Car Drives Off B-W Parkway Ramp in Greenbelt, Driver Arrested for DUI

           Early this morning, a woman drove her car off the northbound Greenbelt Road ramp on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway.  After d riving off the ramp, the car crashed into a wooded area full of trees.  Police arrived after the accident and observed the driver stumbling as she walked.  As a result, police administered a sobriety test, which she failed.  The woman was then arrested for DUI.  Luckily, there were no injuries associated with this crash.

            

            There are drunk drivers on the road every day, yet it is impossible for police officers to catch every single one of them.  Unfortunately, a majority of drunk drivers are not caught and are therefore never penalized for driving under the influence of alcohol.  Oftentimes, the drunk driver crashes into another vehicle or into a pedestrian, causing severe injuries to an innocent person. 

Fatal car accidents that are attributed to drunk drivers happen far too often in Maryland.  The state’s Department of Transportation has a goal of zero deaths on Maryland’s roadways, and they continue to work tirelessly to improve the roads and make them safer for drivers.  Drunk driving related deaths are the worst kind of accident-related death because someone makes an irresponsible decision to drive drunk and then an innocent life is taken away because of that.   Losing a loved one in a fatal car accident is devastating for any family, especially when it could have been prevented.  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.

            

            If you or a family member has been injured or killed in an accident caused by the fault or negligence of a drunk driver 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 Greenbelt or throughout Maryland or visit us online at http://www.portnerandshure.com/Auto-Accidents/Car-Accidents/Fatal-Car-Accidents.shtml

Woman Dies in Maryland Crash with Pick-Up Truck

          Last night, a deadly accident occurred in Frederick County, Maryland.  A Dodge Ram pick-up truck crossed over the yellow lines into oncoming traffic, crashing head-on into a Toyota Corolla.  The driver of the truck, Paul Smith, 25, was heading westbound on Route 40A near Ridge Road.  The driver of the Toyota, Terry Wolfe, along with a passenger, Deborah Bell, was heading eastbound on the same road when the truck drove straight into them.  Rescue officials had to cut the roof off of the Toyota in order to extract the two occupants.  Wolfe survived the crash, suffering non-life threatening injuries.  However, his passenger was not so lucky.  Deborah Bell later died at the hospital from her injuries.  Smith, driver of the truck, refused medical treatment and did not go to the hospital.

            Investigation of the accident shows that alcohol was a contributing factor in causing the accident.  Currently, no charges have been filed against the driver, but they are pending as the investigation continues.

It is unfortunate how often drunk driving related fatal accidents occur.  It is never smart to get behind the wheel of a car after you have been drinking.  Assuming the police are correct in their belief that alcohol was involved, the driver who drove under the influence of alcohol made an irresponsible decision doing so by putting their life and the lives of others in grave danger.

If you have been arrested for a DUI/DWI it is important that you consult an experienced Maryland DUI attorney immediately because DUI is a criminal offense and carries potentially severe penalties.  An experienced attorney can guide you through the court process and find any possible defenses that can either mitigate the penalties in the case, or in some instances, lead to an acquittal or dismissal.  

If you or a family member has been charged with DUI or DWI and would like a free legal consultation or if you would like more information on DUI or DWI please feel free to contact our office at (301) 854-9000 or visit us on the web at http://www.portnerandshure.com/Criminal-Defense/DWI-DUI/