Maryland Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

The plaintiff says the jury award of $1.9 million was unfortunately bittersweet because he's unable to do what he loved best, working as a Mason cop. After five hours of deliberations the jury found that the defendant was negligent and responsible for the injuries that causes the victim severe pain while he walks and he sometimes must rely on a cane for stability. As an experienced Maryland trial attorney I have reviewed many cases of personal injuries due to many including rockville car accidents and have completed same with favorable results.The plaintiff was directing traffic after Mass at a Church on when the defendant sped out of the parking lot and struck him with her car. She then fled the scene.

The defendant's Baltimore accident attorney, claimed the plaintiff was not hit by a car but instead had backed into his client's car and only suffered minor contusions. The plaintiff's Rockville injury attorney reminded the jury about a statement the defendant had written five days after the accident which she wrote that she hit him with her car and he flew up in the air and was knocked to the pavement.He also reminded the jury that several doctors testified about the victim's injuries and the fact he will never be able to be a law enforcement officer and is only physically capable to work in one percent of available job categories in this economy.The plaintiff said the money will allow he and his wife to stop worrying about bills, but his life will never be the same. He said he doesn't drive through the town anymore and doesn't watch television police shows and all he does is go to rehab and counseling because the mental side is very difficult for him.

It was bittersweet, he said of the verdict. Financially we're going to be taken care of, it was much more than I thought we would get. But for me it doesn't change my life, I can't do 95 percent of what I used to do, that includes working as a police officer. No amount of money is going to give me back that part, which was the most important part of my life.

Continue reading "Plaintiff Receives $1.9 Million in Hit and Run Accident" »

A defendant has been ordered to pay $4.9 million to a former gas station attendant he struck with his Mercedes-Benz, The judgment in the civil lawsuit against the defendant includes $4.6 million for pain and suffering, medical expenses and loss of earnings.He also must pay $225,000 in punitive damages and nearly $71,000 in interest. As an experienced accident attorney I have successfully reviewed, settled and brought to successful judgment many cases involving vehicular accidents involving drunk drivers and their insurance companies.

This case grew out of an incident in which witnesses said the defendant was involved in at least one collision, drove the wrong way for miles down the highway and finally pulled into a gas station, where the defendant struck an employee. The attorney for the victim, said the defendant denied he had driven the car and claimed amnesia, remembering only that he was on a bench at the station after the incident. He also denied driving the car at any time despite witnesses who placed him in the vehicle. The defendant, who was 18 at the time, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Defendant's blood-alcohol level registered .14% and he later pleaded no contest to the charge, authorities said.

Earlier that morning, authorities claim the defendant's companion had been driving the Mercedes-Benz and hit another vehicle. This wild night of reckless partying resulted in the victim's permanent disability, required him to undergo multiple surgeries and medical procedures and destroyed his family and his ability to provide for his family, The lawyer also said he was particularly troubled by the "unfair tactic" in which the defendant and his attorneys "refused to admit guilt for something he had already admitted to by pleading no contest in the earlier criminal DUI case."

Continue reading "Drunk Driver Ordered to Pay $4.9 million in Automobile Accident Crash." »

A man collided with a police officer's patrol car on an icy morning has settled his lawsuit against the city for $650,000.The victim, 51, was driving in the neighborhood when a police officer lost control of his car and struck the victim's pickup truck head-on. As a Maryland automobile accident lawyer we regularly represent victim's who have been seriously injured in such cases.

The officer was driving at the posted speed limit in the northbound lanes of the South bridge when his vehicle slipped on a patch of ice, according to the police report on the accident. The officer was not heading to an emergency call, authorities said.

The victim suffered injuries to his chest, neck, back and abdomen in the collision, according to the lawsuit. He has since returned to work at a bottle-making factory but still has headaches and other ailments, said his lawyer. In his lawsuit against the city, the victim sought more than $1 million in damages. The suit was settled late last month.

Senior Assistant City Attorney said in a court filing that the "City concedes it is liable for any damages or injuries" that the victim sustained in the crash. Chief of the Civil Division at the City Attorney's Office, said the settlement "avoids the risk of trial and fairly compensates the injured party." The police spokesman said he couldn't comment on whether the officer went through retraining as a result of the accident. He said the officer still works at the department.

The attorney said the victim worked "really hard" to recover from his injuries. "The money will go to pay for his past and future medical expenses, as well as his pain and suffering," the lawyer said. "I'm hoping that the city addresses, through training and policies, any actions that are important for the public safety," the attorney said. "My understanding is that in taking responsibility the city was looking into the actions of their officer in making sure this type of incident didn't happen again."

If you or a loved one is injured in an automobile accident call my office for an appointment at either my offices in Rockville or Baltimore to set up an appointment by calling 1-800 320-0080 for a free consultation today.

Continue reading "Man awarded $650,000.00 in car crash with police" »

The heirs of a 52-year-old man killed last year in a car crash have settled a civil lawsuit against a driver accused of running a stop sign. The driver was driving a truck when he ran a stop sign and struck a pickup driven by the victim who was headed north and preparing to turn left, according to charging documents. He later died from his injuries. As a Maryland car accident attorney I am frequently retained in pursuing these challenging cases.

Third District Judge this month approved a motion to settle the case filed by the decedent's sister, who is the court-appointed guardian of the victim's adult son. Under the settlement, the heirs will accept the policy limits offered by insurance companies. The undisclosed amount is to cover attorneys and accountants fees, hospital and medical bills, taxes owed and funeral expenses. Any remaining money is to go to the victim's heirs, 60 percent to the adult son, and 40 percent to his disability trust.

The victim is legally blind, suffers from epilepsy, microcephaly and pervasive developmental disorder, court documents state. The driver was charged with negligent homicide in the crash. Later that year, he entered a guilty plea in abeyance. Under the plea, the class A misdemeanor negligent homicide count will be reduced to a lesser class B misdemeanor after 36 months, as long as he follows court conditions that include completing 540 hours of community service. His license was also suspended for two years.

If you or a family member has been victimized by such tragic events call my offices at 1-800-320-0080 in Rockville or Baltimore, Maryland for an initial free consultation.

The plaintiff a waitress, was stopped in her Honda Civic, southbound, intending to turn left, when she was rear-ended by a Ford Taurus . The victim was pushed across the median into the northbound lane, when she was broadsided on the passenger's side by a van that was driving in the course and scope of his employment. As a Maryland auto accidnet lawyer I handle many types of accidnets similar to the facts of this case.

Prior to the collision, the driver had stolen the Ford Taurus from a private home in where the homeowner had left his car unlocked and running with the keys in the ignition. Following the crash, the driver fled the scene and was apprehended a few days later. He was charged with such charges as theft, reckless driving, driving under the influence (all of which he pled guilty to), and he was sentenced to a prison term, which he served. The plaintiff was extracted from the vehicle and taken to aMedical Center's trauma unit, where she was treated for fractures to her L2, L4 and L5 vertebrae, right clavicle, sternum and right femur, as well as a lacerated patellar tendon. She received a rod in her femur which resulted in differentiation in leg length that caused her to limp and rely upon a cane. In addition, Mee sustained impairment to her cognitive abilities, primarily compromise of her short-term memory. After her hospitalization she was transferred to a rehabilitation center where she underwent extensive physical and cognitive treatment. The plaintiff sought to recover an approximately $61,000 department of public welfare lien.

The victim sued the driver and, the van driver and corporate entity and another man (who the driver had picked up after stealing the vehicle), alleging negligence. Plaintiff and defendant settled prior to trial for his insurance policy limits of $100,000. During trial, the plaintiff settled confidentially with the vans corporation. The plaintiff then dismissed the drivers friend (who was not represented) at trial. The remaining defendant, did not attend the trial and did not file any responses; as a result, a directed verdict was entered against him on negligence, and the case was tried on the issue of causation and damages.

Continue reading "Crash involving stolen car settles " »

A Circuit Court civil jury awarded $3.3 million to relatives of a woman killed by a motorist as she walked on a stretch of road that did not have a sidewalk or guard rails.The jury found the state liable in the wrongful death lawsuit, and voted to award $2.5 million to the victim's daughter, who was struck and killed by a motorist. Her daughter was two at the time of the accident. The victim was walking on the road when a car veered onto the shoulder and struck her and a friend. As a Maryland pedestrian accident attorney I have followed and represented individuals in pedestrian accident cases similar to this case.

The friend died at the scene. The victim, who was five months pregnant, died at a hospital. So did her unborn child. That section of road, also known as Route 4. is maintained by the state. The attorney who represented the victim's family in the lawsuit, told jurors that the accident was preventable. On the block that the victim's were walking, there is a sidewalk at both ends of the street -- but also a gap of about 200 feet where there is no sidewalk or guard rails. The two victims were struck as they walked in that section.

The attorney told jurors that state officials should have provided a sidewalk, guard rails, or a combination to improve safety for pedestrians.In addition to the award for the victim's daughter, the jury also awarded $800,000 to her mother. The assistant attorney general who defended the state in the civil trial, declined to comment on the verdict.

Continue reading "Pedestrian's Death Results in $3 Million Jury Award " »

The School Board has settled a lawsuit stemming from a January 2009 school bus crash on a Parkway. According to Circuit Court records, the board reached a settlement with the mother of a then-16-year-old High School student who was on the bus at the time of the accident. The terms would not be discussed due to confidentiality matters.

Filed in December 2009,the complaint accused the bus driver of failure to maintain a proper lookout, failure to keep his vehicle under proper control and failure to keep a safe distance. She sought $100,000 from the bus driver and the School Board. The driver - who no longer works for the school division, according to court records - was later dropped as a defendant.

The attorney said at the time that medical bills related to the student's back and neck injuries totaled about $10,000. The case had been scheduled for a jury trial this week. A document filed in court earlier this month said that the School Board "intends to admit liability at trial." The "only remaining issue in this matter will be the amount of damages involved," which "would stem solely from injuries, if any, actually suffered by the minor."

As an attorney concentrating in injuries, I am committed to provide efficient and timely response to your needs. If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of somebody's negligence call my office at 1-800-320-0080 to make an appointment at one of my conveniently located offices in Rockville or Baltimore.

A woman seriously injured in a car crash is blaming the maker of an alcoholic energy drink, according to a lawsuit filed Friday. The woman, 20, was ejected from a car on State Road 417 in an August crash. The driver of the car, 20, who is also named a defendant in the suit, drank the energy drink before she struck another car while driving at a high rate of speed.

The suit, which comes days after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning to the maker of the energy drink and three other drink makers, was filed against the company.The convenience store that sold the drinks, was also named as a defendant. "We filed this suit against the makers of this beverage because we believe this drink is dangerous," said the lawyer. "My client nearly died."

According to published reports, a man filed a lawsuit against the drink manufacturer because his son drank the energy drinks before committing suicide. The FDA on Wednesday warned the company and other caffeine-alcohol drink manufacturers that caffeine in the drinks was "an unsafe food additive" and further action against them was possible.

Experts have voiced concerns that the caffeine in a drink could mask some sensory cues that people rely on to determine how drunk they are. The FDA said drinking such beverages could lead to risky behavior and hazardous situations. On Thursday, Massachusetts became the fifth state in the nation to ban alcohol mixed energy drinks, known as "blackouts in a can."

The latest lawsuit claims the company was motivated by financial gain in mixing alcohol with stimulants "to create a physiological effect in its customers so they could drink more alcohol."

The drinks are popular among students looking for a quick buzz. Officials have warned the drinks encourage binge-drinking behavior. The energy drink in question which is premixed with the stimulants taurine, guarine and caffeine, are made to appeal to younger drinkers because "it tastes more like a soft drink than an alcoholic beverage," the lawsuit states.

In addition to Massachusetts, the product has been outlawed in Washington, Michigan, Utah and Oklahoma. Liquor distributors in Connecticut are voluntarily stopping shipments of the products.

"The presence of stimulants in an alcoholic beverage is a dangerous and potentially fatal combination," the suit states. "Because the consumer will engage in dangerous behavior such as driving because he or she will not feel intoxicated."

If you or a loved one has been injured to due a defective product or injured as a result of someone elses's intoxication call my offices in Baltimore or Rockville for an appointment or phone consultation at 1-800-320-0080 now.

A company that also operates buses in the Washington region have been ordered to pay $6.4 million to a quadriplegic man who was injured while getting on a bus.
The victim was being hoisted onto a par transit bus in April 2008 when his wheelchair rolled backward off the platform and dropped him 6 feet into his head. The accident caused severe brain injury.
The plaintiff's lawsuit over the faulty lift named the city and Transportation company, which operates the par transit system under contract. The newspaper reports that a jury determined last week that the transportation company will pay 83 percent of damages and the city 17 percent.A spokeswoman says the city acknowledges some responsibility. The company's attorney declined comment.
On its Web site, the Transportation company says it offers services at more than 100 locations in 24 states. If you or a friend has been injured due to negligence of others call me at 1-800-320-0080 for a free consultation.

Seat Belt Case May Divide U.S. Supreme Court Over Minimum Standards U.S. Supreme Court justices signaled they may divide, perhaps evenly, in a case involving a Motor Corp. that could open automakers to more consumer lawsuits over vehicle safety.
Hearing arguments today in Washington, several justices hinted they would let accident victims sue even when automakers meet minimum federal standards set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA. "A minimum by definition gives manufacturers options," Justice Sonia Sotomayor said. Others, including Chief Justice John Roberts, suggested they would vote to limit lawsuits and reinforce a 2000 decision that shielded carmakers from some claims. "You have a jury with an injured plaintiff," Roberts said. "They are not likely to weigh heavily the fact that this would cost 3 extra cents per car fleet-wide. I think that is the sort of thing NHTSA considers."

The court might deadlock 4-4 because Elena Kagan, the newest justice, has disqualified herself. As the Obama administration's solicitor general earlier this year, she urged the court to take the case. A tie vote would leave intact a lower court victory for the automakers without setting a national precedent. Protecting Carmakers The auto industry is asking the court to bolster the 2000 decision, which said federal law shields automakers from state law claims that manufacturers didn't move quickly enough to install air bags in the years before they became mandatory in new cars. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, food producers and makers of children's products have weighed in on Mazda's side.

NHTSA, an agency within the Transportation Department, has 59 safety standards that govern automotive components, including windshield wipers, internal trunk releases and seat belts. The standards set performance guidelines that manufacturers must follow.
Justice Stephen Breyer hinted he was inclined to defer to the federal agency, which says its standards shouldn't shield carmakers from suits claiming they didn't do enough to make vehicles as safe as possible. Agency Expertise "Who is most likely to know what 40,000 pages of agency records actually mean and say? People in the agency," Breyer said. "If the government continuously says, 'This is what the agency means' and the agency is telling them, 'Yes, this is what it means,' the chances are they will come to a better, correct conclusion than I will with my law clerks."

Mazda, based in Hiroshima, Japan, was sued by the family of the victim who died in 2002 in Utah as she was riding in a rear aisle seat in the second row of a 1993 MPV minivan. When the minivan was manufactured, seat belts that buckled only over the lap -- without a shoulder harness -- were permitted by law for some back seat passengers. The current regulations took effect in 2007 and require new cars to have shoulder restraints in all forward-facing seats, including rear aisle seats. The victim's van struck a Jeep Wrangler that had become detached from a motor home that was towing it. The collision forced the victim's body to jackknife around her seat belt, causing severe abdominal injuries and internal bleeding, according to the lawsuit filed by her husband.
The lawyer for the family argued that automakers "should be held accountable for the choices they make." The attorney who argued the case for Mazda, said NHTSA "specifically gave manufacturers the option of installing one type of seat belt or the other."

A California state appeals court barred the suit from going forward, ruling it was preempted by federal law. Mazda's U.S. headquarters is in Irvine, California.
The Supreme Court last year, ruling on preemption in a different context, said consumers can sue drug makers for failing to provide adequate safety warnings. The 6-3 ruling said drug companies aren't shielded from suit by the Food and Drug Administration's approval of a treatment and its packaging information.

If you or someone you know has been invovled in an automobile accident involving seatbelt injuries or faulty seatbelt contact Baltimore Injury lawyer or Rockville Injury lawyer, Joseph Ostad at 1(800) 320-0080 for an immediate free initial consultation.

A law firm has filed a lawsuit against the state on behalf of four bicyclists who were severely injured while riding on Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) in August 2009. The cyclists suffered everything from severe cases of road rash to concussions, broken bones, punctured lungs, even paralysis. The state agency hired an outside contractor to re-pave a portion of PCH in Malibu near Zuma Beach. The re-paving process was in its initial stages. On the first Friday after the project began, the contractor left the jobsite unprotected, without warning of the danger it posed. Bicyclists riding northbound on PCH encountered an incline without any reasonable notice of what they faced at the bottom of the incline, namely that the road was "...cut away and strewn with loose gravel, rocks, sudden irregularities in elevation, narrowing of the shoulder, ground-up roadway surfaces, cracks and crevices," according to the lawsuit. These conditions "would and did cause said roadway to be unreasonably dangerous and defective for bicyclists who regularly and typically used PCH....". The hazardous conditions remained from Friday through Sunday despite messages left on the states hotline and e-mails sent informing them of the conditions. The governmental agency did not begin to remedy the situation until Monday, explaining that they were closed on Friday due to the state-mandated furlough. "The state did not do their job," says Personal Injury Attorney and avid cyclist who specializes in handling bicycle cases. "Pursuant to policy and directive, they are responsible for issuing warnings about highway construction projects, and they dropped the ball ... big time. Call it oversight, carelessness, stupidity or indifference ... it still comes down to many innocent people being seriously injured." If you or a loved one has been injured from a bicycle accident due to fault of a driver contact me for a free intitial consultation at my Rockville or Baltimore Offices at 1-800-320-0080.

Kenneth Matlock received a $6 million award for injuries he suffered when a large tree limb dropped onto his car in 2006. While traveling down Route 29 in New Jersey, a limb from an oak tree fell into his car. Matlock and his wife both suffered broken necks from the limb. Matlock then lost control of the car which ended up hitting a guard rail on the opposite side of the road. Due to his injuries, which include permanent disability, Matlock was no longer able to work as a truck driver. Matlock sued the township, the county and the state Department of Transportation which maintains the road as well as the adjoining property owners. It was determined that the tree was in the state's right of way and the suit against all other defendants was dismissed. The land where the tree was, had been underwater days before the accident when the Delaware River flooded for the third time in 21 months. The tree that fell had been weakened by the flooding and rot. The limb was hollow inside. There had been previous reports in the area of falling tree limbs and the DOT had the opportunity to inspect the other trees that posed a potential hazard to motorists. If you or a loved one has been involved in a serious accident through no fault of your own contact me at my Rockville or Baltimore offices at 1-800-320-0080 for a free initial consultation.

The 2nd District Court of Appeal has upheld a $65 million verdict for a woman injured in a 2007 traffic crash. The verdict is considered to be one of the largest by her County jury.
The victim, then 19, was driving her Dodge Neon when a tractor-trailer struck her car at State Road 35 and State Road 64 , according to the lawsuit. Her lawyers argued at trial that she had the green light and produced an eyewitness to testify to that. Before the crash, the High School graduate was attending a Florida Community College, majoring in psychology, court records show. She could speak six languages and was working as a residential aide for Florida Institute of Neurologic Rehabilitation, according to the deposition of her mother. After the crash, the victim was left with extensive injuries and is unable to care for herself. Her mother said in her deposition her daughter's condition requires constant supervision. During a normal day, she requires help to bathe, to dress, to eat, to go to the bathroom and other routine tasks. She has trouble walking and uses a wheelchair.
On March 18, , a jury found in favor of the victim with the multimillion-dollar verdict. A trucking company, and its part-time truck driver, had argued the amount should be reduced because it was excessive and a new trial should take place, court records show.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a serious motor vehicle accident do not hesitate to call my offices located in Rockville or Baltimore, Maryland at 800-320-0080.

In December 2004, a man was severely injured when the tire of his car got caught on a six-inch lip on the roadside and he lost control crashing into a guardrail that impaled the vehicle. The man was left with a amputated left leg and an almost severed left arm. He sued the county that was responsible for maintaining the road, and won a verdict of $31 million.

Days after the verdict, the county's insurer sued the county claiming that it should not have to pay because the county's attorney did not properly prepare for trial or adequately update the insurance company. The county claims that the case was handled properly and that the insurance company only voiced its concerns after the verdict. Meanwhile, the man continues to have pain from the accident and cannot receive the medical treatment he needs until the judgement is paid.

If you or a loved one has suffered an injury please call my offices at 1(800) 320-0080.http://www.maryland-attorney.us/lawyer-attorney-1112627.html