Maryland Personal Injury, Accident, and Victim's Rights BlogUnder Maryland law, an individual or company that entrusts a motor vehicle to another person with knowledge that such person has a propensity for negligent or reckless driving may be held liable for injuries subsequently caused by that person in a motor vehicle collision. For example, a parent that has given a vehicle to a child as a birthday gift (or even if the parent has simply permitted the use of a family vehicle) with knowledge that the child has reckless driving habits may be held liable for personal injuries caused by the child in a motor vehicle collision. The child’s youth, maturity and inexperience behind the wheel may be relevant factors to consider in the appropriate case. Typically, in order to recover under a theory of negligent entrustment it must be shown that the supplier of the vehicle knew or should have known that the driver would operate the vehicle in a manner that posed an unreasonable risk of harm to others.
Articles Posted in Automobile Accident
Maryland Injury Law-When is an Employer Responsible When a Negligent Employee Causes an Accident?
Experienced Maryland plaintiff’s personal injury lawyers know to sue the employer when its employee commits an act of negligence causing personal injury. Often times the injured victim can recover damages from the employer if the tortuous act was committed by an employee acting within the scope of the employment relationship. In Maryland, this is called the doctrine of respondeat superior.
The doctrine of respondeat superior, in Maryland, allows an employer to be held vicariously liable for the tortuous conduct of its employee when that employee was acting within the scope of the employment relationship. With regard to the negligent use of motor vehicles in a respondeat superior claim, the State of Maryland recognizes that a master can be held liable for the negligent operation of a servant’s motor vehicle if the master expressly or impliedly consents to the use of the automobile, and……had the right to control the servant in its operation, or else the use of the automobile was of such vital importance in furthering the master’s business that his control over it might reasonably be inferred. Thus, the doctrine of respondeat superior may be properly invoked if the master has expressly or impliedly, authorized the [servant] to use his personal vehicle in the execution of his duties, and the employee is in fact engaged in such endeavors at the time of the accident.
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$21.62 Million Jury Verdict Against Driver Talking on Cell Phone
A Florida jury returned a verdict of $21.62 million in a wrongful death and survivor action where a 32 year old woman was rear-ended by another driver talking on her cell phone while driving. The force of the rear-end collision pushed the decedent’s car across the median strip and into oncoming traffic. She was killed when an SUV struck her vehicle head-on.
Recovering for injuries suffered in an accident involving a company vehicle.
Experienced Maryland Personal Injury Attorneys know the various ways to recover for injuries suffered if involved in an accident with a vehicle owned by a business or company. If a Maryland resident is injured when their vehicle is struck by a company or business vehicle driven by another person, there are several sources of recovery for their injuries, including the company’s insurance, the other driver’s insurance or their own insurance company. If a Maryland resident is driving a company vehicle that is involved in an accident, they potentially may recover from; 1) Workers’ Compensation, 2) the other driver’s insurance company or 3) their own insurance company.
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Helpful Tips for Finding Address Information for Defendants in Automobile Accident Cases
Oftentimes, in automobile accident cases, it may be difficult to obtain service for an individual defendant. Perhaps the defendant provided the wrong address at the scene of the accident. Or perhaps the defendant has moved at some point between the date of the accident and the date suit is actually filed. Fortunately, Maryland law sets forth a statutory tool for obtaining a defendant’s last known address from the defendant’s insurance company.
Pursuing a Recovery When Injured by an Uninsured Motorist or “Phantom Vehicle”
Sometimes, individuals that do not carry automobile insurance coverage (because they do not drive) are injured by an uninsured motorist or “phantom vehicle.” The Maryland legislature has created a special fund to compensate these victims. In certain circumstances, it may be possible to make a claim against this government-managed fund when a person has been injured (or his or her property has been damaged) by the negligent act or omission of an uninsured motorist or a motorist that has fled the scene of the collision and cannot be identified.
Multi-Million Dollar Jury Award in Trucking Accident Case
A Cheyenne, Wyoming jury awarded a husband and wife more than $18 million in a personal injury lawsuit arising out of a tractor-trailer collision. The driver of the tractor-trailer and the trucking company that employed her were found to be negligent in causing the crash. The defendants claimed that the husband, who was very seriously injured and sustained severe brain damage as a result of the crash, was negligent in causing the collision. The jury disagreed. A copy of the article regarding the case can be found here.
Parents may collect for injuries on behalf of a minor child
Experienced Maryland personal injury attorneys can help parents or guardians recovery money for injuries suffered by their children in automobile accidents. Whether or not the parent a guardian was involved in the car crash that injured the child is irrelevant to whether a parent/guardian can collect on behalf of the minor child.
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Bus Accident Recovery
Metro has agreed to pay $2.3 million to settle a wrongful death lawsuit brought by a man whose wife was killed when she was struck by a Metrobus last year. The man who brought the lawsuit wanted to hold Metro accountable when it struck and killed his wife and his wife’s friend, both of whom were walking in a crosswalk at the time of the incident.
Maryland Automobile Accidents
As an experienced Maryland personal injury lawyer, I see many injured victims in automobile accidents who are afraid to seek recovery for damages because they either are driving uninsured or their driver’s license is suspended.
Maryland Automobile Accidents-Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
Persons injured in automobile accidents in Maryland may be eligible for Personal Injury Protection (PIP). Personal Injury Protection is a common no-fault insurance provision which benefits persons injured in automobile accidents to collect money as reimbursement for medical bills and lost wages. Most Maryland automobile insurance policies are written to allow up to $2500.00 in PIP benefits. Some Maryland insurers will allow for up to $10,000.00 in PIP benefits for injured persons.
Eligible injured parties may include both drivers or passengers in automobile or truck accidents. A person may be excluded from recovering PIP benefits for personal injury or lost wages if they previously waived PIP on their own automobile policy. For injured persons who do not have a Maryland automobile insurance policy, they are normally eligible for PIP benefits as long as they do not live in the same household with someone who has a Maryland automobile insurance policy and has waived PIP benefits.
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Maryland’s Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Law is Intended to Protect Innocent Victims
Maryland uninsured/underinsured motorist statute is intended to protect innocent victims from the nelgigent conduct of irresponsible drivers who drive without insurance. Maryland courts have demonstrated a tendency to liberally construe the uninsured/undersinured motorist statute to ensure that, when appropriate, the victims of automobile accidents are adequately compensated for the personal injuries they may suffer as a result of such accidents.
Maryland Personal Injury Law Prohibits Lawsuits Against Operators of Emergency Vehicles
Under Maryland personal injury law, the driver of an “emergency vehicle” cannot be sued in his or her individual capacity for damages resulting from negligent conduct committed while operating an emergency vehicle in the course of providing “emergency service.” An “emergency vehicle” includes police vehicles. “Emergency service” includes responses to any emergency call or the pursuit of a suspected criminal. This shield from a personal injury lawsuit does not apply to malicious acts or acts of “gross neligence.”