THE LAW DOG

Have you ever been on the highway and found yourself surrounded by trucks on all sides? It’s actually pretty rare not to see a lot of trucks on major roads these days – they’re an integral part of everyday life, providing crucial goods and services to people and businesses here in the Annapolis area and

Being injured in an accident is an overwhelming experience. In addition to the physical and emotional pain you’re likely feeling, you might be wondering if someone else is at fault for your injury – and if so, whether or not you have a right to compensation. So how do you know if you have a

Nobody thinks they’re a bad driver. We all like to believe we’re just as courteous as can be when behind the wheel, but if you take a drive on just about any road or highway these days you’ll agree that some of us are clearly fooling ourselves. There’s selfishness, aggressiveness, and a palpable sense of

Keeping a child safe in a motor vehicle requires a little effort on the parents’ part. As cars do not automatically come with seats that protect infants and toddlers, parents must install such devices separately. According to the American Society for Positive Care of Children (American SPCC), using the right car seats and safety restraints

When considering a personal injury lawsuit in Maryland, it’s vital to choose your lawyer carefully. If you’re going against an insurance company, consider that they have deep pockets and experienced attorneys who specialize in defending exactly the sort of case you’re bringing against their client. The lawyer you hire will play a key role in

An Iowa jury’s recent award of $97.4 million to a child and his family as a result of medical malpractice that occurred during his birth is the largest medical malpractice compensation award in Iowa’s history. The suit claimed that the obstetrician and the staff of Mercy Hospital Iowa City failed to act on the information

How do I get paid? I’ve had several current and potential personal injury clients ask me about that last line down there at the bottom of my articles. Take a peek below; it’s the one that says, “we don’t receive a fee unless we win.” So how does that work? Like many personal injury attorneys,

Summer is in full swing, and that means the beautiful and bountiful waterways of Maryland – which include the Atlantic Ocean, the Potomac River, and the Chesapeake Bay – are teeming with recreational boaters. Whether you’re fishing, sailing, tubing, or just cruising, your boat has to conform to state laws and regulations, and you could

If you’ve been in an auto accident in Maryland, a police report is vital when making a legal claim against a negligent driver. A full report contains crash details, date, location, damages, whether a driver was ticketed or arrested, witness statements, and contact information of all involved parties. And while police reports aren’t considered evidence

Following an automobile accident in which you or your passenger(s) have been injured, you need to take a few immediate steps. First, in the event another car was involved, obtain the other driver’s name, address, phone number, driver’s license number, and automobile insurance policy details. Second, contact the police and file an accident report. It’s also important

A recent news story by NBC’s Baltimore affiliate reported that the Baltimore mayor’s office and Baltimore Police Department are experimenting with a new plan to divert some non-emergency calls away from police officers. Currently, both 911 and the police are overloaded with calls that don’t necessarily involve a police response. A pilot program this summer will be rolled out in which third-party 

The aftermath of a car accident is a trying time. You just want to put it behind you and get back to your life. One of the necessary steps on the road back to normalcy is speaking with an auto insurance claims adjuster. If you’re one of the lucky ones who’s never been in a

Despite their relative youth, ride-sharing services have revolutionized the transportation industry like no other innovation before them. Offerings like Uber and Lyft make it easy to find a ride just about anywhere in the world with the swipe of a finger across a smartphone. They’ve also led to an increased amount of untrained drivers stepping

Drug possession charges are the court’s most commonly seen criminal cases, both here in Maryland and throughout the country. The severity of the charge depends on the circumstance (such as the drug in question and how much of it is found); nevertheless, any drug possession charge is a serious one, with potentially life-changing consequences.  If

A recent surgical procedure or medical treatment has left you injured. It’s clear your situation was the result of negligence, or possibly incompetence, on behalf of a doctor, nurse, technician, hospital, or medical worker. You sue, you win and you are left with a sizable payout to cover your “actual economic loss,” including lost wages and medical expenses resulting from the malpractice and “noneconomic loss,” such as pain

You may not think twice about making a left-hand turn at an intersection, but did you know that it’s one of the more dangerous things you can do as a driver? The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports that in 2019, accidents involving left turns (where the oncoming car crashed into the passenger side of the

It might sound unnecessary to bring in a lawyer to contest a traffic ticket, but moving violations can seriously affect your life, and going to court can get very complicated. As the old English proverb puts it, “A man who is his own lawyer has a fool for a client.” You don’t want to be standing before a judge before you

The rule is standard and absolute no matter which state you call home: It is illegal to drink alcohol before or during the operation of a motor vehicle. In Maryland, a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.07% or higher while driving brings a charge of driving while intoxicated (DWI), while a BAC of 0.08% or higher

Going to the doctor’s office is never easy. For some patients, routine visits are so stressful that they suffer from what the medical profession calls “white coat syndrome.” This is when the blood pressure readings at your doctor’s office are higher than they are anywhere else. It’s called white coat syndrome because it’s (jokingly) said that the mere sight

With Covid restrictions loosening up and more people getting back to their everyday routines, it’s no surprise that there are more cars on the road than in previous years. And more cars means more accidents. According to a Maryland Department of Transportation website, there were 79 reported motor vehicle crash fatalities in Maryland as of

Recent news that weather prognosticator Punxsutawney Phil came out of his tree stump to tell us we’re in for six more weeks of winter brought a collective groan from those of us looking forward to warmer days. The frosty weather, combined with Covid isolation, has kept us cooped up inside our houses for what feels

Riding a Bike in Maryland: Laws and Liability There are a lot of great reasons for riding a bike instead of driving. It’s good exercise, it’s cost efficient and it’s environmentally responsible. But bicycle accidents can and do happen – which is why both cyclists and drivers need to be careful about following the rules.

Know the law when it comes to dogs in Maryland A recent post to our neighborhood listserve got me thinking about dogs. The poster was jogging when he came up behind a man walking his dog. As he passed, the startled dog bit his ankle, breaking the skin. According to the jogger, the bite wasn’t

Street Safety: Remembering the Rules of the Road New Year’s Eve is here, and a lot of us celebrate the occasion by going out – which means there will be plenty of revelers on the street, both in cars and on foot. Don’t let the excitement of the festive season cloud your judgment when it

New Year’s Eve is here, and a lot of us celebrate the occasion by going out – which means there will be plenty of revelers on the street, both in cars and on foot. Don’t let the excitement of the festive season cloud your judgment when it comes to being safe, though. We’ve outlined some

Tailgating, whether intentional or not, is an extremely dangerous and all-too-common occurrence on Maryland roads these days. There are more cars on the road than ever and everyone is in an extreme hurry to get to where they’re going. While aggressive driving is certainly a major factor in tailgating incidents, there are also plenty of

Last week’s snowstorm and subsequent 48-mile backup that stranded thousands of motorists for up to 20 hours on I-95 in Virginia brought to mind the many ways that driving in inclement weather can go very bad very quickly. Another just-as-serious hazard is the sheet of ice or hard-packed snow that can go flying from the

When it comes to the safety of self-driving cars, also known as “autonomous vehicles” or AVs, the pro and con camps remain somewhat divided. In a recent Motional Consumer Mobility Report, 50% of survey respondents said they expected AVs to be readily available in their communities within five years, and right around 50% felt that

Ever had your morning commute ruined when the person behind you suddenly rear-ended your car? Or maybe you’ve gotten sideswiped by an overzealous driver while trying to navigate a busy parking lot. Most of us have been involved in a car accident at some point in our lives. Assuming no one is seriously hurt, these

The holidays are here, bringing parties, merriment, and for some, maybe a drink or two. Or three. Which occasionally leads to the ill-advised decision to drive after drinking. Don’t do it. If you’re lucky enough to avoid an accident, odds are you will be pulled over. A recent illustration of how a DUI can ruin