Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog
According to police, the 19 year old driver who hit eight high school students in Maryland late last month was driving with only a learner’s permit, and will face multiple charges in relation with the collision.
The accident reportedly occurred at some time around 6 p.m., when the young man was attempting to drive to the rear of the school, and failed to yield to a group of junior ROTC students standing in formation in the parking lot. The students that were hit were reportedly transported to a local hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries, which included, bruises, bumps, and possibly broken bones.
Local police believe that the driver was distracted by the sun’s glare when the collision occurred. The driver has been charged with multiple counts of negligent driving and failure to control his vehicle. Additionally, because he was driving with a learner’s permit, he is facing an additional charge of driving without supervision, as required by law.
Unfortunately, the reality of walking, just as with driving or riding a bicycle, presents the potential opportunity of being involved in an accident. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2009, there were 4,092 pedestrian fatalities caused by being struck by a vehicle, which includes a motorcycle, car or truck. More than 70,000 pedestrians were injured during that same year.
Pedestrian accidents have several different causes. Like with other vehicle accidents, one of the most common is distracted driving. Distracted driving occurs when a driver engages in use of a cell phone, texting, eating, putting on makeup, changing the radio station, using a navigation device, or is otherwise not paying attention to what is happening on the road. Distracted drivers often fail to see pedestrians crossing the street, or walking in the shoulder of the roadway until it is too late. The State of Maryland, in an effort to protect roadway users, has made it illegal to text while driving or talk on a cellphone without using a hands-free device.
Additionally, another common cause of pedestrian accidents occurs when a driver fails to yield to the pedestrian right of way. While Maryland has laws regarding when drivers must stop for pedestrians, these laws become obsolete when they are deliberately ignored.
While the driver in this case is reportedly facing criminal charges in relation with the incident, he may also be liable to the students whom he hit for personal injury damages. In this case, the students could likely bring lawsuits claiming that he was negligent in failing to yield to them, and thus directly caused their various injuries. The types of damages the students could potentially recover include amounts for pain and suffering, medical bills, physical therapy costs, and similar related expenditures.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed as a result of a negligent driver while walking in/on/near Maryland’s roadways, consult the experienced pedestrian accident attorneys at Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers. We will work to secure you the compensation that you deserve so that you can focus on recovering physically and mentally. If you believe that your car accident was caused by someone else’s negligence, please contact us today by calling 1-800-654-1949, or through our website, in order to schedule your free initial consultation.
More Blog Posts:
No Fatalities in 10-Car Accident Near Maryland State Line, Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog, published September 26, 2013
Fatal Single Vehicle Accident in Montgomery County, Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog, published September 20, 2013