Accident Reconstructionist Called in Fatal Pedestrian Accident

Early Thursday morning a pedestrian crossing Branch Avenue in Prince George's County was struck by a vehicle and killed. The driver of the vehicle remained on the scene to assist the police officers with the investigation. Branch Avenue was closed in both directions while an accident reconstructionist was summoned.

An accident reconstructionist could help the investigating officers determine what happened. Weather conditions, speed of vehicle, time of day, physical evidence such as skid marks are taken into consideration when an accident is being investigated. An accident reconstructionist should be called in fatal or serious motor vehicle and pedestrian accidents.

If you, a family member, or someone you know has been injured as a pedestrian or if you would like more information on car accidents, please contact Portner & Shure for a free consultation.

Rear End Collisions and the Exchange of Information

Rear end collisions are among the most common accidents. As a general rule, the driver of a motor vehicle may not follow another vehicle closer then what is reasonable. The operator of the vehicle must maintain a reasonable speed for the driving and traffic conditions. There are specific laws surrounding what is considered to be "reasonable" based on the circumstances of the situation.

At the beginning of the month, a minor rear end collision turned deadly when two parties were involved in a collision in Hyattsville in Prince George's County, Maryland. They pulled over to exchange their information. While they were exchanging information, a third vehicle struck both of the cars and the two people who were exchanging information. As a result the two parties were killed. The police who responded to the scene believe that the driver of the third vehicle was intoxicated.

If both parties agree that liability is clear, go to a parking lot when exchanging information. Countless accidents occur when people are on the shoulder of the road. In most cases, there is absolutely no reason to remain on the shoulder, just several feet away from countless cars most likely all traveling at dangerous speeds.

If you, a family member, or someone you know was involved in a rear end collision or if you would like more information on car accidents, please contact Portner & Shure for a free consultation.

Single Vehicle Accident Causes Death of Fort Washington Woman

On February 4, 2010, a 79-year-old woman was killed when her husband suffered a medical condition while driving the couple's car and crashed into a tree in Clinton, Maryland. The driver of the vehicle lost control of the vehicle and hit the nearby tree. Both occupants of the vehicle were taken to a local hospital were the passenger was pronounced dead.

Many auto insurance policies that carry personal injury protection also carry a specific death benefit coverage that can be paid in the event that a death should occur as the result of an accident. This benefit generally ranges from $1,000.00 to $5,000.00. It is important to review the terms of your policy to verify whether or not your policy has such a benefit.

With respect to liability, if you are injured by a person who has a medical emergency several things may need to be proven. First, did this person have reason to believe that their medical condition could put themselves or others at risk. For example, if a person has a seizure and it causes an accident, did that person know of the seizure disorder prior to the collision. Additionally, if you were a passenger, did you know of the condition? If so, and you still went for a drive, your claim may be barred by the doctrine of "assumption of risk." Since several factors come into play in these cases, even you think you did nothing wrong, do not talk to an insurance adjuster without first consulting an attorney.

If you, a family member, or someone you know was injured in an accident as the result a medical condition or if you would like more information on car accidents, please contact Portner & Shure for a free consultation.