Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog

Mailman in Critical Condition after Single-Vehicle Accident in Prince George’s County

April 23, 2015 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Earlier this month, the driver of a mail truck was taken to the hospital with serious, life-threatening injuries after he was involved in a serious single-vehicle accident on Annapolis Road. According to a local news report, the male driver was between 25 and 30 years old, although his name was not released at the time of the article’s publication.

Evidently, the mailman was driving westbound on Annapolis Road near the intersection of Highbridge Road. As the mailman approached the intersection, another driver was in the process of making a left-hand turn in front of the mailman. Believing that he was going to crash into the turning vehicle, the mailman swerved to avoid the collision.

As he swerved out of the car’s way, he lost control of the mail truck, which flipped over and then crossed into the median. The man was taken into the hospital with life-threatening injuries and is still in critical condition. Police are still investigating the accident, attempting to glean as much information from the scene of the accident as possible. They have also asked any potential witnesses to come forward with any pertinent information.

Suspect Blasts Through Annapolis DUI Checkpoint and Injures Three Bystanders in Subsequent Chase

April 16, 2015 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Three people were injured and one man was arrested on March 17 after an allegedly intoxicated suspect drove through a DUI checkpoint and led police on a high-speed chase. According to a report from NBC affiliate WBAL, the chase continued through the streets of Annapolis, attracting a police helicopter to assist with stopping the suspect. The man eventually crashed into an intersection at a red light, hitting three other cars and causing his own car to go up in flames.

How Did the Chase Begin?

The suspect, a 39-year-old man from Baltimore driving a 2008 Honda Accord, approached a DUI checkpoint being operated by the Maryland State Highway Patrol Office in Annapolis. According to the article, the vehicle plowed into the checkpoint and swerved off erratically, after which authorities gave chase.

The man led police on a chase that resulted in a helicopter being called in. After the helicopter gave chase and the police cars gave the man some distance, he crashed his car as he tried unsuccessfully to drive through an intersection. Three other vehicles were involved, and three people were taken to the hospital with minor injuries. The suspect was not injured and was arrested on charges of DUI, fleeing from police, and assault.

Maryland Driver Charged for Murder After Passenger Dies in a Drunk Driving Accident

April 9, 2015 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Earlier this month, a Maryland man was arrested and charged with murder for his role in the drunk driving death of a passenger after he was involved in a DUI accident. According to a recent Washington Post article, the driver admitted to police that he had consumed at least two beers and a shot of cognac before getting behind the wheel that fateful night.

Evidently, the accident occurred on a road with a speed limit of just 25 miles per hour, but police claim that the driver was traveling well in excess of that speed when he slammed into a parked tractor-trailer. After crashing into the parked truck, the driver got out of his vehicle and pulled out his unconscious passenger by her arms. He began to shake her until another passenger in his car told him to stop. At this point, he dropped her, and she hit her head on the pavement.

The woman was taken to the hospital, where she died about a half-hour later. Prosecutors charged the driver with second-degree murder, claiming that the driver acted “with the intent to kill another . . . and with a conscious disregard of an extreme risk of death or serious bodily injury to another.”

I-495 Car Accident Causes One Fatality, Drowsy Driving Suspected

April 2, 2015 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Late last month, a 47-year-old woman was killed when she lost control of her car on the Beltway. According to a prominent national news report, the woman was driving on Interstate 495 in Capitol Heights when the accident occurred. Maryland State Police were called to the scene of the accident at around 3:45 a.m.

A preliminary investigation revealed that the woman’s Dodge Avenger was traveling south on I-495 when she crossed three lanes of traffic and veered off the road. She proceeded to hit a safety rail before coming to a stop. Unfortunately, the woman was pronounced deceased at the scene of the accident. The Maryland State Police believe that fatigue could have played a role in the accident. However, the crash is still under investigation by Maryland State Police.

Risks Associated with Fatigued Driving

The above case was incredibly tragic because someone lost their life, but it could have been much worse. In many highway accidents, there are multiple cars involved, increasing the number of victims. Fatigued driving is a serious problem and can result in severe injuries and even death. The effects of drowsy driving often mirror the effects of alcohol and other substances. It can decrease awareness, lower reaction times, and impair vision and judgment.

Wrong-Way Accident Kills Two in Queen Anne’s County, Alcohol Suspected to Be a Factor

March 24, 2015 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Earlier this month in Queen Anne’s county two people were killed in a traffic accident on Route 50 when a car unexpectedly began traveling the wrong way down the highway. According to a report by the local CBS affiliate, police dispatchers received numerous calls about a car driving wildly down Route 50 over the course a few minutes. However, by the time they were able to respond, the damage had been done.

One driver told reporters that she was on Route 50 when the driver flew by at a high rate of speed. At some point shortly after that, she recalls the driver getting into the left lane of traffic and making a wide U-turn into oncoming traffic.

Evidently, the 25-year-old driver who was traveling the wrong way down Route 50 has a history of similar conduct, including a prior DUI and also a prior charge for driving the wrong way on the highway. Unfortunately, this time tragedy ensued when he collided head-on with another car, killing both inside instantly as the car went up in flames.

Head-On Crash in Poolesville Claims the Life of One Adamstown Resident

March 17, 2015 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Earlier this month in Poolesville, Maryland, a head-on collision claimed one woman’s life and injured several others. According to a report by one local Maryland news source, the accident was caused when a pick-up truck veered out of its lane and into oncoming traffic, ultimately hitting the car the victim was driving.

Evidently, around 7:40 in the morning, a Ford F-250 truck was driving on the 20700 block of Darnestown Road when it began to creep into oncoming traffic. As it crossed the center median line, it collided with a Subaru Forester. After the initial collision, the pick-up truck rolled several times, crashing into a Kia Sorento. A fourth vehicle was also involved when it was hit by some flying debris from the previous collision.

The driver of the Subaru that was hit head on by the truck was taken to a nearby hospital, but later succumbed to her injuries. The driver of the pick-up truck was also taken to the hospital, although with non-life-threatening injuries.

Middletown Accident Claims the Life of One Woman

March 10, 2015 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Late last month. one woman was killed in Middletown, Maryland when she was involved in an accident with a pick-up truck. According to one local news source, the accident occurred around eight in the evening on a Thursday night.

Evidently, the accident occurred on Route 40A when the driver of a pick-up truck that was heading westbound crossed over into the eastbound lane. As the truck crossed over into oncoming traffic, it collided head-on with a Toyota Corolla.

The passenger in the Corolla sustained serious injuries in the accident. She was taken to the hospital but was unable to overcome her injuries and died a short time later. The driver of the pick-up truck was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the Corolla was also hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries.

Silver Springs DUI Accident Results in One Woman’s Death

March 3, 2015 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Earlier last month, one woman was killed while she was waiting for the bus when she was hit by a drunk driver. According to one local news report, the tragic accident occurred on the 1100 block of Cresthaven Drive just after 11 in the morning.

A witness to the accident told police that the driver was seen erratically driving a red 2005 Nissan X-Terra shortly before the accident. At some point, the driver crossed over into the left lane and hit the victim, who was waiting near a Ride On bus stop. After hitting the woman, the driver vehicle continued on, eventually hitting a 1999 Buick that was parked on Park Avenue and then a 2010 Ford Focus that was parked in a nearby driveway.

Police arrived on the scene and immediately took the driver into custody for suspicion of drunk driving. The results of the driver’s blood-alcohol content are still outstanding, but it is expected that the results will show that he was legally intoxicated. Changes against the driver are pending, awaiting the result of the investigation.

One Man Dead after Fatal Howard County Accident Involving Snow Plow and Icy Roads

February 24, 2015 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Earlier this month in Howard County, a young man was killed in an accident involving a snow plow. According to one local news report, the vehicle the young man was driving lost control around a corner and slammed into the front of a truck with a snow-plow attachment on the front.

The accident took place around nine in the morning on Route 97, near the Howard-Montgomery County line. Evidently, the young man was driving an Acura RSX and drifted out of his lane a bit while making a fairly sharp curve. As his vehicle exited his lane of travel and entered the shoulder, he encountered a patch of slush. The slush caused the driver to lose control of his vehicle, which then crossed into oncoming traffic where he collided with the snow plow.

The driver of the Acura was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency workers. The snow plow had three passengers in it, all of whom were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police are still in the middle of conducting their investigation into the cause of the accident. However, preliminary investigations suggest that the driver of the Acura was traveling too fast when he entered the curve, causing him to leave his lane and end up on the shoulder.

Personal Injury Plaintiffs Lose on Appeal Due to Inadmissible Expert Testimony

February 17, 2015 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Earlier this year, the Virginia Supreme Court heard a case involving a man who was seriously injured after the Hyundai he was driving left the roadway, slammed into several snow banks, and then struck a large tree. Although the car was equipped with a side airbag, the airbag did not deploy during the accident.

The family of the accident victim brought a suit against Hyundai, alleging that there was a breach in the “implied warranty of merchantability,” essentially claiming that the Hyundai “was defective, unreasonably dangerous, was not fit for the ordinary purpose for which it was intended, and did not pass without objection in the industry in which it was sold.” The essences of their claim was that, had the side airbag deployed, as it should have, the injuries sustained by their loved one would have been greatly reduced.

To support their theory, the plaintiffs called an expert at trial to testify that, had the airbag been properly designed, it would have gone off and that would have decreased any injury sustained as a result of the accident. His main argument was that it was not located in the right part of the vehicle.