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Maryland police have always been tough on drunk drivers, but the penalties for a DUI/DWI conviction are even more severe since Noah’s Law went into effect October 1, 2016. Now, in addition to potential prison time, fines, and driver’s license suspension, some offenders will be required to install an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) on their vehicle. You need a strong defense when you’re facing such harsh punishment, and one strategy is the use of motions to weaken the prosecution’s case against you. A Maryland DUI/DWI lawyer can tell you more about presenting these motions during the pre-trial phases of your case.

We made this handy infographic to use as an emergency checklist in case you are involved in an accident. Feel free to share or print a copy and keep it in your glove box!

Every year, the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission releases an annual report that covers such data as claims filed by industry, awards according to disability and body part, the demographics of claimants, fatalities by industry, and other important information. From these details and facts gathered by workers’ comp agencies in other states, certain patterns emerge, including the most common types of workplace injuries. If you’ve been hurt on the job under any of these scenarios, consult with a workers’ comp lawyer about your rights and filing a claim.

In July 2016, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released a report on Traffic Safety Facts involving passenger vehicles. The numbers on car accident cases were staggering: Collisions involving vehicles and light trucks caused injuries to 2,074,000 people in 2014, though that number represented a decrease as compared to 2013. Still, the accident report shows that accidents do happen despite a motorist’s exercise of care when driving. If you’ve been hurt in a Baltimore County, MD car accident case, talk with an attorney about the different categories of injuries for which you might be entitled to compensation.

If you’re arrested for DUI/DWI in Maryland, the offense will result in criminal charges that may lead to jail time and a fine; you may also receive a driver’s license suspension and be forced to install an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) on your vehicle for a minimum of six months. Under the newly effective Noah’s Law, drunk drivers must implement the IID technology, which prevents your car from starting if your breath reveals a blood alcohol concentration higher than the designated percentage.

There are many instances where an employee causes a car accident or an injury to another while they are working. It could be that a worker is responsible for creating a slip and fall hazard that a customer falls victim to, or a worker could be out making a delivery in a company car and causes an automobile accident. Whatever the case may be, the law provides for vicarious liability, also referred to as respondeat superior, which holds an employer accountable for the actions of its employees while they are on the clock.

Maryland, like all states, requires motorists to maintain a certain minimum amount of liability insurance, i.e. $30,000 bodily injury coverage, $60,000 for two or more people, and $15,000 for property damage. Nonetheless, the Insurance Research Council estimates that as many as 12 to 15% of Maryland drivers do not maintain any insurance coverage at all, despite downward trends in uninsured motorists over the past several years. In car accidents with drivers who do not maintain the required insurance coverage, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage can help compensate you for any losses that you might have.

If you’ve been charged with drunk driving in Maryland, you’re probably aware that the offense has implications for your driving privileges and criminal penalties. Because DUI/DWI is a crime, your case will proceed before a criminal court to determine guilt and sentencing. However, the case involving your ability to drive is not criminal in nature: This proceeding goes before the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) where a hearing will determine your driving privileges.  

Drunk driving laws in Maryland have been around for years, but a new one inspired by a police officer will soon be taking effect. On October 1, 2016, Noah’s Law will require all motorists convicted of DUI or DWI to install an ignition interlock device on their vehicles. Police officer Noah Leotta was struck and killed by a drunk driver in December 2015 while patrolling as part of a DUI task force. According to reports, the offender had been drinking beer and whiskey for several hours prior to the incident, and had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .22 percent – almost three times the legal limit. Officer Leotta was 24 years old.

A very typical occurrence in Maryland, and most other states, is the use of underinsurance, (“UIM”), in an auto accident case. For the sake of this discussion let’s assume that our client has been struck in the rear causing considerable injury. Let’s also assume that the injury requires significant treatment and that I conclude that the case is worth something over $100,000.