Earlier this month in Edgemere, the driver of an SUV lost control after rear-ending another car and ended up crashing into a school cafeteria. According to a report by one local news source, the driver of the SUV slammed into the back of another car while driving north on North Point Road. After crashing into the other vehicle, the SUV then lost control and ended up in the cafeteria of Sparrow’s Point High School.
Evidently, when emergency workers arrived on the scene, the SUV was overturned and the driver trapped inside. They had to extricate the driver before flying him to Shock Trauma in Baltimore. The driver of the vehicle that was rear-ended did not suffer any major injuries.
Fortunately, the accident occurred around 9:30 at night, and there were no students in the cafeteria at the time of the accident. Police are currently conducting an in-depth investigation into the accident and will determine if charges should be pressed against any of the drivers involved.
Maryland Rear-End Car Accidents
The accident that caused the driver of the SUV to lose control of his vehicle and smash into the school was just one of many rear-end accidents that occur across Maryland each year. While there are several reasons that a rear-end accident may occur, the most common causes are related to distracted driving.
Distracted driving occurs when a driver engages in any activity that removes his or her attention from on the road—where it should be—and directs it somewhere else. Most commonly, the culprit is talking on a cell phone or texting.
Texting and Cell-Phone Use in Maryland
In Maryland, cell-phone use by drivers is highly regulated. For example, no driver is permitted to text while driving. This includes texting while using a hands-free device.
When it comes to talking on the phone while driving, it is more nuanced. Drivers under the age of 18 are not permitted to use a cell phone at all while driving. However, drivers over the age of 18 are permitted to use a hands-free device to talk on the phone while driving. It is not allowed for anyone to talk on the phone without a hands-free device.
When a driver talks or texts when he or she shouldn’t and causes an accident, the fact that the driver was using a phone may become relevant to determining civil liability. To learn more about how you may be able to recover damages after being involved in a Maryland accident, contact a dedicated Maryland personal injury attorney.
Have You Been Involved in a Serious Maryland Car Crash?
If you or a loved one has recently been involved in a serious Maryland car accident, you may be entitled to monetary damages based on the other driver’s negligence. However, keep in mind that recovering will likely mean dealing with an insurance company that isn’t willing to pay you what you deserve. To obtain assistance in establishing your claim, call 410-654-3600 to set up a free consultation with a dedicated Maryland injury attorney.
More Blog Posts:
One Injured, Another Killed in Olney Head-On Collision, Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog, published October 9, 2014.
Single-Vehicle Accident Takes the Life of One Fifteen-Year-Old and Injures Two Others, Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog, published September 3, 2014.