whether the cause was driver error or defective equipment.

According to police, the accident set off a chain-reaction crash that also caused severe injury to the driver of the Impala, 26-year-old Donneil Raeburn of Pikesville, and Paul Alan Duffy, 22, of Elkridge. The Impala struck a 2004 Cavalier owned by Duffy, who was standing outside his vehicle, which in turn was pushed into the rear of a 1995 Acura Integra owned by Henderson, who had been standing with Abernathy. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.

Maryland Car Accident News: Could Texting be the New Drunk Driving?

July 11, 2009 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

In Maryland, as around the rest of the country, text messaging has become a favorite pastime for many. But victims of traffic accidents know that “texting” is actually a big problem. Auto accident experts and politicians alike are suggesting that cell phone texting could be the drunk driving of the 21st Century. Already banned in neighboring states, text messaging while driving will soon be against the law Maryland beginning October 1, 2009.

In our Maryland auto accident law office, we have seen the results of driver inattention in terms of personal injury and traffic fatalities. Much like driving while intoxicated, which results in impaired judgment and reduced reaction time, texting can be just as dangerous since the activity can cause a driver to be highly distracted. Extremely common among young drivers — a study last year by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that about half of drivers ages 18 to 24 said they texted behind the wheel at least occasionally — text messaging is becoming more and more popular. And this is worrying.

Maryland’s anti-texting law will make the activity a misdemeanor crime of driving while using a text messaging device to write or send a text while operating a motor vehicle in the travel portion of the roadway. A civil penalty will be imposed and a fine of not more than $500 can be enforced if convicted.

Howard County, MA, Car Crash Kills Father and Daughter from Bowie while Driving Antique Ford

July 9, 2009 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

A tragic set of circumstances led to the untimely death of a Bowie man and his young daughter on Interstate 70 last week. According to Maryland State Police, the deadly collision happened in Lisbon around 6:30 p.m. on June 30 near the Route 97 exit. While traveling in his 1929 Ford Model A, Richard Dashiell, 62, and his 10-year-old daughter were hit from behind by a 2007 Dodge driven by Paul Davis of Glen Burnie.

As a Maryland auto accident law firm, we have had experience with situations not unlike this one. Of course, summertime offers many great opportunities to get those vintage and antique vehicles out of the garage and onto the road. Unfortunately, today’s cars, trucks and SUVs are faster and sometimes larger and heavier than older antique autos. Combine this with all the “normal” dangers of everyday driving and owners of vintage vehicles must be extra careful to avoid inattentive drivers and hopefully prevent an automobile accident.

Sadly, in this case, even though the Model A’s driver was apparently following the proper procedures, he still could not avoid this crash. According to news reports, eye witnesses told police that Dashiell’s vehicle was traveling in the far right-hand lane of the interstate at about 50 mph prior to being hit from behind. Police also said that Dashiell’s car had a “Slow Moving Vehicle” sticker on the rear window.

Could Baltimore’s Auto Injury Accident Rate be Improved by More Roundabouts?

July 8, 2009 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

You may not know it, but Baltimore is way behind the rest of Maryland in terms of traffic roundabouts. Why is this important? For anyone who has been injured in a head-on collision at a busy intersection or knows someone who was killed by an inattentive driver turning in front of traffic, this is a very timely subject.

Recent reports indicate that the City of Baltimore has been seeking Federal aid to help fund construction of traffic circles, or roundabouts. Although the average driver may not like traffic circles, they are very popular with highway engineers, who believe that roundabouts can save lives. In fact, according to the State Highway Administration, there has never been a fatal accident at an intersection that has been replaced with a roundabout.

As Maryland automobile accident attorneys, we have represented our share of injury accident victims, as well as the families of those killed in fatal car crashes. Any traffic system that can reduce the carnage on our roadways is a benefit. Apparently, additional roundabouts can help accomplish this.

Chesapeake Beach, MD, Woman Seriously Injured in Route 2 Car Crash

June 29, 2009 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

A 56-year-old woman was seriously injured recently when the car she was driving crashed head-on into an oncoming van on Route 2 in Harwood, Maryland. Police reports show that the Rebecca Crocker of Chesapeake Beach inexplicably crossed over the double-yellow line and into the opposing lane of the roadway on the morning of June 18.

Northbound on Route 2, as she approached Polling House Road, Crocker’s 1999 Toyota Camry reportedly drifted out of her lane and into the path of a southbound 2006 Chevrolet van driven by Cagney Lafferty, a 23-year-old resident of Catonsville. Unable to avoid a collision with the woman’s Toyota, Lafferty’s van and Crocker’s vehicle hit head-on.

Luckily, no one was killed in this mid-morning car accident, however the force of the impact caused great injury to both drivers. Once rescue workers arrived at the scene, Crocker was removed from her vehicle and transported to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore with critical injuries. According to reports, the driver of the van suffered serious injuries and was taken to the Prince George’s Trauma Center.

Preliminary police reports showed that neither speed nor alcohol were factors in this accident, which points to a possible mechanical problem with the woman’s Toyota, or maybe to driver error. As auto accident attorneys serving the Maryland area, we have seen victims of many such crashes throughout our careers. Injuries from a frontal car crash can be severe and even life altering, but treatment can also be quite costly. I always advise those involved in such accidents to seek competent legal counsel to determine if they have grounds to file a suit to recover damages.

Kia Optima Models Recalled in Maryland for Potentially Dangerous Condition

June 25, 2009 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Kia Motors America has issued a recall for 36,000 Optima models made during the 2001 through 2004 model years. The recall covers a defect of the vehicle’s steel subframe, which could be adversely affected by road salt in certain parts of the country, including Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. The problem ultimately could cause a vehicle to become uncontrollable, possibly resulting in personal injury or death.

According to Kia’s defect notice, exposure to road salt can cause critical structural problems, including failure of certain components related to the vehicle’s suspension and steering systems. The notice, which was filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that the road salt applied in states such as Maryland during the winter months may cause progressive internal corrosion of the car’s subframe. Over time, this kind of structural corrosion can affect areas of the subframe where the lower suspension control arms connect to the vehicle.

If sufficient corrosion occurs in these areas, a number of potentially dangerous conditions can result, such as wheel misalignment and/or other noticeable stress in steering, or accelerated abnormal tire wear. Ultimately, this kind of condition can lead to “wheel separation, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash,” according to Kia.

The states affected by the recall include Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia.

Kia dealers will inspect recalled cars, and if necessary, repair the subframe free of charge. Dealers are expected to contact owners through the mail this month, but those who wish to make their own repair arrangements may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542.

At Least Seven People Killed in Washington D.C. Metrorail Train Crash, Dozens Injured

June 23, 2009 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Residents of Washington D.C., Maryland and surrounding areas are still reeling from news of a tragic commuter train crash that killed at least seven people and injured dozens more last night. For reasons not completely known, a Metrorail Red Line train collided at what appears to be a high rate of speed with a second, stopped train during Monday’s peak evening commute. The violent crash caused the moving train to jackknife, throwing several of its cars up and onto the top of the other train. According to reports, this “mass casualty event” is the worst train accident in the District of Columbia since 1982.

As a Maryland personal injury and car accident attorney, I have personally traveled on this particular Metro line many times in the past. As commuters, we all expect to travel in relative safety on subway trains and city buses. Ruling out any terrorist connection, this accident could have resulted from driver error or possibly faulty equipment on the tracks, or even the trains themselves.

Whatever the cause, the results are terribly sad for the families of those unexpectedly killed and painful for those hurt or hospitalized. Injuries from accidents like this can range from bumps and bruises to broken bones, traumatic brain injuries or damage to the spinal column.

News reports indicated that seven people have been confirmed killed and that more fatalities may be forthcoming. Initially, six people were confirmed dead, including the operator of the trailing train, Jeanice McMillan of Springfield, Virginia. Fire Chief Dennis Rubin said rescue workers treated 76 people at the scene and sent some of them to local hospitals.

So far, officials have no explanation for the accident. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is in charge of the investigation, while DC police and the FBI also have personnel at the scene. Normally, these trains should maintain a safe distance between each other, and it is not yet clear what went wrong.

There was also no official statement regarding how fast the one train was traveling before it hit the other waiting train, although the crash happened in a long stretch between rail stations where trains typically allowed to travel at higher speeds, according to a Metro spokesperson. Meanwhile, investigators are also searching the wreckage for the “black box” recording devices carried onboard these trains, which may hold answers to this horrendous event.

Maryland Woman Killed in Fatal Single-vehicle Crash on Suitland Parkway

June 21, 2009 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

A Capitol Heights woman was killed in a recent car crash when the vehicle in which she was riding left the road, rolled and hit a stand of trees. The car accident occurred in the late evening of June 7 on a stretch of Suitland Parkway near Forrestville, MD.

The front seat passenger, identified as Keyanna Bowser, 19, was pronounced dead at the scene. The two male back-seat passengers, who received slight injuries, were helped from the vehicle by Prince George’s County fire crews and transported to Prince George’s Hospital Center. The impact was so powerful it took rescue personnel two hours to extricate the female driver, who received much more severe injuries.

After leaving the parkway between Suitland Road and Forestville Road, the vehicle ended up on its side between some trees. This made the driver’s rescue extremely time consuming. According to reports, the driver’s legs were pinned underneath the vehicle’s dashboard. Once removed from the vehicle, she was airlifted to Washington Hospital Center for treatment.

Rollover accidents can cause very serious injures due to the vehicle’s roof structure being crushed and intruding into the passenger compartment. This particular crash may be similar, and if so, head, brain and spinal injuries are also very common. For the most part, the two rear-seat passengers were lucky, since the front seat passenger died at the scene and the driver had numerous serious injuries herself.

News reports indicate that the accident was still under investigation. Nevertheless, the causes for a crash of this type can range from driver error or inattention to defective steering equipment or poorly maintained tires. No matter the cause, we always recommend that victims contact an automobile accident attorney to find out what their rights are in cases like this.

Husband and Wife Injured in Columbia, MD, Motorcycle Accident

June 18, 2009 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Police and emergency medical personnel from Howard County, Maryland, responded to the scene of a motorcycle injury accident recently on the southbound side of Maryland Route 29 near Seneca Drive. According to police reports, a married couple riding double on a BMW R75/6 bike collided with a guardrail on the afternoon of June 8 near Columbia. They were both taken to the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore for treatment.

Howard County police reported that Timothy Danaher, 55, was operating the couple’s BMW motorcycle while his wife, Diana Danaher, 55, rode as a passenger. Reports indicate that the bike veered to the left for an as yet unknown reason, resulting in the vehicle striking a roadside guardrail. Both people were thrown from the motorcycle. At the hospital, the wife was listed as in fair condition, although the husband’s condition was listed as critical.

Motorcycle accidents can result in some of the most serious injuries for the operator and passenger. As Maryland automobile and motorcycle accident lawyers, we have vast experience in this type of injury accident case. Although the Howard County police department’s traffic enforcement section was still investigating the crash, from the sound of it, this accident may have happened due to a defective part or perhaps improper maintenance. Regardless of the cause, the husband’s injuries could be severe, and may include traumatic brain injury or damage to the spinal cord.

Maryland Driver Charged in Traffic Death of Jogging College Student

June 15, 2009 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

A 29-year-old Maryland man has been charged by the Fredrick County Sheriff’s Office in the April traffic death of a college senior who was struck and killed while jogging on Old Emmitsburg Road. The man was allegedly operating an uninsured vehicle belonging to his parents.

According to police reports, Elizabeth DiNunzio, a 22-year-old senior at Mount St. Mary’s University, was jogging on the afternoon of April 28 when she was struck by a pickup truck driven by Joshua Wayne Cool of Emmitsburg.

There is no paved shoulder on the straight section of the road where DiNunzio was hit by Cool’s 1995 Nissan pickup, but police say that she was traveling south against the flow of traffic in accordance with Maryland law. An investigation revealed that the woman was not listening to a portable music player when the fatal accident occurred. Police also ruled out speeding or drunk driving as factors.

Cool was recently served a summons related to the accident. He has been charged with negligent driving, failing to avoid a collision with a pedestrian, and knowingly operating an uninsured vehicle. The man’s parents, Joseph R. and Ann V. Cool, both in their 50s, were also served with citations because they owned the vehicle and allowed their son to drive it uninsured.

The negligent driving charge carries a $280 fine and three points, while the failure to avoid a collision carries a $110 fine and three additional points. The uninsured vehicle charges are citations that compel the Cools to appear in court, according to Fredrick police. They face a possible $1,000 fine, up to 12 months in jail or both.

As a Maryland Automobile Accident Lawyer, I am able to represent victims and their families in situations such as this one — I can truly say that cases of wrongful death are sad events. This young woman, who was to participate in the upcoming Pittsburgh Marathon, was also just weeks away from graduating magna cum laude from Mount St. Mary’s with a degree in Spanish. Apparently, she was doing everything right.

Conversely, the driver, as well as his parents, was certainly in the wrong. The young man had a responsibility to watch out for pedestrians and failed. The parents, as owners of the vehicle, had a responsibility to make sure that the truck was insured, and they failed at that as well. It is a tragedy in every sense of the word.