Car Accidents

Insurance Institute For Highway Safety Says Making Stronger SUV Roofs Could Save Lives During Rollover Accidents

March 13, 2008 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Test results conducted by the Insurance Institute For Highway Safety found that the stronger the SUV’s roof, the lower the risks of serious injury or death.

The IIHS tested 11 sport utility vehicles and found that the stronger roofs had a 39%-57% lower injury risk than SUVs with weaker roofs.

The IIHS says that over 200 lives could have been saved in 2006, during rollover accidents, if the SUVs had better roofs. 35% of motor vehicle deaths involve rollover crashes, with 60% of these rollovers involving SUVs.

The SUV’s roof that received the highest strength rating was the 2000-2004 Nissan Xterra. The SUV’s roof that received the lowest strength rating was the 1999- 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

A roof that crushes in during a rollover can cause serious injuries to passengers, who can sustain traumatic brain injuries or traumatic brain injuries when struck by the crushed roof.

Examples tragic SUV rollover accidents involving crushed roofs:

• Tyler Moody, 18, died of “positional asphyxiation “during an SUV rollover crash. His family’s wrongful death attorneys said the crushed roof cut off his breathing.

• Recently, a California appeals court ordered Ford to pay a paralyzed woman $82.6 million for injuries sustained during an SUV rollover also involving a crushed roof.

A trade group that represents Toyota, GM, Chrysler, and a few other auto makers, called the study flawed.

SUV Accident Facts from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

• Over 90% of SUV rollover crashes are single-car accidents.

• The most common kind of injury sustained in rollover crashes is head trauma.

In Maryland and Washington D.C., our personal injury law firm represents clients in SUV rollover accidents and other kinds ofproducts liability and car accident cases.

Report Says Weak SUV Roofs Are Deadly, U.S. News, March 13, 2008
Crash-test report backs stronger roofs on SUVs, USA Today, March 12, 2008

Related Web Resource:

Roof Strength and Injury Risk in Rollover Crashes (PDF)

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

Report Offers Motor Vehicle Accident Death Rates in Frederick County, Maryland Between 2001 and 2006

March 4, 2008 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

A recent analysis by the Frederick News-Post of deadly accidents in Frederick County, Maryland found that a total of 150 deadly crashes took place on Frederick County roads between 2001 and 2006, with Md. 75 having a death rate of three times the national average.

8 of the 10 deadly accidents on Md. 75 took place on the 7.5-mile stretch connecting I-70 to Md. 26. Less than 10,000 automobiles drove through this area on a regular day in 2006.

These figures can be compared to the least-traveled part of U.S. 15 with over 15,000 vehicles a day and the least-traveled portion of I-70 with over 62,000 vehicles daily. However, considering the high volume of traffic on these roads, the fatality rates for Md. 75 is still lower.

Frederick County has a lower death rate than the U.S. and Maryland averages. According to the National Highway Traffic Administration, 42,642 people died in motor vehicle accidents in the United States in 2006. There were over 5,900,000 motor vehicle crashes that year.

The Maryland State Highway Administration says that over 90% of accidents occur because of driver error. Other causes of truck accidents, car crashes, bus collisions, motorcycle accidents, and pedestrian injuries include speeding, drunk driving, defective motor vehicle parts, poorly maintained automobiles, failure to obey traffic signs, failure to yield right of way, driving while talking on a cell phone or text messaging, aggressive driving, driving too slowly, improper lane changes, making illegal passes, driving through red lights, tailgating, and problems with signage.

Speed limit changes, hilly areas, and a range of at-grade intersections on MD 75 can also be contributing factors to some of the injuries and deaths that occur on this road.

Our Maryland auto accident attorneys have helped many injured clients recover compensation for their car crash injuries caused by a negligent driver or another party.

Fatality rate on Md. 75 is triple national average, Frederick NewsPost.com, March 2, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Frederick County, Maryland

National Highway Traffic Safety Administation

Eight People Killed in Maryland After Being Hit By Car During Street-Race

February 17, 2008 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

At least eight people are dead and five others injured in Accokeek, Maryland, after a car accidentally plowed into a group of people watching an illegal car race on the side of Route 210—also known as Indian Head Highway—at around 3:30 in the morning in Prince George’s County.

One woman who was in the crowd, Crystal Gaines, was able to grab her daughter out of the way. Her father, William Gaines Sr., 61, had a broken leg. He was unable to move away in time and is among those who died.

While CNN is reporting that there were 50 people in the crowd, one witness told Newsday that about 200 to 300 people had gathered to watch two cars speed racing down the road. The people moved into the road as the cars drove away and that was when the accident happened.Some people that were struck in the crash flew as high as 15 feet in the air. Police had to circulate photos of the dead bodies so that family and friends could identify their loved ones.

The driver, in a Ford Crown Victoria, says he did not see the crowd because the smoke from the cars racing away made visibility difficult. Crystal Gaines, however, claims that the driver did not have the headlights of the car on.

Her brother, William Gaines Jr. said the Ford was moving so fast that he didn’t see the car until it had struck the crowd. Another person may have been injured when a tractor-trailer, trying to avoid the accident scene, have also hit someone. The victims ages range from 20s to 60’s.

Street races are a common occurrence on Indian Head Highway—although the races usually involve motorcycles. Police have placed speed traps and radar in the area.

Car accidents can lead to fatal injuries for pedestrians—especially when someone is struck by an auto, bus, truck, or motorcycle that is moving at a fast rate.

Our Maryland motor vehicle accident law firm can determine who is liable for your injuries or the death of your loved one and help you deal with insurance companies and the other party or parties so that you can recover for your losses.

Missing 8 killed by car at illegal racing site in Maryland, Newsday, February 17, 2008
Missing Street-race crash kills 8 in crowd, CNN, February 16, 2008

Related Web Resource:

Missing Should you pursue a personal injury claim? Nolo
.

Five People Are Injured in Multi-Vehicle Accident in Northeast Baltimore, Maryland

January 29, 2008 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Five people were injured in Northeast Baltimore, Maryland on January 17 in a multi-vehicle collision. The accident occurred early in the morning on I-95, close to the divide with Interstate I-895.

Two sports utility vehicles, a box truck, and a work van were t involved in the crash. One person had to be extricated from the Jeep SUV by crew workers because part of the truck’s rear end had fallen on top of the Jeep.

A preliminary report by the Maryland Transportation Authority Police said that the Jeep and the box truck crashed into each other after trying not to hit the van and the other SUV, which had already collided with one another. The first accident appeared to have occurred because either the van or the SUV had stopped or slowed down.

One person was taken to Maryland Shock Trauma Center. Two of the other injured persons were taken to University of Maryland Medical Center. The other two victims were taken to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. The Maryland Transportation Authority Police said that the injuries were not life threatening.

Multi-Vehicle Accidents

If you are injured in an accident involving more than one motor vehicle, a good personal injury lawyer can help you identify the driver who was liable for causing the injury. If there was more than one liable party, your Maryland or Washington D.C. injury lawyer can determine that for you also.

Our Maryland and Washington D.C. law firm works with car accident experts who can determine the exact cause of your motor vehicle accident. We have helped many people obtain recovery for their injuries and we can determine how much compensation we should claim so that our injured clients have the financial resources that they need to get better.

Do NOT deal with the other party’s insurance companies directly or you may find yourself agreeing to a compensation sum that is less than what you are entitled to or need. Our car accident law firm can talk with all parties involved in the accident for you and make sure that your interests are protected.

Four-vehicle crash snarls morning traffic, Baltimoresun.com, January 18, 2008

Related Web Resource:

Maryland Transportation Authority Police

What to do after a car accident, MSN.com

Five People Are Injured in Maryland When SUV Rams Into Chic-fil-A in Edgewater

November 20, 2007 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

The Anne Arundel County fire department is reporting that five people were injured when an SUV crashed into a Chick-fil-A on Solomon’s Island Road in Edgewater today.

One of the injured persons, a 67-year-old man, sustained serious injuries and had to be flown to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center. A 6-year-old boy was transported to Anne Arundel Medical Center for treatment of his injuries.

Three Maryland state troopers who were eating at the restaurant sustained minor injuries and did not require medical treatment. The driver of the SUV was not hurt.

If you were injured anywhere in Maryland or Washington D.C. in any kind of accident caused by someone who was negligent, it is important that you retain the services of an experienced personal injury law firm right away.

Driver negligence, carelessness, inexperience, drunk driving, speeding, and vehicle malfunction are some of the common causes of truck accidents, pedestrian accidents, car crashes, and motorcycle collisions.

The Top Driving Mistakes that Leads to Motor Vehicle Accidents (GMAC Insurance):

• Multi-tasking while driving: Fiddling with the radio, talking on the cell phone, text messaging, applying make-up, and reading a magazine are not activities that drivers should engage in while driving.

• Failure to yield when turning left: Remember to yield to motor vehicles and pedestrians who have the right of way.

• Following to closely: There should be a two-second pace between vehicles in case you need to step on the brakes. The time cushion should be longer if there is rain or snow on the road.

• Backing up without turning to see what’s behind you: Your driving mirrors may not show you what is behind you. Make sure to look before you drive in reverse.

• Incorrect Merging: Learn to merge properly.

SUV crashes into Arundel Chick-fil-A, injuring 5, Baltimore Sun, November 20, 2007
Top Driving Mistakes that Cause Crashes, GMAC Insurance

Related Web Resources:

National Highway Transportation Safety Administration

Motor Vehicle Accidents, Fatality and Analysis Reporting System

GMAC Insurance Says 36 Million US Drivers Would Flunk Driving Test

November 19, 2007 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

According to GMAC Insurance, one out of every six US drivers would flunk their driver’s test if they had to retake the test today. The GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test named New York as the state with the most number of drivers likely to flunk their tests, with Washington DC, Illinois, New Jersey, and Georgia also named close to the top of the list.

Gary Kusumi, CEO and president of GMAC Insurance Personal Lines, says that the two questions that the majority of test takers got wrong had to do with what to do when approaching a steady yellow traffic light and what the proper distance a driver should be behind the car ahead.

Other notable results from the GMAC test included the following:

• Drivers over 34 were the ones that would most likely to past their driver’s test if they had to take their tests again.

• 55% of participants were unsure as to how many feet before turning left or right they should activate their turn signals.

Car accidents are frequently caused by driver inexperience, negligence, or carelessness. Speeding, drunk driving, failure to obey the driving rules, not paying proper attention, and drunk driving are common causes of motor vehicle crashes that can lead to serious injuries or death.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provides the following traffic-related fatalities in Maryland in 2005:

Prince George’s County, had twice as many traffic-related deaths than any other county in Maryland, Washington DC, or Virginia with 134 deaths. Baltimore County logged in at 73 deaths. Montgomery County clocked in with 44 deaths. Anne Arundel County had 54 deaths. There were 40 traffic-related fatalities in Charles County and 33 deaths in Frederick County. Carroll County had 21 deaths. Baltimore City had 34 deaths. Cecil County had 21 fatalities.

Car accidents can lead to broken bones, burn injuries, internal injuries, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and death.

If you have been injured in a car crash because of the negligent or careless actions of another driver, it is important that you try not to deal with the insurer of the negligent party by yourself. A good personal injury lawyer can protect your rights and make sure that you obtain the compensation that you are entitled to.

36 million drivers would flunk drivers tests, CNN.com, November 16, 2007
Prince George’s County leads region with 134 traffic deaths, Examiner.com, August 23, 2006

Related Web Resources:

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

2007 GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test

Washington D.C. Police Identify Motorcyclist Involved in Deadly Police Chase and Seven-Car Crash

October 29, 2007 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

D.C. police say they have identified the motorcyclist that was involved in the high-speed police chase that resulted in a deadly multi-motor vehicle collision on the Capital Beltway on May 30. The crash resulted in the deaths of two people. 15 others were injured in the collision involving seven motor vehicles.

The woman who was a passenger on the motorcycle is the person that has reportedly come forward to identify the motorcyclist. According to over 20 witnesses and based on videotape and other evidence, Office Scott Campbell began chasing a motorcycle, driven by a man with a female passenger, down the Capital Beltway during rush-hour traffic. The high-speed pursuit at times reportedly exceeded 120 mph. The police cruiser eventually crashed into an SUV and other vehicles became involved in the multi-car collision.

Officer Campbell reportedly began chasing the motorcycle without notifying dispatchers—which he should have done. Kevin McDonald and Sidney Clanton, who were riding the SUV, were killed almost immediately. The car of an off-duty police officer also involved in the crash was also seriously damaged.

There is no word on whether criminal charges will be filed. The Prince George’s police department vehicle pursuit policy says that police officers can only engage in chasing a suspect if an officer has probable cause to believe that the person they are pursuing either injured or killed someone in a hit and run crash or physically violent or could become physically violent. According to police policy, police officers must prioritize ensuring the preservation of life over catching a suspect.

Statistics show that 300 people die every year in police pursuit-related accidents. Of these deaths, about 30% of the victims were innocent bystanders who were not even directly involved in the pursuit. Between 1994-2002, 102 bicyclists and pedestrians and 40 police officers were killed because of police chases.

If you or someone you love was seriously injured in a motorcyclist, because a car driver, truck driver, another motorcyclist, a pedestrian, a bus driver, a police officer, or any other party behaved negligently or carelessly, you may be able to file a personal injury claim or lawsuit to demand compensation for your injuries.

Motorcyclist Sought in Pileup Is Identified, Washington Post, October 27, 2007
Study examines crash fatalities from police pursuits, UW School of Medicine, April 16, 2004
D.C. Area Crash Kills 2, Injures 15, CBS News, May 31, 2007

Related Web Resource:

Police Pursuit Accidents

Maryland Swimmer Seriously Injured in 2004 Car-Truck Collision Will Compete in 2007 Ironman World Championship

October 11, 2007 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Brian Boyle, a Maryland swimmer who was critically injured when his car was struck by a speeding dump truck three years ago is continuing his remarkable recovery from his catastrophic injuries. The 21-year-old will be competing in this weekend’s Ironman World Championship in Hawaii.

In 2003, Boyle had been returning to his home in Welcome, Maryland after swimming practice when the devastating traffic collision occurred. The impact of the crash caused his heart to be knocked across his chest. He also shattered his pelvis and broke his clavicle and several ribs. Boyle also sustained head injuries and nerve damage to one of his shoulders. His kidney and liver failed, and his lungs collapsed. He experienced 60% blood loss and lost his gall bladder and spleen.

Boyle was placed in a chemically induced coma. He underwent 14 surgeries, 13 plasma treatmentsm, 36 blood transfusions. He lost 100 pounds.

Doctors said Boyle would never function normally again. Through hard work and proper medical and recovery care, however, Boyle has regained his ability to walk and talk. One year after the accident, Boyle enrolled in St. Mary’s College in Maryland where he is an honors student and a swim team member.

Now, Boyle is also getting ready to compete in the Ironman Triathlon World Championship, which is a 140.6-mile race that involves riding a bicycle, swimming, and running. He has already completed a half-Ironman race ( 70.3-mile triathlon).

Catastrophic Injuries

Catastrophic injuries are injuries that occur unexpectedly. They are categorized as catastrophic because when they happen the ramifications on a person’s life are catastrophic.

Common kinds of catastrophic injuries include:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Serious burns
• Accidental amputation
• Serious eye injuries
• Neurological problems
• Multiple fractures
• Multiple broken bones

If you or someone you love is suffering from catastrophic injuries because of an accident that was caused by someone else’s carelessness or recklessness in Maryland or Washington D.C., you should contact an experienced personal injury lawyer right away.

A person who has sustained catastrophic injuries can increase his or her chances of recovery with the proper medical care and rehabilitation treatment. Costs for this type of care and recovery can be very expensive—possibly even unaffordable—without additional financial resources. A family whose primary financial caretaker has become incapacitated because of a catastrophic injury could find themselves in dire straits without help.

A good personal injury attorney will know how to assess your injuries so that he or she can determine how much recovery you and your family will need. Additional reconstructive surgery, ongoing prescription medication, and other special considerations will also have to be taken into consideration. A personal injury lawyer can work with the negligent party’s insurance company to reach a settlement agreement or, if necessary, file a personal injury lawsuit to recovery damages.

Boyle meeting another goal in recovery from near-fatal accident, USA Today.com, October 11, 2007

Related Web Resources:

Brian’s Story; Miracles Do Happen proving “Anything Is Possible”, Cannondale.com, October 6, 2007
2007 Ironman World Championship

Lindsay Lohan Lawsuit Personal Injury Heads for Trial

September 17, 2007 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Actress Lindsay Lohan will has been ordered by a judge to appear in court on April 7 for the personal injury lawsuit filed against her in an October 2005 motor vehicle accident.

The 21-year-old actress is being sued by the man whose van collided with Lohan’s Mercedes-Benz.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael L. Stern rejected a motion that said the lawsuit lacked legal sufficiency.

According to California Highway Patrol, Raymundo Ortega—the driver of the van—had been making an illegal U-turn. He is asking for at least $200,000 in damages from Lohan.

In his lawsuit, Ortega claims that Lohan was driving under the influence of alcohol and running away from the paparazzi when the accident happened. Ortega’s personal injury lawyer says the busboy became unconscious from the crash.

Lohan’s lawyer says that there is no proof that his client was drunk when the accident happened. Lohan and her female passenger suffered minor injuries from the accident.

Since 2004, Lohan has been involved in a number of motor vehicle accidents:

August 3, 2004: Lohan is sued for her involvement in a car accident.

May 31, 2005: Lohan is involved in a fender bender accident.

June 1, 2005: Lohan was in another car accident.

October 5, 2005: Lohan is in a car accident with a van that was making an illegal turn. In September 2007, the judge decided that the personal injury lawsuit against Lohan would go to trial.

November 7, 2006: Lohan is involved in a car accident where her motor vehicle “bumped” a paparazzo.

November 17, 2006: Lohan’s car crashes into a police car in London.

May 26, 2007: Lohan loses control of her car and hits a curb. She sustains minor injuries and is later arrested for DUI. Cocaine is found in her Mercedes.

July 24, 2007: The star chases her ex-assistant’s mother through Santa Monica’s streets after she takes over a white GMC. Lohan fails field sobriety tests and cocaine is found in her pocket. She is arrested for driving with a suspended license, a misdemeanor DUI, and felony charges of transportation of a narcotic and possession of cocaine.

If you or a loved one is injured in a car accident because another party was negligent, you should call a personal injury lawyer right away. Your attorney can determine whether you should file a personal injury claim or lawsuit against the negligent party.

Lohan Crash Lawsuit Will Go to Trial, AP, September 11, 2007
Lindsay Lohan to Visit Morgue, Complete List of her Car Crashes, 2snaps, September 13, 2007

Related Web Resources:

Personal Injury, NOLO

Deadly Multi-Car Accident in Talbot County Kills One University of Maryland Eastern Shore Student

September 7, 2007 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Brielle Newland, a 19-year-old sophomore from University of Maryland Eastern Shore, died on Monday in a multi-car crash on U.S. 50 close to Tarbutton Mill Road in Talbott County.

She had been riding in a 2002 Hyundai Accent driven by Jacquell Dendy, a UMES student from Gwynn Oak. The car was going east when it crossed the center divide and hit a 2007 Honda minivan, a 2004 Jeep Wrangler, a Chevy Monte Carlo, and, after overturning, struck a 2004 Ford F-250 pickup truck.

Dendy, was seriously injured in the car accident and taken to Maryland Shock Trauma Center.

Her two other passengers, also form the Princess Anne university, were released from Memorial Hospital in Easton after being treated for lacerations and bruises. All four girls were college sophomores and had been returning to school after the Labor Day weekend.

Maryland State Police are investigating the crash and think that driver error might have been the cause of the fatal accident.

Driver Error

Driver error continues to be a major cause of motor vehicle accidents, even with graduated licenses for teen drivers. Although a driver may not have intended to cause a car accident or run over a pedestrian, the driver may have made mistakes or failed to obey certain rules of driving and the road that led to others being seriously injured or killed.

Some Examples of Driver Error:
•
• Failure to yield
• Not stopping soon enough
• Driving on the wrong side of the road
• Disregarding traffic signs
• Speeding
• Trying to pass a car in a “no passing” zone
• Turning on a red light
• Turning into the wrong lane
• Entering the freeway from a highway exit

If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in a traffic accident because another driver made mistakes, you could have grounds to file a car accident claim and obtain recovery for your loss, pain and suffering, and medical and recovery costs.

Fatal crash jars UMES campus, Baltimoresun.com, September 5, 2007

Related Web Resources:

University of Maryland Eastern Shore

Car Accident Injuries – Causes and Preventive Measures