Articles Posted in Car Accidents

Our bodies require sound sleep on a habitual basis. A poor’s night sleep can lead to more than poor performance at work. As a worst-case scenario, we may contribute to the statistics that measure the impact of drowsy driving.

While federal and state governments and agencies have assessed its causes and, few have proposed, much less enacted, legislation criminalizing the act. With civil courts able to tackle the issue through personal injury lawsuits, the argument can also be made for legislation addressing the negligent act as well through the criminal system.

Statistics could support action beyond funding and recommendations

Most Annapolis area residents understand how dangerous distracted driving can be. Thousands of people are affected by a distracted driver each year. They are put into these unexpected serious situations because of others who make the mistake of driving while distracted. Distracted driving is a problem that needs to be taken seriously.

What do statistics say?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over 3,100 people died because of a distracted driving-related crash in 2019. This is an increase of over 10% from the previous year. In 2019, distracted driving accounted for nearly 10% of all fatal crashes but it can be difficult to determine if the crash was caused by distracted driving so the percentage may actually be larger.

An infant was killed in an Anne Arundel County highway accident in the early hours of Easter Sunday. The vehicle crash happened at approximately 4:30 a.m. northbound on I-295, south of Route 100, according to Maryland State Police.

An initial investigation revealed that the mother of the child, who was driving a 2000 Ford Explorer, lost control of her vehicle right before passing a Honda while driving northbound on I-295.

The Ford swerved to the right before veering back across both northbound lanes towards the median, hitting the Honda in the process. The Ford rammed through the median and a guardrail before careening down a hillside and hitting several trees as it came to a halt.

It is easy for people to think that a rear-end accident is usually going to be just a fender-bender that causes some damage to the vehicles but little else.

However, an impact from behind, especially if it is at a high speed can leave victims seriously injured.

Such was the case in another part of Maryland south of the Annapolis area. According to police, one driver continued to travel at full speed in a left turn lane. Because of the flow of traffic, the cars in front of the driver had stopped.

If you’ve been injured in a car accident caused by the negligence of another, then you probably want some sort of compensation for your damages. After all, those damages can be quite extensive, affecting your physical, emotional, and financial well-being. While a personal injury lawsuit might help you recover the compensation you need, these cases aren’t always as clear-cut as they may seem. That’s why you need to understand the facts of your case, the law, and how to build a legal strategy that supports your position.

The role of an accident reconstruction

An accident reconstruction can be a great way to build your case. An accident reconstruction utilizes the rules of physics and other sciences to determine how an accident occurred. To reach a conclusion that is issued in a written report, an expert in the field analyzes a number of things, including tire marks, resting position of the vehicles involved, the weather, road conditions, road sign positions, and eyewitness accounts. The conclusions reached by one of these experts can be especially helpful when it’s not obvious how the accident occurred. Therefore, it can help you in your efforts to impose liability and recover compensation.

Using a seatbelt is so simple that it’s not even covered in most driver’s education classes. You pull the shoulder and lap belt across your body and click the tongue into the buckle. When you hear the click of the tongue in the buckle, you release the slack in the belt and the belt tightens to support your body. According to one Maryland State Trooper, however, most people don’t know about the critical second step.

A Maryland State Trooper recently shared with a local news reporter that there really should be two clicks that you listen for.

Instead of stopping after the first click, passengers should instead pull the shoulder strap forward until the retractor, the mechanism that houses the seat belt, clicks. At that point, release the slack in the belt again so that it tightens to support your body. According to the trooper, the seatbelt will now be set to catch faster in the event of a crash. Having the seatbelt catch your body sooner means that you remain a safer distance from the rapidly deploying airbag.

When teens get their driver’s license, they may feel a great deal of independence. Their parents, however, may feel considerable worries. This includes fears about their child’s safety.

Teens can face dangers when out on the roads. Some of these risks come from the conduct of other drivers. However, others can come from a young driver’s own inexperience behind the wheel. For example, a lack of experience in driving might leave teens more prone to making poor safety judgments behind the wheel. This could include being more prone to making decisions that could lead to distracted, drowsy or drunk driving.

Teens’ lives can be greatly impacted by traffic accidents. The injuries coming from such crashes could have implications that last long into a teen’s future. And sadly, such accidents sometimes cut teens’ lives tragically short. Motor vehicle crashes are a top cause of teen deaths here in America.

Maryland was hit with its first snowfall of the year recently, and it’s a good time to remind drivers of best practices for winter safety.

On the first snow day of the season, Maryland State Police responded to 421 accidents between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. along state highway, which doesn’t include crashes in local jurisdictions. Two of these accidents were fatal.

As Maryland drivers settle in for a long winter, consider these six safe vehicle practices before getting on the road.

For many, bicycling is a choice that just makes sense. In addition to exercise, bicyclists save money that might otherwise be spent on car maintenance and fuel. Unfortunately, those who choose this form of transportation face unique risks  — mainly from motorists who fail to take appropriate care when bicyclists are in the area, often resulting in serious car accidents. For example, one man in Maryland was recently killed in a hit-and-run accident.

The accident happened in late January. Reports indicate that the 47-year-old cyclist was struck by a black sedan as they both traveled west on a Maryland roadway. The car driver allegedly fled the scene. The cyclist died at the site of the collision.

A recent press release indicates that the car believed to have been involved in the accident has been located. It is unclear, however, if the driver has been located. While police say that the accident remains under investigation, it is possible that criminal charges will be filed as a result of the fatal collision.