Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog

Baltimore Auto Accident News: Teenager Survives Maryland Car Crash in which Three Close Friends Died

June 11, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

She survived with just cuts and bruises, but Rachel Ankrom is far from fine after a harrowing late-night automobile accident on a Maryland interstate that left three of her friends dead after a nightmarish ordeal. As parents we all worry about our youngsters, teenagers and young adults barely out in the world who have less real-life experience than their mothers and fathers, so it’s natural that we worry about them.

As Baltimore car accident and injury lawyers, my office has represented families who have lost loved ones in tragic car, truck and motorcycle accidents. Whether you are young or old, there is no guarantee that any driver will avoid a deadly traffic accident. While most accidents don’t result in death, the chance of a fatal car, minivan or truck wreck is always present on our highways or rural roads.

A recent news story pointed out how terrible a car accident can be. Sadly, the crash mentioned here took the lives of three individuals, while only one of their group survived to talk about the experience. Based on news accounts, the 18-year-old survivor, Rachel Ankrom of Fayette City, was riding in a vehicle with her friends through Maryland on their way to Ocean City, MD, when the vehicle apparently went out of control.

Police Say Speeding, DWI Possibly to Blame in Fatal Prince George’s County Car Crash

June 9, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

The loss of any life is tragic to say the least, but to lose an infant in a senseless automobile accident leaves a scar that rarely if ever heals. Unfortunately, here in Maryland every parent’s nightmare is just one bad decision away. Thoughtless drivers rarely consider the ultimate consequences of their actions, yet time and time again, people are injured or killed on our streets and highways due to someone’s negligence behind the wheel.

As Baltimore auto accident attorneys and injury lawyers, our office offers help to victims of these pointless traffic accidents. When a fatal single-vehicle accident occurs with a parent at the wheel the tragedy is all the more disturbing, such as the one that took place just last month in Prince George’s County. In that crash, a little 2-year-old child was killed in what local police believe was a combination of drinking, speeding and poor roadway conditions.

According to news reports the incident happened in mid-May on a Wednesday night in Landover, MD, when a two-door Chrysler Sebring, which was traveling on Brightseat Road, for some reason veered into the opposing lane, then sped into a nearby woods and struck a tree around 7:30pm. Police reports show that the impact literally split the vehicle in half.

One Killed, Several Injured in Fiery Head-on Automobile Crash in Washington County, Maryland

June 6, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

A head-on collision is one of the most deadly types of traffic accidents. Even at low-speeds, the combined force of two cars or trucks hitting each other from opposing directions can be quite high. Seat belts and air bags can help to lessen the effect on occupants, but the outcome is never certain.

As Maryland automobile injury lawyers, I and my colleagues have certainly assisted our share of victims from this kind of motor vehicle collision. Severe head trauma, back injuries, broken bones and lacerations top the list of bodily injuries associated with a high- and medium-speed car wrecks. Fatalities are also quite common in this type of accident.

Rural roads and undivided highways are quite often the scene of such devastating crashes. Not long ago, a woman was killed near the Antietam National Battlefield when the vehicle in which she was traveling was hit by another oncoming passenger car. According to police reports, the young woman who died was sitting in the front passenger seat and wearing her seat belt.

Baltimore Motorist Severely Injured in Crash with Dirt Bike and Ensuing Physical Assault

June 3, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Some automobile, truck and motorcycle collisions are completely avoidable, while others are simply bad luck. Almost every time however, someone’s negligence leads to a serious injury or even a motor vehicle fatality. Occasionally, however, there are incidents that arise following a traffic accident which make no sense, are completely unexpected and due to aggressive and uncontrolled belligerence.

As a Maryland auto accident attorney, I understand how tempers can flare after a bad car or truck accident. What is rare, yet sometimes very real, is a physical attack on another individual based on anger and lack of self control. As drivers, we all must be aware of others on the road. To blame another person for one’s own error is petty and uncivilized. Yet a story out of the Baltimore Sun shows that these kinds of situations arise from time to time with tragic consequences.

According to news articles the rider of the allegedly-illegal dirt bike rider crashed into another vehicle, following which a passenger on the bike assault the driver of the passenger car involved in the accident. The traffic incident happened during the work week in West Baltimore at the intersection of South Monroe and West Pratt. The dirt bike rider apparently ran a red light and hit the sedan broadside. The traffic collision reportedly caused the operator of the bike to be thrown from the vehicle onto the roadway.

State Police Car Crashes into Honda Minivan; Mother and Toddler Receive Minor Injuries

May 31, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Not long ago a bunch of kids came close to being hurt when a fire truck rolled away from its parked position at a community event. The incident was a close call for some parents, who assumed that an emergency vehicle and its crew are all about public safety. However this is only one example of how private citizens can be injured by vehicles operated by public servants and government employees.

More recently, a traffic accident involving a Maryland State Police car and a Honda minivan carrying a mother and child points out that police officers as well as fire department personnel can also become involved in injury and fatal automobile crashes. Wrecks like the one that occurred last month remind everyone that law enforcement officers and fire fighters are human, too.

Whether a person is hurt in a traffic accident, the facts are not always easy to determine until an investigation is carried out. Unfortunately, many who are hurt in bad car crashes never see a penny, which can hurt in bad economic times like we have been experiencing. A skilled Maryland injury lawyer can assist victims of negligent driving collect damages to help pay for medical costs and property damage.

Maryland Woman Killed by Auto near Baltimore County Bus Stop in Fatal Pedestrian Accident

May 29, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Automobile accidents involving individuals on foot can happen almost anywhere vehicular traffic is located near pedestrian crosswalks, bus stops and even in shopping malls and parking lots. Tens of thousands of people are hurt and injured after being hit by cars and trucks, and even by bicycles, especially in the city. As Baltimore injury accident attorneys, I and my colleagues understand the extent of injuries that can be sustained in an auto-pedestrian traffic accident.

From simple bumps and bruises to serious cuts, compound fractures and head injuries, being struck by a motor vehicle can lead to extensive medical procedures and correspondingly high hospital bills. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly one in every 14 traffic accidents involving a person on foot results in a death. This happens despite the efforts that most pedestrians go to in order to avoid being hit by a car, SUV or commercial truck.

Although numerous car-pedestrian crashes happen when people are crossing a street or rural road, accidents can also occur when individuals are jogging or running for sport or exercise. The danger also extends to car-bicycle collisions, where motor vehicle operators sometimes claim they did not see the victim until it was too late. In a city, slower moving elderly residents can be extremely vulnerable to vehiclular collisions as they cannot jump out of the way as easily as a younger person.

Maryland Drivers Expect More Roadway-related Accidents; More Vehicle Repairs Due to Poor Road Conditions

May 27, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Negligence comes in many forms. Individuals who operate their vehicles in a thoughtless or aggressive manner can cause traffic accidents that result in personal injury. Similarly, the state government and local municipalities have a responsibility to the public’s general welfare, which should include proper maintenance of public roadways, pedestrian sidewalks and other public works-related projects.

Unfortunately, due to ever increasing budget cuts and other belt tightening measures, predictions are cropping up regarding the impact of poor roadway maintenance and its future effect on car, SUV and motorcycle crashes and other road accidents. When safety is compromised, unnecessary property damage and injury can be a result. Wrongful death can also be a result of individual or corporate negligence.

As Maryland personal injury lawyers, we travel the same city streets and rural roads that everyone does. Single-vehicle accidents can be caused by damaged pavement or deteriorating roadway and traffic control infrastructure. Sadly, it appears that the current economic downturn will cause more vehicle damage and could even result in some unnecessary fatalities.

According to a recent report from the U.S. Public Interest Research Group Education Fund, Maryland motorists already pay an added $425 in vehicle costs because of rough roads — this is more than 25 percent higher than the national average of $335. The report looks at how states applied federal funds for maintenance of their aging highways and bridges. While Maryland has a history of major road construction, the report makes a point to praise the state for targeting funds at repair of infrastructure ahead of funding new construction.

Reportedly, Maryland drivers have certainly felt the impact of poorly maintained roads. According to the report, in 2008 the state ranked 37th (in percentage of road quality) with 41 percent of roads in “less than good” condition. Compare that to the national average of 45 percent. What probably won’t come as a surprise to many drivers, Baltimore had the 15th-highest additional repair and vehicle accident costs due to poor roads — $589 per year.

One bright spot, if you can call it that was the finding that — as of December 2009 — only seven percent of Maryland’s bridges were categorized as “structurally deficient,” defined as having a major defect in either the supporting structure or a crack in the roadway. While anything short of 100-percent safe should be of concern, compared to the national average of 12 percent, Maryland is doing better than most states.

Baltimore Automobile Accident Update: Suing for Wrongful Death Following a Fatal Maryland Car Crash

May 26, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Any time a person dies it can be a sad and emotional time for the immediate family and relatives of the deceased person. Under the best of circumstances, such as death by natural causes, spouses, children and other dependants can face an uncertain future. But when loss of life is caused by possible negligence on the part of another individual, such as in a car, motorcycle or trucking-related accident, the tragedy is amplified many times over.

As Maryland personal injury attorneys, my firm understands the difficult times that a family faces after the loss of a loved one. If a family member dies because of another individual’s negligent or wrongful behavior, it may be appropriate to file a wrongful death claim.

Such claims allow members of a family to receive compensation for their loss — including loss of comfort, love, companionship, and financial support. It must be kept in mind that death does not negate a family’s right to be compensated for its loss. Furthermore, it does not preclude recovery for any suffering or pain that the deceased experienced as a result of wrongful or negligent actions on another person’s part.

Wrongful death following an automobile accident is described as any death which is due in whole or in part to the negligence or deliberate misconduct of another person. The term “car accident” can be a poor choice of words in cases of wrongful death, especially since many auto and trucking wrecks are caused by another person who often is determined to have been operating their vehicle in an inappropriate manner that either caused or worsened the actual vehicle crash.

If a car accident claims the life of a loved one as a result of another driver’s error or negligence, this may be cause for a wrongful death lawsuit. Actions on the part of another driver that may point to wrongful death can include one or more of the following:

— Drunk driving
— Speeding
— Following too close
— Performed illegal driving maneuver
— Defective road conditions

— Defective vehicle safety equipment

In some instances the cause may seem minor, however when another driver is speeding, for example, not only is that person breaking the law, he or she is increasing the danger their vehicle poses to others on the road.

Driver from Federalsburg, MD, Charged in DUI-related Multi-car Traffic Accident in Salisbury

May 22, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Injury accidents can be triggered by a variety of factors, not the least of which is driver error. The tragedy of many automobile and truck crashes is that the offending driver was drunk at the time of the wreck. Fatal car, SUV and motorcycle accidents can sometimes be traced back to alcohol use, which makes these kinds of crashes all the more avoidable.

Maryland automobile accidents can lead to serious injuries and lengthy hospital stays. The medical costs of such incidents can be a tremendous burden to the victims and their families. In cases of fatal collisions, the survivors can be left without a bread winner compounding the financial troubles at a time when the family is most vulnerable.

Not long ago a driver who was arrested for allegedly causing a multi-car accident was charged with drunk driving. Based on news articles, 28-year-old Brad Austin Wootten was driving a 2000 Ford Explorer when he rear-ended a passenger car at the end of the road closure. That collision caused a multi-car accident involving a total of four vehicles.

Baltimore Injury News: Bowie Resident Dies in Single-vehicle Car Crash on Maryland’s Route 301

May 19, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Single-vehicle auto wrecks can happen for a variety of reasons. While driver error is quite common, other causes can be attributed to these kinds of traffic accidents, with results ranging from simple cuts and bruises to head and spine trauma. Depending on the sped of the crash and other circumstances, fatalities are not uncommon.

Weather conditions as well as the state of the roadway can also be contributing factors in a car crash involving only one vehicle. As Maryland automobile accident lawyers, we are often called upon to represent individuals and their families in cases of defective vehicle equipment. Such cases can include failure of safety systems, broken or poorly maintained steering components, worn or damaged tires or suspension components.

Under the right circumstances, a defective vehicle component can prove to be an accident waiting to happen. At highway speeds, such component failures can result in death or severe injury to the driver and passengers. A recent accident along Route 301 near Mill Branch Road is a situation where defective equipment may be suspect.