Personal Injury

Unintentional summer drownings claim an average of 10 lives per day across the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Over half these deaths involve children under 14 years of age, making accidental drowning the number two cause of death in this age group after motor vehicle accidents.

Here are some ways to help prevent accidental drowning:

• Supervise children at all times when they are on or near the water. At least one adult who can swim should have their eye on those in the water at all times.
• Put a barrier around all four sides of the pool or hot tub. According to the CDC, a fence that completely encircles the pool area is 83% more effective in preventing accidental drownings than a fence that merely encloses the entire property or backyard.
• Barriers should have locks on all points of entry, such as gates and doors. Alarms on doors that lead from the house to the pool area can also help prevent accidental drownings of children who wander out of the house and toward the pool.
• Adults and children should wear a personal floatation device (PFD) at all times when they are on or near a boat or water area. Inflatable pool or beach toys should never be used as a substitute for a PFD.

At the law firm of Alpert Schreyer, our knowledgeable Annapolis personal injury lawyers can help you investigate what happened following a drowning accident and hold any negligent parties accountable for their actions so that you and your family can focus on getting well. Call us today at (800) 489-1577 for a free, confidential consultation.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has recently launched a new campaign to increase awareness of proper child car seat use, including a new website and public service announcements created in conjunction with the Ad Council. Alarmingly, auto accidents are the leading cause of death for children one to 12 years old, and NHTSA crash data reveals that an average of almost two children were killed and 325 injured each day in 2010 due to crashes. Thus, the safety group created the campaign to ensure families select the proper car seat for their child’s age and size to help prevent serious car accident injuries.

The Cumming Patch reports that fatality rates could be reduced by half if the correct child car seats are consistently used, and so the new website provides information to parents and caregivers on appropriate selection of a child’s car seat. In addition, helpful information is offered on car seat use and installation with instructive how-to videos, relevant recall notifications, and the NHTSA’s unique “ease of use” ratings system. Parents and caregivers can also find out where to get assistance with child car seat use and selection in their area from Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians.

For more information on child car seat safety, parents and child caregivers can visit this site: http://www.safercar.gov/parents/carseats.htm.

Car accidents are only one of the ways a child may be injured, and the negligence of another party may unfortunately be one of the reasons your little one suffers from an injury. If your child has been injured in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, the Annapolis personal injury attorneys of Alpert Schreyer can help you hold at-fault parties legally accountable for the harm caused. We offer a free case evaluation, so please call (800) 489-1577 to speak with us regarding your case.

In a report issued by the Alliance for Biking and Walking entitled “Bicycling and Walking in the United States: 2012 Benchmarking Report,” Baltimore was ranked 11th out of major U.S. cities for the largest percentage of walkers and bikers, according to The Baltimore Sun. The report looks at commuting by biking and walking in the U.S., how safe those commutes are, and if transportation funding is going towards promoting these alternative means of travel.

The city’s bicycle and pedestrian planner states Baltimore is very “bike-able” with 40 miles of bike lanes and 39 miles of trailers, in addition to 80 miles of side routes designated for bicyclists. As a state, Maryland was ranked 32nd in the percentage of people who walk or bike to work with a total of 84,749 people, or 2.8 percent of all commuters.

The Alliance for Biking and Walking report also ranks the combined pedestrian and cyclist fatality rates for different states and cities. The state of Maryland ranked 39th among U.S. states, and Baltimore ranked 15th among U.S. cities. Overall, the largest 51 cities in the nation saw an average 29 percent increase in bicycle fatalities since the group began releasing the report in 2010. It is hoped this number will change if the currently planned 7,079 miles of pedestrian facilities and 20,908 miles of bike facilities across the country are funded. The report estimates that 12 percent of trips in the U.S. are taken by bike or on foot, and 14 percent of those involved in fatal traffic accidents are bicyclists and pedestrians.

These worrisome statistics show the need for motorists to share the road with those traveling on two wheels or two feet, and to be cautious and aware at all times to prevent a dangerous accident. As the data shows, however, fatal accidents involving bicyclists and pedestrians have been on the rise, so it is a very real possibility those using alternative means of transportation may be involved in a serious collision. Any Maryland resident involved in a bike or pedestrian accident should call the skilled Maryland personal injury lawyers with the law firm of Alpert Schreyer. We are dedicated to helping injury victims get compensation they need in order to recover from their injuries. Call (800) 489-1577 for a free case review.

The Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission reports that the number of claims filed in 2010 increased by 1.7 percent as compared with the number of claims filed in 2009. In 2009, Maryland workers filed a total of 22,622 claims with the commission. This number increased to 23,003 in 2010. Despite the number of claims filed, the average permanent partial award decreased by 2.3 percent to $18,601.

Six major metro areas of Maryland (Harford County, Baltimore City, Prince George’s County, Baltimore County, Anne Arundel County, and Montgomery County) accounted for 67.6 percent of all claims filed, down slightly from 2009. The non-metro areas within Maryland accounted for 25 percent of all filed claims. The remaining claims were out-of-state claims, which account for 7.4 percent of all filed claims.

The Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission tracks claims by industry to identify trends. In 2010, the top five industries by the total number of claims filed were as follows:

• Police/security
• Truckmen
• Colleges or schools (includes daycare facilities)
• General construction
• Hospitals

The industries with the lowest numbers of claims included garbage refuse collecting, employment agencies, telephone companies, sheet metal work, and plumbing. The most common injuries were burns, dislocations, strains, fractures, cuts, punctures, and abrasions.

Many people make the mistaken assumption that only “dangerous” jobs like trucking and construction will lead to debilitating injuries. The truth is, though, that even sedentary office jobs can cause serious injuries and long-term pain.

If you sustained a Maryland workplace injury, an attorney should be the first person you contact after you receive medical attention. An experienced Maryland workers’ compensation attorney can protect your rights and help you receive the financial compensation you deserve. Contact the experienced attorneys at Alpert Schreyer, LLC to discuss your case in detail. Call us today at (301) 932-9997 for a free consultation.

The Million Dollar Advocates Forum recently announced the certification of attorney Michael Joseph Schreyer as a member of the group. This highly selective group of trial lawyers is one of the most prestigious in the United States. Only attorneys who have won verdicts, awards and settlements of at least $1 million are included. Less than 1 percent of U.S. attorneys achieve this level of success.

Membership in this forum recognizes attorneys for their excellent work in advocating for clients and gives members access to information exchanges and referral opportunities through a nationwide network of members.

Attorney Schreyer has participated in more than 2,000 personal injury and workers’ compensation cases, earning him a well deserved reputation among his clients and peers as a highly skilled, knowledgeable and aggressive trial attorney. He is an accomplished appellate advocate who has overturned and defended trial court decisions through appeals to the highest courts in the Maryland and Federal judicial systems. He is a sought-after speaker and council member to the Maryland State Bar Association’s Negligence, Insurance & Workers’ Compensation Section. Schreyer, a graduate of Washington and Lee University School of Law, also serves on the board of directors of several community organizations.

The Maryland personal injury attorneys at Alpert Schreyer have extensive experience handling a wide range of personal injury and workers’ compensation cases. If you suffered an injury in the workplace, or you have been the victim of an accident, contact us at (301) 932-9997 for a free consultation.

“Consumers need to heed our warning: fireworks related incidents, especially those involving illegal fireworks, can be fatal,” said the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Chairman Inez Tenenbaum. As the Fourth of July approaches, it’s important to remember that even legal fireworks are dangerous, especially when they are not treated with necessary caution.

According to the CPSC, there are six main reasons that injuries occur:

• Availability: Despite federal and state regulations, highly dangerous and illegal fireworks still make their way to the public.
• Fireworks type: There are many types of fireworks but some that may be legal are still dangerous. Bottle rockets may fly into the face, sparklers can light clothing on fire and firecrackers can injure the hands and face.
• Close proximity: Injuries may occur when fireworks go off too close to people.
• Lack of physical coordination: Young children do not have the coordination to safely handle fireworks.
• Curiosity: Children who are curious may get too close to lit fireworks or try to look at a device that initially seemed to be a dud and then explodes.
• Experimentation: Homemade fireworks and those made by combining several devices can be dangerous and unpredictable.

Across the U.S. in 2008, seven people died and 7,000 people were seen in emergency rooms for fireworks related injuries. If you or someone you love has been injured in a fireworks accident due to the negligence of another party, you may be entitled to compensation. The experienced Waldorf personal injury lawyers at Alpert Schreyer will analyze your case and help you get the damages you may be owed by the responsible party. Call today to speak to us about your case at 301-932-9997.