On February 10, 2001, District of Columbia resident, 57-year-old Barbara Joyner’s life changed forever. That day, the retired duty nurse was a passenger on a Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) bus. As a result of her decision to take the bus that day, she became severely injured and her life was irrevocably changed. One might assume her injuries came as a result of a bus crash since according to a 2010 study from the University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute, there was an average of 63,000 buses involved in crashes from 199 to 2005. In these accidents, there were 14,000 that caused injuries to the passengers. The study also found inter-city buses to have a higher risk of accidents. Therefore, to assume Barbara’s injury was a result of a bus crash of some type makes sense. However, a bus accident was not in fact what lead to the victim’s injuries in this case.
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Maryland Juvenile Curfew Laws
Maryland is a strict state when it comes to juvenile curfew laws. Defined as any individual under 17 years of age, juveniles are not allowed out unsupervised beginning at 11:59 PM on Friday and Saturday nights, and ending at 5:00 AM. During the week, the curfew is even earlier at 10:00 PM. While there are a number of exceptions, juveniles who are found out after curfew time can be stopped by police, and their name, address, and contact information for their parents will be gathered. The juvenile will receive a written warning, and then the parents of the juvenile receive a written warning in the mail from the Chief of Police. If the juvenile is found breaking curfew a second time, the juvenile can be brought into custody and the parents will be contacted.
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Liability of Recent Silver Spring Explosion
On August 10th, 2016, a massive explosion occurred on an otherwise normal day in Silver Spring, Maryland. The Flower Branch Apartments located on Arliss Street caught fire, leaving seven people dead. The event was so significant in terms of the amount of damage and circumstances that the National Transportation Safety Board is now reviewing what happened and working to determine negligence within the incident.
What Happened?
Photo Credit: Susan Walsh/AP
No official word was released about the underlying cause of the incident. However, many residents complained of smelling natural gas not just the day of the event, but for weeks leading up to it. The powerful explosion left the building nearly leveled. It left seven dead, 30 injured, and about 100 people displaced. Several of the bodies were not identified for several days after the incident.
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Motorcycle Helmet Laws in Maryland
Riding a motorcycle can be a dangerous way to get around. In more than half of crashes involving a motorcycle and a vehicle, the rider is not at fault. But lack of blame doesn’t make crashes less hazardous for motorcyclists: 75 percent of crashes result in an injury or fatality for the rider.
One of the best things you can do to reduce your risk of serious injury or death on your motorcycle is to wear a sturdy helmet. If you crash, a DOT-compliant helmet can help minimize head trauma, possibly saving your life. A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study found that motorcyclists wearing helmets had a lower likelihood of injuries to the head and face in a crash, and they were less likely to suffer a traumatic brain injury.
In Maryland, helmets aren’t just a suggestion for motorcycle riders; they’re the law.
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Bad Weather is Not a Defense in Car Accident Cases
Rain, ice, and snow impair a car driver’s ability to drive safely. 17% of all fatal car accidents and 20% of all car accidents resulting in personal injury occur during adverse weather.[1]
The fact that so many dangerous car accidents occur during bad weather is common sense for any driver in Maryland, as we try to navigate our congested highways and side streets. In bad weather, our visibility, ability to stop, and ability to control our vehicle are obviously limited.
One Person Killed and Four Injured in Baltimore County Accident
A fatal automobile accident in Baltimore County claimed the life of one person and injured four others. The accident occurred on Belair Road near New Cut Road. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 1,700 people die each year and another 840,000 are injured in automobile accidents on public highways. While it is unknown whether the individuals involved in this accident were wearing seat belts, the NHTSA states that seatbelts save lives.
Maryland Seat Belt Laws
During the period from 1975 through 2001, the NHTSA estimates that 147,246 lives were saved by seat belts and 8,369 lives were saved by airbags. Automobile accidents are the leading cause of death for individuals aged 1 through 54 in the United States. During 2012, more than two million drivers and passengers were taken to the emergency room because of an automobile accident.
In addition to saving your life and avoiding injury, avoiding a traffic ticket is another incentive to wear your seat belt and ensure your passengers are wearing their seat belts. Maryland traffic laws drivers and passengers to wear seat belts regardless of where they are seated in the vehicle. Unlike some other states, Maryland’s seat belt law is a primary law meaning that an officer can pull you over for violating the seat belt law without the necessity of witnessing another traffic violation.
If you have been injured in an automobile accident, you may wonder if not wearing a seat belt can prevent you from receiving compensation for your injuries. While it is the law in Maryland for you and your passengers to wear seatbelts, and wearing seat belts prevents loss of life and injuries in an automobile accident, the court will not penalize you in a personal injury claim for not wearing your seat belt. However, it is important that you take every safety measure you can to avoid injuries in an automobile accident.
Police Officer Injured in Beltway Accident
A Prince George’s Police officer was taken to the hospital after being involved in a three-car accident on the Capital Beltway. Initial reports state that the officer’s vehicle was rear-ended in as he was slowing down for traffic. Another accident victim was also evaluated for minor injuries.
Rear-end Collisions One of the Most Common Types of Automobile Accidents
Almost 30% of all automobile accidents are rear-end collisions according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Authority (NHTSA). Even though the parties involved in the accident on the Capital Beltway do not appear to be seriously injured, rear-end collisions can cause severe injuries for the driver and passengers. One of the most common injuries in this type of vehicle accident is whiplash.
Other injuries that we see in rear-end collisions include spinal cord injuries, closed head injuries, back and shoulder injuries, broken bones, and internal bleeding. The severity of the injuries increases with speed; however, whiplash and other neck injuries can cause permanent conditions that negatively affect a person’s ability to resume normal activities.