Peak Season at the Beach is Here, Pedestrians and Drivers Beware

With July 4th quickly approaching, drivers and pedestrians should be reminded to take extra precautions as the holiday weekend approaches. Traffic will substantially increase at the beach in the upcoming weekends as summer officially kicks off.

Pedestrian-involved accidents along Coastal Highway in Ocean City have long been a problem. Police have done a lot over the years to make it safer for pedestrians to cross the busy highway. If you are trying to cross the road, you should always remember to wait to cross until you have the signal, always stay in the designated crosswalk, and look both ways because you can never assume a driver is paying attention and sees you crossing the road. Drivers along Coastal Highway can be reckless sometimes, especially at night when drunk drivers hit the roads.

Stay safe this 4th of July and all summer long down at the beach. If you or a loved one is injured in a pedestrian accident, call the experienced local attorneys at Portner & Shure today for a free consultation: (301) 854-9000, (410) 995-1515.

Fatal Pedestrian Accidents are Rising Dangerously

A new study has been released, which shows that the number of fatal pedestrian accidents has risen dramatically over the last two years. The numbers released in the study are very surprising considering all the advances made in vehicle safety. Since 2014, the number of fatal pedestrian accidents has risen 22%. In 2015, pedestrian fatalities numbered 5,376 and in 2016, it was projected that there were 5,997 pedestrian fatalities occurred.

What's behind this recent spike in pedestrian-involved fatal accidents? Distracted drivers are a major cause of the dramatic increase in fatal pedestrian accidents. Cars may have become safer with more and more features installed to prevent accidents, but they cannot provide much help if the driver is not even paying attention to the road ahead. Distracted driving is a major cause of countless accidents on the road. Drivers using their cell phone to text, talk to someone, get directions, or even take pictures are all resulting in accidents, especially pedestrians. These accidents are not just occurring in big cities, but also happening more in rural areas. Pedestrians cannot just assume that because they have the walking signal that a driver will automatically give them the right of way because that driver may not even be paying attention.

Next time you cross the street, look both ways and beware of distracted drivers. You may see them, but drivers may not see you because their head is buried looking down at their cell phone. Stay safe as you cross the street, and always remember to cross with the signal and stay inside the crosswalk.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a pedestrian accident, call the attorneys at Portner & Shure today for a free consultation: (301) 854-9000, (410) 995-1515.

Fatal Pedestrian Accident in Carroll County

In early May, a Finksburg, Maryland woman was killed when she was struck by a vehicle on Bethel Road in Carrol County. The woman was said to have been chasing after her dog who had run into the street. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the vehicle has not been charged with an offense.

In this unfortunate situation, the key inquiry is whether or not the pedestrian was inside or out of a crosswalk. As a general rule, pedestrians have the right of way when they are in a crosswalk. However, in the event that a person is crossing a street outside of a crosswalk that person has an obligation to use the greatest care to protect themselves from injury.

If you or someone you know has been injured as the result of a pedestrian related car accident and would like a free legal consultation, please contact Portner & Shure. Maryland accident lawyers are here to answer any questions that you may have.

Alcohol Is a Contributing Factor in Fatal Pedestrian Accident

Earlier this month, the driver of a GMC Sierra struck and killed a man who was attempted to cross Ridge Road in Pasadena, Maryland during the evening hours. The pedestrian was wearing dark clothing and was not in a crosswalk. The Anne Arundel County Police responded. The pedestrian was taken to Baltimore Washington Medical Center where he was pronounced dead a short time later. The police found evidence that suggested that the pedestrian may have been under the influence at the time of the accident.

There is an abundance of laws in Maryland that address situations involving pedestrians that are injured by an automobile. The key inquiry is such accidents are whether or not the pedestrian was inside or out of a crosswalk. As a general rule, pedestrians have the right of way when they are in a crosswalk. However, in the event that a person is crossing a street outside of a crosswalk that person has an obligation to use the greatest care to protect themselves from injury.

In this matter, the family of the deceased may not have a valid claim against the driver of the vehicle. The pedestrian was possibly intoxicated, crossing outside of the crosswalk and was wearing dark clothing at night.

If you or someone you know has been involved in a pedestrian related car accident or if you would like more information on automobile collisions, please contact Portner & Shure. Our Maryland accident lawyers are available to provide you with a free legal consultation.

Pedestrian Killed: When Is a Pedestrian at Fault for an Accident?

At the beginning of the month a woman was killed while crossing Bel Air Road in Baltimore County, Maryland. The Baltimore County Police Department spokesperson indicated that the woman appeared to have been trying to outrun the vehicle to get to the other side of the road when she was struck. The woman was taken to Maryland Shock Trauma where she was pronounced dead. The driver of the vehicle immediately stopped and notified police of the accident.

An accident reconstructionist could help the investigating officers determine what happened. Weather conditions, speed of the vehicle, time of day (i.e. was it dark, lighting?), 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.

There is an abundance of laws in Maryland that address situations involving pedestrians that are injured by an automobile. The key inquiry in such accidents is whether or not the pedestrian was inside or out of a crosswalk. As a general rule, pedestrians have the right of way when they are in a crosswalk. However, in the event that a person is crossing a street outside of a crosswalk that person has an obligation to use the greatest care to protect themselves from injury.

If you, a family member, or someone you know has been involved in a pedestrian related car accident, or if you would like more information on automobile accidents, please contact Portner & Shure for a free consultation. Our Maryland Accident Lawyers are available to provide you with a free legal consultation.