Columbia Legal Issues Blog

Motor vehicle accidents a tragic beginning to 2019

On behalf of Law Offices of Marc A. Ominsky posted in motor vehicle accidents on Monday, January 7, 2019.

A recent tragic accident in Marylnd took the lives of three young children in a crash on Indian Head Highway in Oxon Hill. The children were siblings, 5-year-old twins and a 1-year-old baby. The crash was caused by a hit-and-run driver who may have been driving under the influence at the time of the crash. The location of the accident is known to be a dangerous intersection where there have been multiple motor vehicle accidents in recent years.

The car that the children were traveling in was either stopped or had slowed for a light near Wilson Bridge Road. The other vehicle, a pickup truck, rear-ended the car and the impact caused a chain reaction involving the car carrying the children and the two cars in front of it. The impact caused the pickup to land on top of the rear passenger portion of the car where the children were seated.

What to do when pulled over for a DUI

On behalf of Law Offices of Marc A. Ominsky on Friday, January 4, 2019.

Seeing flashing police lights in your mirrors after a night of drinking can be terrifying. Because of this, you may forget how to act appropriately, or what your rights are, when the police ask you to roll down your window.

The CDC reports that Maryland individuals report drinking too much at a higher percentage than the national average. If Maryland police pull you over on suspicion for a driving under the influence, what do you do?

Motor vehicle accidents can rob loved ones of a happy holiday

On behalf of Law Offices of Marc A. Ominsky posted in motor vehicle accidents on Monday, December 24, 2018.

The holiday season is a time for celebrations and enjoying time with friends and loved ones in Maryland. The parties and celebrations may cause one to be out later than normal, and one may also drink more alcohol than one may be accustomed to. Fatigue, alcohol, holiday stress or a combination can increase one's likelihood of being involved in motor vehicle accidents.

A fatal crash occurred near Forestville on the outer loop of Interstate 495. A Toyota was traveling on the outer loop and hit the rear end of a Kia Optima travelling in the same direction. The impact from the collision caused both vehicles to end up in the meridian between the inner and outer loop of 495. The driver of the Toyota, along with his female passenger, received minor injuries. The driver of the Kia did not survive.

Can I get a DUI on a snowmobile?

On behalf of Law Offices of Marc A. Ominsky on Saturday, December 15, 2018.

It's that time of year again. Snow has fallen in the east coast, and for many people, that means it's time to get outside. Yet, each season brings new opportunities to get convicted of a DUI, and it is important to keep your driving privileges in mind as you get away this winter.

If you are one of many people who plan to go snowmobiling, know that DUI laws may still apply to you. Snowmobiles are one of many off-road vehicles governed by the state's driving laws. Even if you may not be driving your snowmobile among traffic, operating it while drunk could still lead to serious accidents as well as a DUI conviction.

Holiday season risky time for driving under the influence

On behalf of Law Offices of Marc A. Ominsky posted in dui/dwi on Tuesday, December 11, 2018.

The holiday season is one of the happiest and festive times of the year in Maryland and around the country. However, the added festivities frequently give rise to increased alcohol consumption. Many people who partake of alcohol during the holidays more than at other times of the year may not be aware of their own alcohol tolerance, or lack of it. That can make them susceptible to an arrest for driving under the influence.

In an effort to stem this problem and make area roads safer, Montgomery County Police have initiated a holiday task force that will be in place through Jan. 5. The aim of the task force is to reduce the number of drunk drivers on the roads during the holiday season. They will make use of such tools as sobriety check points, issuing tickets to parents and other adults who host underage drinking parties and increasing compliance checks on establishments that sell alcohol.

Holiday parties may lead to an increase in DUI charges

On behalf of Law Offices of Marc A. Ominsky posted in dui/dwi on Monday, November 26, 2018.

The holiday season is upon us and among other things that means that there may be more drinking and driving as holiday parties begin to crowd one's schedule. While drinking and driving is never a good combination, people who think they can have one or two drinks and be OK to drive take to the roadways and pose a danger to all. In a recent accident, a 28-year-old man from Maryland may have caused a recent three-car accident and has been charged with DUI.

The accident happened about midnight at Route 213 and Wexford Drive in Centreville. A Jeep Wrangler failed to stop at a flashing red light and hit a Toyota SUV. Both cars were stopped in the intersection when a third car, a Hyundai SUV, hit the Jeep.

Bankruptcy offers opportunity to overcome unmanageable debt

On behalf of Law Offices of Marc A. Ominsky posted in bankruptcy on Wednesday, November 14, 2018.

Debt is a word that all Americans over a certain age are familiar with. It comes in many different forms, including student loans, credit cards and medical expenses, to name a few. Bankruptcy is also a familiar term to many in Maryland and across the country, but some are less familiar with its definition when compared to the word debt.

The current amount of outstanding student loan debt nationally is upwards of $1.3 trillion, and if one adds unexpected medical debt and loss of a job on top of that, the expected stress would be overwhelming. This kind of stress is what can lead people to explore the option of bankruptcy. There are three well-known categories -- Chapter 7, Chapter 11 and Chapter 13. Chapter 11 is more commonly used for businesses and allows them to restructure debt, while Chapter 13 offers similar relief for consumers. Chapter 7, known as a liquidation bankruptcy, is available to both individuals and businesses.

Can medical debt be erased through bankruptcy?

On behalf of Law Offices of Marc A. Ominsky posted in bankruptcy on Monday, November 5, 2018.

Many things can lead to families facing financial struggles. This includes medical emergencies.

Suffering a major injury or developing a significant illness can result in large medical bills building up. An example of this can be seen in a recent news article that discussed the large out-of-pocket costs that can come up for patients in connection to cutting-edge precision cancer treatments.