Posted on November 12, 2023 in Truck Accidents

Being a bicyclist or pedestrian in Maryland can be dangerous, and any accident involving an automobile and a bicycle or pedestrian is almost always going to leave the latter party the worse for wear. Collisions between vehicles and pedestrians result in a high percentage of auto-related fatalities.

For decades, American drivers have been used to being able to make right turns at red lights. But ending this practice may significantly decrease motor vehicle accidents and make the roads much safer for everyone.

THE HISTORY OF RIGHT TURNS ON RED

Most countries with significant automobile-driving populations don’t permit drivers to turn right at red lights. The US is somewhat unique in this regard. But for many years, the US didn’t allow it either.

In the 1970s, America went through a major energy crisis, and policymakers saw vehicles idling at red lights as a source of waste. As a result, they tied federal funding to states allowing drivers to turn right at red lights. The practice has continued unchanged since then.

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 Posted on October 26, 2023 in Truck Accidents

Motor vehicle accidents are among the leading causes of fatal and non-fatal injuries in Maryland. Although no two accidents are alike, they usually fall into common categories, producing typical injuries suffered by victims.

EIGHT TYPES OF MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS

Although you’ll find no complex category rules for motor vehicle accidents, these collisions exhibit typical patterns. Identifying how accidents happen can help drivers avoid them. These are the eight general categories:

• Single-vehicle
• Multi-vehicle
• Rear impact
• Frontal impact
• Lateral impact or T-bone
• Rotational impact
• Sideswipe
• Rollover collision

Single-vehicle accidents frequently occur when a driver swerves to avoid another vehicle or an animal. They can also occur due to driver drowsiness. Multi-vehicle accidents, sometimes called chain collisions, involve three or more vehicles, with injuries ranging from minor to catastrophic. Rear impact accidents are one of the most common, resulting from driver inattention. While not common, frontal impact accidents frequently result in severe injuries and fatalities. Distracted driving also causes lateral impact accidents, usually occurring at intersections. In rotational impact accidents, vehicles spin around and often hit several others, causing various injuries. Sideswipes happen as initial impacts, frequently leading to head-on collisions. Rollovers happen when a vehicle flips onto its side or roof, sometimes with catastrophic results.

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 Posted on October 11, 2023 in Truck Accidents

Losing a loved one in Maryland because of a wrongful death is a traumatic experience. You might feel grief, hopelessness or several different emotions following the event. There’s no way to erase the pain, but there are ways to overcome the trauma caused by a sudden death.

WHAT IS THE LEGAL DEFINITION OF WRONGFUL DEATH?

The wrongful death statute in Maryland defines wrongful death as a death that occurs due to negligence or a criminal act of another person. It doesn’t matter if the actions were intentional or accidental.

Md. Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 3-904(a)(1) makes it legal for spouses, parents and children of the deceased to bring a sudden death lawsuit against those accountable for the death. There are also ways for the survivors to deal with the emotional aftermath of a wrongful death.

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 Posted on October 01, 2023 in Truck Accidents

The average driver passes through dozens of intersections on their daily commute to work or their trip to drop children off at school. Each of those intersections slightly increases the possibility of a collision.

Although crashes can occur anywhere, locations where motorists cross paths with one another are higher-risk than areas where they simply share the road. Intersection collisions can occur for a variety of different reasons, but there are certain noticeable trends. For example, the following three mistakes play a role in a large percentage of intersection collisions each year.

INADEQUATE SURVEILLANCE

A careful review of intersection collisions will quickly show that people aren’t careful enough when approaching intersections. They may fail to look carefully around their vehicles, possibly because they are very familiar with that area. Other times, distraction is what causes inadequate surveillance. Someone engaged in a discussion with a passenger or looking down at their phone may not check their surroundings as carefully as they should. Failing to properly check road conditions before proceeding through the intersection is one of the top reasons for crashes occurring.

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 Posted on September 27, 2023 in Truck Accidents

A car crash is one of the most common causes of concussions and other head injuries. If you are hurt while traveling on a Maryland road, it’s important to seek treatment right away. Doing so may help to minimize the scope of your injury as well as provide a paper trail to use during settlement talks or a personal injury trial.

SIGNS OF A CONCUSSION

A few common signs of a concussion include headaches, difficulty standing and short-term memory loss. You may also have sensitivity to sounds such as people talking or bright lights such as the sun shining through a bedroom window. Therefore, your doctor may advise you to rest in a dark and quiet room as your brain heals from the trauma it has endured. Finally, neck pain and speech issues may also be caused by a concussion.

TREATING A CONCUSSION

In addition to resting in a dark room, you may be advised to avoid any activities that are mentally or physically draining. Therefore, you may not be able to play games on your computer or engage in relatively mundane tasks such as feeding your animals. Furthermore, you will likely be given medication to ease your symptoms for a period of days or weeks after your motor vehicle accident occurred.

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 Posted on September 13, 2023 in Truck Accidents

Fall is just around the corner, which means crisp, pleasant weather and lovely colors as the leaves turn in Maryland. However, with the new season comes a slew of fall driving hazards. These are some of the most common.

EARLIER DARKNESS

By the time fall comes, the days begin to get shorter, and thus it gets darker earlier. This can pose visibility risks for many drivers and lead to more motor vehicle accidents. Ensuring that your headlights are clean, properly aligned and well-lit can help. Be aware of pedestrians and animals on the road after darkness to avoid an accident.

FALLEN LEAVES

Leaves fall off the trees during the fall in preparation for colder weather. Often, they can collect on the road, causing slippery conditions. This is a hazard that can cause traction issues with your vehicle on the road. A big enough pile may also conceal another danger such as a large puddle after rainfall. Slowing down when you notice leaves in the street can help you safely move past them.

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 Posted on August 28, 2023 in Truck Accidents

Maryland car accident victims should refrain from posting images of themselves on social media if their injuries are not quite as serious as they claim. That was the advice a personal injury attorney gave during an insurance industry conference in California. The attorney told attendees about a married couple who posted pictures of themselves having fun in a back yard swimming pool. The images were damaging to the couple because they had claimed in a lawsuit that they both suffered serious spinal cord injuries in a car accident.

SOCK PUPPET ACCOUNTS

Attorneys and insurance companies have traditionally hired private investigators to observe motor vehicle accident victims who they suspect may be exaggerating the severity of their injuries, but they are now more likely to search for the evidence they seek on social media platforms like Facebook or Instagram. To prevent their targets from becoming suspicious, attorneys and insurance companies may set up “sock puppet” accounts rather than logging in with their own credentials.

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 Posted on August 14, 2023 in Truck Accidents

Truck drivers may find it difficult to stay alert on the road. Numerous factors could make a driver feel fatigued when they travel on Maryland roads. Tiredness may prove dangerous when operating a tractor-trailer as the risks of a severe accident increase.

FATIGUE AND TRUCK DRIVING

A deadly accident might result if a semitruck driver passes out at the wheel. Such a scenario could occur because of extreme fatigue, intoxication and other factors. However, a driver does not need to become unconscious to cause a collision. A tired truck driver may experience perception problems that make braking in time difficult.

Fatigue may reduce reaction time, making avoiding an accident difficult. Tired drivers could become more prone to distractions, and distracted driving is a common cause of many avoidable accidents.

State and federal laws exist to reduce fatigued driving by requiring commercial truck drivers to take mandatory breaks. Skipping these breaks could be considered negligence. Still, even taking all required breaks might not prevent a truck driver from experiencing excessive tiredness.

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 Posted on August 11, 2023 in Truck Accidents

There are a number of reasons why motor vehicle accidents occur in Maryland. For example, you may be at a higher risk of a crash simply because you are traveling on a congested road or because weather conditions aren’t ideal. However, you may also be in a crash because another person, vehicle or object was in your car’s blind spot.

OVERVIEW OF A BLIND SPOT

Essentially, a blind spot is any area that you can’t see because your vehicle is blocking your view. For example, it can be especially difficult to see cars that are right beside yours as you can’t see them out of your mirrors. The larger your car or truck is, the larger your blind spots are going to be. Furthermore, it can be harder to take evasive action if your vehicle is too large to move in a timely manner.

TECHNOLOGY ISN’T ALWAYS HELPFUL

While blind spot monitors can make you aware of things in your path, you can’t trust them completely. Instead, you should still look to where you want to go to ensure that the path is clear before making a lane change or a turn. Relying on technology is generally not a defense to negligence claims that arise after a motor vehicle accident.

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 Posted on August 01, 2023 in Truck Accidents

n Maryland, motorcycle riders are passionate about taking to the road on their bikes. However, that can come with a price. Notably, they are not accorded the same protection people have when they are inside a vehicle and are vulnerable to serious injuries and death in a crash.

MOTORCYCLISTS FACE SPECIFIC EJECTION-RELATED INJURIES

There are common injuries riders can have when they are thrown from the motorcycle. Because riders’ legs have no protection, their lower extremities can be damaged. For example, a broken leg could be severe and require surgical procedures to ensure it heals correctly so person will regain full use of it. They might also need to go through an arduous rehabilitation program.

With the upper body, riders can suffer broken arms, torn ligaments and internal injuries. This too can inhibit them even after they have recovered with the need for therapy and the possibility that they will not be able to perform daily tasks as functionally as they did before.

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