Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog
Some of the most dangerous situations encountered on most any expressway, beltway or highway are construction zones and accident scenes where road workers or EMS personnel must perform their jobs in close proximity to passing cars and trucks. Despite caution placards and warning signs placed ahead of roadway construction zones — or flashing emergency vehicle lights and flares near active crash sites — some drivers are far too distracted to operate their vehicle safely, often completely ignoring the dangers of driving too fast through a reduced speed zone.
Many distracted or otherwise impaired drivers manage not to cause an accident; but sadly, many other violators are not nearly so lucky. Commuters who drive past long-term construction zones on a daily basis can become more annoyed by the situation and less concerned about the threat of pedestrian accidents along the roadside. And while motorists may be disdainful of construction sites as impediments to their daily commute, coming upon an active crash scene — with the attendant police vehicles, fire trucks and rescue personnel — most thoughtful drivers should understand the gravity of the situation and slow down to a safe passing speed.
Unfortunately, numerous police officers and firefighters are killed or injured every year by drivers who fail to slow down for, or yield the right-of-way to first responders. This sad and all-too-familiar scenario was repeated in early September this year along a stretch of I-495 in Silver Spring, MD, where State Troopers from the Rockville Barrack had responded to a late-night traffic accident between a semi tractor-trailer rig and Lexus passenger car, causing several lanes of I-495 to be closured down.
According to the Maryland State Police, a Montgomery County firefighter was injured when an allegedly intoxicated driver drove into a cordoned-off accident site on the inner loop of I-495 near University Boulevard near the Franklin Knolls area of Silver Spring. Around 3am in the morning of September 13, a BMW operated by Alberto Zurita, 45, broke through the multi-lane police closure outside the original accident, striking two unoccupied police cruisers and hitting Michael Doyle, a 54-year-old firefighter who was on foot at the time of the collision.
Police reports indicate that several lanes of the interstate were closed off with traffic cones, emergency flares and two marked patrol vehicles with emergency lights turned on. The BMW driver was arrested on suspicion of DUI and subsequently taken to the MSP Rockville Barrack for processing on those charges. The injured firefighter was taken to MedStar Washington Hospital for treatment. No other individuals were hurt as a result of that secondary crash on I-495.
As personal injury attorneys, the legal team at Lebowitz & Mzhen, LLC, understands all too well the potential for serious injury when drivers do not heed reduced speed warnings near construction zones and other roadway worksites. The same advice applies to any active police investigation or EMS accident response taking place on any Maryland public roadway; the consequences of not paying attention and slowing down for workers or emergency responders by the roadside are far too deadly to do otherwise.
Suing for Injuries Sustained by a Maryland First Responder
When it comes to caution near work zones, the Maryland Department of Transportation states that more than 2,000 traffic accidents occur in or around construction zones each year. And, while just a handful of fatalities result in these cases roadway workers and emergency personnel are always at risk of serious injury from the passing vehicular traffic. Nationwide, tens of thousands of first responders suffer on-the-job injuries every year. The injuries can be sustained in many ways, including during rescue and recovery operations along roadways.
Our seasoned Lebowitz & Mzhen personal injury team understands the vital importance of helping injured emergency responders get back on the road to recovery following a serious on-the-job injury. We have the legal training and courtroom experience to help fight for the rights of EMS personnel to get the workers’ compensation they deserve after a devastating physical injury.
Whether you’re a firefighter, ambulance driver or public safety officer, having been severely hurt on the job by an drug- or alcohol-impaired motorist — or even a distracted driver — can lead to a mound of medical bills, loss of one’s livelihood, and even the loss of one’s long-term health. Fortunately, Maryland law provides victims with the ability to recover monetary damages arising from negligence-related injury accidents.
As Maryland automobile and trucking accident attorneys, our main goal is to help victims recover the cost of emergency medical treatment, doctor’s fees and hospital stays, as well as possible long-term nursing home expenses. We know that most drivers are careful and conscientious, but in cases where negligence resulted in serious injuries or death, the professional legal staff at Lebowitz & Mzhen, LLC, is ready and willing to assist victims and their families recover the damages due them under the law. If you or a loved one received serious or debilitating injuries as a result of a roadway crash, please feel free to schedule a no-obligation initial consultation with one of our seasoned attorneys. Call us toll-free at (800) 654-1949, or contact either Jack Lebowitz or Vadim Mzhen by email.