Upper Marlboro, MD -- (ReleaseWire) -- 12/23/2019 -- As a traffic accident prevention method, Vision Zero aimed to reduce injuries and fatalities in urban areas. Now suburban areas are also considering the benefits of Vision Zero, according to The Washington Post. Indeed, Vision Zero initiatives will be put to the test in suburban Maryland to prevent car accidents and pedestrian collisions.

Many Maryland suburbs are car-centric areas. In other words, most residents travel by automobile, but many people also walk or rely on public transportation. More vehicles on the roads typically leads to a higher risk of a crash. Suburban Maryland car crashes can result in severe internal injuries. Vision Zero could help to prevent these collisions. While Vision Zero used to be employed largely in denser areas with more pedestrian traffic, it could help in suburbs.

Part of Vision Zero involves large structural redesigns. For example, roadways might need to be redesigned altogether with narrower lanes. At the same time, some Vision Zero changes are more readily feasible. For instance, Maryland suburbs could lower speed limits and install more crosswalks. At the same time, suburban areas could increase crosswalk visibility with flashing lines. Crosswalks could also be repainted with brighter paint. Moreover, suburban towns could add protected bicycle lanes and widen pedestrian medians. To be clear, Vision Zero is not just for large, urban areas anymore. Its methods can also be used in suburban regions where there are more motorists than pedestrians.

According to Maryland personal injury lawyer Rick Jaklitsch, it is more important than ever to prevent suburban crashes. As Jaklitsch explained, "suburban Maryland auto accidents often occur at high speeds, resulting in serious internal and life-threatening injuries." Jaklitsch emphasized that these collisions frequently occur because of another driver's negligence.

At the same time, implementing Vision Zero likely will be difficult in suburban Maryland. As The Washington Post articulates, a number of Maryland suburbs simply were designed with car traffic in Mind. Four-lane and six-lane roads aimed to allow automobiles to travel as quickly as possible are the norms in many areas. Those roads are not pedestrian-friendly. However, city planners could reduce the number of lanes on those roads in addition to implementing other Vision Zero schemes. Even reducing the speed limit can have significant effects. Indeed, pedestrians are much more likely to survive collision injuries in lower-speed crashes.

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Maryland residents experienced the end of Daylight Saving Time (DST) over the weekend.

Upper Marlboro, MD -- (ReleaseWire) -- 11/13/2019 -- While gaining an extra hour by turning back the clocks can be welcome, it can also result in more accidents. According to a recent article in The Southern Maryland Chronicle, darker drives home could lead to more collisions. Indeed, the Mid-Atlantic AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety insists that all roadway users could be at greater risk of injury. 

First, more drivers could be facing disrupted sleeping patterns. In turn, disrupted sleeping patterns could lead to a drowsy driving crash. Even though motorists in effect gain an hour when DST ends, sleep cycles can still be affected in problematic ways. More pressing, however, is the lack of daylight during rush hour. To be sure, the end of DST means that more motorists will drive home in the dark. In Maryland, gaining an hour when DST ends means the winter commute will be darker. While the evening rush hour often remains light during DST, autumn and winter days have fewer daylight hours. 

Accordingly, pedestrians, motorcyclists, and bicyclists are more difficult for motorists to see. In addition, motorists tend to be less alert when it is dark and more likely to fall asleep behind the wheel.

During nighttime hours, motorists also have a slower reaction time. All of these changes frequently lead to more serious car accidents at the end of Daylight Saving Time. Many of those crashes result in life-threatening injuries. According to a spokesperson for AAA Mid Atlantic, motorist collisions with pedestrians spike significantly at the end of DST. In 2018, the Maryland and D.C. metro area had, on average, 288 pedestrian accidents each month from October through December. 

According to Maryland car accident lawyer Christine Murphy, darker commuting hours are not an excuse for a serious crash.

As she emphasized, "Maryland motorists must understand their obligations to other drivers on the road and should take appropriate precautions." Murphy underscored that, "even when it is difficult to see a pedestrian or motorist, drivers must adjust to their conditions." If a motorist behaves in a manner that is unreasonable for nighttime driving, that motorist can be liable for injuries. 

Car accidents involving pedestrians can be particularly severe given that pedestrians do not have the protections of a vehicle occupant. Drivers in Maryland need to understand the accident risks that come with the end of DST and make appropriate adjustments. 

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Drunk driving accidents often result in debilitating and life-threatening internal injuries.

Upper Marlboro, MD -- (ReleaseWire) -- 10/21/2019 -- While you might not expect it, intoxicated driving crashes happen at brunch more frequently than you may think. According to a recent analysis conducted by QuoteWizard, more than 10 percent of nationwide drunk driving crashes happen around brunch. To be sure, fatal drunk driving accidents at brunch time occur in Maryland more often than many other states. Indeed, the data shows that Maryland ranks 18th nationwide for the highest rate of impaired driving collisions during brunch hours. In Maryland, collisions during late morning and midday account for more than 11 percent of all intoxicated driving accidents.

Brunch hours are becoming a serious problem for impaired driving crashes.

Generally speaking, brunch hours are identified as those between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. The QuoteWizard analysis indicates that more than 3,900 deadly drunk driving accidents happened around brunch time between 2013-2017. Brunch has become more common in Maryland and across the U.S. in recent years. Accordingly, cocktails like mimosas accompany breakfast foods with some frequency. More often than not, these fatal drunk driving accidents happen on the weekends. At Saturday and Sunday brunches, customers frequently order multiple cocktails before getting behind the wheel.

Although late-night hours used to be the most dangerous for drunk driving accidents, trends change.

Now, in Maryland and in other states, serious intoxicated driving crashes happen in the earlier hours of the day. According to Maryland personal injury attorney Rick Jaklitsch, "anyone who has been injured in a drunk driving accident deserves compensation." Jaklitsch emphasized, "when a drunk driver gets behind the wheel after brunch, an injury victim should hold that driver accountable." Whether intoxicated driving collisions happen at night or during brunch hours, the impaired driver should be responsible for damages.

Traffic crashes caused by drunk drivers can cause serious injuries to vehicle occupants, pedestrians, and others on the road.

WebMD underscores the severity of drunk driving accidents, highlighting how they can result in internal bleeding. As WebMD clarifies, internal bleeding from a collision should be taken very seriously. Although an injury victim may not have immediate signs of internal bleeding, the injury can be life-threatening. Indeed, drunk driving crashes and other car accidents often leave injury victims with blunt trauma and internal injuries. Like the QuoteWizard analysis stresses, these accidents can happen at anytime of the day in Maryland. To be sure, more and more of these collisions occur in Maryland during brunch hours on the weekends.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Car accidents that cause life-threatening internal injuries happen too frequently at rail crossings in Baltimore County.

Upper Marlboro, MD -- (ReleaseWire) -- 10/02/2019 -- Indeed, according to a report from NBC News, a car and train recently collided at a dangerous rail crossing. Reporting just after the collision indicated that the victim sustained life-threatening injuries. Although the car accident victim is expected to recover, the crash highlights the risks of this particular crossing. Several years ago, another train struck a vehicle at the crossing, resulting in a derailment and explosion. In that collision, five people suffered serious injuries.

The recent crash left the automobile driver with life-threatening injuries.

After the collision, the victim underwent at least two surgeries. Remarkably, healthcare providers expect he will survive the crash. Witnesses at the scene reported that responders pulled the driver from an "annihilated" vehicle and placed him on a stretcher. The crash was so severe that it ripped off the car's wheels. The collision occurred at approximately 7:00 a.m. on a weekday when the motorist was on his way to work. However, the train pushed the car about one mile from where the initial crash occurred. Emergency responders pulled the driver from the vehicle at around 7:30 a.m.

Given that other accidents occurred previously in this location, Baltimore County officials want to make the crossing safer.

To begin with, officials want to install a warning light at this particular train crossing. Since it is a private crossing, no gate lights or warning signals exist. Although the state of Maryland receives approximately $3.5 million annually for rail safety, it cannot use that money here. Federal money can be used only to improve safety at public rail crossings. To use that money for this crossing, Baltimore County must acquire the road and change its crossing classification to public.

According to Maryland car accident attorney Rick Jaklitsch, "collisions involving cars and trains often result in life-threatening internal injuries." As Jaklitsch emphasized, "anyone who has been involved in a serious crash should seek medical attention immediately." Indeed, "delayed medical treatment is often construed by insurance adjusters as signaling that the injured party wasn't that severely injured, and a plaintiff often receives a substantially lower offer." Stanford University explains that even minor abdominal pain can be a sign of severe internal injuries requiring medical attention.

While Baltimore County considers ways to improve private rail safety crossings, drivers should be careful. If a train is approaching, a motorist should wait safely for it to pass to avoid a serious collision.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

A wrong way accident on Route 50 in Prince George’s County left one person dead and another with serious injuries.

Upper Marlboro, MD -- (ReleaseWire) -- 09/13/2019 -- Maryland State Police are continuing to investigate a fatal wrong way accident that happened Saturday, June 15, 2019. They are attempting to determine the underlying factors which led to the crash occurring. CBS Baltimore news reports the collision occurred just after 4:00 a.m. in the westbound lanes of Route 50, east of Route 704 in Mitchellville, Prince George's County.

The at fault driver, the sole occupant in a 2013 Hyundai Sonata, crashed into a truck and another vehicle on the road. He suffered serious injuries and was transported to the Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. The truck driver sustained only minor damage to his vehicle. The other motorist involved was fatally injured. The highway was closed for more than five hours after the collision. Maryland State Police Aviation Command and Prince George's County Fire and Rescue responded to the scene in an attempt to clear the wreckage.

Wrong Way Accidents Are Deadly

According to Maryland car accident attorney Rick Jaklitsch of the Jaklitsch Law Group, wrong way accidents are some of the most potentially deadly types of crashes. "Drivers are generally unaware of their mistake," says Jaklitsch. "These types of collisions often occur near highway exit and entrance ramps. This means drivers are likely going at a high rate of speed. This increases the chances for severe and potentially fatal injuries."

Wrong way car accidents can occur as a result of poor street design, a lack of proper signage, or due to inadequate lighting. However, in many cases it is the reckless and negligent driving behaviors of motorists that are to blame. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that distracted driving and driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or other substances are all frequent contributing factor in these crashes.

"Alcohol and driving is a dangerous combination," says Jaklitsch. "At the same time, even something as simple as glancing at your phone, changing GPS settings, or being on medication increases the odds of a wrong way collision." Jaklitsch advises that those injured in these crashes have the right to seek compensation from the at fault party. This may be through an insurance claim or by filing a personal injury lawsuit.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

The U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals held a motorcyclist injured in a drunk driving could seek criminal restitution against the negligent driver.

Upper Marlboro, MD -- (ReleaseWire) -- 08/13/2019 -- Most people know they can file a personal injury lawsuit if they are injured in an accident. But in some cases, victims may also seek compensation through the criminal justice system. Federal judges can award "full and timely restitution" to a victim as part of a criminal sentence.

In a July 26 decision, the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals said the right to restitution includes misdemeanor cases. The court addressed a sentence arising from a 2017 accident. The defendant was driving drunk and hit a motorcyclist. The accident took place on a federal highway. Prosecutors subsequently charged the defendant with six federal traffic violations.

The defendant pleaded guilty to three misdemeanors before a federal magistrate. The magistrate sentenced the defendant to two years probation. The injured motorcyclist also asked the magistrate to award restitution. The magistrate declined, citing insufficient evidence of the victim's damages. The magistrate also suggested a misdemeanor court was an "unsuitable forum" for the victim to seek compensation.

The Fourth Circuit disagreed. It said the magistrate needed to apply a "balancing test" to the victim's restitution request. This test weights the "victim's need for restitution" against the "burden imposed on the sentencing court." Here, the magistrate acknowledged the need for restitution. But the magistrate did not explain why "the burden of complexity or delay in sentencing" would make restitution impractical.

The appeals court directed the magistrate to reconsider the victim's request. In doing so, the Fourth Circuit said the magistrate could consider the "availability of a civil remedy." But the magistrate should not place "great weight on this factor."

Upper Marlboro, MD, personal injury attorney Rick Jaklitsch said the Fourth Circuit's decision is a common-sense victory for accident victims. "Criminal restitution is an often overlooked avenue for accident victims entitled to compensation. In certain situations, a victim can actually recoup their medical expenses and lost wages more quickly through restitution. This does not mean, however, that victims should not also explore filing a separate personal injury lawsuit. As the Fourth Circuit noted, the availability of such claims is a factor a sentencing judge can weigh in deciding restitution. Additionally, there are many accidents where authorities fail to bring criminal charges, and therefore restitution is not available.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Upper Marlboro, MD -- (ReleaseWire) -- 07/08/2019 -- A wrong way accident on Route 50 in Prince George's County left one person dead and another with serious injuries.

Maryland State Police are continuing to investigate a fatal wrong way accident that happened Saturday, June 15, 2019. They are attempting to determine the underlying factors which led to the crash occurring. CBS Baltimore news reports the collision occurred just after 4:00 a.m. in the westbound lanes of Route 50, east of Route 704 in Mitchellville, Prince George's County.

The at fault driver, the sole occupant in a 2013 Hyundai Sonata, crashed into a truck and another vehicle on the road. He suffered serious injuries and was transported to the Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. The truck driver sustained only minor damage to his vehicle. The other motorist involved was fatally injured. The highway was closed for more than five hours after the collision. Maryland State Police Aviation Command and Prince George's County Fire and Rescue responded to the scene in an attempt to clear the wreckage.

Wrong Way Accidents Are Deadly

According to Maryland car accident attorney Rick Jaklitsch of the Jaklitsch Law Group, wrong way accidents are some of the most potentially deadly types of crashes. "Drivers are generally unaware of their mistake," says Jaklitsch. "These types of collisions often occur near highway exit and entrance ramps. This means drivers are likely going at a high rate of speed. This increases the chances for severe and potentially fatal injuries."

Wrong way car accidents can occur as a result of poor street design, a lack of proper signage, or due to inadequate lighting. However, in many cases it is the reckless and negligent driving behaviors of motorists that are to blame. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that distracted driving and driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or other substances are all frequent contributing factor in these crashes.

"Alcohol and driving is a dangerous combination," says Jaklitsch. "At the same time, even something as simple as glancing at your phone, changing GPS settings, or being on medication increases the odds of a wrong way collision." Jaklitsch advises that those injured in these crashes have the right to seek compensation from the at fault party. This may be through an insurance claim or by filing a personal injury lawsuit.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Investigators believe that a man who was traveling the wrong way in Southern Maryland slammed into another vehicle, killing the driver.

Upper Marlboro, MD -- (ReleaseWire) -- 07/02/2019 -- The accident occurred on Route 5 near the Huckleberry Drive exit. According to police and witnesses, 47-year-old Driver, of Silver Spring, was on the southbound side of Route 5 in a Mercedes Benz. A Toyota Camry, which was northbound on the southbound side, hit the Mercedes Benz head-on. The Driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The other driver, whose name was not released, was rushed to a nearby hospital with serious injuries.

Local police investigators are still looking into the crash.

"Car crashes cost most victims tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and emotional distress," observed Maryland personal injury attorney Rick Jaklitsch. "In alcohol-related crashes, victims basically have two legal options. So, the money they need to put their lives back together need not come out of their own pockets."

Generally, non-fatal alcohol-related crashes involve low levels of alcohol impairment. These tortfeasors (negligent drivers) are not legally intoxicated, but could be impaired. Their motor and judgement skills may not be fast or sharp. So, it could be dangerous for them to operate motor vehicles. Drivers under the influence of alcohol do things like misjudge the space between two vehicles and take unnecessary risks behind the wheel.

Scientifically, impairment begins with the first drink. So, if a victim/plaintiff can establish consumption, the jury can presume impairment. Evidence of consumption includes:

BLoodshot eyes,
Slurred speech,
Erratic driving,
Unsteady balance, and
Statements the tortfeasor makes to other motorists at the scene.

Alcohol consumption and impairment is clearly a breach of the duty of reasonable care. If that breach substantially caused injury, the tortfeasor is liable for damages.

Fatal crashes, like the one described above, usually involve a higher level of alcohol impairment. If the tortfeasor was legally intoxicated, the tortfeasor may be liable for damages as a matter of law. The negligence per se shortcut applies if:

The tortfeasor violated a safety law, like the DUI law, and that violation substantially caused the victim/plaintiff's injuries.

In Maryland, the tortfeasor is generally responsible for both economic damages, such as medical bills, as well as noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering. Additional punitive damages may be available as well, in situations like an extremely high BAC level.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Upper Marlboro, MD -- (ReleaseWire) -- 04/09/2019 -- Preliminary information indicates that Sgt. Flores stopped and waited to make a turn onto Rue Saint Lo Drive. However, a flatbed truck rear-ended her before she could make the turn.  The high impact of the collision pushed her vehicle into the middle of the intersection, directly into the path of an oncoming tractor trailer. As a result, Flores  went to Sinai Hospital in Baltimore, where she later died from her injuries. At this time, the Baltimore County Police state that the accident is still under investigation. There is no indication as to the specific cause of the initial rear-end collision.

In addition, law enforcement has not determined whether or not any charges are in relation to the crash. Maryland Governor Larry Hogan ordered flags to be flown at half staff in honor of Sgt. Dinora Flores. In his remarks, he offered heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of Sgt. Flores. He also noted that Sgt. Flores, who was a ten-year veteran of the state's National Guard, served with distinction. Rear-end collisions remain one of the most common causes of motor vehicle accidents. According to data from the Insurance Information Institute (III), there are 1.5 million rear-end collisions reported in the United States each year. As explained by the Maryland car accident lawyers at Jaklitsch Law Group, "Rear-end collisions are frightening accidents.

While these accidents can occur for a number of different reasons,  distracted driving and tailgating are a significant problem. All drivers in Maryland have an obligation to operate their vehicles in a safe manner. This requires keeping one's full attention on the road and it requires leaving sufficient space between other cars. "The severity of rear-end collisions can vary widely. Although some rear-end collisions end up being relatively minor fender benders, there are many that result in catastrophic injuries or fatalities. In fact, government data indicates that nearly one in every three car accident injuries reported in the United States happened in a rear-end collision.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Last month, the Maryland legislature received proposed legislation that aims to relax laws that govern motorcycle riding.

Upper Marlboro, MD -- (ReleaseWire) -- 03/28/2019 -- The proposed legislation, Maryland House Bill 917, would require the Motor Vehicle Administration to change its guidelines for motorcyclists and would repeal current provisions of Maryland law that prevent motorcyclists from engaging in behaviors known as "lane-splitting" and "filtering." The sponsor of the bill, Del. Kathy Szeliga, argues that repealing these portions of the law would help to improve motorcycle safety and to lessen congestion on Maryland roads. However, motorcycle safety advocates have voiced serious concerns about the proposed legislation.

Lane-splitting is a term that refers to motorcyclists overtaking or passing motor vehicles while riding in the same lane as that motor vehicle. In other words, lane-splitting refers to passing a car, but doing so within that car's lane. Filtering is a term that refers to riding forward through traffic that is stopped. The Pew Research Center explains that the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) has not taken a position with regard to lane-splitting, but at least one consultant for the GHSA has described the practice of lane-splitting as hazardous. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety and AAA Mid-Atlantic oppose lane-splitting and filtering, arguing that it makes roads more dangerous.

The only state in the U.S. that permits lane-splitting at present is California, but other states have introduced legislation that is similar to Maryland House Bill 917. While Szeliga does not expect that Maryland House Bill 917 will pass in the current session, one of her aims was to introduce the idea to the public more generally with an eye toward reintroducing a bill to allow lane-splitting and filtering in the future if the currently proposed legislation fails.

According to Maryland personal injury attorney Rick Jaklitsch, it is extremely important to protect motorcyclists in traffic with larger vehicles. Jaklitsch explained: "Motorcyclists are always at risk on Maryland highways. They are smaller than an average car, so harder to see. And there is not protection around the motorcyclists like the driver of a car has. If you're hurt on a motorcycle, you'll need a great lawyer immediately."

Without legislation like Maryland House Bill 917, if a motorcyclist engages in lane-splitting or filtering and is struck by a car, that motorcyclist may be barred from compensation. To be clear, Maryland operates on a theory of pure contributory negligence, which bars a plaintiff from compensation if that plaintiff is even one percent responsible for an accident; even more reason to get a great lawyer as soon as possible if hurt on a motorcycle. Call the motorcycle lawyers at The Jaklitsch Law Group, 855-BigDog1.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Car accidents in Maryland result in thousands of personal injuries each year and numerous preventable deaths.

Upper Marlboro, MD -- (ReleaseWire) -- 02/11/2019 -- According to a recent study conducted by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and published in the journal Accident Analysis and Prevention, Maryland residents and officials need to be paying closer attention to opioid-related motor vehicle crashes and fatalities across the state. While impaired driving crashes can involve the use of many different kinds of lawful and unlawful substances that alter a driver's ability to uphold their duty of care behind the wheel, opioids remain responsible for a high number of drug-related driving collisions.

Between 2006 and 2017, driving under the influence of opioids was a factor in 10 percent of all driver deaths in the state. That statistic does not take into account the number of drivers and vehicle occupants who were injured as a result of opioid use. The study also highlights how, while national car accident rates have been declining, the rate of opioid-related traffic fatalities in the state of Maryland has not shown a similar decline.

Yet what the study aims to point out is that the rate of opioid crashes has not increased significantly in the last 10 years to be statistically significant. Rather, while the opioid epidemic has worsened, opioid-related deaths have not risen in a proportionate fashion. As such, safety advocates need to continue devoting time to opioid-related crashes along with other types of impaired driving collisions.

According to Christine Murphy, a car accident lawyer in Prince George's County, Maryland, the new study highlights the need to address how impaired driving impacts motor vehicle crash injuries and fatalities in the state of Maryland, and the need to hold drivers accountable for their actions. As Murphy discussed, "impaired driving is a significant problem in Prince George's County, and anyone who has been injured or lost a loved one in a crash involving a drugged or drunk driver should know that Maryland personal injury law allows injured parties and their families to hold these drivers responsible."

The opioid crisis in Maryland and throughout the country is a significant problem in and of itself without even considering its impact on car accident deaths. As the recent study points out, the opioid crisis is not going away anytime soon, and the rate of opioid-related car crash deaths has not declined in proportion to the diminishing rate of traffic fatalities nationwide. At the same time, we should not be lulled into thinking that other impaired driving crashes are no longer a problem.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm