Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog
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.
Police are still awaiting the results of tests conducted on the driver to see if alcohol played a role in this week’s fatal accident. However, given the evidence they were able to glean from the scene of the accident, as well as their interactions with the driver, they do believe that alcohol did play some role in the accident.
Drunk Driving Accidents on Maryland Roads
Despite the known dangers of driving while intoxicated, Marylanders continue to get behind the wheel after they have had too much to drink. In fact, it is estimated that each year there are approximately 160 alcohol-related fatalities in the State of Maryland. What may come as even more striking than that figure is the total number of DUI arrests in Maryland, which topped 16,000 in 2012.
Anytime a driver gets behind the wheel when their blood- or breath-alcohol level is .08 or greater, they are illegally driving drunk. Legally speaking, this can give rise to liability on the part of the drunk driver for any damages, injuries, or deaths that are a result of his or her negligent conduct. Unlike some other forms of negligent driving, driving while under the influence is specifically prohibited by law. This makes financial recovery after a serious or fatal DUI accident easier for the accident victims. To learn more, contact a dedicated Maryland personal injury attorney.
Have You Been Involved in a Maryland DUI Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been the victim of another’s decision to drive drunk, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for your injuries. Of course, before you are entitled to recover for your injuries you must prove that the other driver was actually intoxicated and that his or her negligence was the cause of the accident. The dedicated attorneys at Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers have countless DUI cases under their belt and know what it takes to recover for their clients. Call 410-654-3600 today to set up a free consultation with an experienced DUI accident attorney.
More Blog Posts:
Silver Springs DUI Accident Results in One Woman’s Death, Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog, published March 3, 2015.
One Man Dead after Fatal Howard County Accident Involving Snow Plow and Icy Roads, Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog, published February 24, 2015.