Rockville Maryland Motor Vehicle Accident Law Blog

After five months of regulatory reviews mandated by the current White House administration, national training standards for new truck drivers are now law. As of June 5, carriers, trainers and other stakeholders have until February 20, 2020 to comply with the newly finalized regulations. Commercial driver’s license applicants who receive their CDLs on February 7, 2020 or after will now be required to undergo training based on a specific core curriculum. Specific coursework for Class A certification includes: Basic operation of a vehicle Vehicle control systems and dashboard instruments Pre-

Continue reading Will new regulations for licensed truck drivers improve safety?…

Tags: Motor Vehicle Accidents,

Government and community leaders often tout the economic benefits that come with hosting major marathons. Thousands of runners and visitors from around the world flock to the events, generating millions of dollars in tourism revenue for local businesses. However, a new study may show that these boons to city economies may also come with burdens. Similar to parades and protests, marathons require road closures near the route. These and other disruptions impact local residents, particularly those in need of emergency medical care. “Delays in Emergency Care and Mortality during Major

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Tags: Wrongful Death,

Fatal motor vehicle accidents involving children under 15 vary widely state by state, according to study by Harvard and UT Southwestern Medical Center. Researchers were the first to look at state-level trends while accounting for differences in geography and state laws. Overall results show approximately 16 percent of children died in fatal collisions from 2010 to 2014 for a total of 2,885 children. The number represents a mortality rate of .94 per 100,000 per year. Specific results by geography include: The South saw the highest number of deadly accidents with1,550

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Tags: Motor Vehicle Accidents,

Currently, 41 states have what is called “dooring laws” that involve bikes colliding with open car doors. However, most of those states have vague language that refers only to “traffic,” creating challenges in the interpretation of the law. Only Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Oregon have wording that specifically refers to the protection of bicyclists and pedestrians. However, in spite of those legislative actions combined with designated bike lanes increasing throughout the country, a growing number of bicycles colliding with car doors continue to raise concerns. Limited Data, Options And Progress

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Tags: personal injury,

In the short time following a car accident, personal injury lawyers and law enforcement with admittedly different agendas rush to the scene. Lawyers are trying to build a legal case while cops are working quickly to conduct much-needed investigations and subsequently clear the scene. The days of tape measurements, wheel and chalk marks, other forms of “analog” investigation tools may become a thing of the past. A replacement is waiting in the “wings.” Drones that are currently performing more cutting-edge accident investigations in Illinois could be coming to the skies over the

Continue reading Are drones ready for their close-up 100 feet away?…

Tags: Motor Vehicle Accidents,

The latest numbers from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reveal teen driver-related fatal accidents are on the increase. In 2015, young drivers were involved in1,186 fatal accidents, up nine percent from the previous year’s 1,723. Non-fatal accidents involving teen drivers also grew by 14 percent. A stat considered “alarming, though not altogether unpredictable” revealed a higher rate of fatal crashes among older, more experienced teen drivers (19 to 20-years old) versus 16 to 17-years-olds, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. State-by-state statistics on teen driver safety shows

Continue reading Maryland tops all states in teen driving safety…

Tags: Motor Vehicle Accidents,

Since the introduction of their self-driving vehicles, Tesla has been hit with bad publicity over supposed shortcomings in their driverless technology. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently completed a review of a Florida accident that killed a Model S owner. The investigation focused on Autopilot technology introduced in 2015 for cars to maintain a set speed and course on a highway and make automatic lane changes. This past January, U.S. regulators concluded that no specific defect existed, in spite of its failure to recognize a truck crossing in front

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Tags: personal injury,

The U.S. Postal Service is enjoying a resurgence thanks to a significant jump in online retail sales. The boom in internet shopping and grocery delivery services has created a steady stream of package deliveries seven days a week. Carriers find themselves covering more ground with packages overflowing out of their trucks. However, more deliveries mean more exposure to a letter carrier’s longtime canine adversary. The cliché from movies, television shows and even comic strips is no laughing matter for the Post Office and their employees. Millions of dollars are spent

Continue reading The U.S. Post Office bites back against dog attacks…

Tags: personal injury,

Parents worry about their teenagers when it comes to getting behind the wheel, and for good reason. We have written extensively on how teens are at a higher risk for crashes and injury than drivers of any other age group. The reasons are numerous: teen drivers are inexperienced, prone to take more risks, and are easily distracted, particularly when they have passengers in the vehicle. Teen drivers often drive older, unsafe vehicles That is why parents, when possible, try to have their teens drive the safest possible vehicles. Of course,

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Tags: Blog,

Commercial drivers, particularly those who operate large 18-wheel trucks, are fixtures on highways, freeways and interstates throughout the country. While intimidating in their presence, drivers can only trust that operators behind the wheel are skilled, qualified, and exercise the highest standards of safety. The bare minimum of those expectations is truck drivers that hold a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL). The Department of Transportation (DOT) recently announced a pair of trucking-related criminal cases involving CDL test schemes. According to the DOT’s Office of Inspector General, Antonio Estuardo Tinti administered a CDL

Continue reading Uncovering CDL testing scams…

Tags: Motor Vehicle Accidents,