Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog

Distracted Driving Trends Continue in Maryland, Despite Efforts By Lawmakers and Police

June 3, 2015 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Two years ago, the Maryland legislature passed a law making it a primary offense to talk on a cell phone while driving, and texting while driving has been against the law in Maryland for several years prior to the passage of that law. Since the passage of these laws, police have handed out thousands and thousands of these distracted-driving tickets to motorists in violation of the new law. However, according to a recent news report by a local NBC affiliate, drivers are not getting the message.

One Trooper interviewed in the article told reporters that a surprising amount of people are still using their hand-held phones while driving. He explained, “If they are not on it talking or texting, they’re using it for GPS, … They just haven’t got caught yet, and if they did, they just didn’t learn their lesson.”

Driving While Talking or Texting

The practice of driving while using a hand-held device is one of the most common forms of distracted driving. In fact, the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration explains that drivers who text or talk on a hand-held device while driving are four times more likely to get into an accident resulting in serious injury to themselves or others. A spokesperson for the MVA told reporters that there are about 200 fatal accidents each year caused by distracted driving, many of which occurred while using hand-held devices.

Pennsylvania Police Search for Maryland Man Allegedly Involved in DUI Hit-and-Run Accident

May 26, 2015 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Earlier this month, police in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, were called to the scene of a hit-and-run accident at around three in the morning. According to one local news source, the hit-and-run driver waited at the scene until right before the police arrived and then fled the scene of the accident.

According to one eyewitness who was present at the scene, the driver exited his vehicle after the accident and pleaded with witnesses not to call police. He allegedly told them that he “isn’t drunk” and that he “would give them money” if they didn’t call the police. These same witnesses allegedly told police that they could smell alcohol on the man’s breath before he left the scene moments later.

Witnesses later told police that the driver crashed into several parked cars before disabling his own vehicle. One witness claimed that “it sounded like he bounced off the cars like a ping pong ball.” As the car approached the witness and his girlfriend, the man was forced to push his girlfriend out of the way of the oncoming vehicle.

Four Injured in Riverside Accident as Police Officer Responds to Hit-and-Run Collision

May 19, 2015 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Earlier this month in Riverside, Maryland, an officer responding to a hit-and-run accident was involved in an accident, injuring himself and three others. According to one local news source, the police officer was responding to an altercation between the victim of a hit-and-run and the other driver. Evidently, the accident occurred on I-95, and the victim had followed the hit-and-run driver to his address, where an altercation between the two was underway.

The police officer was responding, with lights and sirens on, heading south on Route 543. As the officer approached the intersection of Route 543 and Route 7, a Mazda heading eastbound on Route 7 collided with the officer’s car. The driver of the Mazda and the police officer were both flown to Maryland Shock Trauma in Baltimore. The other two people injured in the accident were taken to Johns Hopkins Bayview Hospital, where they were treated for their injuries and released.

Police are currently conducting an investigation to determine who, if anyone, was at fault for the accident. Thus far, no charges have been issued by the police department.

Two Killed on Ritchie Highway in Fatal Arnold Accident

May 12, 2015 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Earlier this month in Arnold, Maryland, two people lost their lives when they were involved in an accident with a semi-truck. According to one local news report, the accident took place around 7:30 in the evening on Ritchie Highway.

Evidently, the driver of the car that was ultimately hit was attempting to make a left-hand turn on to College Parkway when he entered the path of a truck that was traveling straight in the oncoming lane of traffic. As the car crossed the truck’s path, the truck struck the car, sending it into a nearby light pole where it eventually came to a rest.

Sadly, the driver of the car was pronounced dead at the scene. The passenger was taken to Maryland Shock Trauma of Baltimore, where he passed away a short time later. The driver of the truck did not sustain any serious injuries. The cause of the accident remains unknown, and police are conducting an investigation into the accident to see what may have caused the tragic accident.

Nanjemoy DUI Accident Claims the Life of Volunteer Fire Fighter

May 5, 2015 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Earlier this month in Nanjemoy, Maryland, one woman was killed in a traffic accident when another driver veered over the center line, colliding head-on with the woman’s car. According to a recent news report, the woman was both from Nanjemoy and a member of the Nanjemoy Volunteer Fire Department for the past five years.

Evidently, the volunteer fire fighter was traveling southbound on Maryland Route 425 just after 9:00 pm. At some point, a northbound Chevy Silverado inexplicably crossed over into her lane and collided with her vehicle head-on. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. The driver of the Silverado was taken to the hospital, although his injuries were much less serious and he is expected to make a full recovery.

Police told reporters that the driver of the Silverado failed to stay in his lane and crossed over the center line. They also told reporters that they believe alcohol played a role in the fatal accident. Charges against the driver of the Silverado are still pending.

Mailman in Critical Condition after Single-Vehicle Accident in Prince George’s County

April 23, 2015 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Earlier this month, the driver of a mail truck was taken to the hospital with serious, life-threatening injuries after he was involved in a serious single-vehicle accident on Annapolis Road. According to a local news report, the male driver was between 25 and 30 years old, although his name was not released at the time of the article’s publication.

Evidently, the mailman was driving westbound on Annapolis Road near the intersection of Highbridge Road. As the mailman approached the intersection, another driver was in the process of making a left-hand turn in front of the mailman. Believing that he was going to crash into the turning vehicle, the mailman swerved to avoid the collision.

As he swerved out of the car’s way, he lost control of the mail truck, which flipped over and then crossed into the median. The man was taken into the hospital with life-threatening injuries and is still in critical condition. Police are still investigating the accident, attempting to glean as much information from the scene of the accident as possible. They have also asked any potential witnesses to come forward with any pertinent information.

Suspect Blasts Through Annapolis DUI Checkpoint and Injures Three Bystanders in Subsequent Chase

April 16, 2015 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Three people were injured and one man was arrested on March 17 after an allegedly intoxicated suspect drove through a DUI checkpoint and led police on a high-speed chase. According to a report from NBC affiliate WBAL, the chase continued through the streets of Annapolis, attracting a police helicopter to assist with stopping the suspect. The man eventually crashed into an intersection at a red light, hitting three other cars and causing his own car to go up in flames.

How Did the Chase Begin?

The suspect, a 39-year-old man from Baltimore driving a 2008 Honda Accord, approached a DUI checkpoint being operated by the Maryland State Highway Patrol Office in Annapolis. According to the article, the vehicle plowed into the checkpoint and swerved off erratically, after which authorities gave chase.

The man led police on a chase that resulted in a helicopter being called in. After the helicopter gave chase and the police cars gave the man some distance, he crashed his car as he tried unsuccessfully to drive through an intersection. Three other vehicles were involved, and three people were taken to the hospital with minor injuries. The suspect was not injured and was arrested on charges of DUI, fleeing from police, and assault.

Maryland Driver Charged for Murder After Passenger Dies in a Drunk Driving Accident

April 9, 2015 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Earlier this month, a Maryland man was arrested and charged with murder for his role in the drunk driving death of a passenger after he was involved in a DUI accident. According to a recent Washington Post article, the driver admitted to police that he had consumed at least two beers and a shot of cognac before getting behind the wheel that fateful night.

Evidently, the accident occurred on a road with a speed limit of just 25 miles per hour, but police claim that the driver was traveling well in excess of that speed when he slammed into a parked tractor-trailer. After crashing into the parked truck, the driver got out of his vehicle and pulled out his unconscious passenger by her arms. He began to shake her until another passenger in his car told him to stop. At this point, he dropped her, and she hit her head on the pavement.

The woman was taken to the hospital, where she died about a half-hour later. Prosecutors charged the driver with second-degree murder, claiming that the driver acted “with the intent to kill another . . . and with a conscious disregard of an extreme risk of death or serious bodily injury to another.”

I-495 Car Accident Causes One Fatality, Drowsy Driving Suspected

April 2, 2015 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Late last month, a 47-year-old woman was killed when she lost control of her car on the Beltway. According to a prominent national news report, the woman was driving on Interstate 495 in Capitol Heights when the accident occurred. Maryland State Police were called to the scene of the accident at around 3:45 a.m.

A preliminary investigation revealed that the woman’s Dodge Avenger was traveling south on I-495 when she crossed three lanes of traffic and veered off the road. She proceeded to hit a safety rail before coming to a stop. Unfortunately, the woman was pronounced deceased at the scene of the accident. The Maryland State Police believe that fatigue could have played a role in the accident. However, the crash is still under investigation by Maryland State Police.

Risks Associated with Fatigued Driving

The above case was incredibly tragic because someone lost their life, but it could have been much worse. In many highway accidents, there are multiple cars involved, increasing the number of victims. Fatigued driving is a serious problem and can result in severe injuries and even death. The effects of drowsy driving often mirror the effects of alcohol and other substances. It can decrease awareness, lower reaction times, and impair vision and judgment.

Wrong-Way Accident Kills Two in Queen Anne’s County, Alcohol Suspected to Be a Factor

March 24, 2015 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Earlier this month in Queen Anne’s county two people were killed in a traffic accident on Route 50 when a car unexpectedly began traveling the wrong way down the highway. According to a report by the local CBS affiliate, police dispatchers received numerous calls about a car driving wildly down Route 50 over the course a few minutes. However, by the time they were able to respond, the damage had been done.

One driver told reporters that she was on Route 50 when the driver flew by at a high rate of speed. At some point shortly after that, she recalls the driver getting into the left lane of traffic and making a wide U-turn into oncoming traffic.

Evidently, the 25-year-old driver who was traveling the wrong way down Route 50 has a history of similar conduct, including a prior DUI and also a prior charge for driving the wrong way on the highway. Unfortunately, this time tragedy ensued when he collided head-on with another car, killing both inside instantly as the car went up in flames.