Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog

Driver Gets Three Years in Jail after Conviction for Fatal Olney DWI Car Accident

July 31, 2012 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

It never ceases to amaze us as we follow the number of alcohol- or drug-related traffic accidents, even in the light of increased DWI and DUI enforcement and multiple anti-drunk driving campaigns. Still, every year thousands of drivers, passengers, adults and children are hurt or killed as the direct result of drunken driving all across the United States. As Maryland personal injury lawyers, we understand that it is difficult to fight human nature, but at the same time one can only hope that people — drivers in particular — recognize the folly of driving while impaired by alcohol or prescription medication.

Not long ago we read that a 20-year-old man was sentenced to just three years in jail following the fatal car crash that killed several of the driver’s friends, thanks in large part to alcohol. Many people in that community seemed to be torn between feeling a modicum of forgiveness and throwing the book at the man for such a deadly and tragic car accident.

Reading of any fatal traffic wreck, be it a car accident, trucking-related collision or a motorcycle crash, is difficult for anyone who feels that after more than a century of automobile transportation the drivers of the 21st century should have a greater sense of responsibility when getting behind the wheel of a two-ton motor vehicle. But regardless of the number of professional driver training programs, parental admonitions, not to mention social stigma of being arrested or convicted of driving while intoxicated, it appears that a certain percentage of the motoring public has much yet to learn about personal responsibility.

Protect Your Family: Maryland Auto and Truck Crashes Can Injure Multiple Victims in a Single Incident

July 30, 2012 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

As Baltimore personal injury attorneys, my firm is well aware of the consequences of a slip-and-fall accident, injuries sustained at a poorly run nursing home, or prescription error by a local pharmacy. All of these types of personal injury events can result in a range of bodily injury from relatively minor to life-threatening; it all depends on the circumstances and the health of the victim prior to the mishap.

What each of these kinds of accidents have in common is that they generally occur to a single person at a time or, perhaps, to a few individuals within a measurable period of time. Although they can be serious or even deadly, they are not the same as traffic-related accidents, where a handful of victims can be affected by just one negligent act.

As car, truck and motorcycle injury accident lawyers, I and my professional legal staff understand how a seemingly minor action on the part of a negligent driver can put one or more people in the hospital within a very short time. It is also an area where individuals can be killed outright in the blink of an eye. All in all, automobile and commercial trucking-related collisions can be quite devastating to one or more families.

Cecil County Man Found Guilty of DWI Death of Friend in 2010 DWI Car Crash

July 27, 2012 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

It took jurors just two hours to find a 61-year-old Elkton, MD, motorist guilty in the drunken driving death of his best friend during a traffic accident in 2010. The defendant was charged by authorities with negligent homicide by motor vehicle following the November 2010 crash that sent 66-year-old Kenneth Hampson to the hospital with fatal injuries; the victim died just hours later following the deadly alcohol-related collision.

As a Maryland personal injury attorney, my job and that of my staff of qualified legal professionals is to represent the victims of car, truck and motorcycle road accidents. Whether one is a driver, passenger or bystander, being hurt as a result of another person’s negligent actions can be grounds for a personal injury legal suit. Relatively minor injuries, such as cuts, bruises and lacerations, can be one thing, but serious bodily injury like compound fractures, internal organ damage, spinal cord injury or closed-head trauma can cause serious medical problems, not to mention life-threatening complications going forward.

The case described above is a good example of how a serious or fatal traffic wreck can happen just feet from one’s own home. It also shows that drinking and driving is not only foolhardy, but can be downright deadly, not only for the driver himself, but for the occupants of his vehicle as well. In this instance, the victim was riding with the defendant as a passenger in his car when the traffic collision occurred.

Paparazzo Who Chased Justin Bieber on L.A. Freeway Faces Reckless Driving Charges, Among Others

July 25, 2012 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Say what you will about the rich and famous, there is one thing for certain: as well-know as they may be, well-known personalities have as much of an expectation of safety on the road as anyone else. Famous or not, every driver or passenger riding in a motor vehicle should feel they are protected equally by state and federal laws governing road usage and motor vehicle operation. Those who cause car, truck or motorcycle accidents must answer for their deeds.

Of course, there may be some people out there that feel celebrities have whatever is coming to them, especially since they decided to pursue their fame. But the law is not written to discriminate between rich and poor, the famous or the lesser known. We mention this because it appears that a paparazzi photographer who pursued pop teen idol, Justin Bieber, on an L.A. freeway may well be facing charges for his actions on a public road.

According to news articles, 30-year-old Paul Raef may be looking at up to 12 months in jail for his part in what authorities refer to as a high-speed chase as he apparently attempted to get photos of the young singer in his unique chrome Fisker electric-powered sports car. Based on police reports, the chase took place along a stretch of I-101 back on July 6 when Raef was following Bieber in a Toyota sport utility vehicle. News articles reported that police were alerted to the event when several other drivers called 911 to report a high-speed chase between two vehicles in the San Fernando Valley.

Maryland Auto Safety News: Honda Motor Corporation Recalls 300,000+ Crossovers, Sedans for Faulty Door Locks

July 21, 2012 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

While most people likely think of car, truck and motorcycle collisions as the typical way that occupants of passenger vehicle become injured, there are numerous other scenarios in which people can be seriously hurt or even killed in an automobile-related accident. Auto-pedestrian collisions are one such way, as well as bicycle accidents and commercial delivery truck wrecks.

As personal injury lawyers serving the people of Maryland and Washington, D.C., our firm has the skills and training to represent individuals hurt or injured as the result of a negligent or thoughtless action of another person or persons. We understand how a momentary error in judgment or a deliberate action can cause the victim(s) of a passenger car or trucking accident weeks, months or years of pain and suffering. For those who have lost a loved one through a senseless traffic accident, we also handle wrongful death lawsuits.

As mentioned earlier, while nearly everyone would consider car accidents as the most common cause of injuries or death to innocent persons, there are other events or circumstances that can result in bodily injury or fatalities. Defective products are one area of injury law that can cause a great deal of injury, death and emotional suffering. In the case of automobile, serious roadway accidents can occur as a result of a faulty vehicle component or part, especially when the defect is related to the vehicle’s safety systems.

Maryland Police Officer Hurt in Traffic Accident on Interstate Overpass Sues Motorist Over Injuries

July 18, 2012 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

It shouldn’t come as any real surprise to hear that police officers and first responders and other emergency personnel face a great deal of risk when carrying out their offical duties along our state’s roadways. Whether curbside in urban areas like Annapolis, Bowie or Washington, D.C., or on the roadside along a stretch of the Beltway, approaching vehicles of all types can pose a serious hazard to patrolmen, firefighters and tow truck drivers. As Maryland personal injury attorneys, I and my colleagues represent clients from every walk of life who have been injured in a car, truck or motorcycle accident.

One of the more stark differences between the occupants of passenger cars and police officers doing their job, is that a patrolman places himself in danger on an almost constant basis. Drivers and passengers riding in sedans, SUVs, pickup trucks, and even city buses, don’t usually face the same potential for injury as public safety officers, though they can be hurt just as seriously in a traffic wreck.

A while back, one of Baltimore’s finest was badly injured when she was apparently pushed over the edge of an overpass during a car crash between a moving vehicle and another stationary one she was standing near. At the time of the accident that took place, along a portion of Interstate 83, Officer Teresa Rigby was helping a stranded motorist last year in June. Based on news reports at the time, the officer was out of her patrol car when she was thrown over the edge of the roadway wall, causing her to fall 20 feet to the pavement below.

Use Care When Driving; Traffic Accidents Kill or Injure Marylanders Every Year

July 16, 2012 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Representing victims of automobile, motorcycle and commercial trucking accidents, we have seen the aftermath of these sometimes devastating traffic accidents. As Maryland personal injury attorneys, I and my staff of legal professionals understand that being involved in a traffic collision may be one of the most traumatic events a person has had to face in their lifetime. With serious injuries ranging from deep cuts and lacerations to internal injuries and closed-head trauma, many of these life-threatening conditions, a victim and his family are surely preoccupied with physical recovery.

But on top of all the medical treatments, physical rehabilitation and emotional counseling is the similarly large consideration of financial recovery. Depending on the type of insurance coverage and willingness of a carrier to cover a victim’s medical costs, there can many times be large gaps in monetary support for injuries sustained as the result of another individual’s negligent acts.

For those unlucky enough to end up with a chronic, long-term condition following a serious or near-fatal roadway collision, insurance may not satisfy the months or years of rehab and ongoing medical attention required to maintain a useful and rewarding life. In cases where costs exceed resources, it may be wise to contact a qualified personal injury lawyer for advice.

Dangers Lurking with Every Potential Car Accident — Head, Neck and Back Injuries Abound

July 13, 2012 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Most drivers in the Baltimore, Annapolis and Washington, D.C., areas know that they could be involved in a passenger car or commercial truck accident some time during their driving careers. Accepting risks, at least reasonable risks, is all part and parcel of living in the modern world. One hundred years ago automobile accidents were few and far between, since cars were new to the scene and accidents occurred at slower speeds.

These days car, truck and motorcycle wrecks can happen at much higher speeds than in the pioneering days of internal combustion. Fortunately for us, and unlike our ancestors, advances in medical science can significantly improve an accident victim’s chances for survival following a severe or near-fatal traffic collision. This doesn’t mean necessarily that doctors and healthcare professionals can completely reverse the damaging effects of a bad car crash; there are significant downside risks for any personal injury victim.

Case in point: the head and spinal injuries that can take place during a high-speed automobile, truck or motorcycle crash. Closed-head injuries can be some of the most vexing when it comes to returning a victim to normal function, even in these days of advanced medical procedures and treatment techniques. As Maryland personal injury attorneys, we understand how so many drivers and passengers can end up paralyzed for extended periods, if not for life.

Single-Vehicle Traffic Accidents in Maryland can be Caused by Driver Error or Defective Vehicle Equipment

July 11, 2012 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

We see the headlines quite often: “Car Leaves Road, Rolls Over, Driver Dies at Scene” or “Driver Loses Control of SUV, Smashes into Storefront, Pedestrians Severely Injured.” On the face of it, these headlines indicate that one or more people were affected by a traffic accident; one that may have been caused not by driver error, but a failure of one or more of the vehicle’s critical control systems — such as steering or braking systems. As Maryland personal injury attorneys, I and my legal staff know how serious a car crash can set an individual or family back if they aren’t financially prepared for such an event.

Just like driver error, defective vehicle equipment can result in loss of vehicle control or an inability to correct a bad situation following a collision or avoidance of same. In single-vehicle accidents, it can usually be assumed that the driver perhaps lost control of his or her car or motorcycle prior to the crash, however there can be instances where a catastrophic failure of one or more safety-related systems may have resulted in the initial loss of driver control. Occasionally, a mechanical failure can possibly exacerbate the effects of a crash by not allowing the motorist to regain or maintain control of the vehicle.

Statistically, a percentage of multi-vehicle traffic accidents likely are the result of a system malfunction. This can be as “simple” as a blown-out tire or as complicated as a problem with a car’s anti-lock braking system (ABS) or drive-by-wire throttle control. Whatever the cause, the associated loss of control can send a passenger car into opposing traffic or cause a big-rig semi to jackknife in heavy traffic. The resulting injuries can range from cuts, bruises and broken bones to neck and back injuries, even closed-head trauma.

Spinal Cord Injuries from a Traffic Accident Can Mean Long Recovery for Maryland Accident Victims

July 8, 2012 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Understanding as we do the crippling effects of car, truck and motorcycle collisions, there is nothing funny about being laid up in the hospital for days or weeks following a bad traffic wreck. The mere fact that one’s health, or the well-being of one’s family, may have been compromised due to the negligence of just one person should be enough to consider speaking with an experienced personal injury lawyer.

Here in the Baltimore area, I and my colleagues understand very well the negative outcome that a serious roadway accident can have on some individuals. Whether takes place in Owings Mills, Gaithersburg, Bowie or Washington, D.C., the long-term outcome could be temporary paralysis, chronic pain or permanent disability depending on the type of injuries sustained in the crash.

Every year, dozens upon dozens of Marylanders endure spinal cord injuries as a result of a variety of automobile and commercial trucking wrecks. These days, with the ever-increasing volume of vehicular and pedestrian traffic, being hurt as a result of a traffic collision seems to be less of a possibility and more of a certainty. This isn’t to say that overall vehicle safety has waned, but that increasing traffic density may tend to increase the odds of a random collision happening more often to occupants of passenger cars, city and charter buses and those individuals on foot.