Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog

Maryland Auto Accident and Traffic Safety Update: Maryland’s Move Over Law Protects Emergency Personnel

November 30, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

If you you’re not doing it by now, you had better start. What are we talking about? Moving over a lane to give police officers, fire fighters and other emergency personnel a little extra margin of safety on Maryland’s highways. As a Baltimore automobile accident attorney, I know the kind of carnage that a motor vehicle can cause to a pedestrian, especially at high speeds. Maryland’s legislators finally took this to heart and passed what is known as the “Move Over” rule.

It’s been a few years since the new rule was proposed, but now that it’s law drivers across the state should be extra careful when coming up on a car, truck or motorcycle accident scene or even a routine traffic stop. The potential for severe injury during a traffic accident is quite high even for those traveling in vehicles.

Even so, serious head, neck and spinal injuries have been know to occur even at low speeds, which makes this new law a boon for our hard-working police and emergency personnel. And not a moment too soon, since over the past decade more than 150 police officers alone have been killed nationwide at roadsides when they were hit by passing vehicles.

Baltimore Injury News: Policeman Hurt in Hit-and-Run Auto Accident on I-495

November 27, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Anyone can find themselves the victim of a car-pedestrian accident, even a police officer. The truth of the matter is that car crashes and other traffic-related accidents occur with alarming frequency in cities like Baltimore, Annapolis and Frederick, MD. As a Maryland auto accident lawyer, my experience is that these kinds of collisions happen when one is least expecting it.

An unexpected pedestrian traffic accident can lead to personal injuries as serious as head trauma and concussions to those relatively minor bodily injuries such as cuts, abrasions and bruises. As negligible as some injuries may seem, medical treatment and hospital costs can add up to significant money for a family whose income may not be able to support such heady amounts.

No matter what the cause, anyone hurt in a traffic-related accident should consult a qualified personal injury lawyer if only to understand their options and how to proceed going forward. A family trying to deal with a fatal accident may also want to consider filing a wrongful death suit.

Maryland Auto Accident News: Alcohol Suspected in Fatal US 29 Traffic Accident in Prince George’s County

November 24, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Drunk driving is a known killer on Maryland’s highways and surface streets. And as long as alcohol is available to adults there will, sadly, be drunken driving accidents on our roadways. As a Maryland automobile accident attorney, I see reports every week of innocent people hurt, injured or killed as a result of another driver’s negligence.

In the case of driving while intoxicated (DWI) or driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol and prescription medication, drivers have a responsibility not to get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle when they are impaired. That’s why we have the concept of designated drivers; to help prevent serious and sometimes deadly drinking-related car, truck and motorcycle accidents from happening.

Some might say it’s a matter of conscience, but it should really be a matter of personal responsibility to oneself and the rest of society. Yet there are drivers every day who take the wheel of a potentially deadly two-ton weapon when they know full well that they have had too much to drink. Many get from Point A to Point B without killing someone; others aren’t as lucky. The innocent drivers who are killed or injured are always the unlucky ones.

Baltimore Traffic Accident News: Two Highway Construction Workers Killed in Fatal Crash on Rte 228

November 21, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Drivers see the signs all of the time: Construction Zone, Reduced Speed Ahead, Give ‘em a Brake. As Maryland motorists we enjoy the convenience that our highways and interstates provide and the ease with which we can cross the state or the country in our cars, trucks and buses. But the construction and maintenance of these concrete and asphalt ribbons is a constant job. That’s where highway workers earn their keep.

But safety for these men and women is a relative and fleeting thing. With hundreds of passengers cars, motorcycles, SUVs and commercial delivery trucks passing by construction zones every hour the opportunity for injury is always present. How those individuals function in such a dangerous environment most of us will never know, the fact is a number of highway workers are killed every year as a result of car accidents and just plain negligence on the part of some drivers.

Families of the victims may have a hard time making ends meet, what with possible medical bills and lost wages suffered as a result of a construction zone crash. Whatever the situation, it’s never easy for a family to recover emotionally from the death of a breadwinner, much less a mother or father, wife or husband. This comes to mind just a story hit the wires about two Maryland highway workers who were killed not very long ago on a stretch of Rte 228.

Maryland Injury News: Pasadena, MD, Pedestrian Struck and Killed by Passing Automobile

November 19, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

If there is any advice that we would give to people it would be take care whenever you cross the street on foot. Regardless of how well you know a stretch of road, never for a moment assume that cars and trucks will see you in the street, especially at night. As Baltimore personal injury attorneys and auto accident lawyers, I and my colleagues have the skills to help victims of car, truck and motorcycle accidents, as well as pedestrian-auto collisions.

The sad thing is we seem to be constantly bombarded by stories of pedestrian injury accidents, and sometimes fatal crashes. Again, when crossing a busy city street or a quiet country road, exercise the same caution you would want a loved one to use. The reason is simple: People on foot are no match for a larger and much heavier motor vehicle. Injuries sustained in a pedestrian-auto accident can range from cuts and bruises to traumatic brain injury and death. Cross the street safely and live to see another day.

As we say this, we are aware that accidents like the one that happened recently in Pasadena, MD, will likely continue to occur. According to the news, a man who was trying to cross the road in Pasadena was stuck and killed by a passing car. Police reports indicate that the victim, 49-year-old Adam J. O’Conner, was hit while crossing Fort Smallwood Road around 11pm.

Maryland Car Accident Report: Teenager Dies in Fatal Allegany County Crash on US 220

November 17, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Anytime a person dies in a traffic accident it is a tragedy, but when a young person is killed in a car crash the hopes and dreams of that child’s family also die. An entire future erased in a matter of moments. As a Baltimore auto accident lawyer and personal injury attorney, one of the most painful experiences is meeting with the parents of a child lost to a senseless car or trucking crash.

As drivers we are all expected to take care and use caution when traveling Maryland’s highways and surface streets. Of course, accidents happen, but no one wants to experience a fatal crash that takes the life of a loved one. When an individual, young or old, is killed as a result of another person’s negligence, it may be appropriate to file a wrongful death claim.

These kinds of law suits allow members of a family to receive compensation for their loss. While the death of a child does not usually result in lost wages, compensation is still possible in such cases. For example, compensation can also be for loss of comfort, love and or companionship, not just and financial support. One must always keep in mind that death does not preclude recovery for any suffering or pain that the victim may have experienced prior to death as a result of another’s wrongful or negligent actions.

Baltimore Automobile Injury News: Motorist Dies after Losing Control and Crashing Corvette in Carroll County

November 15, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Accidents happen for numerous and varied reasons. The ones that occur due to driver error are quite common and can range from simple fender-benders to deadly high-speed head-on collisions. As a Maryland personal injury lawyer working to help victims of automobile, trucking and motorcycle accidents, I know the pain and sadness that comes in the wake of a tragic and fatal traffic wreck.

When a person is believed to be at fault, it’s sometimes easier for a victim’s family to focus their anger. On the other hand, sometimes there isn’t an immediately known reason for a terrible car accident that takes the life of a loved one. Defective vehicle equipment, which usually comes under the heading of product liability, has no face and can sometimes be difficult to come to terms with.

No matter what the cause, when a person dies in a single-vehicle crash, questions loom both for the family and for the authorities. Police and other forensic investigators can usually get to the bottom of the cause for a loss of vehicle control. It’s not unheard of for a car or truck’s braking system to have proven faulty or poorly maintained. With such a critical safety system compromised by another’s negligence, a mechanical failure can quickly escalate into a fatal car or trucking accident.

Maryland Personal Injury News: Two St. Mary’s County Policemen Injured in Separate Traffic Accidents

November 13, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Automobile collisions are not uncommon, even in these days of heightened safety awareness. As a Maryland auto accident attorney, I and my colleagues read of people being hurt in car and commercial truck crashes more often than one would expect. Although civilians are exposed to potential traffic hazards on a fairly regular basis, there is no argument that police officers on daily patrol face similar dangers almost continuously during their entire work day.

While car and truck collisions can be serious, the occupants are relatively well protected when compared to a person on foot or on a bicycle. Of course, the result of a car-pedestrian crash is never good for the person on foot. Broken bones, head trauma and neck or spinal injuries are quite common. Internal injuries, cuts and bruises are also typical in accidents involving people crossing roads and walking near traffic.

Not too long ago, a news article mentioned that two police officers were hurt in separate traffic accidents on the same day. According to reports, both officers were from the St. Mary’s County sheriff’s department and were injured on a Tuesday in unrelated vehicle accidents. Fortunately, both officers survived without severe injury.

Calvert County Accident News: Maryland Pedestrian Struck and Killed by Police Patrol Car on Route 4

November 11, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

We’ve said it here before, and we’ll say it again; Pedestrians and bicyclists are no match for a 3,000-pound motor vehicle even at low speeds. Physics cannot be changed and when a flesh and blood person is hit by a car, SUV or commercial vehicle, serious injuries are certain to result. And that’s if the individual is lucky enough to survive the crash — many people are killed outright when hit by a passenger car on the street.

Naturally, pedestrians and cars should remain apart whenever possible, but the reality of our modern age means that accidents are bound to happen from time to time. A recent news story made it rather clear that anyone can be caught in a pedestrian-auto accident even if the car is being driven by a highly trained professional, such as a police officer.

According to reports, a man in his 60s was hit by an unmarked police cruiser on a Monday night as he walked across Rte 4 in Prince Frederick. The accident happened just before 8pm when a Calvert County Sheriff’s Office deputy was passing through the area on what police call a routine patrol.

Maryland Auto Injury Update: Four Killed in Fatal Crash; Speeding and Aggressive Driving Blamed

November 8, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Once again the senseless loss of life hits the news. This time, Maryland State Police point to speeding and aggressive driving as the likely cause of a horrendous accident that left three adults and one toddler dead in the aftermath. Describing the crash, law enforcement authorities say that the multi-car crash was “uncommonly violent.”

As a Baltimore personal injury lawyer who represents victims of traffic collisions and other automotive accidents, I have helped individuals following bad accidents. This particular crash likely should never have happened. One can only feel for the families of those killed and hope that the survivors make full and rapid recoveries.

According to the news reports, the head-on collision and subsequent deaths and injuries began when a Nissan Cube stuffed with seven individuals was being driven in what police termed and aggressive manner northbound along Rte 113. Based on reports, the driver of the vehicle was traveling very fast and passing other cars on the road in posted “no-passing” zones.