Earlier this week, a woman was sentenced to 16 to 29 months in jail for causing an accident that required the accident victim get both of his legs amputated. According to a report by a local ABC affiliate, the woman and the man were neighbors and lived only a few houses away. One morning around 10 a.m., the man was attaching his kayak to the back of his truck when the woman can speeding down the residential street at 45 miles per hour. She was also driving on the wrong side of the road.
The woman struck the man, who was pinned between her hood and the rear bumper of his truck for nearly an hour before emergency crews could extricate him from the wreckage. The man’s wife, who was present for most of the horrific accident, recalls fearing that her husband was going to die in front of her. Although he did survive, he sustained such injuries that both of his legs needed to be amputated.
The driver of the car was intoxicated at the time of the accident with a blood alcohol content of .10. In addition to alcohol, the woman was also under the influence of cocaine. The accident victim and his wife lead a charge to seek the highest penalty available for the driver of the car. However, in the end, she received a sentence of 16 to 29 months; a sentence that may be reduced with good behavior.
Drinking and Driving Accidents in Maryland
The sad fact is that these types of drunk driving accidents occur all over the United States, including in Maryland. For example, in 2012 there were 160 fatal drunk driving accidents in Maryland. Twenty-five of these accidents were involving those under the legal drinking age of 21.
In Maryland, no driver is permitted to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content of .08 or greater. While there is no scientifically accurate way to estimate how many drinks it takes to reach that point, some suggest that three drink in two hours will put an average size male at or near the limit.
Those injured in a drunk driving accident may be able to recover monetary compensation for their injuries. Such lawsuits are based on the legal theory of negligence.
Have You Been Injured in a Maryland Drunk Driving Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been injured in a Maryland drunk driving accident, you should speak to a dedicated Maryland motorcycle accident attorney as soon as possible. It may be that you are entitled to a substantial monetary award based on the negligent or reckless behavior of the drunk driver who caused your injuries. The Maryland law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers is a dedicated personal injury law firm with years of experienced recovering for Maryland motorcycle accident victims. Click here, or call 410-654-3600 to speak to contact an experienced attorney today to schedule your free initial consultation.
More Blog Posts:
Motorcyclist and His Passenger Die in Collision with Pick-Up Truck; Fault Still Undetermined, Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog, published April 9, 2014.
Man Charged with Murder After Fatal Motorcycle Accident , Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog, published April 2, 2014.