Deadly Head-On Accident in Glen Burnie, Maryland

           Early Wednesday evening, a Volkswagen Passat and a Toyota 4Runner crashed head on into one another.  Sadly, the driver of the 4Runner did not survive the crash after his SUV overturned on Furnace Brand Road.  The driver and three children passengers in the other vehicle only suffered minor injuries.

            

           After examining the accident scene, police believe that the SUV was driving east on Furnace Branch Road when he drifted over the center line into oncoming traffic.  Based on that information, police have announced that the official preliminary cause of the crash appears to be the SUV driver’s failure to stay within his lane of travel.  Police did not find any evidence of speeding or alcohol contributing to the accident, and everyone in the two vehicles was wearing a seatbelt. 

Fatal car accidents happen far too often throughout Maryland.  The state’s Department of Transportation continues to have a goal of zero deaths on Maryland’s roadways and is working tirelessly to improve the roads and make them safer for everyone.   Losing a loved one in a fatal car accident is devastating for any family.  No amount of money will ever replace losing that person.  In a wrongful death case, the law allows for surviving estates to collect a financial recovery when a negligent party is held liable for the cause of the death.  Compensation for damages can include: loss of services, loss of future income, mental anguish, medical expenses, funeral expenses, and punitive damages.  In this accident, it appears that the negligent party was also the one who did not survive the accident.

           

            If you or a family member has been injured or killed in an accident caused by the fault or negligence of another person and would like to consult an experienced Maryland personal injury attorney for free, contact us at (301) 854-9000 to schedule an appointment at one of our office locations in Glen Burnie or throughout Maryland or visit us online at http://www.portnerandshure.com/Auto-Accidents/Car-Accidents/Fatal-Car-Accidents.shtml

Ford Recalls Over Half a Million Vehicles in the U.S.

            The recall is for steering issues mainly, but there are a smaller number of issues due to complications with other parts of the affected vehicles.  The largest group of cars affected includes Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ sedans from model years 2013-2015, as well as 2015 Ford Edge Crossover vehicles.  This group of cars is affected by potential steering issues where gear motor attachment bolts may break due to corrosion.  If this happens, manual steering would take over and it would be very difficult to steer, especially at slower speeds.  When this happens, the risk of an accident increases substantially.  Thankfully, no accidents or injuries have been reported as a result of this specific issue.  If you have an affected vehicle, take it to your Ford or Lincoln dealer and they will replace the bolts and steering gear at no cost to you.

            Other issues are affecting 2014 model year Ford Focus, Edge, Escape, and Transit Connect vehicles, as well as 2014-2015 Ford Fiesta cars.  These vehicles have a nickel plating issue that could cause the fuel pump to seize, which means the vehicle might not start or could stall while driving.  So far, there has been one such case where this has happened to a driver.  Again, dealers will take care of this issue by replacing the fuel delivery module. 

            2015 Lincoln MKZ sedans are also affected by parking lamps being too bright for regulations and negatively affecting the vision of oncoming drivers.  Software in the vehicle contributes to this problem and dealers will fix the software to lower the intensity and brightness of the lights.  The last issue affects 2015 Ford F-150 trucks.  There is a potential that the underbody heat shield could lead to a fire.  So far, no incidents have been reported due to the bright lights or the fire hazard for trucks.

            Vehicle recalls are very serious because of the increased risk of accidents and injuries.  It is important for car owners to get these recall issues repaired as soon as possible for their own safety and the safety of others on the road.  If injury occurs as a result of the defective parts in your vehicle, you may be entitled to several legal remedies, including:

• Economic damages: you may be able to recoup lost value of the car's resale value. You may also be able to recover for loss of use of the car
• Personal injury recovery: if the defective automobile resulted in physical injuries to you, you may be able to recover for the costs associated with the injury
• Class action: If the recall has affected enough numbers of consumers, a class action lawsuit might be an available option
• Manufacturer reimbursement: Some auto manufacturers may voluntarily pay repair bills the defective product caused before the recall.

  Sometimes, however, you may need to initiate litigation to be compensated for your financial as well as your physical losses. At Portner & Shure, we have handled these cases for over twenty years for Maryland and Virginia injury victims. We have the experience and technical resources to analyze your auto accident case, answer your questions, and pursue the compensation you deserve.  Call us today to schedule an appointment at one of our many office locations for your free case evaluation at (301) 854-9000 or visit us online at: http://www.portnerandshure.com/Personal-Injury/

Deadly Annapolis Multi-Car Accident Closes Route 50

            On Saturday, eastbound lanes of Route 50 at Aris T. Allen Boulevard and Route 665 were closed because of a three-car accident.  Unfortunately, the three occupants in one of the vehicles involved all died.  Raymond Badders died at the scene, and his daughter, Susannah Badders, who was driving, and the third passenger passed away at Shock Trauma.  Occupants in the second vehicle were not injured.  The driver of third vehicle, an off-duty police officer, suffered only minor injuries even though his vehicle overturned.

            Maryland State Police say that evidence shows the third vehicle swerved into the first vehicle to avoid stopped traffic.  The third vehicle overturned and pushed the first vehicle into the second vehicle in front of it.  Police have not said if speed or other factors such as texting or talking on a cell phone led to this horrific accident.

            While car accidents are common, determining exactly what happened at the scene of an accident can be very difficult.  All accidents are different and liability changes depending on the circumstances of each case.  Our experienced Annapolis car accident attorneys have many ways to prove liability in an auto accident.

            The action you take immediately after your accident will affect your personal injury recovery.  Winning your case against large insurance companies requires a strategic approach that we have developed over the last 25 years.

            If you or a family member has been injured or killed in a Maryland automobile accident, truck, bus or motorcycle accident, and would like a free legal consultation or if you would like more information on car accidents please feel free to contact our office at (301) 854-9000 or visit us on the web at: http://www.portnerandshure.com/Auto-Accidents/Motorcycle-Accidents.shtml