Multi-vehicle Accidents

‘Tis the Season for Drinking and Driving? Thanksgiving Holiday May Pose Dangers on Maryland Roadways

November 23, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Thanksgiving is tomorrow, but the holiday weekend will continue for several days. As Maryland personal injury lawyers, we feel it is important to advise caution when venturing out onto the state’s highways and surface streets during the coming holiday. According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), 42.5 million motorists nationwide will be hitting the roads this holiday weekend.

Here in Maryland, experts estimate that nearly 90 percent of residents will at one time or another be driving during the coming days — 800,000 people traveling to destinations all across the state. With this in mind, it is essential to remember that Thanksgiving has in many parts of the country become known more as drinking holiday than for the traditional family gatherings of the post.

As Maryland auto and trucking accident attorneys, I and my staff know that roadway collisions can and do happen everyday. While crashes of any kind are quite common, motor vehicle wrecks involving alcohol can make up more than 30 percent of all fatal incidents. Driving during this coming holiday weekend should be undertaken with caution and eyes wide open.

Although gasoline prices are more than 15 percent higher than a year ago this time, traveling by car is still one of the more cost-effective modes, especially when going relatively short distances of 100 miles or so. The gradual rise in fuel prices is not likely to limit the number of cars, trucks or even motorcycles on the road this weekend.

Safety when driving is an important consideration when noting the increased number of cars on the road when compared to other traveling-related holidays. According to the AAA, Thanksgiving holiday traffic represents is the first significant increase in vehicular traffic of the entire year to date. Based on news reports, Memorial Day travel was, one the whole, unchanged from previous years, while the July Fourth and Labor Day holidays saw slight decreases in travel.

Maryland Personal Injury News: Two Die in Fatal Fells Point, MD, Car Accident

November 18, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Fatal car crashes leave behind more than broken families; sometimes they can also spell the end of young and promising lives. As Baltimore personal injury attorneys, I and my colleagues have felt the very deep and profound sadness of loss from victims’ families and others who have known the deceased. Sadly, individuals who have been killed in a senseless auto, truck of motorcycle wreck will never again share time with their loved ones, and no amount of compensation can ever change that.

When a young person dies in a traffic accident, many who were close to that individual may ask themselves if anything could have been done to avoid or mitigate the collision. Second guessing and running “what if” scenarios in one’s mind are normal ways in which survivors may grieve, though in the end it may be better to celebrate the person’s life then to replay past events to the exclusion of all else.

As automobile accident lawyers, our job is to help families of victims recover costs for medical treatment, lost wages, and even attain compensation for the loss of companionship, love and comfort of that person. In fact, death does eliminate the right of a family to seek compensation for the loss of a loved one when wrongful death through the negligent act of another is the issue.

Maryland Auto Injury Update: Nationwide, Male Drivers More Likely to Drink and Drive than Females

November 14, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Disconcerting as it may be, a recently released study by the national Centers for Disease Control (CDC) shows that men are more inclined to operate car, trucks and motorcycles while under the influence of alcohol than are females. As Maryland personal injury attorneys, we are hardly surprised at the finding of this study, which clearly indicates that male drivers take to the road more often while intoxicated than most any other segment of the driving public.

Although is certain that not everyone who gets behind the wheel of a car, motorcycle or commercial motor vehicle is legally intoxicated, it can be said that many people who do operate motor vehicles while impaired to some degree may not actually realize the chance they take with their lives, much less the lives of innocent people all around them.

Here in Baltimore, as well as Gaithersburg, Rockville, Annapolis and Washington, D.C., even persons who are stopped by police and subsequently charged with drunken driving, may actually be surprised that they had a blood-alcohol content (or BAC) of 0.08-percent or more.

If only for this reason, the Maryland State Police and local law enforcement departments continually try to enforce our anti-drunk driving laws. Of course, a portion of those motorists arrested for driving while impaired are actually under the influence of doctor-prescribed medication; some are even high on illegal drugs.

Regarding the CDC’s report, men nationwide are reportedly four times more likely to drive drunk than women motorists. Based on news reports, the study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates why men many times find themselves being ticketed for drunken driving more than women.

Maryland Automobile Accident Update: Surviving a Bad Car Crash Doesn’t Mean the Pain is Over

November 8, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

As personal injury lawyers representing victims of traffic accidents in Maryland and Washington, D.C., we know that recovering from a serious car, truck or motorcycle wreck involves more than just being treated for severe or life-threatening injuries, but also means facing the possibility of persistent and sometimes chronic pain for months or years after the initial collision.

Nearly anyone who has been severely injured in an automobile or trucking-related traffic collision will likely tell you that the pain associated with certain injuries can continue on, long after the physical wounds have more or less healed. Nerve damage and other medical and neurological complications can make even day-to-day tasks painful and sometimes difficult to complete.

For anyone injured in a car, truck or pedestrian accident, these are concerns that should always be considered when pursuing a personal injury claim against another negligent party. An article published not long ago brought this topic to the fore, if only because it applies to many individuals in similar situations here in Maryland and around the rest of the country.

The report focuses on a Westminster, MD, man who has had to deal with what medical professionals refer to as chronic pain syndrome. Suffering from full-body complex regional pain syndrome, Michael Harris follows a regimen of aquatic therapy exercises, as well as other physical therapies, in an effort to alleviate the pain resulting from complications after an auto accident back in August 2007.

According to the article, Mr. Harris was apparently caught up in a 2007 car wreck when the vehicle in which he was riding was struck from behind by a drunken driver. The crash happened at an intersection along a stretch of Maryland Rte 140. The victim’s vehicle was reportedly stopped at the intersection waiting for a red light when the crash occurred.

As a result of the crash, Harris received several injuries, including a ruptured spinal disc. Some time after the wreck, doctors discovered that a piece of bone was impinging on the nerves in the man’s back, causing significant pain and discomfort. Harris apparently began to experience a number of associated symptoms, including tingling in his arms all the way to his fingertips, as well as numbness in his upper limbs. Unfortunately, these initial symptoms only got worse as time progressed following the car crash.

Subsequent pain throughout the man’s body included severe shooting pains felt all the way down his right leg, plus complaints of a sharp, “burning sensation” in other portions of his anatomy, as well as excessive sweating and changes in body temperature. His legs and hands also experienced swelling and color changes.

Baltimore Auto Injury Accident Update: Passengers Suffer from Numerous Injuries Post-crash including Soft Tissue

October 22, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Personal injury and property damage are two of the main results of most any traffic accident. Whether you live in Rockville, Annapolis, the District or here in Baltimore, a serious automobile, truck or motorcycle collision can put one or more people in the hospital with potentially life-altering injuries.

Car, cycle and commercial trucking wrecks are usually caused by one or more factors, not the least of which may include a drunk or distracted driver, an uninsured or under-insured motorist, an inexperienced or under-qualified truck driver, or a negligent hit-and-run driver, among others. As a roadway accident victim or relative of an individual injured or killed in a highway collision, sometimes litigation is the only option to recovering sometimes huge medical costs and rehabilitation expenses following a serious traffic wreck.

As Maryland personal injury attorneys, I and my colleagues know the pain and suffering that even a moderate fender-bender can cause, much less a violent roll-over crash or head-on collision. Injuries sustained in the worst of these accidents can entail whiplash and other injuries to the neck and spine, nerve damage and possible paralysis, simple and compound fractures of the legs and arms, as well as potentially fatal closed-head trauma.

Two Marylanders Killed in Multi-vehicle Car Wreck following Head-on Collision in Charles County

October 17, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

It’s a sad reality that older people, especially elderly men and women, can die more easily in a car or commercial trucking accident than can younger persons. While older folks have the advantage of greater driving experience, when it comes to unavoidable traffic accidents, the odds of a young driver or passenger surviving a serious car or truck crash is likely better than that of an elderly motorist.

As Maryland personal injury attorneys, we see victims of traffic accidents ranging in age from the very young to senior citizens. These people, from infants and children to parent, grandparents and the elderly, all have one thing in common; they were injured though the thoughtless or negligent actions of another driver.

While different people are affected differently during car and truck wrecks, the unfortunate truth is that many receive serious to near-fatal injuries as a result of a traffic collision. Head and neck injuries are quite common, while broken bones, compound fractures and internal injuries are also not uncommon. Depending on vehicle speed, road and weather conditions, as well as occupant position within a vehicle, fatalities can result during a front, side or rear-impact scenario.

Tangling with a large box truck, city bus, or 18-wheel tractor-trailer can also contribute to the severity of a roadway collision. Whatever the cause, the aftermath in terms of injury, medical costs and financial impact to the family as a whole can be devastating on so many levels. In the case of fatal highway wrecks, no amount of compensation can bring back a lost loved one, but recovering the cost of sometimes exorbitant medical bills and lost wages can give the survivors a better chance to continue with their own lives.

Not long ago, an older couple was tragically killed in a traffic accident in Benedict, MD. According to news reports, a multi-vehicle crash along a stretch of Rte 231 just west of the Patuxent River Bridge involved four separate vehicles and injured a handful of others, in addition to killing the two victims in one of the automobiles.

As Baltimore car, truck and motorcycle accident attorneys, we represent victims of auto accidents in Maryland and the Washington, D.C., area. In this particular instance, the Friday morning accident, which occurred just before noon, involved a rather small car carrying the two victims and a rental truck belonging to the Penske rental firm. Based on reports, Franz and Evelyn Sommer, aged 84 and 67 respectively, were riding in a 2011 Ford Focus when it was hit from behind by the box truck while waiting to turn left from the eastbound lanes at the intersection of Rte 231 and Dicandia Dorsey Place.

Maryland Injury Law Update: Defective Vehicle Suit? Having Expert Witnesses Can Make or Break a Case

October 10, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

For those who think that winning a defective vehicle suit following an injury-related traffic accident or fatal roadway crash involving a car, truck or motorcycle, you may want to reconsider. As much as it is heartening to believe you have an open and shut case of product liability, the fact is these kinds of law suits are typically heard by juries that may or may not understand the technical details involved.

Furthermore, as Baltimore auto accident lawyers and Maryland personal injury attorneys, we know that bringing in a professional or expert witness for the plaintiff’s side is more than a good idea; it’s often necessary if the court is to allow a case to continue. In the interest of justice, having all the necessary tools at one’s disposal can make the difference between winning a case on its merits, or losing due to partial measures.

A recently-decided appellate case (D. Show and M. Federici v. Ford Motor Company) demonstrates what can happen if the plaintiff either chooses not to hire an expert witness or believes his or her case can stand on the general facts alone. In this particular instance, the plaintiffs’ 1993 Ford Explorer was involved in a traffic collision, during which the SUV rolled over, injuring the occupants, David Show and Maria Federici.

According to court records, the plaintiffs’ vehicle was moving through a roadway intersection at about 30mph when it was hit by another car in the vicinity of its left-rear wheel. As a result of the impact, the Explorer rolled over. In such cases, it’s not uncommon for the driver and passengers inside the vehicle to receive injuries ranging from cuts and bruises to broken bones and closed-head trauma. Under some circumstances, fatalities can result from a car crash such as this.

In bringing their suit against Ford, Show and Federici contended that the Explorer was defective because its design rendered it unstable. However, the basis for this claim was apparently insufficient and the suit was removed under the diversity jurisdiction and the parties consented to a final decision by a magistrate judge.

Unfortunately for the plaintiffs, they failed to designate an expert to testify regarding the vehicle’s design as it applied to stability and operational control of the vehicle. Because of this, the magistrate judge ruled that the lawsuit could not go forward without the necessary expert testimony, granting summary judgment to Ford Motor Company.

Baltimore Auto Injury News: Suit Blames Employer for Maryland Man’s Drowsy-Driving Accident

October 6, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

The results of sleep-related car and truck crashes can be serious to say the least. As news articles and television reports often indicate, drowsy driving can be as deadly as drunken driving, with similar consequences for all parties involved. As a Maryland personal injury attorneys, as well as automobile and commercial trucking accident lawyers, my firm has seen the unfortunate outcome of sleep deprivation on the state’s roadways.

As a kind of driver negligence, drowsy driving is starting to be looked at as a chargeable offense in many states, as DWI or DUI is currently. While often found to be involved in many commercial trucking wrecks, it appears that sleep deprived individuals from all walks of life are posing risks to other motorists in the roads here in Maryland.

As mentioned in earlier entries, a poll by the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) determined that almost two million motorists nationwide are involved in sleep-deprived or drowsy driving-related road accidents or near misses annually. What most people fail to realize is that the dangers of sleepiness can turn out to be fatal to both the driver who operates his or her vehicle in a less than alert state, as well as the innocent motorists and passengers in the surrounding traffic.

According to news reports, a recent Maryland lawsuit sought to place the responsibility of a deadly car crash on an employer who allegedly over worked one of its employees, thus setting the scene for a fatal automobile wreck back in 2006. One thing is certain; with downsizing a common problem at many companies, and with more and more workers being stretched to the limit, could this type of scenario become a trend?

Based on reports, a case that has been slowly making its way through the Maryland legal system raises the question of whether an employer can or should be held responsible when a sleep-deprived employee causes a severe or fatal accident.

The incident that set this particular case in motion happened on a day in late January 2006, when two men from Carroll County are involved in a fatal morning commuting crash along a stretch of Maryland’s Rte 31. According to news articles, 37-year-old Michael Barclay with the Anne Arundel County police was going to work traveling east on New Windsor Rd at about 7:30am as it approached an oncoming SUV driven by 55-year-old longshoreman, Christopher Richardson coming home from his job at the Port of Baltimore.

Maryland Auto Injury Update: State Supreme Court Reverses Appellate Court Ruling in Fatal Car Fire Case

October 3, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Automobile and trucking-related accidents happen for a variety of reasons, not all of them connected with the driver. Although negligence or driver error is often cited as the cause of single- and multiple-vehicle collisions, there always exists the possibility of a faulty safety system, defective component or poor vehicle design that may have directly caused the accident, or contributed significantly to the event, and even the severity of the wreck.

As Baltimore auto accident attorneys and Maryland personal injury lawyers, I and my staff have the training and experience to represent car, truck and motorcycle crash victims and their families. Whatever the cause of a roadway collision, the potential for bodily injury is usually quite high, depending on the circumstances and traffic conditions at the time of the incident.

It goes without saying that injuries can range from minor to critical, sometimes even fatal considering the speed and orientation of the vehicles just before impact. Cuts, heavy bruising and abrasions are the least of the injuries that occupants of a sedan, SUV or minivan can receive. Increase the force of the collision and the potential for broken bones, compound fractures and internal injuries rise as well. In some cases, such as head-on wrecks, traumatic brain injury is a distinct possibility, as is spinal cord damage and lost limbs.

As we said, not every accident is the result of driver error or gross negligence. When a critical mechanical part of a car or truck fails the driver can lose control with little chance of steering or stopping the vehicle before a crash occurs. In some cases, failure of a safety component, such as a safety, seatbelt mounting or seat attachment hardware can make the effects of a crash worse, sometimes to the point of tipping the scales over to a fatal accident.

Not long ago, the Illinois Supreme Court overthrew a lower court ruling that affirmed a previous jury verdict in the case of Dora Mae Jablonski et al. v. Ford Motor Company et al., that of a fatal car crash and fire resulting from what the plaintiff’s legal team suggested was a defective design in a 1993 Lincoln Town Car. In the events leading up to the crash that precipitated the 2003 death of John Jablonski, the man and his wife were stopped in a construction zone on July 7th of that year when a Chevy Lumina traveling at highway speeds hit the couple’s Town Car from behind.

Maryland Personal Injury News: Pickup Truck Driver Hospitalized after Fatal St. Mary’s County Traffic Accident

September 8, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

If you follow the news long enough, some traffic accident reports stick out as being either incredibly unlikely or based in a reality that most of the driving public hopefully has never experienced. Chronic drunk drivers, for example, can operate their vehicles in an inebriated state completely without incident for what seems like years, while a first-time drunken driver may hit another vehicle minutes after leaving the bar, causing a traffic accident with sometimes fatal results.

Other drivers just seem to have very poor judgment when operating their cars, trucks or motorcycles and seem to be involved in fender-benders on what seems like a recurrent basis. These people, whose insurance rates must surely go through the roof after several occurrences, might end up causing a serious accident themselves; sometimes one of these drivers tangles with an 18-wheeler tractor-trailer rig on the highway and causes a tremendous wreck, from which he or she might not walk away.

For the rest of us, we must exercise extreme caution when plying congested urban thoroughfares of cities like Annapolis, Washington, D.C., and Gaithersburg, as well as the high-speed expressways that connect them. From time to time, even the most competent drivers meet up with one of those so-called bad drivers with tragic consequences.

As Baltimore car accident attorneys and Maryland personal injury lawyers, I and my staff know what it means to have a family member killed by a drunk, inattentive or otherwise negligent driver. There really are no words that can ease the suffering of a family that has lost a father, mother or sibling in such a senseless traffic collision.

Not long ago, a resident of St. Mary’s County, MD, was involved in two traffic accidents along Rte 5 both within minutes of each other; the second of which left two Maryland women dead. According to news reports, the apparently negligent driver was a 34-year-old man from Callaway who was behind the wheel of a 2007 Chevy pickup truck.