Waldorf Car Accident Wrongful Death Lawyers

Cars provide many benefits. They can get a person from point A to point B in a controlled and enclosed comfortable environment and can do so quickly and efficiently. However, this is only the case when the driver is alert and cautious and when the car functions normally. Oftentimes, the negligent manufacturing or faulty design of the vehicle and/or the negligent or wrongful actions of other drivers causes fatal traffic accidents in Maryland and across the U.S. Most fatal accidents, however, are preventable. If you have suffered the loss of a loved one in an auto accident caused by the negligence of another, your family has the right to file a wrongful death claim against the at-fault party.

Common Causes of Fatal Motor Vehicle Crashes

There are many factors that can contribute to a fatal auto accident, some driver-related, some vehicle-related, but all are unacceptable. These factors may include:

• Alcohol- or drug-impaired driving;
• Speeding;
• Tire blowout/failure;
• Roof collapse/crush;
• Distracted driving;
• Using a cell phone while driving;
• Airbag malfunction;
• Gas tank detachment;
• Reckless driving;
• Drowsy/Fatigued driving; and
• Steering control malfunction.

In reality, driver negligence and most vehicle defects and design flaws may cause a fatal traffic accident under certain conditions, such as traveling on hazardous roadways and the higher speed of freeway/highway driving. Everyone, drivers and vehicle manufacturers and designers alike, has a responsibility to safety. When they forget about that responsibility and cause a fatal car accident, they must be held accountable.

Fatal Car Crash Statistics

Across the Nation

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 30,797 fatal car crashes nationwide in 2009, which resulted in the deaths of 33,808 people. Most of these were drivers, accounting for 63 percent of car accident fatalities. Twenty-eight percent were passengers. Of all persons killed, 32 percent died in alcohol-impaired auto accidents.

In Maryland

The NHTSA reports that 547 people were killed in Maryland traffic accidents in 2009, a decrease from the 591 in 2008. Of these fatalities, 269 were drivers, 83 were passengers, 69 were motorcyclists, 113 were pedestrians, 11 were bicyclists/pedalcyclists, and 2 were unknown. Most of the fatal victims were middle-aged adults between 45 and 54 years-old.

Obtaining Justice for Your Loved One

The loss of a loved one in a fatal car accident is emotionally traumatic and creates many hardships. Grieving families suffer a wide range of losses and burdens, including medical bills, lost future income, emotional distress, funeral costs, and loss of companionship. In some cases obtaining justice through a wrongful death claim is the only way the family of a fatal car accident victim can even begin to recover in such a difficult time. If you have lost a loved one in a Maryland auto accident as the result of negligence, you have the right to pursue compensation in civil court. At Alpert Schreyer, our compassionate Waldorf car accident attorneys can help you get the compensation you deserve to create the closure you and your family are entitled to. Contact us today at (301) 932-9997 or (800) 489-1577 for a free consultation.