Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog

Establishing Fault in a Maryland Multi-Vehicle Accident

April 17, 2022 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Although many car accidents are simple and it is clear which party is at fault when the collision took place, this is not always the case for every incident. In fact, sometimes car accidents can involve multiple parties, vehicles, collisions, and injuries. The chaos of the accident can also often create problems for drivers in remembering exactly which car hit the other first and how to allocate responsibility. If you are involved in a multi-vehicle accident, knowing your rights and next steps is crucial to protecting yourself and maximizing your chances of obtaining the compensation you deserve.

According to a recent local news report, Maryland State Police are investigating a multiple-vehicle crash that left a local man dead and also injured a pedestrian. Troopers responded to a report of a multi-vehicle crash around 3:00 AM and to an accident involving five separate vehicles and a pedestrian. Based on a preliminary investigation, a black Dodge initially rear-ended a Chevrolet. A separate driver, acting as a Good Samaritan, stopped his vehicle on the shoulder to assist with the accident. Shortly after the separate driver exited his vehicle, a Nissan crashed into the Dodge from the initial accident and the pedestrian involved in the crash was also struck. A separate accident occurred when a Chevrolet stopped in a separate lane, potentially to also provide assistance before a GMC crashed into it. All five drivers and the pedestrian were transported to a local hospital for treatment. The accident remains under investigation by local authorities.

Multiple-vehicle crashes, often also called chain reaction accidents, can often create legal challenges as complex as the series of collisions that led to the dispute in the first place. Because these accidents often involve several defendants and plaintiffs with personal injury claims, it can be a challenging task to navigate on your own.

Maryland Multi-Vehicle Car Accidents

March 31, 2022 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Maryland multi-vehicle and chain reaction accidents often involve the complex interplay of various contributing factors. These incidents generally elicit two types of threats: primary impacts and secondary impacts. Primary impacts occur when a negligent driver sets off a series of events by instigating the initial crash. The secondary impact occurs when a driver attempts to avoid crashing into another object or with another vehicle but precipitates other crashes—recovering damages after a multi-vehicle accident requires plaintiffs to address the fault and causation of each party they wish to recover damages from.

Should I Hire a Lawyer for My Maryland Car Accident Case?

Yes, having a lawyer represent you in aa Maryland car accident claim is imperative to the success of your lawsuit. An attorney can help gather and prepare relevant evidence that meets the relevant legal standards. Key evidence in these cases includes police reports, eyewitness statements, accident scene reports, video footage, and medical records. Experienced lawyers understand how to present this information in a way that effectively conveys how the accident occurred and who is at fault for the ensuing damages.

Establishing liability is critical in Maryland because of the state’s strict contributory negligence statute. In Maryland, plaintiffs who bear any responsibility for the accident will not be able to recover damages. Essentially, claimants must establish that they were not responsible for the accident or their injuries. An attorney is an invaluable asset to these cases as they can help prepare a compelling and legally sound case for compensation.

Maryland Pedestrian Safety Risks

March 25, 2022 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Pedestrians, like motorists, often engage in multi-tasking, such as snacking, listening to music, or using hand-held devices. The effects of this usage are similar to those distracted drivers experience. However, unlike distracting driving, distracted walking has not received public attention, even though Maryland pedestrian accidents are a serious concern.

Walking has many public health benefits and helps reduce greenhouse emissions, climate change, and poor air quality. However, walking poses many dangers, especially when pedestrians proceed in areas in undesignated areas, highways, or during the early morning or late evening hours. However, the fact remains that many people have no choice but to walk, especially as gas prices increase.

Although walking can help mitigate traffic congestion, interactions between walkers and vehicles on the same roadway can create dangerous situations. Many factors significantly increase the likelihood of fatal and non-fatal pedestrians accidents. These include improper crossing, distraction, and failure to obey traffic signs. However, like many accidents where a significant difference in protection exists, it is often hard to determine the exact cause of these accidents.

Recovering from a Maryland Accident When You Were Also At Fault

March 17, 2022 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Sometimes, when car accidents take place, the fault does not always fall entirely on one party. Although one party may share more of the fault proportionally, this situation often gives rise to complicated issues when personal injury claims are at stake. In some states, like Maryland, if you contributed to causing the accident in any way, it could bar you from receiving compensation. Thus, understanding your rights and discussing the circumstances surrounding your accident with an experienced personal injury lawyer is crucial to maximizing the success of your lawsuit.

According to a recent local news report, officers responded to a two-car collision. Based on initial evidence, a Dodge Ram was allegedly speeding when it crashed into the back of a Dodge Caliber. When local authorities arrived on the scene of the accident, the Dodge Ram was attempting to leave the collision site. Police were able to successfully stop the Dodge Ram from leaving, which was occupied by two men and had significant front-end damage. The driver of the Ram was arrested for driving under the influence and transferred to the Maryland State Police department for further investigation.

The second vehicle, the Dodge Caliber, had three people inside. The driver and both passengers were transported to a local hospital for treatment of significant injuries. Local authorities believe that the driver of the Dodge Caliber may have been driving under the influence as well. As charges are pending for both drivers in the accident, the collision remains under investigation.

Determining Fault in a Maryland Multi-Vehicle Accident

March 9, 2022 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Although car accidents can take place in a variety of ways, sometimes they involve multiple cars. Often, these crashes are far from clear cut—it can often be unclear even to those directly involved or those who witnessed the accident exactly who was at fault and how much fault each party should be responsible for. Following a multiple vehicle accident, however, it is important to know exactly how to determine fault. After all, you don’t want to be responsible for more than your share, especially if you were injured or had significant property damage and are seeking to recover from the other parties.

According to a recent news report, a multi-vehicle car accident resulted in the death of one person and injuries to four others. Local police said that five vehicles were involved in the accident, and preliminary findings indicate that speed may have been a contributing factor. The collision resulted in one death, one critical and serious injury, and two minor injuries. The street where the accident took place was temporarily closed as investigators continued to canvas the scene and vehicles were removed. The accident remains under investigation.

In all personal injury claims, the party suing for compensation must be able to prove the defendant or defendants’ actions were negligent and directly caused the plaintiff’s injuries or damage sustained. In multiple vehicle accidents that typically involve a chain reaction of crashes, it can be challenging establishing fault because although the accident may have happened because someone was negligent and started it, the actions of the other parties involved also play a role in the severity of the crash. For example, if other drivers involved in the accident also are speeding or distracted, this can create an even more severe multiple vehicle accident.

Survival vs. Wrongful Death Actions in Maryland

February 28, 2022 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Following an accident where a preventable death of a loved one has taken place, you may feel overwhelmed and unsure what to do next while processing your grief. Depending on the circumstances of how the death took place, however, you or the loved ones of the deceased may want to consider filing a lawsuit on their behalf to recover compensation. Usually, potential plaintiffs file either a wrongful death or a survival action claim, but it can be confusing to figure out what the distinctions between the two are at first. Knowing the difference is an important step to getting started with your lawsuit.

According to a recent local news report, a woman died following a major crash. Local authorities were pursuing the driver of the vehicle in an active police chase at the time of the crash. The chase began as a routine traffic stop, but when the driver pulled into a nearby parking lot, presumably to stop for the officers who had pulled him over, he instead sped away. Authorities pursued the driver but lost sight of the vehicle after it swerved in front of another vehicle near a curve in the road. As police continued down the road, there was debris on the road and authorities realized that the vehicle they were pursuing had crashed.

The driver fled from the car following the accident, and his passenger was located on the ground near the car with life-threatening injuries. First responders attempted to treat the passenger on the scene, but she was pronounced dead. Several officers subsequently began to conduct a search for the driver with the use of K-9s and a helicopter. Officers later located the driver in a nearby neighborhood, where he was taken into custody. Investigators believe that narcotics may have been a contributing factor in the crash and are working to identify witnesses. Local police had their dashboard camera and microphone activated during the accident, and as the footage is released, the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash continues.

Understanding Maryland Shared Fault Rules

February 22, 2022 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

When a Maryland car accident occurs, it’s not always clear who was at fault. Sometimes, in more simple collisions, it’s obvious who the at-fault party is, and they may be 100 percent at fault. In many accidents, however, this is not always the case. Determining who is truly at fault in a car accident is crucial because it can affect how much compensation you receive if you decide to file a claim either through insurance or in a personal injury lawsuit.

According to a recent local news report, one driver has died, and another has been hospitalized following a collision at an intersection in Prince George’s County. Police said the accident occurred around 12:15pm when both drivers were going eastbound. One driver rear-ended the other while going through the intersection. The driver of the struck vehicle was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The other driver was reportedly being treated for serious injuries at the hospital. Local authorities are still working to determine the circumstances that led up to the crash, and the accident remains under investigation.

Following a major car accident, it is not unheard of to file an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit against who you perceive to be the at-fault party in the collision, only to hear that they are now claiming that you share some fault for what took place. In some states, the amount of fault that you are responsible for may impact your claim more than others. Unfortunately, in Maryland, it can often be a crucial factor in your case.

Establishing Negligence in a Maryland Car Accident Claim

February 15, 2022 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

When an accident takes place and leaves a victim injured or killed, you may have grounds to bring a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party for compensation. To successfully bring such a claim, however, you must establish that the at-fault party acted negligently, which caused the accident and subsequent injuries to take place. Understanding how to satisfy this element in a personal injury case is crucial to the success of your claim.

According to a recent news report, the driver of a pickup truck drove his vehicle into a local home, which killed one person and left two injured. Local authorities reported that the pickup truck went off the highway when it crashed into the second floor of the home. The driver of the pickup truck was ejected from the vehicle and was found on the first floor of the home with minor injuries and the passenger of the pickup truck died at the scene. The pickup truck driver was attempting to pass two other cars on the highway at a high rate of speed when he lost control, went airborne, and collided with the home. A woman was in bed on the second floor of the home when the crash took place and was reported to be critically injured and transported to a local hospital for treatment. Local police claim that it appeared alcohol was potentially a factor in the crash, and the accident remains under investigation.

How Can I Prove Another Driver Was At Fault in a Car Accident

In Maryland, proving that the at-fault party was negligent is a crucial part of a successful car accident lawsuit. To make a negligence claim under Maryland law, a potential plaintiff must prove four elements. First, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant had a duty to protect the plaintiff. Second, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant breached that duty. Third, the plaintiff must establish that they were actually hurt or injured. Lastly, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant’s actions were the proximate cause of the plaintiff’s injury.

Four Maryland Drivers Dead After Head-On Collision

February 8, 2022 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Although car accidents can be deadly in a number of ways, potentially the most dangerous type of collision is a head-on crash. When two vehicles are going in opposite directions at high speeds and crash directly into each other, serious and fatal consequences ensue. Because many times these accidents take place because of the negligence or recklessness of another driver, it is crucial to understand how to recover from subsequent injuries, property damage, or in extreme crashes, the death of loved ones.

According to a recent local news report, a deadly two-vehicle crash left four individuals dead. Local authorities reported that on the Bel Air Bypass on Route 1 near Rock Spring Road, a Toyota was heading north when it tried to pass another vehicle and crossed into the southbound lane. A Honda was traveling southbound and the Toyota crashed into the Honda head-on. After the initial crash, the Toyota rolled over onto its side and caught on fire. By the time troopers arrived, they had to extinguish the flames and evacuate the driver of the Toyota and its passengers. The driver and passenger of the Honda were both pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Toyota and her passenger were airlifted to a local hospital to be treated for their injuries. The Toyota’s passenger later died from her injuries. The accident remains under investigation by Maryland state police.

Head-on crashes take place because of a number of reasons but are commonly associated with negligent or reckless drivers or maneuvers. Distracted driving involving talking on a cell phone or texting, for example, is one of the most common ways that head-on collisions take place. Other times, drivers operating their vehicles under the influence of drugs or alcohol can also cause them to veer into oncoming traffic. Driving the wrong way, drifting into the opposite lane caused by fatigue or drowsiness, speeding around curves, and improper passing are also common causes of head-on accidents.

What Is Contributory Negligence in a Maryland Car Accident Lawsuit?

January 31, 2022 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Car accidents happen every day in Maryland by the dozens. While some of these accidents are clearly the fault of one driver, others are a little more complex. For example, a good number of Maryland car accidents are the result of several drivers making a mistake. While this is common, it can also complicate the recovery process for anyone injured in an accident.

Each state is responsible for creating its own rules when it comes to which drivers can recover for their injuries after an accident. Most states rely on a doctrine of law called comparative fault. Under a comparative fault analysis, a driver who is partially at fault can still recover compensation from other at-fault drivers. However, the injured driver will have their total damages award reduced by their percentage of fault.

For example, assume that Bill crashed into Joe. Joe suffered $100,000 in damages. At a jury trial, the jury found that Bill was 90 percent responsible for the collision and that Joe was 10 percent at fault. In this case, Joe would recover $90,000, rather than the full $100,000.