Earlier last week, in a tragic accident in Silver Spring, a teenage girl lost her life when a car unexpectedly left the roadway and hit her while she was watching a soccer match. According to a report by ABC 7, the girl was watching the soccer match with a family friend when a 2008 Ford Escape ran over a curb, hit a sign, and eventually ran into a tree. Along its collision course, the SUV hit both the 13-year-old girl as well as the adult friend of the family.
The teenage girl was pronounced dead at the scene. The other adult victim was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries and is expected to fully recover. The girl’s father was coaching the soccer match and witnessed the aftermath of the accident, explaining “When I turned around, I see my daughter under the car, rolling under the car like four, five times. She was bleeding from the nose, from the mouth, from the ear…bleeding like crazy. And then she closed her eyes and that’s when she died.”
Both the driver as well as the passengers of the SUV have not fully cooperated with investigators, and witnesses to the accident have been slow to come forward. Police believe that this is because the area is predominantly Hispanic, and witnesses may be fearful to come forward due to the potential immigration consequences of doing so.
Pedestrian Accidents in Maryland
Each year, dozens of pedestrians lose their lives on Maryland roads. Over the past 10 or so years, the average number of pedestrian deaths in Maryland has hovered around 100. In most of those accidents, the pedestrian is not at all at fault for the accident but is an innocent victim of someone else’s negligent or reckless driving. The sad reality is that many of these accidents result in serious injury or death.
Taking Legal Action After a Pedestrian Accident
Victims of pedestrian accidents are entitled to bring a claim seeking compensation for their injuries in a Maryland court. Most often, the law will require that the pedestrian victim prove that the driver was negligent when he or she struck the pedestrian. Moreover, in Maryland, accident victims must be able to prove that they are not at all at fault for the accident, or they may be prevented from recovering. This makes the assistance of a skilled attorney a valuable asset in any accident victim’s pursuit of justice.
Have You Been Injured in a Maryland Pedestrian Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been involved in a Maryland pedestrian accident, you may be entitled to compensation. The first step—after the physical recovery—is to speak to a dedicated Maryland personal injury attorney to discuss the facts of your case. The law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers has years of experience handling myriad personal injury claims and knows what types of cases are likely to succeed in Maryland courts and how to bring these cases. Click here, or call 410-654-3600 today to schedule a free initial consultation with a dedicated Maryland personal injury attorney today.
More Blog Posts:
Girl Killed in Car Accident By Fleeing Murder Suspect, Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog, published June 2, 2014.
Baltimore Bicyclist on Cancer Benefit Ride Killed in Kentucky, Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog, published June 26, 2014.