Investigators on the scene said that a 60-year-old woman, who was driving a Ford SUV, was waiting to turn onto Leehaven Road off of Route 33 when a Toyota car struck her from behind. The impact of the collision sent her car into the opposite lane of Route 33, where it struck a Chevrolet SUV. That SUV went off the road and crashed into a utility pole, knocking it down. A fourth vehicle skidded off the road in order to avoid the crash.
]]> The driver of the Toyota was flown to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center, where he is in stable condition. Two others were taken to a local hospital and they are also in stable condition. Everyone else did not sustain any injuries and did not need medical treatment.Police are reconstructing the accident scene and are trying to determine if the driver of the Toyota had a medical emergency, or simply did not see the other driver stopped waiting to make a turn.
This type of multi-car accident brings to light how quickly a chain reaction accident can happen. If you've been injured in an accident because of the possible negligence by another driver, you should contact a personal injury attorney. They understand the emotional, physical and financial strains that an accident can cause and will work to help you figure out your options. An attorney will provide you with the best approach that fits your circumstances and benefits you the most.
Source: Stardem.com, "Three injured Tuesday afternoon in Route 33 crash," May 16, 2012
]]>Maryland State Police said that the accident happened in the Anne Arundel County section of the highway near Md. Route 2. The eastbound lanes of the highway were closed for approximately five hours.
]]> Investigators on the scene believe that the man driving the Saturn stopped or parked his vehicle in the high-speed lane. They haven't determined if the man was having car trouble or why he was stopped. While the Saturn was in the high-speed lane, a truck driven by a 31-year-old man came upon the stopped vehicle and tried to maneuver his vehicle away from the Saturn, but was unsuccessful and crashed into the parked car. The force of the crash pushed the Saturn off the highway.When police and ambulance personnel arrived on the scene, the man was pronounced dead. The man driving the truck was not seriously injured in the crash.
Maryland State Police officers said that the victim's body was taken to Baltimore Washington Medical Center and given a blood test. The results were not released and the investigation is ongoing.
Fatal car accidents like this one can have tragic consequences for everyone involved. If you've been injured in an accident, you could miss work, your bills could pile up, and you could worry if your insurance company will cover your losses. These physical, emotional and financial strains can be overwhelming. An experienced attorney specializing in personal injury can be your advocate and help you figure out your options and provide you with the best approach that benefits you the most.
There have been no charges filed against the truck driver.
Source: The Baltimore Sun, "Driver of car stopped in travel lane killed in I-695 accident," Peter Hermann, May 5, 2012
]]>The study was developed by the Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center at the University of Washington. What researchers concluded is that future calls or potential text messages are an additional source of distraction and could contribute to more car accidents.
]]> Many states have implemented bans on using your cell phone while driving, but the researchers found that these bans may actually increase the potential for accidents because drivers are trying to hide their phones from view while they check their messages.This research was divided into two study groups. The first group looked at if a cell phone affected teen drivers' performance while texting. The study showed that teens who were texting while driving were eight times more likely to drift in out of their lanes and were twice as likely to be involved in a near crash with other cars or pedestrians. It didn't matter if their phone was hidden or in plain sight.
In general, teens that text and drive make up four times more driving mistakes and are often unaware how their inattention affects everyone on the road. This study confirms that there is no safe way to text and drive.
The second part of the study looked at whether the anticipation of a call or text increased car accidents in teens. The researchers surveyed a group of undergraduate students about their cell phone use and history of car crashes. They also completed a questionnaire that measured aspects of problem or compulsive cellphone use. What they found is that if a teen receives a text that elicits an emotion, they are more likely to be involved in a car accident.
As in other similar research studies, it provides evidence that texting or talking on a cellphone while driving, will increase car accidents.
Source: Ajc.com, "No safe way to text and drive for teens," Jennifer Warner and reviewed by Louise Chang, MD, April 30, 2012
]]>The program is conducted at the Sykesville Driver Training Facility and the instructors have high school students participate in a tactical driving course wearing DUI goggles, participate in a field sobriety test, and listen to lectures and testimony from drivers who have been involved in accidents.
]]> Instructors emphasize that no alcohol or texting is worth risking their lives or the lives of others. This is the first time that the three organizations partnered together to offer this program to high school students and they are hopeful that their message will register with the students.The lecture segment of the program has victims who have been involved in car accidents talking about their accidents and their recovery. After the lecture, the students were taken to the tactical road course where they wore "Fatal Vision" goggles, which stimulate being drunk. With the goggles on, the students had to go through an obstacle course filled with cones and turns. The set speed limit for the course was 25 mph, but most students couldn't go past 10 or 15 mph.
Students who participated in the program were amazed at how much alcohol can impair driving and will hopefully get the message not to drink and drive this spring.
Source: Eldersburg Patch, "Driving 'Drunk' on Purpose To Learn Grim Lessons," Diana Soliwon, April 24, 2012
]]>The study doesn't go into why a helicopter transfer is better, but there are some obvious reasons. One possibility is that a helicopter can travel faster than an ambulance and a helicopter has a medical team on board. An ambulance has trained personnel onboard, but not a doctor or a nurse.
]]> The University of Maryland School of Medicine conducted the study and used national databases of severely injured patients treated at more than 900 specialized trauma centers across the United States between 2007 and 2009. What researchers found is that at a first glance it looks like ambulance-transported patients fared best, over helicopter-transported patients. But when the researchers took out factors that could influence the results, the data shifted. Factors taken out of the equation included the patients' age, type of injury and vital signs. Once these factors were removed, researchers found that being taken to the hospital by a helicopter gave a patient a one to two percent higher chance of survival over the ambulance.So should all patients be transported by helicopter? In most cases, this won't happen because of cost and location of the accident. Not all accidents will need a medical helicopter and are currently used only in specific medical cases. In addition, most people involved in a car accident don't have a say on how they are taken to a hospital, they just want to get treated for their injuries at the nearest hospital and as quickly as possible.
Costs are another factor that plays into the decision of using a medical helicopter, but the study does open up discussion on ways that ambulances can improve overall. It could mean more training or efficiencies in what they currently do at an accident scene.
Source: Reuters, "Trauma patients taken by chopper may fare better," Andrew M. Seaman, April 17, 2012
]]>The incident occurred in March 2010 during her cesarean-section delivery. During the procedure, the woman said that she smelled smoke and her mother, who was beside her daughter during the delivery; saw a flame shooting up from her daughter's left side. The doctor saw the flame and patted it and put it out. He told the patient there was nothing to worry about and that there had been a small fire.
]]> Those words were not very comforting to the mother. She worried about the safety of her baby and didn't really know what had caught fire until her anesthetic wore off. Luckily, the baby was not harmed, but the mother had a large, painful third-degree burn on her side.The mother, 42, is now suing the doctor and the hospital for medical malpractice, claiming that the doctor and the nurses failed to follow procedures for using an alcohol-based antiseptic that was applied to her skin in preparation for the cesarean-section.
The victim in the case is not suing the manufacturer because the company had issued a warning to hospitals about the solution's flammability and gave specific instructions on how to prevent a surgical fire. Nurses and the anesthesiologist testified in depositions that they had not been trained in how to prevent surgical fires when using the antiseptic. The manufacturer warned users that the antiseptic needs to be dry before beginning a procedure and several of the nurses in this case thought that the woman's gown may have been soaked in the solution, thus sparking the fire.
The hospital does take responsibility for the incident, but does not feel it was negligent.
Two years later and the victim still suffers from discomfort from the burn and the area is still numb. She did have plastic surgery to repair the damage.
Source: Syracuse.com, "Woman's abdomen catches fire during C-section, as surgical tool ignites antiseptic," John O'Brien, April 1, 2012
]]>The accident occurred Sunday evening when a woman, 28, was driving south along Route 152 and allegedly ran a red light at the intersection of U.S. Route 1. She hit another car driven by a 17-year-old girl, who had a green light. The teenager's car then spun and hit a pickup truck. During the crash, the teenage girl was ejected from her vehicle because she was not wearing her seatbelt. She was flown by helicopter to Shock Trauma where she is listed in critical but stable condition.
]]> The woman who caused the accident was taken by ambulance to another hospital where she is in stable condition. The driver of the pickup truck was not injured, but his vehicle sustained major damage.Investigators on the scene closed the road for several hours while they reconstructed the accident and cleared the area of debris.
This type of accident brings to light how inattentive driving can cause an accident. If you've been injured in an accident because of someone else's negligence, you should contact a personal injury attorney. They understand that you could miss work, your bills pile up and you worry about whether your insurance company will cover your losses. These physical, emotional and financial strains can be overwhelming. An experienced attorney can be your advocate and help you figure out your options and provide you with an approach that fits your situation and benefits you the most.
Source: Perry Hall Patch, "Serious Accident in Fallston Injures 2," Kirsten Dize, April 2, 2012
]]>The driver is charged with several counts; including causing life-threatening injuries by motor vehicle while impaired by a dangerous substance, aggressive, reckless and negligent driving, possession of illegal drugs and failing to control speed to avoid a collision. One has to wonder if the allegedly negligent driver has car insurance that could help the mother and her child pay for their medical bills and other expenses they have incurred as a result of the accident.
]]> When a person is injured through the negligent or reckless actions of another there are tort laws that can be used to help the victims recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering. If you have been injured in a car accident a personal injury attorney can assist you in determining if you have a claim and any compensatory damages you may be entitled to.Although the accident occurred last December and the mother and child are recovering from their injuries, the new charges reflect the seriousness of the case. A search warrant was issued for the suspect's home several days after the accident and police confiscated phencyclidine, also known as PCP and marijuana in that search. Police also found PCP in the man's truck after the accident. He has been released on bond pending his next court appearance.
Source: WBOC 16, "New Charges Filed in O.C. Crash That Left Mother, Baby Injured," Kye Parsons, Mar. 23, 2012
]]>Recently a 19-year-old boy was making threats to go on a shooting rampage at the University of Maryland. Campus police were able to trace the messages back to the boy's computer and police arrested him. A subsequent search of his dorm room and his parents' home found no guns, but officials feel that they need to take every threat seriously and this incident illustrates that.
]]> Virginia Tech was in the news because of a similar incident in 2007. The parents brought a suit against the school because they felt that the school did not take threats seriously from a student who shot two students in the morning of April 16, 2007 and then went on to kill 30 students and faculty. Police felt that after the initial killings in the morning, that the shootings were an isolated domestic incident and didn't warn anyone at the school. In this instance, they were wrong and 30 lives were lost.While these cases don't happen every day, investigators involved with these types of threats have found one common thread - at least one person knew of the planned attack before it occurred and did not report it.
The 19-year-old who made the threats was charged with a misdemeanor and is banned from the University of Maryland campus. He is also undergoing a psychiatric evaluation. While no one was injured because of his threats, police feel that it was a success to get this man the help he needs, while it protected the college community.
Source: Fredericksburg.com, "No shock, no horror," Mar. 15, 2012
]]>The accident occurred when the woman, a passenger in the front seat of a Ford Explorer, began arguing with a passenger in the back seat. She asked the driver to pull the car over, but before he had a chance to do so, she grabbed the steering wheel and turned it hard towards the right. The driver of the Explorer lost control of the vehicle and it overturned and then crashed into two other cars.
]]> Luckily no one was killed in the crash, but everyone was taken to the hospital and treated for their non-life threatening injuries.This type of case brings to light how you may be attentive in your driving and inadvertently be involved in another crash caused by someone else's negligence. That is why drivers need to practice defensive driving so that they can potentially avoid these types of scenarios.
If you've been injured in an accident, you should contact a personal injury attorney so that they can help you figure out if you have a case and work with you to find the best approach that fits your situation and benefits you the most.
The woman, 28, was charged Feb. 29. She turned herself into police, posted bail and was released.
Source: BND.com, "Passenger charged in multi-car accident," Beth Hundsdorfer, Mar. 12, 2012
]]>The accident occurred April 17, 2007 as the men were working on a 275-foot wall, when it collapsed on top of them and the equipment they were working on. The bulldozer operator, 38, and the excavator operator, 51, were both miners at the Tri-Star mine area near Barton, Maryland. The widows and the families of the two men filed a wrongful death suit.
]]> The settlement of this case ends with the agreement reached and consent of all parties. The $100,000 settlement is in addition to benefits received from workers' compensation. Those involved in the case felt that the settlement was appropriate given the difficulties of the case.The death of a loved one is always hard, and it's tragic when the death occurred at work. Like these families who lost a loved one, it is hard to know whether you have any recourse. An experienced personal injury attorney can walk you through your options and whether you have a case. Depending on the circumstances, an attorney may be able to obtain compensation for the loss of income, financial support and household services provided by the deceased.
The settlement for this case was reached in Allegany County Circuit Court.
Source: Cumberland Times-News, "$100k settlement ends wrongful death lawsuit," Mar. 1, 2012
]]>The researchers in charge of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test conducted an anonymous survey to surgeons and questions were asked about their work habits, lifestyle, and mood. What they found was that if a surgeon was burned out or depressed, they were more likely to abuse alcohol, just like any other working person that was experiencing the same issues. But, if a male surgeon had children or works for the Department of Veteran Affairs, they had a lower incidence of alcohol addiction.
]]> While the results may be alarming, the lead author of the study feels that a patient being injured by an impaired surgeon is uncommon. But, he notes that with this profession, there is nothing in place for random drug screenings like there are with other safety-sensitive professions.It should also be noted that 25,000 surgeons were asked to participate in the study, but only 7,197 completed the survey. With the low response rate, the findings should not lead you to assume that all surgeons have alcohol problems.
The researchers feel that if a surgeon does have a dependence on alcohol, it is a treatable and reversible condition. With appropriate intervention, treatment and monitoring, surgeons should be encouraged to see treatment.
People put their lives in the hands of doctors and surgeons and expect the best possible care. If you've been hospitalized and received substandard medical care, you need to pursue answers and consult with an experienced personal injury attorney. The attorney can help you figure out if you have a case and develop a plan that fits your situation and benefits you the most.
Source: Medical Daily, "Survey Reveals that 15% of Surgeons Have Alcohol Dependency," Christine Hsu, February 23, 2012
]]>The study was conducted by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development in Bethesda, Maryland. Researchers outfitted the cars of 42 new teen drivers with equipment that would record high g-force events, like quick starts and stops, and sharp turns. They monitored the drivers for 18 months and kept track of crashes or near crashes the teens had.
]]> The results confirmed what researchers and parents already knew -- that teen drivers take more risks and don't always know how to handle certain situations. For every 100 miles the teens drove, the equipment showed that about 50 elevated g-force events were recorded. Of the 68,000 trips that were taken across the study, there were 37 car accidents and 242 near crashes while the teens were driving. In addition, when a teen had more g-force events, they had more crashes or near crashes in the next month.Researchers want people to understand that these g-force events didn't necessarily cause a crash, but that it is a good predictor of a teen's pattern of driving and an indicator for predicting future crashes. This study does not prove whether having this system in a teen's car will reduce their chances of getting into an accident, but it does educate the teen driver on safe driving.
Studies like this give parents another reason to monitor their teens driving and coach them on the proper ways to handle a car in various situations. Parents and teens want the ritual of getting a license to be a positive one.
Source: Empowher.com, "Risky starts and stops predict teen crashes," Feb. 20, 2012
]]>The program has been credited with reducing the speed of motorists in construction zones and a reduction in Baltimore auto accidents. Yet drivers are still driving too fast through work zones as evidenced by the 474,000 citations issued in 2011, according to the AAA. The citations resulted in $19 million in speeding tickets.
]]> In Baltimore County alone, along I-95 between I-695 and I-895, almost 236,000 tickets were issued last year.In the past 10 years, approximately 12 people have been killed and 1,484 people were injured each year in work zone-related accidents according to Maryland SafeZones. Four out of five people killed or injured in these accidents is a driver or passenger of a vehicle.
Some major causes of accidents include inattentive driving, failure to yield the right-of-way and following too close. These are in addition to speed, which the SafeZones program is trying to combat.
The following are several ways to safely drive through work zones:
In addition to slowing down in a work zone, drivers will reduce the potential for a ticket, as well as a car accident.
Source: The Baltimore Sun, "Nearly $19 million in speed camera tickets issued in work zones, Steve Kilar, Feb. 17, 2012
]]>According to police, a woman, 44, was driving on Md. 140 when she tried to make a left turn onto Creek Road. She pulled out in front of the victim's car, which then struck the left front end of her car. The victim's car was forced into the westbound side of Md. 140, where his car was struck on the passenger side by a third vehicle, taking the brunt of the collision.
]]> The victim, 23, was taken to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center and he was in stable condition. His passenger, a 24-year-old woman, was taken to the hospital, where she later died from her injuries. The other two drivers involved in the accident were not hurt and didn't need medical attention.Car accidents like this one can have tragic consequences for everyone involved. If you've been injured in an accident, you could miss work, your bills could pile up, and you could worry if your insurance company will cover your losses. These physical, emotional and financial strains can be overwhelming. An experienced attorney specializing in personal injury can be your advocate and help you figure out your options and provide you with the best approach that fits your situation and benefits you the most.
According to police, this accident is currently under investigation and no charges have been filed.
Source: Carroll County Times, "Baltimore woman dies in Md. 140 crash," Peter Panepinto, Feb. 12, 2012
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