Posted on August 11, 2021 in Truck Accidents

In the midst of the pandemic, more motorists from coast to coast put the pedal to the metal more often, leading to 2020 as the deadliest year on U.S. highways in over a decade.

Even though trucks and cars drove fewer miles, traffic data shows a higher death toll resulted as average speeds surged, a higher percentage of drivers were drunk or on drugs, and fewer people wore seatbelts. That deadly combination hasn’t gone away as we enter the final stretch of the summer travel season.

2020 WAS ONE OF THE DEADLIEST FOR MOTORISTS

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says, compared to 2019, traffic fatalities grew by over 7% to 38,680 while the number of miles traveled fell by over 13%. That makes 2020 the deadliest since 2007.

The NHTSA had expected fatalities to decline during the pandemic due to fewer cars on the road during lockdowns and stay-at-home orders. However, traffic deaths actually increased throughout and surged at the end of 2020.

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 Posted on July 30, 2021 in Truck Accidents

Across the country, the number of car accidents is increasing each year, leading to severe injury and death. Maryland is no exception to this as there has been a noticeable increase in car accidents over the past five years.

CRASH STATISTICS

In 2019, there were 496 motor vehicle accidents in Maryland and 32,919 crashes that involved injury. Fatalities marked an increase of just over 3% from 2015, and injuries increased almost 7% since 2015.

DISTRACTED DRIVING

One of the most common causes of accidents throughout the country is distracted driving. Texting, talking on a handheld device, and using a phone to get directions while driving requires you to take your eyes and at least one hand from the wheel. If you do this for just a few seconds at 55 miles per hour, it is the equivalent of driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed. The best way to avoid distractions is to put your phone out of reach or place it on Do Not Disturb until you arrive home.

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 Posted on July 16, 2021 in Truck Accidents

Pedestrian safety has become more critical as distracted drivers and larger cars contribute to an increase in the pedestrian fatality rate. Whether crossing Georgia Avenue or University Boulevard in Silver Springs, pedestrians must exercise caution to avoid being hit by a car.

STREETS ARE GETTING MORE DANGEROUS FOR PEDESTRIANS

Pedestrian fatality rates have practically doubled over the last decade. One culprit for this is the rise in smartphone usage behind the wheel. Anti-texting laws have done little to make things safer as drivers routinely ignore or fail to see crosswalks. In addition, the move away from smaller cars means that pedestrians have less chance of surviving an accident. Therefore, pedestrians must take safety matters into their own hands.

BE CAUTIOUS ABOVE ALL ELSE

Pedestrians should adopt an attitude of being risk-averse when they are walking. When in doubt, saving a minute or two is never worth it. If this means waiting extra time to cross a street, then it is a time investment in their safety.

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 Posted on July 09, 2021 in Truck Accidents

Walking around the “big city” could bring a sense of wonder. Metropolitan areas in Maryland, along with the state’s suburban and rural locations, make sightseeing an adventure. People need to remain alert to any traffic in their vicinity since pedestrian accidents come with the risk of severe injury. In cities, pedestrians might find themselves at significant risk for an accident.

PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENTS IN CITY LOCATIONS

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration points out that more than 4,700 people died and 76,000 suffered injuries in pedestrian accidents in one year alone. Several reasons exist why so many pedestrians find themselves involved in accidents, and negligence stands as a common thread among them.

Not yielding the right of way contributes to the deadly figures. If a vehicle makes a turn when a light indicates it is okay for a pedestrian to cross the street, the driver might be liable for any resulting accidents. Conversely, pedestrians could be liable for their injuries when they attempt to cross the street when the driver has the right of way.

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 Posted on June 28, 2021 in Truck Accidents

Car accidents can be costly in every sense of the word. Regardless of the severity of the car accident, one pressing concern is establishing fault and determining who’s going to pay for the damage that’s been done.

Some states have a no-fault rule where motor vehicle crashes are deemed accidents, so no one can be held solely responsible. Maryland is not a no-fault state, meaning that whichever driver is determined to have caused the accident will use their liability insurance to pay for the other car’s medical and vehicle expenses.

HOW IS FAULT DETERMINED IN MARYLAND?

There are many things that can contribute to one driver being at fault versus another. When police officers are called to the scene, they’ll ask both drivers questions about what lead to the accident. Some of the questions they might ask include:

• Were you or the other driver on your phones?

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 Posted on June 08, 2021 in Truck Accidents

Getting into a car accident could be a scary and stressful event. Even those who aren’t hurt may feel shaken and want to move along. No matter who is at fault, drivers involved in an accident must follow Maryland law. Otherwise, penalties might follow.

AVOIDING COMMON MISTAKES AFTER AN ACCIDENT

Leaving the scene of an accident might turn out to be a terrible decision. Some drivers might know they are at fault, so they bolt away, hoping to avoid any “hassles” or claims. Leaving the scene of an accident could result in felony or misdemeanor charges, and capturing a vehicle’s license plate is not too challenging in the era of smartphones and dashcams.

That’s not to say stopping and admitting fault is wise, either. A person who admits fault makes defending a civil case potentially harder. Also, a driver may think he or she is at fault, but a review of the evidence may point to another cause, such as a poor brake job.

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 Posted on May 26, 2021 in Truck Accidents

Responsible drivers in Silver Spring and the D.C. area already know that distracted driving is dangerous. Still, seeing statistics about the harm distracted driving causes can truly help us understand what a public safety crisis it is.

Unfortunately, the facts are grim. AAA Mid-Atlantic says that distracted driving car accidents kill nearly nine people every day in the United States.

To put this shocking statistic another way: in 2019, car accidents caused by distracted driving in the U.S. were responsible for 3,142 fatalities. That worked out to 8.6 deaths per day and was about a ten percent increase over 2018. Not only is distracted driving a terrible traffic problem, but it also appears to be getting worse.

LOCAL DISTRACTED DRIVING CRASH STATISTICS

Fortunately, the death rate based on distracted driving seems to be lower in this part of the country, but it still needs to be taken seriously. AAA reported that distracted driving injured more than 126,000 people in Maryland in 2019. Distracted driving contributed to about 48 percent of collisions that year.

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 Posted on May 24, 2021 in Truck Accidents

elf-driving cars represent incredible innovations in technological progress. One day, they may become familiar sights on Maryland roads. For now, their ownership and appeal are somewhat limited. Worries exist about the dangers of these vehicles, and several publicized accidents make many unwilling to purchase one. Some do put faith in the models, but a question remains. If a self-driving car does cause an accident, who is held responsible?

SELF-DRIVING VEHICLES AND QUESTIONS ABOUT NEGLIGENCE

A self-driving car does not enter public roads unless someone directs the action. So, anyone responsible for the vehicle’s operation could face negligence claims if the vehicle causes an accident. For example, a “gig economy” food delivery service might own a fleet of self-driving cars. The vehicle may operate without human assistance, but a “driver” in the car could stand by to deliver food and take control of the car if something goes wrong.

When the driver chooses not to pay attention and opts to watch a video on a multimedia screen, that driver appears derelict in his or her duty. So, if someone walks in front of the vehicle and it doesn’t stop, the driver may face a negligence claim. So might the gig service for any contributory negligence, such as not screening a driver’s past moving violations or using a self-driving car with known problems.

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 Posted on May 11, 2021 in Truck Accidents

Maryland drivers who choose to ride a motorcycle know that it comes at a higher risk compared a car. While motorcycles only made up 3% of all the registered vehicles throughout the country, they accounted for 14% of all traffic fatalities in 2017. It’s plain to see that riding a motorcycle can be risky.

A LOOK AT ACCIDENTS

Back in 2017, there were a total of 5,172 motorcycle deaths in the United States. It’s more important than ever before for all drivers on the roadway to understand the common reasons for motorcycle accidents and what they can do to help prevent them from happening in the first place.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has revealed that the majority of motorcycle accidents are typically not the fault of the motorcycle driver. Rather, these accidents tend to be the fault of automobile drivers. The typical reason is that the car driver was unable to see the motorcyclist.

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 Posted on April 27, 2021 in Truck Accidents

Drivers in Maryland and across the country are perpetuating a hazardous behavior that results in an increasing number of motor vehicle accidents. This behavior is referred to as drowsy or fatigued driving. Unfortunately, many drivers are culpable of it at one time or another.

A GROWING TREND

A recent study revealed that 40% of adult U.S. drivers have admitted to falling asleep behind the wheel at some point throughout their driving career. A scarier statistic is that 20% of the people surveyed admitted to falling asleep while driving within the past year. Being on the roadway when another driver is asleep behind the wheel can be a recipe for disaster.

HOW DROWSINESS AFFECTS YOUR DRIVING ABILITIES

Many drowsy drivers will notice a severe impairment in their driving abilities. These include weaving back and forth between lanes, tailgating other vehicles and even driving off the roadway. These negative behaviors are resulting in car accidents ranging from minor to fatal.

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