Posted on March 13, 2023 in Motor vehicle accidents

Nice weather has arrived, and people in Maryland are riding motorcycles that had been stored for the winter. It is widely believed that defensive driving is a best practice in heavy traffic situations. Tragically, defensive driving is not always enough to prevent fatal motor vehicle accidents.

It is no secret that traffic on the Washington Beltway can be treacherous. An accident involving a motorcycle on the Maryland portion of the highway revealed how treacherous it can be. The accident occurred when a vehicle attempted to merge into traffic from an on-ramp.

An off-duty police officer from Prince George’s County was riding home on a recent evening. As he was passing near an on-ramp, a car attempted to merge into traffic but reportedly struck a street sweeper and then lost control. The car then crossed several lanes and struck the officer’s motorcycle. The force of the impact caused the officer to be thrown over a Jersey barrier into oncoming traffic. He was transported to University of Maryland Prince George’s Hospital Center where he later died as result of his injuries.

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 Posted on February 20, 2023 in Bankruptcy

Small business is a significant engine that drive the economy in Maryland and around the country. The people who establish and run small businesses employ a large percentage of the American workforce. In good economic times, these companies typically remain strong. During an economic downturn, concerns of possible bankruptcy may evolve. A new law goes into effect in 2020 that may help alleviate that concern.

The Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019 includes many provisions that should make life somewhat easier for small business owners during down economic times. Under the new law, a business carrying less than $2,725,625 in debt will have 90 days to come up with a reorganization plan. The plan does not have to eliminate the debt in order for the business to continue operating. There is also an increase in the time allowed for paying administrative expenses associated with the bankruptcy filing.

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 Posted on February 20, 2023 in Motor vehicle accidents

Maryland traffic can be treacherous as the number of cars on local roadways has increased in recent years. The increase in motor vehicle accidents has lead to an uptick in the number of accidents that result in fatalities. There was one such accident on a recent afternoon in La Plata.

At about 4:00 in the afternoon, police responded to an accident near Laurel Springs Park. The initial accident report indicated that an SUV had collided with an ice cream truck that was travelling in the opposite direction. A motorcycle travelling behind the ice cream truck was also caught up in the accident.

The impact caused the truck to flip, and the SUV caught fire. The driver of the SUV was pulled from the burning vehicle and transported to an area hospital with serious injuries. The motorcycle also flipped, and the rider was airlifted to a trauma center where he later passed away as a result of his injuries. The driver of the ice cream truck was also flown to a hospital with serious injuries. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.

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 Posted on February 20, 2023 in DWI

Drinking and driving is generally considered to be an unsafe driving practice in Maryland and elsewhere. Regardless of this fact, it is a frequent occurrence and facing charges for DUI/DWI can be a scary experience. That fear can be significantly enhanced if another person was seriously injured or killed as a result of the accident.

In an incident on a recent Tuesday night, a motorcyclist was struck by a driver who was attempting to make a left-hand turn. The driver hit the motorcycle as he was turning into a driveway. The motorcyclist was seriously injured.

The injured man was first transported to Western Maryland Health System. Due to the traumatic nature of his injuries, he was then transferred to the Shock Trauma Unit in Baltimore. The driver of the vehicle that struck him was placed under arrest. Officers at the scene claimed to have detected alcohol and administered a field sobriety test, after which they charged the driver with DUI.

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 Posted on February 20, 2023 in DWI

Breathalyzers, those handy roadside devices that police officers use to determine if you’re inebriated while behind the wheel, are fairly familiar to most Americans. You just blow into one of these devices and let it measure the amount of alcohol in your breath. Then, it spits out a figure that represents your blood alcohol concentration (BAC). If you’re over the legal limit (and, sometimes, even if you’re not), you get charged with drunk driving.

A whole mythology has grown up around Breathalyzers based on anecdotal evidence and stories people spread about how to "beat" them. The odds are good that you’ve heard and even believe several pieces of misinformation about Breathalyzers.

Here are four lies about Breathalyzers that you shouldn’t take to heart:

1. You can trick a Breathalyzer by drinking extra water, swallowing mouthwash, spraying your mouth with perfume or sucking on a penny. We’ve lumped all of these into the same category because they’re all false. Some of them (like swallowing mouthwash) can actually raise your Breathalyzer results, not lower them.

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 Posted on March 02, 2021 in Motor vehicle accidents

Summer is a time when people head to the beach for a little rest and relaxation. Scooters have become a popular form of transportation this summer as can be seen in the beach communities of Maryland. Like motorcycles, they may be hard to see and drivers need to remain vigilant in order to prevent motor vehicle accidents. A tragic accident in Ocean City resulted in the death of a young man.

The incident occurred when the 20-year-old was riding a scooter along Route 50. A car driven by a 21-year-old male was attempting to make a U-turn on the highway near Inlet Isle. The accident happened about 8:30 p.m.

The injured man was transported via helicopter to a shock trauma center in Baltimore. Attempts to save his life were not successful and he died the day after the accident as a result of his injuries. The driver of the car was not injured. It is not known at this time if speed or alcohol contributed to the accident. The accident remains under investigation.

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 Posted on March 02, 2021 in DWI

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?

Safely pull over

You do not want to give the police further reason to suspect you for drinking and driving. Carefully pull over to the side of the road, making sure to use your turn signal.

Stay calm and be polite

Undoubtedly, facing a possible arrest may have you feeling nervous and upset. However, letting on that you are flustered may make the officer more suspicious. Making sure to stay calm can be crucial.

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 Posted on March 02, 2021 in Family Law

Going through any major change in life can bring about mixed emotions. Even if you know the change is for the best, you may still worry about what it could mean for your future. In particular, you may have concerns about how you will handle your pending divorce.

Whether you are the person who initiated the proceedings or your spouse broke the news, you now face a complex process ahead. During this time, you may easily feel overwhelmed and want to focus on making the right decisions regarding your case. While participating in your case is certainly wise, you also need to help yourself handle the personal changes that will come along with ending your marriage.

Maintaining your mental health

Many Maryland residents allow themselves to take on a great deal of stress and believe that feeling overwhelmed is just how it has to be. However, you do not have to feel that way during your divorce. You can take steps to help yourself keep up your mental stamina, including the following examples:

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 Posted on November 09, 2020 in Bankruptcy

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.

The medical debt coming out of a major illness or injury can sometimes prove overwhelming for a family. It is important to note though that there are tools out there for helping families get back on their feet in the face of overwhelming medical bills or other debt struggles.

One such tool is bankruptcy. There are various ways a personal bankruptcy could help families who are facing high medical debt.

In some cases, bankruptcy could help with erasing such debt. One type of personal bankruptcy, Chapter 7, allows for the discharge of certain kinds of debt. Medical debt is typically dischargeable in such a bankruptcy.

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 Posted on November 09, 2020 in DWI

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.

A passenger in the Jeep was thrown clear of the vehicle and suffered minor injuries. The Jeep driver ran from the scene and was later apprehended at his home. Police say he appeared to be under the influence of alcohol and was arrested and charged with DUI. The drivers of the other two cars were transported to area hospitals with minor injuries.

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