Personal Injury Law for D.C., Virginia, Maryland

An unidentified man was killed on I-68 when his car failed to negotiate a curve on snowy roads. Two other people were injured in this deadly winter weather car crash.

Labels: car accident caused by snow car accident fatalities deadly accident inclement weather I-68 accident in Maryland rollover accident

1/18/2010
David E. Tompkins
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Cameras Catch 8,800 Speeding Maryland Residents In 6 Weeks

In a bid to reduce the number of car accidents and road worker injuries in Maryland, the state police have used camera speed enforcement for the past six weeks. The result was 8,800 citations since November -- and hopefully many more aware drivers.

Labels: I-95 cameras catch speeding Maryland car accidents maryland speed enforcement cameras road work and car accidents speeding in work zones

12/17/2009
David E. Tompkins
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Rate Of Fatal DUI Car Accidents Down In Maryland

The rate of fatal drunk driving accidents has fallen in Maryland in 2008, according to a new report. However, the number of drunk driving incidents so far in 2009 does not bode well for a two-year drop in DUI accidents.

Labels: driving under the influence drunk driving statistics fatal drunk driving accidents maryland DUI rate of drunk driving maryland

12/15/2009
David E. Tompkins
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DC Stops Car Safety Inspections In Order To Save Money

Do car safety inspection prevent car accidents? Unfortunately, no one has done a conclusive study. Now Washington DC is cutting required car inspections in order to save money - but will it cause more car accidents and car accident injuries?

Labels: accident injuries in DC car accident data DC car accident injuries DC car accidents Washington DC car inspections

9/25/2009
Sharon Tompkins
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National Transportation Safety Board Officials Told Not To Text And Drive

Although new laws about texting while driving and using a cell phone while driving have not gone national, and while they have not affected most drivers in the Washington, DC, area, they have hit the National Transportation Safety Board. The new chair woman of the NTSB announced after her swearing in ceremony that NTSB members in Washington, DC, would no longer be allowed to text or talk on the phone while driving on official business. Board members will also be disallowed from talking on or using their work cell phones while driving their personal cars.

The chairwoman, Deborah Hersman, cited recent studies that link car accidents with texting and talking on the phone. Earlier, the recommended that government and transit agencies ban the use of cellphones and other wireless devices for city workers who drive, young people, and train operators who may cause harm with their distracted driving.

Labels: cell phone law distracted driving driving and texting law National Transportation Safety Board Washington DC car accidents Washington DC cell phone laws

9/2/2009
David E. Tompkins
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6 Things We Should Not Have to Tell You Not To Do While Driving A Car

Six Things We Should Not Have To Tell You Not To Do While Driving

(taken from our actual cases)

6. Don’t drive if you are blind; (actual case)

5. Don’t drive if you are so intoxicated you cannot walk; (actual case)

4. Don’t drive if you don’t know how to drive; (actual case)

3. Don’t drive a car into a lake, they cannot float; (actual case)

2. Don’t drive into a building, and (actual case)

1. Don’t engage in sex acts while driving. (2 actual cases)

Labels: Car Accidents DC car accidents maryland car crash VA car accident

8/6/2009
Sharon Tompkins
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Maryland Doctor Seriously Injured In Pittsville Car Accident

According to the Associated Press, the chief of pediatrics at Peninsula Regional Medical Center, Dr. Jose Alvarado, has been involved in a serious Maryland car crash.

The doctor, who also has a popular Lower Shore private practice, was driving his sports car on Route 50 in Pittsville when he slammed into the back of a tractor-trailer truck that was sitting on the shoulder of the highway. Emergency workers flew the pediatrician to University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, Maryland, where he was listed in critical condition, although he was first transported to Peninsula Regional Medical Center by Pittsville EMS. Maryland State Police told the media that he was in critical condition as of Wednesday at 10 PM.

Alvarado, who lives in Ocean City and who was driving a 2009 Mercedes convertible, has been a doctor in the Salisbury area since 1988.

Labels: maryland car crash maryland doctor car accident maryland pediatrician car accident pittsville car accident route 50 car accident

7/6/2009
Sharon Tompkins
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Bowie, MD, Father And Daughter Killed In Antique Car Crash

The Associated Press reports that a Bowie, Maryland, man and his daughter were killed while driving their antique car on Interstate 70 in Howard County, MD.

The car, a 1929 Model A Ford, was being driven by 62-year-old Richard Dashiell, who was accompanied by his daughter, Amelia. The antique car had a sticker on the back window warning approaching cars that his vehicle was slow moving, but the car was struck from behind by a 2007 Dodge.

Dashiell and Amelia were both thrown from the car - which was not equipped with seatbelts, as many antique cars lack modern day safety options. The driver of the Dodge, Paul Davis of Glen Burnie, was not injured in the crash. Maryland State Police say that the antique Ford was traveling at about 50 miles per hour when it was hit from behind by the truck in Lisbon on I-70.

The Maryland car accident is still under investigation, and no charges have been filed at this time.

Labels: antique car accident antique car crash Bowie car accident howard county car accident I-70 car accident maryland car accident maryland car accident fatality MD Model A Ford car accident

4/9/2009
Sharon Tompkins
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Pro Baseball Rising Star And Maryland Native Nick Adenhart Dies In Car Crash

A two-car hit-and-run accident resulted in three fatalities and possible murder charges, according to ABC Channel 2 News. One of the crash victims was 22-year-old Nick Adenhart - a rookie with the Los Angeles Angels who grew up in Maryland.

The fatal car crash occurred when 22-year-old Andrew Gallo ran a stoplight at an intersection, crashing his minivan into a car containing Adenhart and three others. Adenhart was rushed to the hospital but died during surgery. Two other passengers in his car died at the scene of the accident. The driver of the minivan fled the scene on foot, but was caught by police. Gallo could face vehicular homicide charges as well as hit-and-run charges.

Adenhart was born in Silver Springs, Maryland, and lived in Baltimore during the off-season. He attended Williamsport High School in Hagerstown and trained at the B.A.T.T Academy at Glen Burnie, Maryland.

In the season opener against Oakland, and the only pro game in which he will ever play, Adenhart threw six scoreless innings.

Labels: fatal minivan accident maryland hit-and-run accident Nick Adenhart accident Nick Adenhart Maryland

4/2/2009
Sharon Tompkins
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Woman With Epilepsy Convicted Of Manslaughter After Fatal Beltway Car Accident

In 2007, 28-year-old Michele Bosley blacked out while driving on the Beltway due either to her epilepsy or to her epilepsy medication. Her car crashed into the car of Kirk Mercer of Ellicott City, who died from the injuries sustained in the crash.

This week, Bosley was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 30 weekends in jail, 10 months of house arrest, and five years of probation. She will also not be able to drive a car during this time. No one before in Maryland has been convicted of manslaughter after a crash involving their epilepsy condition.

Bosley allegedly has a history of epilepsy-related car accidents. About 90 car accidents a year across the country are caused by epileptic seizures, while many more are caused by those having heart attacks.

In Maryland, the law states that you must be seizure-free for three months before driving if you have epilepsy, and that any medical updates be reported to the Maryland Motor Vehicle Association.

Labels: beltway car accident car accident manslaughter epilepsy car accident maryland epilepsy-related car accident maryland car accident

1/12/2009
David E. Tompkins
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Drivers Using Cell Phones Cause Accidents; David Tompkins interviewed on WUSA9

David Tompkins, partner at Lewis & Tompkins was interviewed by WUSA9 news on the safety of drivers using cell phones. Talking on a cell phone or texting while driving in Washington, DC is illegal. Watch the video below for more information:

Labels: Car accident lawyer cell phone DC car accident

12/14/2008
David E. Tompkins
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Safety Inspections for Your Car are NOT Optional

Yes, getting your car inspected every year is time consuming. And yes, getting your car inspected can be expensive, especially if it turns out that your car needs several things repaired in order for it to pass.

But how would you feel if you caused an accident or, even worse, caused someone to get seriously hurt because you didn’t bother to get your car inspected? What if your brakes fail? What if your horn doesn’t work? What if your tires aren’t good enough? What if your blinkers don’t work?

A better way to look at it would be to reverse that situation. What if you got hit by a driver who didn’t bother to have his car inspected? Or didn’t bother to fix what was wrong?

In Maryland, Virginia and D.C., getting your car inspected is the law. Don’t put it off and don’t delay getting needed repairs.

As always, if you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in the D.C. area, contact the law offices of Lewis and Tompkins for a free legal consultation today.

Labels: Car accident lawyer Car Accidents Car safety inspections DC car accidents DC Injury Attorney DC injury lawyer lewis and tompkins VA car accident

11/20/2008
Larry
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Personal Injury Protection is Crucial

There is a perfectly logical tendency among Americans to cut back on their insurance coverage once they have paid off their cars.

It makes sense. Why continue to pay for total coverage when the overall value of the car is worth less than the cost of repairs?

But when you have your car paid off, and when you call your insurance company to cut your coverage back down to simple liability coverage, you should make sure that you still have Personal Injury Protection (PIP).

PIP coverage will protect your finances in the event that you get into an accident and are found liable. This is truly a smart way for you to cover yourself. If you reduce the amount of your coverage, MAKE SURE that you still have PIP.

If you have been injured in a DC car accident, contact the law offices of Lewis and Tompkins for a free legal consultation today.

Labels: adjuster, bad insurance, Car accident lawyer, DC Injury Attorney, safety features, uninusured drivers,

11/17/2008
Larry
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Careful with those 15 passenger vans

With gas being as expensive as it is, you would think that less people would be driving this summer. But regardless of price, summer is the time for vacations and driving and sponsored trips.

The NHTSA has released a study showing that those 15 passenger vans used by churches and boyscout troops can roll over pretty easily.

Follow the link below for more information.

Labels: Car accident lawyer DC Injury Attorney summer accident Van rollover

11/17/2008
Larry
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D.C. Has an Embarrasingly High Car Accident Rate

According to a recent study by Allstate, D.C.s drivers rank among the worst in the nation. And by "among," we mean "the worst."

Our drivers average one accident every 5.4 years. This is not something to be proud of.

To see an article about this, follow the link below.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/369342_caronline06.html

Labels: Car accident lawyer, Car Accidents, DC car accidents DC injury lawyer lewis and tompkins

11/17/2008
Larry
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2007 Crash Statistics are Out

The 2007 statistics are a little more promising than 2006. The overall crash rate is going down nationwide, but here in DC the number of people who were killed in car accidents actually went up 19%.

To view the report, follow the link below.

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811017.PDF

Labels: Car accident lawyer, DC bike safety,, DC car accidents, DC Injury Attorney

11/17/2008
Larry
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DC Remains Static on DUI Fatalities

The NHTSA has recently released its 2007 statistics for DUI fatalities.

To read the report, follow the link below.

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811016.PDF

Labels: Car accident lawyer, DC DUI lewis and tompkins

11/17/2008
David E. Tompkins
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New Black Box Feature Can Work For You

If you follow this link:

http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1105364095740

you will find an article from Law.com that describes how the readings from a cars "black box" data recorder can be admissable as evidence in a murder trial.

The "black box" records lots of data, including the speed limit that a car was going when the airbags deployed.

This could prove to be an interesting development in accident cases. Quite often, car accident cases get stalled based on insurance company denials and stalling tactics, and the readings from a black box could conceivably help prove the car accident cases of accident victims.

As accident attorneys in DC, it's important for us to gather as much data as we can to help prove the cases of our clients. Black box data can certainly be an important part of this process.

Labels: Car accident lawyer, DC Injury Attorney, DC injury lawyer, DC insurance lawyer, insurance, lewis and tompkins, uninusured drivers

11/17/2008
David E. Tompkins
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New Safety Features in Cars

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/09/17/aa.avoiding.a.crash/

By following that link, you will be able to read an article that describes the latest in safety advances in automobiles. While we applaud any advancement in safety technology, we still can't help but notice that the number of crashes in Virginia, Maryland and DC have remained more or less static. As DC car accident lawyers, we think that in addition to new safety features, there should also be a focus on safer driver behavior.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in the DC area, contact Lewis and Tompkins for a free legal consultation today.

Labels: Car accident lawyer, car crashes, DC car accidents, DC Injury Attorney, Lewis Tompkins MD car accident, safety features, VA car accident

Pedestrian & Bicycle Accidents

9/25/2009
Sharon Tompkins
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Teach Your Child To Cross The Street Safely

No matter how young your children might be, it is never too early to teach them about how to safely cross the road at intersections. Even the simplest rules and most basic common sense can save your child from a pedestrian accident that results in serious injury or death. Here are some quick pedestrian safety tips:

· Cross at marked crosswalks whenever possible.

· Make contact with any drivers who are stopped in the intersection.

· Don't run across the street.

· Don't dart out from behind objects into the road.

· Look both ways before crossing.

· If a car is approaching in the distance, try to gauge its speed before crossing.

· Never assume a car will stop for you.

· Don't stop looking to your left and right while making your way across the street.

· Enlist the help of a cross guard if there is one.

· Listen for cars before crossing the street.

Labels: child pedestrian tips child street safety tips how to teach your child to cross the street learning how to cross the street preventing child pedestrian accidents tips for child street safety

6/23/2009
Sharon Tompkins
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Did Senator Orrin Hatch Clip A Pedestrian With His Car In Washington DC?

Washington, DC, has always been dangerous to pedestrians - but usually it's not the country's Senators driving. However, on June 11, a number of sources reported that Republican Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah grazed a pedestrian in a crosswalk while driving in the capital this week.

According to multiple sources, the 75-year-old senator clipped a woman walking in a designated crosswalk during a thunderstorm in Washington on Tuesday night. The woman was not injured in the pedestrian accident, although the car did hit the woman according to several witnesses to the event.

"I was mortified. I didn't see her at all. I said, 'I didn't see you. I'm so sorry,'" Hatch told the Washington Post. "She seemed OK. I felt really badly about it."

Hatch said that he called the police to report the near-accident, but the police could not find an incident report in connection with the pedestrian accident.

Labels: capital hill pedestrian accident senator hits pedestrian in washington senator orrin hatch hits pedestrian utah senator hits pedestrian washington dc pedestrian accident

1/21/2009
Larry
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DC Gets the Inauguration Right

The Inauguration of Barack Obama is now over, and the 1.2 million people who flooded into our hometown are now gone. The Mall has been cleaned up, the Hotels are back to having rooms available, and D.C. can now go back to what passes for normal around here.

While the inauguration was amazing enough, what strikes us as even more important was that nobody got hurt.

Car accidents and pedestrian accidents happen in DC constantly, and they happen whether Congress is in session or not, or if the President is in town or not, or if the Supreme Court is in session or not, or if the Wizards, Capitals, or Nationals are in town or not.

The fact that so many people were in town and there were no reported car wrecks and no reported pedestrian accidents is a testament to how well planned the ceremony was. Everyone involved should be proud of themselves.

Labels: DC car accident DC Injury Attorney DC pedestrian accident DC pedestrian safety inauguration injuries lewis and tompkins

11/17/2008
David E. Tompkins
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Bike Safety is More Important Than Ever

With gas in the neighborhood of $4 a gallon, more people are choosing to walk or bike to work. With more bikes and pedestrians on the street, the public probably needs a refresher course on bicycle safety.

The Post recently put out an article that gives a pretty good rundown on how to share the roads responsibly. Follow the link below to see the article.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2008/07/23/DI2008072302245.html

Labels: DC bike safety, DC Injury Attorney, DC pedestrian safety, lewis and tompkins

Motorcycle Accidents

5/25/2009
Sharon Tompkins
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Baltimore County Motorcycle Killed In Conowingo Dam Accident

After losing control of his motorcycle, a recently purchased Harley-Davidson, 62-year-old Johnny Olsen crashed into the Conowingo Dam Bridge and fell 25 feet down an embankment and into the river.

The motorcycle crash occurred on Sunday afternoon at the intersection of Route 222 and Route 1, when Olsen failed to stop at the stop sign, hit the dam wall, and fell into the river. Some witnesses have reported the motorcycle was speeding, though fellow rider explained that his friend lost control of his vehicle because the Parkview, Maryland, man was not familiar with the new bike.

A boat from the Department of Natural Resources was in the area, heard the crash take place, and recovered the body. He was pronounced dead after being pulled aboard the boat. Maryland State Police are investigating the accident.

Labels: Conowingo Dam motorcycle accident fatal MD bike wreck harley-davidson accident maryland maryland motorcycle accident

Truck Accidents

10/8/2009
David E. Tompkins
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Business Editor Of Baltimore Sun Killed In UPS Truck Accident

Reports from rural Baltimore County say that 48-year-old Tim Wheatley, the business editor of The Baltimore Sun was killed in a UPS truck accident while his 9-year-old daughter was seriously injured in the Maryland truck accident.

Wheatley was taking a left turn at an intersection in Dover, Maryland, on Monday morning when his car collided with the truck. The intersection's light was working at the time of the accident and it is unclear who had the right of way or if either vehicle ran a red light. The car was t-boned by the UPS truck, which struck the driver's side of Wheatley's car. His daughter was in the front passenger's seat.

Wheatley was declared dead at the scene of the Maryland truck accident while EMS workers rushed his daughter to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. It is not known whether the UPS driver was injured in the truck accident.

Labels: baltimore truck accident maryland truck accident MD serious injury truck accidient tim wheatley UPS truck accident death

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