Single-vehicle Accidents

Baltimore Auto Injury Update: Burn Injuries Due to Car Fires can be Life-threatening

October 31, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Anyone who has ever survived a vehicle fire — whether the result of a car, truck or motorcycle accident, or because of a defective vehicle component – can truly be considered lucky. It’s one thing to be injured in a traffic collision and have to wait for emergency personal or EMS crews to rescue that person from a disables vehicle, but to be trapped or otherwise unable to get away from a burning passenger car or commercial vehicle is an ordeal not soon forgotten.

As Maryland personal injury lawyers, I and my staff have viewed the aftermath of enough car and truck fires to understand the devastating potential that a vehicular conflagration can present. With gallons of gasoline or diesel fuel leaking from a fuel tank or fuel line, the simplest spark from static electricity or other source can ignite the flammable liquid, causing the entire vehicle to be engulfed in flames within mintues, of not seconds.

Time is of the essence in situations like this. Police and firefighters know the dangers, but will risk their own lives to rescue a helpless occupant of a burning sedan, minivan or sport utility vehicle. It’s just another example of the selfless sacrifice witnessed everyday across this country.

Although car accidents are one such cause of vehicle fires, there are others; such as fires at gasoline pump islands at service stations. While gas stations are designed for maximum safety, it doesn’t take much for a simple accident — such as a pump not shutting off automatically — to result in pouring several quarts of volatile fuel onto a vehicle and its driver.

Maryland Auto Accident News: Police Suspect Faulty Wheel and Alcohol in Baltimore Beltway Single-car Crash

October 24, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Drinking and driving is a quick way to put oneself into the hospital, or worse. There is no end to the good arguments for curbing drunk driving, while there is no legitimate rationale to defend the practice. Every year, tens of thousands of people are hurt or killed by drunken drivers, including the offenders themselves. Even when there are no other factors that might contribute to a crash, just being impaired can be a cause in and of itself for a serious or fatal traffic accident.

As Maryland personal injury lawyers, I and my staff understand how circumstances can conspire to create the opportunity for a tragic car, truck or motorcycle accident. How a driver reacts when such conditions occur can make the difference between a simple fender-bender, a serious roadway collision, or a fatal car or commercial truck wreck. A driver who actively drinks and drives only increases the chances of his or her being less able to respond quickly to an accident situation.

One type of automobile crash can be caused by a failure of a car or truck’s safety or critical operating systems, such as steering or braking component failure or malfunction. When a defective component that is critical to controlling a vehicle fails, the driver may not be able to avoid an accident. Being drunk at the time of a catastrophic mechanical failure only makes it more difficult to react to the event.

State of Maryland Bills Deceased Driver for Damage to Guardrail following Fatal Rte 32 Car Accident

September 17, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Some things that occur in this life are just not right, and everybody knows it. When an individual is seriously hurt or killed in a traffic accident, there are no words that one can say to the family of that victim, yet as friends, relatives and neighbors we try to offer some measure of comfort and condolence. Large organizations, while comprised of living, thinking and feeling persons, are less adept at providing a sympathetic ear or shoulder on which to cry.

As Maryland personal injury lawyers who serve the residents of Baltimore, Frederick, Hagerstown and the District, we see on a regular basis the pain and suffering that families and individual experience following horrendous trucking accidents, automobile collisions and motorcycle wrecks. The fact is, there are no words that can adequately ease the grief of a mother or father that has lost a son or daughter to a tragic roadway accident.

A while back, in May of this year, a young woman died in a fatal single-vehicle car crash along a stretch of Rte 32 in Columbia, MD. At the time, 21-year-old Sarah Stebbins was planning to enter Howard Community College in the fall. A 2008 graduate of Howard High School, Stebbins was a racing enthusiast and, according to news account, an award-winning equestrian rider; on the day of her death, Stebbins was coming home from her job at the Gray Pony Saddle and Tack Shop in Highland, Maryland.

According to news reports, the woman died when her vehicle crashed into a guardrail on Rte 32 after she apparently lost control of the vehicle. No mention was made in this latest news item whether or not the accident was a result of driver error or defective vehicle equipment. However, that is not the crux of the story.

Maryland Auto Accident News: Fatal Car Wreck on Baltimore-Washington Pkwy Kills Infant, Two Others

September 15, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

When it comes to personal injury, nobody wishes for it to happen, yet there are worse scenarios that can occur to a person or an entire family. As most every parent, grandparent or adult relative will tell you, it is hard to see a young child, sibling or grandchild injured in a senseless accident. Most parents would gladly take the place of an injured girl or boy rather than have that innocent person suffer the pain of injury for days or weeks, much less for a lifetime.

As Baltimore automobile and trucking accident attorneys, we can attest to the grief felt by family members following a terrible car, truck or motorcycle crash. And while most injuries heal over time, a fatal accident can be one of the most emotional events that a family can experience, especially when it involves the death of a youngster who hasn’t even known the world for long.

Nothing can bring back a life lost to a traffic collision; that is a fact. As Maryland personal injury lawyers, I and my colleagues can only hope to help the survivors cope with the loss of a child through legal means, if necessary. It goes without saying that cases involving a lost loved one are probably the most difficult, due to the wide range of emotion and the anger that the victim’s family tends to hold against the individual who may have caused the accident to begin with.

Whether one lives or works in Annapolis, Gaithersburg, Rockville or the Washington, D.C., area, personal injury cases, as well as those involving wrongful death, are more common than one might expect. Following a road accident or car wreck, medical bills must be paid, as do other recuperative therapies, if the victim is to be returned to health as soon as possible, if at all possible. Even when it comes to loss of life, the victim’s family may still be responsible for any hospital costs.

Baltimore Auto Accident News: Medevac Choppers Help Get Victims of Traffic Accidents to Hospitals Quickly

August 28, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

How often have we all read the words, “Accident victims were evacuated to local hospitals by Medevac helicopter,” yet it’s not often that people give much thought to the life-saving advantages of a medical chopper flight to a not-so-local hospital. While many readers might consider medevac services truly useful only when an individual is injured in car accident that occurs in a remote part of the countryside, such as a state park or other more rural setting, it’s not uncommon to have emergency responders call for a medical evacuation chopper in instances where the best medical care more than a 30-minute ambulance ride from the scene of a severe car or pedestrian traffic accident.

The fact is, medevac helicopters can get a person injured in an auto accident to the right medical facility for treatment of specific or life-threatening injuries. It can be said that in a percentage of accidents, just taking an injured driver or passenger to the closest hospital may not be in that person’s best interest. This is especially clear in cases of traumatic brain injury — also known as closed-head injury — where the nearest local medical facility is poorly equipped for such specific and critical care.

As Baltimore auto accident lawyers and Maryland personal injury attorneys, I and my staff understand the importance of getting a car, truck or motorcycle accident victim stabilized as quickly as possible to avoid future complications. So many factors come into play following a highway collision that only the medical personnel at the scene can assess each victim and determine the most immediate and effective care.

Baltimore Auto Accident News: Maryland Woman Dies in Single-car Anne Arundel County Rollover Crash

August 11, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Although it’s difficult to imagine, at least for those who haven’t been in a car crash, a single-vehicle accident can be quite serious for those involved. And while the circumstances of a single-car or single-truck wreck are unique, the results are typically similar depending on the severity of the crash and the type of vehicle involved.

As personal injury attorneys serving residents of Baltimore, Frederick, Hagerstown and Washington, D.C., we have experience in helping victims of car, truck and motorcycle accidents. It’s probably true that a single-vehicle auto accident can cause as much damage and bodily harm as a multi-vehicle collision, naturally when more than one vehicle is involved the number of occupants caught up in a crash can up the ante from an injury standpoint.

In single-vehicle accidents, again depending on the circumstances, police and auto accident lawyers look at all the possible causes. While driver error is certainly at the top of the list, other factors such as weather, road conditions and even the vehicle’s mechanical condition are considered as potential contributing factors. In the case of mechanical problems, there is always a chance that a faulty component or other critical part may have caused the accident, or at least exacerbated the outcome for the victims.

Faulty safety equipment, such as airbags, seatbelts and car seats, can result in more serious injuries than typical for a car in perfect operating condition. Poorly maintained vehicle equipment, such as tires and brakes, may have contributed to the accident by not allowing the driver to avoid a collision or cause the vehicle to go out of control and result in a secondary crash.

Whatever the cause, the police investigators typically look for the causes of an accident and other factors that may have contributed to the severity of the wreck. Insurance companies will always have their own people looking into the cause of a car, bike or commercial trucking accident. The evidence that turns up will likely drive the course of the investigation, insurance claims and subsequent law suits, if any.

Anne Arundel Accident News: Reckless Driving Blamed in Single-Car Crash that Killed 3-Year-Old

July 23, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Reckless driving is one of the many causes of car and truck accidents throughout Maryland and the United States as a whole. Call it what you will; road rage, street racing, driving while angry, or just plain aggressive driving, this kind of behavior on public roads is the main ingredient of a recipe that can only serve up injury and potential death.

As personal injury lawyers serving the residents of Frederick, Baltimore, Hagerstown and Washington, D.C., we represent the victims of automobile accidents from all across the state. Besides so-called minor injuries such as superficial cuts, abrasions and bruises, many victims of traffic accidents can suffer more serious and life-threatening injuries like closed head trauma, damage to internal organs and spinal cord injuries.

Sadly, some victims die from their injuries even after they have reached a hospital. These people usually did nothing more than be in the wrong place at the wrong time, and for that indiscretion they and their families pay the ultimate price. In such cases, a wrongful death claim against the negligent party is not out of the ordinary.

A little while ago, a Maryland teenager from Halethorpe, MD, was the subject of scrutiny when police indicated that the young man was allegedly racing with another vehicle along a southbound stretch of Ridge Rd in Anne Arundel County. According to police, 16-year-old Buck J. Benny ignored the pleas of his passengers to slow down during a Wednesday night drive home from Patapsco Valley State Park. The vehicle, a Plymouth Acclaim, was filled with a number of the teen’s friends and relatives, including a three-year-old toddler sitting on the lap of one occupant.

Baltimore Injury News: James Madison Student Implicated in Maryland Traffic Accident that Killed 3 People

June 8, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Whenever we ride with others in a motor vehicle we place great faith in the abilities and judgment of the driver. For most of us, we cannot imagine that a close friend, business acquaintance or family member would ever put our life in jeopardy, much less his or her own. And yet every day across this country individuals are killed or maimed by the negligence of someone they know and trust.

As Baltimore auto accident attorneys and Maryland personal injury lawyers, we know that the seemingly inconsequential decision to get into a passenger car or climb onto the back of a motorcycle with a friend or relative can sometimes turn out to be a life-changing event. These kinds of road accidents can result in injuries ranging from minor cuts, bruises and abrasions, to more serious broken legs and arms, neck injuries and life-threatening closed-head trauma.

Not long ago, three people died in a single-car accident along a stretch of road in Olney when a James Madison University student somehow lost control of his vehicle and struck a tree. According to news reports, Kevin Coffay was arrested by police following the crash and charged on four felony counts.

Baltimore Pedestrian Accident News: Hit-and-Run Driver Injures 2 Johns Hopkins Students

May 31, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Need we say it again? Pedestrians are no match for a two-ton motor vehicle. And, if bicyclists and persons are at a disadvantage when confronting a passenger car, one can only imagine the potentially serious consequences of being struck by a commercial delivery truck, city bus or semi tractor-trailer rig. In fact, these kinds of traffic accidents can result in life-altering injuries for some people.

As a Maryland personal injury and traffic accident lawyer, I understand the challenges that victims of automobile, truck and motorcycle crashes face when trying to recover from injuries such as broken bones, damaged internal organs, spinal cord and traumatic head injuries. Although many victims of car, truck and motorcycle collisions avoid serious medical complications, they can still end up spending days in the hospital recovering from cuts, lacerations and bruises.

A recent news article reminded us of the serious pedestrian accident that occurred earlier this year in the Baltimore area. In that crash, a 20-year-old student on a bicycle was hit by a passenger car driven by an elderly motorist. Although that young person’s life has been changed forever, and he may never recover according to news reports, the 83-year-old driver was only charged with negligent driving and failure to yield right of way.

Baltimore Injury Accident News: Maryland Driver Killed in Fatal Wicomico, MD, Single-Car Rollover Accident

May 7, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Rollover accidents are one of the more deadly traffic wrecks that occur on public roadways. When occupants of a vehicle are not belted in, a rollover can cause severe bodily harm, if not death. Closed-head trauma and neck injuries are fairly common when a person is thrown around the interior of a rolling motor vehicle.

Most any passenger vehicle can be involved in a rollover incident, but this depends on numerous factors including weather and road conditions, vehicle speed and other steering inputs, all of which affect the vehicle’s dynamic performance. It’s commonly accepted that sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and larger passenger vans are more prone to rollover crashes than other passenger vehicles with lower centers of gravity, such as sports cars and sedans.

As a Maryland injury accident lawyer, I have seen the aftermath of highway rollover accidents and the human toll that can result. In some cases, the driver or another passenger can be ejected as the vehicle flips over and over. When thrown from a car or truck, a person can be easily killed by the impact with the roadway or another object such as a tree, bridge abutment or traffic sign pylon.

Not long ago a man died in a single-car accident along a stretch of road in Wicomico County, MD. According to reports, the crash happened just after 12am on Norris Twilley Rd., which connects Delmar with Mardela Springs, where the victim lived. Police stated that 58-year-old Milton Shiles died from injuries he sustained after being ejected from the vehicle.

Based on police reports, Shiles was along in the car and heading south when for some reason he was apparently unable to negotiate a curve. The vehicle reportedly left the roadway and overturned in a nearby field. Police and emergency rescue personnel arrived at the scene shortly after the accident to render aid, transporting the victim to Peninsula Regional Medical Center. Sadly, doctors could do nothing for the man and he was pronounced dead shortly after being admitted.