Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog

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.

Pedestrian Killed in Hit-and-Run Accident in Elkridge

February 10, 2015 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Earlier this month in Elkridge, Maryland, a pedestrian was killed after she was hit not once but twice by passing motorists. According to a report by the Baltimore Sun, the woman was walking on U.S. 1 around 4:40 in the morning when she was first struck by a 2002 Toyota SUV heading northbound.

That driver immediately pulled off to the side of the road to assist the pedestrian. However, before he could get to her, another passing car ran over the woman, who was still in the roadway. The first driver, who has been cooperating with police, told police that the second vehicle was a dark colored SUV.

The woman was pronounced dead by emergency responders shortly after their arrival. Authorities are refraining from disclosing her identity until they are able to notify her next-of-kin.

Car Wreck on Ice-Covered I-95 Kills One

February 3, 2015 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Earlier this month on Interstate 95, a massive pile-up accident claimed the life of a Staten Island rabbi on his way to a religious event. According to a report by one local news source, the accident occurred near the Baltimore-Howard County line. The accident itself actually took place in Harford County, near the intersection of Route 23 and High Point Road.

Evidently, a band of freezing rain crept in and created extremely slippery conditions on the roadway. At around 7:30 in the morning, a Honda CRV was traveling westbound on Route 23 when it lost control and crossed the median. The CRV collided with an eastbound vehicle.

The man in the back seat of the CRV was pronounced dead shortly after emergency workers responded to the scene. He was a prominent rabbi in the New York City area. The driver and front-seat passenger of the CRV were also taken to the hospital, although with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the other vehicle, as well as the passenger, were both taken to the hospital with injuries.