Throughout the nation, alcohol-impaired drivers are a major cause of car accidents. Impaired drivers are extremely dangerous on the roads for a number of reasons. Drivers impaired by alcohol suffer from reduced levels of concentration and slower reaction times when processing their surroundings. Additionally, drunk drivers experience inferior hand-eye coordination and they are more likely to use poor judgment and suffer from memory loss while under the influence. All of these factors greatly increase the likelihood of impaired drivers being involved in car crashes. Signs of impaired drivers on the road include but aren’t limited to, quicker than usual acceleration or deceleration, weaving across the road, erratic breaking, slow responses to traffic signals, or excessively slow driving (10 mph below the speed limit). When driving, exercise extreme caution if you spot any of these signs from other drivers on the road. In 2016, Maryland implemented stricter drunk driving laws throughout the state, including harsher penalties and an Ignition Interlock Program.
How Common Are DUI Accidents in Maryland?
Unfortunately, Maryland sees more than its fair share of alcohol-impaired drivers. Over the last five years, almost 800 people in Maryland have been killed in crashes involving impaired drivers and over 10,000 people per year die throughout the United States in alcohol-impaired crashes. Each year, tens of thousands of people are arrested throughout Maryland for drunk or impaired driving. Maryland currently deploys a specialized team of Maryland State troopers assigned to the State Police Impaired Driving Reduction Effort (SPIDRE) to enforce impaired driving laws. Since 2013, State Troopers in SPIDRE have taken more than 4,000 impaired drivers off of Maryland roads. A recent news report detailed a Maryland car crash.
According to the news report, the fatal accident occurred in the early morning on Thursday, March 1, when a Lincoln MKC traveling north in the southbound lanes of Route 295 near Arundel Mills Boulevard crashed head-on into a Hyundai Tucson. Currently, investigators believe impaired driving may have been a factor in the crash. Maryland State Police responded to the crash around 2:45 am. Investigators said that the driver of the Hyundai Tucson, a 62-year-old woman from Baltimore, Maryland, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Anne Arundel County Fire Department. Two passengers in the Hyundai, a 29-year-old man, and a 33-year-old man, were transported by ambulance to the hospital. The driver of the Lincoln MKC, a 33-year-old woman, was also transported by ambulance to the hospital.
Do You Need a Maryland Personal Injury Attorney?
If you or a loved one has suffered injury or harm from a car accident in Prince George’s, Charles, Baltimore, or Montgomery County, contact the lawyers at Lebowitz & Mzhen today for help. Our attorneys have many years of experience fighting for the injured and will work to provide you with the support, legal knowledge, and confidence to proceed with your claim. The costs stemming from injury or abuse can quickly become overwhelming, and having a team of experienced lawyers on your side can make all the difference. To schedule a free and confidential consultation today, contact us at 800-654-1949.