Settlement: Police Crash into ATV While Trying to Apprehend the Driver

          In March 2013, Michael Lewis was driving a four-wheel ATV on Karen Boulevard in Prince George’s County, Maryland at the same time that two police cruisers were driving in the opposite direction.  Lewis was driving the ATV on a public road without a helmet, and as a result, the police officers tried to pull him over.  During this attempt, one police car crossed over the double yellow line in the direct path of the ATV.  The first police car narrowly missed hitting the ATV, but the second police car crashed into the ATV.  Lewis sued Prince George’s County because he claimed the police used excessive force and that is the cause of his accident injuries.

            

         Trial for this case began on Monday, and Lewis’s attorneys argued that the police officers used a special tactic called “heading off,” which is only allowed to be used when attempting to stop a violent suspect.  Lewis was only breaking basic local traffic laws.  PG County officials claim the incident was a “miscalculation resulting in an accident.”  All 16 traffic citations were dismissed after the accident.

            

         Yesterday, Lewis and his attorneys accepted a settlement offer from PG County.  The amount of the settlement was not disclosed, but Lewis’s attorneys said their client was “fairly compensated for everything he has been put through.”  Because a settlement was reached, the trial does not continue and the County never has to accept any liability for the accident.  The uncertainty of trial likely prompted the County to try and settle the case out of court.

In personal injury cases similar to this one, where both sides cannot agree on a settlement before trial, there is still usually a high probability of a settlement being reached before trial is over.  Oftentimes, the party at fault in the accident does not want to risk having trial completed and leaving everything in the hands of a judge or jury.  In a settlement agreement, the at-fault party does not accept responsibility for the accident, but instead usually just offers to pay the injured party a sum of money.  Once a case gets to trial, attorneys fees start to increase rapidly and most clients do not want to rack up a large number of legal fees.

If you or a family member have been injured or killed in an 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 Greenbelt or throughout Maryland or visit us online at http://www.portnerandshure.com/Personal-Injury/

Howard County School Bus Driver Crashes Under Influence of Drugs

          Tuesday afternoon, Howard County school bus driver, Stacy Jean McKinney, crashed into a mailbox and a water runoff drain with children on board.  Fortunately, no one was seriously injured in the accident that happened on Whiskey Bottom Road in Laurel, Maryland.  When police arrived to the scene, they discovered that the driver was under the influence of drugs.  Consequently, McKinney was charged with drug possession, driving while impaired, and negligent driving.  While police have not released what type of drug specifically was in her system, it was noted that the drug was not marijuana.

            While it is deplorable for anyone to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, it is absolutely horrifying when that person is a school bus driver with children on board.  For somebody to put the lives of innocent school children in danger is terrifying.  Parents trust that the bus driver will drive their children to and from school safely and not do anything to put their lives in danger.  This bus driver clearly did not consider the lives of the children on board when she made the decision to drive under the influence of drugs.

            While things like this do not happen often, the fact that they happen at all is alarming.  An event like this would certainly make parents second guess the decision to send their child to school on the bus. 

            If you or a family member has been injured or killed in a school bus accident due to the negligence of someone else in Maryland and would like to consult an experience personal injury attorney for free, call us today to schedule an appointment to meet at one of our offices in Laurel or throughout Maryland at (301) 854-9000, or visit us online to learn more about personal injury cases: http://www.portnerandshure.com/Personal-Injury/

Riverdale, Maryland Police Looking to Catch Distracted Drivers

           Drivers in Riverdale, Langley Park, and Fort Washington should be on the lookout for increased police patrols in the coming weeks.  April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and as a result, Maryland police officers are trying to catch drivers who are using their cell phones while driving.  Officers will not hesitate to pull drivers over if they look like they are not paying full attention to the road while behind the wheel. 

            For the past week, police have been targeting drivers near the toll facilities in the state.  The Maryland Transportation Authority considers distracted driving as “any activity that could divert a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving.”  This includes using a handheld cell phone to make a phone call, text, or use any other application.

            If police catch you for a first offense, the fine is $83.  However, if you are caught for a third time, the fine is $160.  Additionally, if a crash occurs, points may be added to your driver’s license.  The strictest penalty is imposed when a distracted driver causes a serious or fatal accident ($5,000 fine and up to one year in prison).  According to Maryland’s MVA, “Distracted driving is involved in 58 percent of total crashes and half of all fatal crashes statewide.”  Studies also show that a driver is three times more likely to be involved in a crash wen reaching for a phone and looking for a number.  Texting while driving doubles the likelihood of being in an accident.

            Your phone calls and text messages can wait, but your life and the lives of others cannot.  Far too many people are killed in accidents every year caused by distracted drivers using cell phones and not paying attention to the road. 

If you or someone you love has been injured in a distracted driving car, truck, or bus accident or has died as a result of their injury suffered in a Maryland crash, and would like more information, please call us at (301) 854-9000 to schedule an appointment for a free case evaluation at our Silver Spring office or one of our other Maryland offices, or visit us online at: http://www.portnerandshure.com/Auto-Accidents/Car-Accidents/Fatal-Car-Accidents.shtml