Articles Posted in Multi-vehicle Accidents

For motorists here in Maryland who find themselves in the unenviable position of being caught in a serious injury accident involving another vehicle, such as a passenger car, city bus or commercial delivery truck, the pain of one’s injuries can be just the beginning of a long road to recovery — both physically and financially.

Whether one lives in Rockville, Annapolis, Gaithersburg or the District, a percentage of drivers will likely find themselves in a car or trucking accident sometime in the course of their driving career. The extent of that car, truck or motorcycle accident will depend on numerous factors, but those of a serious nature may have a significant impact on the victim and his or her family.

As Baltimore automobile accident attorneys and personal injury lawyers, my firm has a well-grounded knowledge of the law as well as the experience to know that most any car, truck or cycle wreck can result in an uphill battle with insurance companies and negligent parties.

When it comes to negligent individuals, such as a livery driver, commercial trucker, or even another passenger car driver who might have been distracted while talking or texting on their cellphone, these people already have their own representation through their insurance companies.

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Multi-vehicle collisions are a fairly common occurrence on Maryland’s roadways and interstates. What is rare, however, is two separate multi-car traffic accidents on the same stretch of road on the same day. As Maryland personal injury attorneys, we do not mean to lessen the gravity of any kind of car, truck or motorcycle wreck. Far from it; these kinds of accidents can cause a range of injuries from fairly minor to life-threatening.

Closed-head trauma, spinal cord damage and partial or total paralysis are some of the worst effects of a bad passenger car or commercial trucking crash. While broken bones — either simple or compound fractures — or internal injuries, such as collapsed lungs, ruptured spleen, or internal bleeding, can be just as critical to a person’s survival upon entering the emergency room for treatment.

Being auto accident lawyers here in Baltimore, I and my colleagues help a variety of clients to recoup treatment costs, lost wages, and other automobile accident-related medical expenses following a serious crash. Not only do we serve the residents of Maryland, we also provide legal services to victims of car, bus and pedestrian accidents in the Washington, D.C., area as well.

A few weeks back there was a news article that pretty much proves lightening, or in this case, traffic collisions, can strike twice in the same place. By this we mean within less than a football field’s length. As it happened, there was a set of two separate automobile wrecks along the same stretch of Harford Rd. the other day.

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It could be an alarming trend or just a brief hiccup, but whatever the end result turns out to be, it’s a bit unnerving to read that 911 callers hoping for help in emergencies such as personal injury accidents, car and truck crashes, and the like might be placed on hold by an apparently over-worked system. The lost minutes or seconds could mean the difference between life and death.

Consider any situation where a driver and/or passengers of a car, SUV or motorcycle may have been injured after their vehicle is hit by a commercial deliver truck or other, larger motor vehicle — the thought of being put on hold during such a critical time is unthinkable in this day and age.

As Maryland injury attorneys, I and my staff understand how many victims of traffic accidents, car-pedestrian collisions and other driving-related wrecks would feel if we turned the calendar back to the days when there was no organized emergency response system. The emergency 911 system has been around in one form or another since the mid-1970s, but with the advent of cell phones over the past couple decades, almost anyone can get access to a 911 operator most anywhere in the country.

But getting through apparently can be an issue, according to a recent editorial in the Baltimore Sun. The author’s message in that article highlights an apparent nightmare experience with Baltimore’s 911 response system following a local car crash between the victim’s small passenger car, a much larger SUV and a minivan; it might just make some people think differently about driving into the city.

According to the article, the victim was driving through northeaster Baltimore on a Saturday afternoon in late July when she became involved in a multi-vehicle wreck. The author explained that she and her vehicle became, in essence, the collateral damage from this collision. Despite the severity of the roadway crash, the author explains that, amazingly, she was physically unhurt when she jumped out of her smashed vehicle and dialed 911 for assistance.

In what the woman describes as an “alternate reality,” her 911 call was answered by a canned voice stating, “Please wait for the next available representative.” Checking to make certain that she had dialed the correct numbers, it appeared right, but still she was put on hold by the 911 system.

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While it may seem that only innocent people are hurt in automobile crashes, there are many instances when the individual who was found to be at fault is also injured; sometimes severely. Numerous Maryland car, truck and motorcycle crashes are caused every year by drunken or otherwise impaired, distracted or just plain thoughtless drivers, and we are always amazed when we read of situations where the negligent party walks away from a devastating roadway collision with hardly a scratch.

As Maryland personal injury attorneys and auto accident lawyers, we have seen the extent of injuries that result from a high-speed car crash or commercial trucking accident. Aside from the usual bumps, bruises, cuts and abrasions, victims of violent car and truck accidents can also suffer traumatic brain injuries and spinal damage due to another driver’s carelessness or outright disregard for the health, safety and well-being of others around him.

Plus, we might add, surviving a bad car accident is just the first step in a long and often costly process for the victims. Medical bills, physical therapy, lost wages and other costs can conspire to put not only financial stress on a family, but also place an emotional strain on the members of that family. If the victim was the primary income earner for his or her family, the effect can be devastating for all concerned. Naturally, a fatal car crash is something no family ever wants to have happen to a loved one.

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Being in the right doesn’t always mean one is safe from danger on the road. The reason we say this is that there are many people out there who may feel that when they have the right-of-way, it’s another person’s problem if they are injured in a Rockville, Frederick or Gaithersburg car crash. The problem with this thinking is that sometimes, a motorist can be “dead right,” which doesn’t help him or his family, not in the least.

As Maryland car and truck accident attorneys and Washington, D.C., personal injury lawyers, it is our job to help victims and their families recover from sometimes devastating passenger car, commercial truck and motorcycle wrecks. And it shouldn’t come as any surprise that people involved who are injured, either seriously or fatally, may have considered themselves completely in the right when it came to proper roadway etiquette.

Unfortunately, as we said, being dead right is not something that most people would aspire to. Life is too precious to rely on a red light or stop sign to protect one against serious bodily injury or death. This is why, as auto and trucking accident lawyers and drivers ourselves, we suggest that every motorist exercise a high degree of caution whenever he or she travels on Maryland roadways.

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As Baltimore automobile and trucking accident attorneys, I and my staff have the utmost respect for our law enforcement officers here in Maryland and around the country. There is no question that state and municipal patrolmen put their lives on the line nearly every day in this state, enforcing traffic laws and helping to protect the public from those individuals who may cause serious or fatal roadway accidents.

Anybody injured in a car crash or tractor-trailer collision was likely assisted by a patrolman who was probably one of the first emergency responders on the scene. Like any person, we hold these uniformed civil servants in high regard for their selfless sacrifice in the public interest.

And while the majority of the men and women who dedicate their lives to the public good are thoughtful and conscientious individuals, there are sadly always a few bad apples in every organization. Police officers, in particular, are sworn to uphold the laws of this state. Although automobile, truck and motorcycle accidents can and do happen everywhere, to everyone, even the police. But, at the same time, it is a safe assumption that the public at large believe police officers should be without any fault. No doubt, the truth likely lies somewhere in between.

Not long ago it was revealed that an Anne Arundel patrolman had been involved in a half dozen prior car crashes before the one he was in earlier this past spring. According to news reports, Officer Adam Hinson, a five-year veteran with the Anne Arundel County Police Department, ran into two parked trucks along a stretch of Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. on May 27, 2011, while on duty in his police cruiser.

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