Harford County Executive Candidate dies in Bel Air Accident

Churchville businessman and candidate for Harford County executive, Stephen M. Wright, died in a car accident on Thursday, May 20, 2010, just before 7:00 p.m.  Mr. Wright was operating his 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee southbound on Wheel Road, when his vehicle left the road and struck a utility pole.

A spokesperson for the police advised that witnesses who checked on him immediately following the accident believe he was experiencing medical issues, which may have been the cause of the accident.. The police do not believe speed or alcohol contributed to the accident.  Instead, the report indicated that Mr. Wright may have experienced a medical emergency.

Paramedics from the Abingdon Volunteer Fire Company transported Mr. Wright  to Upper Chesapeake Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at the hospital around 8 p.m.

Mr. Wright was a longtime member of the Harford County Republican Central Committee and a conservative with ties to the Tea Party movement and was the first candidate to file in this year's county executive race.

Mr. Wright is survived by his wife, Krista and their three daughters, Meagan, McKenzie and Katie.

If it is determined that a medical emergency was the cause of this accident, Mr. Wright's family may be entitled to certain death benefits also referred to as survivor benefits, which could include accidental death benefits, continuation of lost earnings, periodic "pension" payments and replacement services payments.  In some states, reasonable funeral expenses are protected benefits and have to be paid even when the insurance policy's other benefits , such as medical expenses  have been paid to the policy limits.

In the unfortunate event that Mr. Wright had collided with another vehicle and it was determined that he was experiencing a medical emergency, the other party would be barred from making a claim against his insurance company for their injuries, based on the sudden emergency defense.

If you, a family member or someone you know has been involved in an accident involving an emergency situation or you need more information on this type of motor vehicle accident, please contact Portner & Shure and speak with one of our experienced Maryland accident lawyers for a free consultation. 

Motorcycle Accident Leads to Serious Injuries

Motorcycle accidents are common and often result in serious injuries. Motorcycle drivers need be extremely cautious when operating their bikes since the potential of serious or fatal personal injuries are much more likely if an automobile accident does occur. Although most motorcycle accidents are commonly the result of negligent driving, human error is also a likely contributing factor.

Earlier this month, a Hagerstown motorcyclist was seriously injured as the result of a collision between his bike and a Volkswagen Jetta while on US Route 40 in Frederick County, Maryland. The motorcyclist said that the driver of the Jetta pulled out in front of him. When the Jetta pulled out, the motorcyclist struck the driver side door causing his bike to overturn. The operator of the motorcycle was transported to R Adams Crowley Trauma Center in Baltimore after suffering head and leg injuries.

The accident is still under investigation. An accident re-constructionist can be called to the scene to help determine the cause of the accident. If skid measurements were taken by an expert, the speed at impact could have been determined. Proper measurements, done timely, with eye witness testimony, could help investigators to determine if the driver of Jetta failed to yield to the right of way.

If you, a family member, or someone you know has been involved in a motorcycle accident and would like a free legal consultation, or if you would like more information on automobile accidents, please contact Portner & Shure. Our Maryland and Virginia accident attorneys are available to speak with you.

Rollover Crash Injures 4 People: Is the Driver Responsible for the Car Accident?

In late March, a vehicle traveling on Interstate 70 in Frederick County, Maryland lost control and rolled over several times. In the vehicle were four people. All the individuals in the vehicle were transported to a local hospital for observations. Although the cause of the accident is unclear, the Maryland State Police noted that there was a steady rain falling at the time of the accident which could have attributed to the cause of the accident.

All automobile drivers need to be cautious when driving in adverse weather conditions to avoid automobile accidents. Failure to do so could be deadly or lead to serious bodily injuries. Remember that in heavy rain, a driver still maintains an obligation to drive his car at a reasonable and prudent speed with is consistent with the current weather conditions. In other words, if a driver is traveling at the posted speed limit, he or she can still be found negligent of exceeding a safe speed if the weather conditions are hazardous.

If you have been involved in an automobile accident and are not sure of your legal rights, you may contact Portner & Shure for a free legal consultation.