A Baltimore, Maryland news article recently reported a tragic drunk driving accident. Evidently, a 21-year-old woman under the influence of alcohol killed a motorcyclist after pulling out in front of him. The woman was driving a GMC box truck when she failed to yield to the motorcycle driver. She collided with the man, and he died on impact. The woman was arrested and charged with various crimes, including driving under the influence, driving while impaired, failure to yield, and manslaughter.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 29 people die in alcohol-related car accidents every day. Despite measures to prevent drunk driving, there is approximately one fatality every hour. Many Maryland drivers have to navigate typical hazards and congested traffic daily, impaired drivers only heighten the risk of a severe car accident.
Under Maryland law, adult drivers over the age of 21 with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08% or more are considered impaired. A Maryland driver under the legal drinking age who has a BAC level .02 or higher could face a driving under the influence charge. If they have a BAC of .07%, they may face a DUI charge.
Alcohol and drug-related accidents range from moderate to severe. Some common injuries that drunk driving victims suffer are, broken bones, sprains, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal cord injuries. Typically, Maryland drunk drivers will face an array of criminal penalties for their conduct. Some penalties include fines, probation, incarceration, license suspension, and mandated treatment. However, these drivers may also face civil liability for the injuries and property damage they cause.
Establishing liability in Maryland drunk driving cases may seem straight forward, but in many cases, these cases can present challenges. In instances where the drunk driver admits driving under the influence (or is found guilty), Maryland courts allow plaintiffs to prove their claim through the doctrine of negligence per se. Negligence per se is a legal doctrine that allows plaintiffs to establish their case without proving negligence. This occurs in instances where a defendant’s conduct violates a law that was designed to protect the public from the harm that the plaintiff suffered. In drunk driving cases, this applies when the defendant is found to be drunk when they caused the accident. However, plaintiffs still need to establish the amount of damages they sustained. Moreover, challenges often arise when the defendant refutes that they were drunk when they caused the accident.
Have You Suffered Injuries After a Maryland Car Accident with a Drunk Driver?
If you or a loved one suffered injuries or death because of a Maryland drunk driver, you should contact the accident attorneys at Lebowitz & Mzhen. The compassionate attorneys at the law firm have wide-ranging experience handling all types of motor vehicle lawsuits, including Maryland motorcycle accident claims. Our attorneys have successfully overcome the challenges that many personal injury lawsuits pose, and have won significant settlements on behalf of our clients. Clients of Lebowitz & Mzhen have received compensation for their medical bills, future medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, burial expenses, as well as for their pain and suffering. Contact the Maryland accident attorneys at Lebowitz & Mzhen at 1-800-654-1949 to schedule your free initial consultation.