Posted on March 01, 2021 in Truck Accidents

Distracted driving might not seem as egregious as reckless driving, but a distracted driver could cause a fatal accident in Maryland. Even though someone tapping a touchscreen might not mean to cause an accident, if an accident occurs and a life is lost, nothing will bring the deceased back. Alarmingly, distracted driving may be on the rise, possibly leading to an increase in serious accidents.

UNFORTUNATE INCIDENTS INVOLVING DISTRACTED DRIVING

Distracted driving refers to any behavior that takes attention away from the road, other vehicles or anything else a responsible driver should not ignore. Unfortunately, becoming distracted may be common with some drivers. Sometimes, a distracted driver may lose enough attention that an accident occurs. Not paying attention to the road, other drivers and pedestrians could have tragic consequences.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealed some surprising information about crashes in 2015. The NHTSA pointed out that 10% of fatal crashes resulted from distracted driving. That figure is shocking enough by itself, but when you realize that those fatal crashes occurred in 2015, something else may come to mind. Each year, vehicles are equipped with more advancements in “infotainment” technology that could increase potential distractions.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on February 08, 2021 in Truck Accidents

A truck accident could prove devastating for victims in Maryland. Persons severely injured when a truck collides with their vehicle or strikes pedestrians may have a legitimate negligence claim. No matter how devastating the accident may be, insurance companies and courts may expect compelling evidence of negligence. Therefore, it becomes necessary to collect critical evidence in the aftermath of a crash. An attorney may assist with doing so.

PROOF, EVIDENCE, AND CLAIMS OF NEGLIGENCE

A truck could do enormous damage to a small car. What if the driver of the car was under the influence of drugs and narrowly cut off the truck in a dangerous manner? Liability may rest with the car’s driver in such a situation. Ultimately, proving who is negligent in whole or part requires presenting evidence. An attorney may prove vital when gathering and presenting evidence.

Drivers may benefit from installing a dashcam, as the audio and video could reveal precise details about the incident. Is there a dashcam in the truck? Hiring an attorney capable of sending a notice to the truck driver to preserve evidence might help the cause.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on February 01, 2021 in Truck Accidents

It isn’t difficult to see that the Covid-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on the economy. You can see that fewer people are commuting to and from work – and fewer are driving to shop and dine at restaurants – with a glance at the reduced traffic here in Silver Spring and across Maryland and the rest of the nation.

A strange traffic safety phenomenon has surfaced as a result of the pandemic: with fewer vehicles on America’s streets, roads and highways, many of those who are driving, are driving faster. In Washington DC, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says there was a 22 percent increase in speeds last year in select metro areas compared to speeds in 2019.

THE RISKS OF GOING FAST

As regular readers of our blog know, when drivers increase speed, they reduce the effectiveness of their vehicle’s safety equipment and increase their risk of being in a motor vehicle crash that results in severe injuries or death.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on January 29, 2021 in Truck Accidents

There are a number of dangerous behaviors that may count toward an aggressive driving violation under Maryland law. Examples include tailgating, speeding, running traffic lights and failing to yield. It is only when authorities observe three such behaviors that they can charge a driver with aggressive driving.

Between 2015 and 2019, motor vehicle accidents related to aggressive driving were on the rise in Maryland after a reduction from 2011 to 2015. One-third of all Maryland crashes involve driver aggression, and on an annual basis, approximately 3,000 deaths and injuries result from aggressive driving statewide.

WHAT CAUSES AGGRESSIVE DRIVING?

The causes behind the recent fluctuations in aggressive driving accidents in Maryland, a reduction in the first half of the decade followed by a resurgence in the latter half, are not entirely clear. Generally speaking, however, there seems to be a link between aggressive driving and more traffic. The theory is that people get frustrated with the congestion and begin behaving aggressively to try to get ahead of other drivers.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on January 25, 2021 in Truck Accidents

If you have been injured as a result of the negligence of another, it is important to secure the most money possible for your claim. However, defendants often wish to pay as little as possible to resolve a matter. There are several things that residents of Maryland and elsewhere should keep in mind in order to receive the biggest settlement possible for their personal injury claim.

DON’T SETTLE EARLY

The earlier you settle a personal injury claim, the lower the settlement offer will be. Defendants often expect a premium for settling early and usually offer a smaller sum of money to settle a claim early on in the resolution process. As a result, parties hoping to secure more money for their claim should be patient and wait to be offered more money for their claim.

HIRE A LAWYER

Defendants are far more likely to offer lower sums of money to settle a claim if a party is not represented by an attorney. This is because a defendant may think that an unrepresented party does not wish to secure their rights and go the distance by hiring counsel. As a result, everyone hoping to secure as much money as possible for their claim should hire an experienced personal injury attorney.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on January 13, 2021 in Truck Accidents

Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare services deliver something many customers find valuable: a convenient and often inexpensive alternative to taxis. Maryland drivers taking advantage of the opportunities rideshare services provide could make mistakes that cause accidents while working. In many ways, Uber and Lyft accidents follow insurance claims and possible litigation as found in other auto accidents, but there are also significant differences.

DIFFERENCES EXIST WITH THE INSURANCE

A driver may or may not have adequate auto insurance that covers rideshare work. If the policy covers only non-commercial activity, then the insurance would not cover the driver’s liability for an accident. However, the rideshare companies provide liability coverage for accidents caused by their driver-partners.

Terms and conditions exist with Uber and Lyft’s insurance coverage. Does the coverage come into play only after the driver’s insurance? When, where, and how did the accident take place? If an Uber driver followed all traffic laws, stopped at a red light, and an intoxicated driver rear-ended the vehicle, the negligent, impaired driver might be solely liable.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on January 04, 2021 in Truck Accidents

Winter is in full force in Maryland, which means that a mixture of snow and rain will settle itself on the roads throughout the next few weeks. This can make driving on icy roads not only frustrating but dangerous. Understandably, people want to know how they can make driving that much safer for themselves and others on the road. Thus the following includes a list of ways you can safely navigate the icy roads of winter.

DON’T GIVE UP, STAY CALM

Unfortunately, one of the most common causes of motor vehicle accidents on icy roads falls to drivers panicking. Suddenly sliding on the road can be scary, but you should never give up. Staying calm and accessing the situation places you in a better position to take back control of your vehicle. The following includes a few tips on what to do if you begin to slide:

• Do not accelerate/Allow the car to slow down
• Do not brake suddenly
• Steer slowly towards the direction of the skid

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on December 16, 2020 in Truck Accidents

After suffering an auto accident injury in Maryland, you can pursue legal compensation from the at-fault driver in court. You also have the option to file a claim with the responsible driver’s auto insurance policy.

Review the common reasons for denial of an auto insurance claim in this situation.

COMPARATIVE NEGLIGENCE

Maryland uses the comparative negligence standard for auto accidents. Under this law, if you share any fault for the accident you cannot receive compensation. For example, the other driver’s insurance company can deny your claim if you had a headlight out when the accident occurred, even if the other driver ran a red light. In this case, you would have to file a claim with your own auto policy and pay the deductible.

LAPSED POLICY

If you file a claim but the responsible driver failed to pay the insurance premium on time, he or she may not have a valid policy at the time of the accident. As a result, the insurance adjuster will deny your request for compensation even if you are clearly free of fault. You can still sue the other driver for damages, however.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on December 12, 2020 in Truck Accidents

We’d all like to think that people are honest and have our best interests at heart, but this sentimentality flies out the window when it comes to vehicle accidents. You have to expect that the other driver will do anything they can to counter claims that they were driving negligently.

CONSIDER THE PSYCHOLOGY OF THOSE IN AN ACCIDENT

You have to understand the mentality of someone who has been in a car accident. The other driver will be worried about the cost of repairs and their car insurance premiums increasing. The jarring nature of a collision can cause angry reactions and fear that may result in aggression. Maybe the other driver even sees this crash as an opportunity to get compensated even if their injuries aren’t severe.

A claim’s outcome can be in their favor if they pretend that you were the negligent party. This outcome is common sense, but very few drivers take the necessary precautions to ensure their side of the story is supported by real evidence. Here are some of the essential types of documentation drivers should take after an accident:

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on December 07, 2020 in Truck Accidents

Being involved in an auto accident in Maryland is certainly an unpleasant thing to go through. However, it can be a downright nightmare if you find out that the accident was your fault. The following includes further information about how you can tell if you’re at fault in an accident.

YOU HIT THEM FROM THE BACK

In a car accident where you were the one who hit the other party from the back, the fault is likely to fall on you. Yes, this can be a very frustrating ruling as there are plenty of drivers who suddenly brake or don’t turn on their blinker at the right time. However, the attorney or the judge may tell you that you were the one with a clear view and should have seen the potential of a car accident occurring.

YOU WERE TURNING LEFT

Much like hitting a car from behind, you may be at fault if you were involved in an accident while turning left. The courts will likely tell you that you should have yielded to oncoming vehicles, so the fault is placed on you.

Continue Reading ››