Earlier this month in Prince George’s County, a head-on collision claimed the life of one man and seriously injured two others. According to one local news report, the accident took place on a Saturday afternoon on Maryland Route 231.
Evidently, the driver of a pick-up truck was driving on Route 231 when he inexplicably veered over the center median and into oncoming traffic. As he did so, the truck he was controlling crashed into another vehicle head-on. The truck was only occupied by its driver, but the other vehicle had two people inside.
The driver of that other vehicle, a 59-year-old man from Chesapeake Beach, was fatally injured in the accident and was pronounced dead on the scene by emergency responders. The passenger in the other vehicle, as well as the driver of the pick-up truck, were both taken to the hospital with serious injuries. Both, however, are expected to make a full recovery.
Police told reporters that they believe the driver of the pick-up truck had been drinking earlier that day. The force of the collision was so severe that all three occupants had to be extricated from the wreckage by emergency crews.
Driving Under the Influence and Related Accidents in Maryland
Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is one of the most dangerous things someone can do while behind the wheel of a car. The effects of alcohol on a driver are numerous, but a decreased reaction time, poor judgment and perception, and increased aggression are all likely symptoms of drunk or intoxicated driving.
Given the dangers of drunk driving, the Maryland Legislature has determined that anyone operating a vehicle with a blood-alcohol content of .08 or greater is in violation of the law and can be cited for drunk driving. Similarly, a driver who has any amount of illegal drugs in their system is in violation of the law. In some cases, a driver can be cited for intoxicated driving when they are under the influence of prescribed prescription medication if the amount of the drug in their system is beyond what is considered safe and therapeutic.
The bottom line is that drunk drivers put everyone around them in danger, and as a result they can be held liable for their reckless actions both criminally and civilly. Those injured in a drunk driving accident may be entitled to significant monetary damages based on the drunk driver’s decision to get behind the wheel. To learn more about Maryland’s drunk driving laws as they pertain to accident victims, contact a dedicated Maryland personal injury attorney.
Are You Seeking Counsel after Being Involved in a Serious DUI Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been the victim of another driver’s decision to get behind the wheel of a car while drunk, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. The skilled attorneys at the Maryland personal injury law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers have decades of experience representing people injured in drunk driving accidents and know what it takes to be successful at trial. To learn more about what will be expected of you should your case go to trial, and to speak with a dedicated advocate about your case, call 410-654-3600 today. Calling is free, and we will not bill you unless we are able to recover for you in your case.
More Blog Posts:
Federal Appellate Court Discusses Presumption of Negligence in Rear-End Accident Cases, Maryland Accident Law Blog, July 22, 2015.
Federal Appellate Court Reverses Lower Court’s Evidentiary Ruling, Allowing Plaintiff’s Expert Witness’ Testimony, Maryland Accident Law Blog, August 10, 2015.