Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog

Maryland Automobile Injury Update: Aggressive Driving Blamed for More than Half of Truck and Car Crashes

March 11, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

There probably isn’t a car or truck driver out there who hasn’t at one time or another experienced the effects of aggressive driving. Whether you travel Maryland’s highways for a living or commute to school or work in Annapolis, Columbia, Washington, D.C., or anywhere else for that matter, auto accident statistics point to aggressive and otherwise dangerous drivers as one of the most frequent causes of traffic accidents.

In fact, the American Automobile Association (AAA) stated last year that more than 55 percent of all fatal car, truck, SUV and minivan wrecks in the Maryland area (as well as across the nation) were caused by some kind of aggressive driving. These accidents more than likely resulted in numerous personal injuries and related claims.

As experts in the area of automobile accident and injury law, I and my colleagues have personally dealt with individuals caught up in the unfortunate aftermath caused by aggressive drivers, such as traumatic brain injuries and even death.

Maryland Auto Accident News: Insurance Institute Says Cell Phone Bans Don’t Reduce Traffic Wrecks

March 9, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

With all of the attention being focused on cell phones and other in-vehicle distractions one would think that bans on handheld cellphones and curbs on texting would at least contribute to a reduction in automobile and trucking accidents. As a Maryland injury lawyer in the Baltimore area, I too was surprised to hear the latest news from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

According to news articles, an IIHS Study has determined that cell phone bans have not reduced accidents even though hands-free usage is apparently up. Reportedly, the study looked at the data and came up with this unexpected revelation. Considering just the frequency of traffic accidents prior to and after enactment of laws that ban the use of handheld cellphones, researchers found that there was no discernable reduction in the number of automobile crashes.

The information for this report came from the Highway Loss Data Institute, a research organization funded by the insurance industry. The group reviewed the monthly collision rates for insurance claims for vehicles three years old or newer in the months prior to and after bans on handheld phone use went into effect.

The areas analyzed included New York (November 2001), Washington, D.C. (July 2004), Connecticut (October 2005), and California (July 2008). That data set was then compared with nearby areas that had no ban in place — for instance, when researchers looked at D.C. they then compared those figures with statewide trends in Virginia and Maryland, and with the city of Baltimore.

Even with adjustments made for economic swings, seasonal changes in driving routines, and other variables, the researchers concluded that laws banning handheld cellphone use simply aren’t reducing crashes. Although some might say that handheld use continues, which may be why the trend hasn’t shifted downward, the IIHS still holds to its conclusion.

According to reports, the IIHS has pretty much confirmed that handheld phone use is down in areas with bans in force, which would seem to preclude the argument that the bans simply aren’t working.

So even though large-scale studies by organizations such as the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute has found that drivers using handsets were at several times greater risk of a crash or near-crash when dialing and up to 23.2 times the risk when texting (for truck drivers), the IIHS results are at best confusing.

Maryland Auto Accident Update: Car Crash Injuries and Fatal Trauma can be Minimized through Seatbelt Use

March 7, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

No matter where you live or work in Maryland, be it Owings Mills, The District, Annapolis or Columbia, car wrecks, pickup truck crashes and SUV rollovers can happen without notice. In fact, traffic accidents across the state injure hundreds of people every year. Some of those injuries and even a few deaths could likely have been prevented had the occupants been wearing their seatbelts.

As an experienced auto accident lawyer in the Baltimore area, my years of helping others recover from injury accidents have taught me that certain habits can save lives; others, however, can sadly contribute to the loss of life on our public streets and highways. One habit I’m always happy to see is when a person buckles that safety belt. It’s a small part of every driver’s daily ritual, but it’s a significant one.

Seatbelt use is usually pointed at as one of the top reasons why people survive automobile wrecks. There are many out there, I suspect, who feel that airbags and other safety devices do a better job, but that’s not necessarily true — all of these systems work together to imporve passenger safety. As basic as they may seem, safety belts play a key role in protecting occupants in the case of severe traffic accidents, including head-on collisions, roll-over accidents and other potentially fatal crashes.

Baltimore Auto Injury Law Update: 2008 Route 10 Car Crash Could Change Maryland Accident Law

March 5, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Maryland automobile accident victims can have a hard time of it, not only in terms of recuperation from physical injuries but also when it comes to recovering damages. As a Baltimore injury attorney and car accident lawyer, I have represented dozens of victims and their families following devastating traffic wrecks. There is no amount of money that will bring back a loved one, nor replace a lost arm or leg, but that doesn’t mean that compensation should be lacking from the responsible parties.

Negligent passenger car drivers, not to mention commercial tractor-trailer operators, who cause serious accidents must be held accountable. Criminal courts can only do so much, which is why I always suggest that people consult a qualified injury lawyer in the event of a car, van or SUV accident.

Back in April of 2008, a three-car accident on Maryland’s Route 10 took the life of Kelly Stinchcomb’s son. Now, two years later, there may be movement some toward stiffer penalties for drivers who cause crashes such as the one that no doubt haunts her to this very day.

Four People Injured in Three-car Accident Following Head-on Crash in Allegany County, Maryland

March 3, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

A head-on traffic collision on U.S. Route 220 sent four people to the hospital in Allegany County near Cresaptown, Maryland. According to news reports, the wreck occurred just before 9am on a Tuesday morning during rush hour. Information from the Allegany County Bureau of Police indicated that a 24-year-old out-of-state man driving a 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier crossed the center line, striking an oncoming pickup truck in the southbound lane.

The Chevy driver, Christopher Stouffer, was injured in the accident along with his two passengers and another driver in a third vehicle. Head-on motor vehicle collisions can cause serious injuries, such as head, neck and brain trauma. In many cases, depending on the speeds involved, such a car crash can be fatal to both driver and passengers. In this case, all involved were lucky to have survived the wreck without sustaining life-threatening injuries.

Based on news reports the driver of the pickup truck, Aaron Brooke Gray of Cumberland, MD, lost control of his vehicle, which subsequently hit a 2003 Toyota sedan being driven northbound by 57-year-old Cynthia Erzkus, also of Cumberland. Some of the victims were temporarily trapped in their vehicles before rescue crews from the Bowling Green and Rawlings volunteer fire departments extricated them.

Baltimore Injury Accident Update: Pedestrian Safety Called into Question in Maryland’s Prince George’s County

March 1, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

It’s not surprising that automobile accidents involving pedestrians can often be fatal, and at best sometimes inflicting serious bodily injury to the person on foot. Whether you are a walker, jogger or runner, you know the risks you take every time you cross a busy street. City’s like Baltimore, Annapolis and the District can be dangerous for individuals hoofing it for health or just to save a few dollars in parking fees or bus fare.

As a Maryland auto accident attorney, the emphasis on safety can never be too high. I and my colleagues have seen the result of too many terrible car-pedestrian crashes to feel any other way. It’s difficult to imagine no longer being able to walk with your spouse or push your grandchild in her stroller, but these realities are just a part of life for some victims of traffic accidents.

A recent editorial pointed out the seriousness of having clear and easy-to-use pedestrian walkways in a city. The complaint in this case involves Prince George’s County’s apparent failure to clear the county’s pedestrian pathways following the recent bout of heavy snow and bad winter weather that has pummeled the East Coast. The result of this poor response according to the author? People, pedestrians, are being killed by trucks and automobiles.

Maryland Auto Accident Update: Speed Enforcement Cameras Help Police Give Out 8,800 Speeding Citations

February 28, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

There may still be a debate as to whether “speed kills,” but one thing is for certain, the higher the speed the more severe an accident is likely to be. In this regard, speed does make for more deadly auto wrecks. And while automobile accidents are typically caused either by driver error or as a result of faulty or defective equipment, when high vehicle speed is added to the mix, serious injury and sometimes death can result.

While speeding in cities occurs, the speeds involved are not as high as those on rural roads, highways and expressways. High speeds can also contribute to roll-over accidents, especially with vehicles that have high centers of gravity, such as SUVs (sport utility vehicles) and minivans. In construction zones, car-pedestrian accidents can also be caused by excessive vheilce speed. Whatever the cause, speeding doesn’t help the situation.

Recent news indicates that the radar speed cameras in used around the Baltimore area are doing what they’re designed for. According to news articles, Maryland highway officials say nearly 8,800 citations were issued during the first six weeks of the state’s speed camera enforcement program.

Maryland Auto Injury News: High-speed Street Racing Blamed for I-70 Fatalities in Baltimore County

February 25, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

It goes without saying that street racing has no place on public roads. Aggressive driving can and usually does result in injuries. For those who would argue the point, I suggest you buy a helmet, join a bona fide racing organization like the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA), and take your car on a closed course where proper car and spectator safety measures are in effect.

As an automobile accident attorney and personal injury lawyer, I read all too frequently of innocent motorists and pedestrians killed or injured by one or another case of aggressive driving. It makes little difference if it’s a so-called “planned” event like an illegal street racing meet, or if it’s a spur of the moment, road-rage incident, people can and do get hurt. A high-speed crash can cause broken bones, head and neck injuries, or even death. Spectators can also be killed by a driver’s mistake, which then invites possible vehicular homicide charges.

According to news reports, concrete barriers have been added to Interstate 70 in an effort to try and cut down on the amount of street racing incidents. This latest change followed a fatal car accident last year that claimed the lives of two spectators during one of many illegal speed events.

Baltimore Car Accident News: Drunk Driving Blamed in Multi-car Injury Accident in Worcester County

February 23, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Injury accidents are commonplace on almost any roadway in Maryland. Whether it’s the city streets of Annapolis or D.C., the open highways across the state, or tight country roads, a car or truck crash can occur without warning. As a Maryland auto accident lawyer, I also know that drunken driving ups the ante when it comes to automobile collisions.

Not only does drinking and driving reduce a motorist’s reaction times, but it also dulls the cognitive portion of the brain, reducing a driver’s ability to make good and proper decisions. Mixing alcohol with a motor vehicle on a public road is just disaster waiting to happen. Yet this is what happens dozens of times every month. The pain and suffering that drunk drivers inflict on innocent motorists is already too high, yet police are constantly pulling these drivers over.

Unfortunately, sometimes it’s too late when a person driving under the influence of alcohol is taken into custody by law enforcement officer. A recent news report shows that as police try ever harder to limit the number of drunks on the road there is always one that gets through and causes an accident.

Baltimore Pedestrian-Car Accident News: Man Dies after Pickup Truck Hits Crowd at Lexington Market

February 21, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Three people were hurt and one man was killed in a tragic automobile accident in mid-January at a parking lot near the Lexington Market. Accidents of this kind can sometimes be attributed to faulty vehicle steering or brake systems. Occasionally, driver error or drunk driving can result in multiple personal injuries from being hit by a truck, SUV or passenger car.

As a Baltimore automobile accident and injury lawyer, I have seen first-hand the often severe injuries that a pedestrian can sustain as a result of being struck by a motor vehicle. When a crash of this kind occurs, with a crowd of people, many individuals can be hurt or even killed. According to a news article, a 72-year-old pedestrian died of his injuries after he and others were hit by a Ford F-150 pickup truck.

Police reports show that the woman driving the truck apparently suffered a seizure as she was driving through one of the market’s parking lots, just off North Eutaw Street. The driver subsequently lost control of the vehicle causing it to drive into a group of people. In the course of the crash, Donald L. Wheeler from Virginia sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.