Articles Posted in Fatal Traffic Accidents

Although traffic nearly disappeared at the beginning of the global pandemic, road conditions have never been more deadly—especially for Maryland drivers. A combination of speeding, recklessness and other dangerous behaviors among local drivers has resulted in an unexpected increase in dangerous or fatal accidents in the last 20 months.

According to a recent local news report, Maryland roads have increased in danger since the beginning of the pandemic and are seeing a new high in rates of deadly crashes due to excessive speeding and distracted driving. Maryland State Police have noted that based on recent numbers, there have been more local drivers dead per collision, drivers moving at higher speeds, and more instances of driving under the influence or while impaired than ever before.

In 2020, the Maryland Department of Transportation noted that it saw its highest number of fatal crashes in six years due to excessive speeding. Although traffic numbers were down at the beginning of 2020, there was an increase in the number of total fatal crashes overall with 573 deaths in 2020 compared to 535 deaths from the year before. Despite fewer drivers traveling in 2020, the accidents that took place were more severe, which led to an increase in car accident fatalities.

If there is one sure thing in life, it is that it often deals you the most unexpected hand at the most unexpected time. Often, this takes place through events out of our control, such as major accidents or incidents caused by others. When this happens, it is often impossible to be fully prepared—but understanding the basics of how to move forward legally following a major accident, death of a loved one, or similar incident can better equip you and your loved ones for your next steps.

According to a recent local news report, a three-car accident left a toddler dead and four adults severely injured. Local authorities reported that the driver of a Ford was turning left when it crashed into an Acura and a Honda. The impact from the Ford caused the Acura to skid off the road and hit a brick wall. The three individuals in the Acura, including a three-year-old who was in the backseat, were all transported to the hospital for further treatment. The driver and one of the passengers of the Acura had serious but non-life-threatening injuries, but the toddler later died at the hospital. The drivers of the Honda and Ford were also transported to local hospitals but were expected to survive. The accident remains under investigation by local authorities.

Following an unexpected and tragic accident involving the sudden passing of a loved one because of another party’s negligence or recklessness, filing a lawsuit may be the furthest thing from your mind. There are, however, many legal options that you and your loved ones should consider in the wake of such an accident, including potentially filing a wrongful death claim in Maryland courts.

Determining liability in an accident is a critical part of every lawsuit, and it is essential to recovery in Maryland. Maryland follows strict contributory negligence laws, and as such, establishing fault is a priority in every case. While backing-up accidents may seem straightforward, various factors at play can often affect a claim.

In most Maryland backing-up accident cases, the first inquiry is whether the driver backing out had the right of way. Generally, the car that did not maintain the right of way will be liable for the accident. However, there are exceptions to the right of way rule, and when more than one car is backing up, the driver with the legal right of way may not be paying attention to their surroundings. In these cases, the driver with the right of way may be responsible for some portion of the accident. Another factor in these accidents is whether the car was stopped or moving leading up to the collision. If the vehicle was moving but stops with sufficient room, they may not be liable for the accident.

Wrongful death claims may be appropriate when a person dies because of another’s negligent or intentional conduct. In these situations, Maryland allows the deceased’s family to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit against the at-fault party. While the state permits these claims, the wrongful death statute is challenging and requires strict adherence to notice and filing requirements.

Maryland Code § 3-901 explains that a party may bring forth a wrongful death action if a death occurred because of another party’s negligent act or omission. The primary inquiry is whether the deceased would have been entitled to damages if they survived the incident. In this situation, spouses, parents, and children may be entitled to monetary compensation. These claims may arise from a construction accident, nursing home abuse or neglect, defective products, medical malpractice, and auto accidents.

For instance, news sources recently described a harrowing four-vehicle accident in St. Mary’s County, Maryland. State troopers and Maryland State Police Crash Team responded to the scene of the accident. A preliminary investigation reveals that an Audi crashed head-on with an SUV in the center turn lane. The SUV then swiped another vehicle which flipped over and hit another sedan. The SUV driver and passenger died at the scene of the accident. In addition to a host of weapon possession charges, police charged the driver of the Audi with driving under the influence and reckless driving.

State Police in Maryland are investigating a fatal Maryland pedestrian crash that took place at Quantico. According to one news report, investigators indicated that a 30-year-old woman was standing in the road where she was involved in an argument and that she was hit by a vehicle. The police were called to the scene and found the woman in the roadway. She was pronounced dead on the scene. The crash reportedly occurred just before 1 a.m. Police continue to investigate the crash.

Victims of a Maryland pedestrian crash can seek damages from drivers or other parties at fault through filing a lawsuit in a Maryland court. If a driver is negligent—or purposely injures a pedestrian—they may be liable for damages including medical expenses, psychological suffering, physical therapy expenses, lost wages, and more.

A pedestrian crash is any crash that involves a person on foot, even if a driver exited the vehicle. According to 2018 statistics, a pedestrian was killed in a traffic crash on average every 84 minutes in the United States. Despite seeing less traffic in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Maryland Department of Transportation says that pedestrian fatalities were up in 2020, from 124 in 2019 to 134 in 2020. Crash fatalities in Maryland were at their highest in 12 years. The total number of crash fatalities in 2020 was the highest in Maryland since 2008. Pedestrian crashes often occur in urban areas. From 2009 to 2013, about 90 percent of crashes in Maryland involving a pedestrian took place in the metropolitan areas of Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

Getting into a car accident can be an overwhelming experience for a number of reasons. Not only is it often an expensive, inconvenient, and stressful endeavor, but it can often be complicated, involve multiple parties, and be unclear who is at fault.

In multiple vehicle car accidents, this is often the case. With multiple drivers, passengers, and vehicles, it only multiplies the potential damages, information that needs to be exchanged, and recollections of how the accident took place. When these accidents happen, it can also make pursuing a legal claim seem daunting, which is why potential plaintiffs are advised to hire an experienced personal injury attorney to guide them through the process.

According to a recent local news report, local authorities are investigating a multiple vehicle accident that resulted in the deaths of three individuals. Maryland State Police’s preliminary investigation revealed that a Camaro was traveling eastbound when it attempted to pass another vehicle but struck a Toyota traveling westbound in the opposite direction. Both the driver of the Camaro and his passenger, along with the driver of the Toyota, were pronounced dead at the scene. There was also a third vehicle involved in the accident, but there was no need for further medical treatment of either the driver or its passenger. The investigation is still ongoing, but authorities believe that speed was a major contributing cause to the accident. In fact, the Camaro may have been traveling in excess of 100 miles per hour when the accident took place, authorities reported.

Maryland car accidents happen every day, and many of them even make headlines in the local news. Maryland residents may see headlines every week about new car accidents happening across the state. But often, the news report discusses the accident and then notes the crash remains under investigation. Readers then likely move on and forget about the crash, and do not fully see or understand the aftermath of these crashes, especially the more serious ones.

For example, just recently, the Southern Maryland Chronicle reported on a fatal car accident occurring on Route 4/Southern Maryland Boulevard at Lower Marlboro Road in Huntingtown, Maryland. According to the report, the accident occurred just around 12:00 pm on a Monday afternoon. A 2003 Dodge Ram, driven by an 18-year-old man, was traveling south on the boulevard when a 2005 Suzuki SUV, driven by a 49-year-old woman, made a left turn onto the boulevard. Both vehicles entered the intersection at the same time, resulting in the Suzuki being struck on the driver’s side. When officers arrived at the scene, they found the Suzuki on its side and the Dodge with damage to its front end.

The driver of the Suzuki was immediately transported to Calvert Health Medical Center, where she sadly died from her injuries. The driver of the Dodge was not seriously injured. As of now, the crash remains under investigation and it is not clear who is at fault.

Car accidents happen in all types of configurations—from fender benders to T-bone accidents, they can all be dangerous, injurious, and even fatal. Perhaps the most dangerous among different types of car accidents, however, are head-on collisions. When these accidents take place as a result of one party’s negligence or lack of care, those who are responsible can be held accountable through a Maryland personal injury lawsuit.

According to a recent news report, a local car accident killed two people. Preliminary accident reports indicate that a Hyundai was being operated negligently by its driver driving westbound in an eastbound lane. The Hyundai then collided head-on with a Toyota that was traveling eastbound. The driver of the Hyundai was ejected from her vehicle and was transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Early reports also suggest that the Hyundai driver was not wearing a seatbelt. The driver of the Toyota was trapped in her vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. In addition to local troopers, fire and emergency medical services also responded to the accident, and the crash remains under investigation.

In Maryland, when an accident results in the death of another because the at-fault party conducted themselves in a negligent or reckless matter, you may have grounds to bring a wrongful death lawsuit. Wrongful death lawsuits are typically filed for financial compensation. In this way, personal injury cases are separate from criminal cases, where a conviction results in jail time or fines owed to the state by the responsible party.