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.

Rockville Pedestrian Accident Lawyers: Dangerous Intersection Results in Death

          Last week, a teenage bicyclist was hit and killed in the crosswalk on Viers Mill Road at Turkey Branch Parkway.  This crosswalk is at the bottom of a hill, and many drivers do not stop for pedestrians.  In fact, most drivers cruise through the crosswalk well above the 45 mph posted speed limit.  The Matthew Henson Trail is a popular trail that runs on both sides of the street.  This is a very wide street with several lanes of traffic for pedestrians and bikers to get through before making it to the other side.  There is currently a safety device in place that will flash lights at the top of the hill when crossing pedestrians hit a button.  Oftentimes, drivers do not notice the lights and fail to slow down when approaching the crosswalk. 

Montgomery County Police Captain wants to constantly remind drivers to be cautious when driving down this section of Viers Mill Road.  Maryland drivers should know that it is state law for cars to stop at crosswalks when pedestrians are waiting to cross.  Even though pedestrians have the right of way, they too should be aware of their surroundings and remain cautious when crossing.  Many are urging county officials to take more action to protect lives at this intersection.  One plan calls for installing flashing lights in the crosswalk so that it stands out for drivers to see, especially at night.

Pedestrian accidents are some of the worst, but also some of the most avoidable.  A majority of pedestrian accidents are caused by driver negligence, such as texting while driving and speeding.  Police statewide have been increasing patrols for cell phone use while driving as part of the state’s plan for zero deaths on Maryland roadways.  Pedestrians must remember to always check for incoming traffic because drivers cannot be trusted to stop at a crosswalk.

If you or a family member have been injured or killed in a Maryland pedestrian accident and would like to consult an experienced personal injury attorney for free, contact our office at (301) 854-9000 to schedule an appointment at one of our office locations in Rockville or throughout Maryland or visit us online at http://www.portnerandshure.com/Personal-Injury/

Fatal Hit and Run Accident Kills Pedestrian in Bel Air

            Last Friday night, a mother and her daughter were crossing route 40 at Maryland Route 7 in Bel Air when the mother was hit by two different cars.  The first car that hit her never stopped, but the second car stopped immediately to see what happened.  Very little information is known about the first vehicle.  The victim’s daughter says the car was a passenger vehicle with damage to the front end and windshield.  In the area of the accident, there are no crosswalks for pedestrians, so it is unlikely that the victim was using a crosswalk at the time of the accident.

Pedestrian safety affects everyone at all times of the day and on all types of roadways.  Many pedestrian accident injuries and fatalities are caused by intoxication or inattentiveness (i.e. texting while walking) on the part of the pedestrian.  However, sometimes there are negligent drivers who run through a crosswalk filled with people, hit someone, and keep driving.  In this case, it is unclear if the pedestrian was at fault because it does not appear that there was a crosswalk.  Another important aspect of pedestrian accidents is that if the pedestrian contributes to the accident in any way, he or she cannot recover any compensation.  This is referred to as contributory negligence.  Sadly, numerous fatal pedestrian accidents occur when the pedestrian is not in a crosswalk and they are not able to collect any compensation from the at-fault driver.  In a hit-and-run accident, the driver will still face criminal charges, but the victim’s family will not be able to recover any damages as a result of the accident because the pedestrian contributed to the accident by not using a crosswalk.

If you or a family member has been injured or killed by a driver as a pedestrian and would like to consult an experienced Maryland personal injury attorney for free, contact our office at (301) 854-9000 to schedule an appointment at one of our office locations in Bel Air or throughout Maryland or visit us online at http://www.portnerandshure.com/Personal-Injury/

Montgomery County Public School Bus Hits Pedestrian in Derwood, Maryland

          Around 9 am this morning, near the Redland Road and Crabbs Branch Way intersection, a school bus struck a woman, seriously injuring her.  The woman’s injuries are life threatening and considered to be a priority one.  Montgomery County police are still investigating the cause of the accident.  It is not clear as of right now whether the pedestrian was crossing the street with a walk signal or if she was in a crosswalk when she was hit.  There were no children on board the school bus and no other people were injured in the crash.

Sadly, pedestrian accidents occur every day across the country.  And unfortunately, thousands of pedestrians are killed each year in accidents, and actually the numbers have been increasing nationwide in recent years.  According to the NHTSA, nearly 3 out of 4 pedestrian deaths occur in urban environments, at intersections, during the nighttime.  In addition, more than one-third of pedestrian deaths involve alcohol.

Determining who the negligent party/ies is/are in a pedestrian accident is crucial.  For example, Portner & Shure investigators will examine the scene, talk with witnesses, and interview police officers handling the case in order to develop an understanding of the facts.  Our attorneys then use the facts to create a legal plan of action to help the client recover monetary damages for their medical expenses, injuries, pain and suffering, and lost wages.

In a Maryland pedestrian accident case, it must be determined whether the pedestrian was lawfully crossing the street at the time of the crash.  In other words, was the pedestrian crossing the street against the “walk” signal, crossing outside the crosswalk, or texting while crossing, or was the pedestrian crossing with the “walk” signal and inside the crosswalk.  Because Maryland is a contributory negligence state, if the victim pedestrian is negligent in any way, they cannot recover in a civil lawsuit.  Since we do not know the facts in this case yet, we do not know if the pedestrian was contributorily negligent in the accident.

If you or a family member have been injured or killed in a pedestrian accident and would like to consult an experienced Maryland personal injury attorney for free, contact our office at (301) 854-9000 to schedule an appointment at one of our office locations in Gaithersburg or throughout Maryland or visit us online at http://www.portnerandshure.com/Personal-Injury/