Wrongful Death

CBSLocal.com reports that the jury has now heard all of the evidence in a wrongful death case against a Frederick County Sherriff’s deputy and has determined that the defendant is not liable. The sheriff in this case was facing a multi-million dollar lawsuit following the death of a 20-year-old Maryland man who was Tasered by the Corporal and subsequently died.

The incident occurred in November of 2007 when people in the victim’s neighborhood believed they heard a fight and called 9-1-1. Though this report does not specify if the 20-year-old was involved in the fight, it does state that when police arrived, they ordered the 20-year-old to get down on the ground and shocked him. The young man fell to the ground after the first Taser shock, and after the man was unresponsive to the officer’s commands, he issued a second shock to the victim. He died in the middle of the street.

Eye witnesses and the family of the deceased feel the Corporal had no reason to fire the Taser as the young man was complying with the officer’s demands, both physically and verbally. The federal jury’s ruling said the officer used only enough force to protect himself, concluding that the officer’s use of the Taser was appropriate. The wrongful death lawsuit, which was filed by both the mother and father of the victim, was asking for a total of 145 million dollars for alleged “excessive use of force.” More than 10 MD residents have died in Taser-related incidents, including the young man in this case, which prompted the state attorney general’s office in 2009 to recommend more stringent training on the use of the devices.

The sudden death of a loved one is extremely devastating for family and friends, but when the death may have been caused by another’s negligence, the family of the deceased may be rightfully entitled to compensation. Though no monetary award can ease the pain of losing a loved one, it can help with the unexpected financial costs that may arise. The wrongful death attorneys in Maryland with the law firm of Alpert Schreyer are dedicated to helping families obtain compensation and hold any negligent parties responsible for the individual’s death legally accountable. Please call (800) 489-1577 for a complimentary review of your case.

Myfoxdc.com reports that Montgomery County police are still investigating a New Year’s Day crash that killed a 20-year-old and an 18-year-old and left three others injured. The Maryland car accident occurred on the 4800 block of Jones Bridge Road in Bethesda. Friends of the victims say the group had just left a New Year’s Eve party in White Oak where they were drinking, and feel alcohol is to blame for the tragic crash. However, despite law enforcement finding both full and empty alcoholic containers in the victims’ Chevy Trailblazer, they have not officially ruled a cause for the collision. Police officials determined the three surviving passengers were wearing seat belts and are all expected to be okay. Friends of the victims state that this very unfortunate accident serves as a wakeup call for others to not drink and drive.

As of 2008, there were a total of 138 fatal accidents, resulting in 152 people being killed, in Maryland where at least one driver had a BAC (blood alcohol concentration) at or above the legal limit of .08%. Though Gazette.net reports that drunk driving arrests have declined since the beginning of the recent recession in November 2007, the number of DUI arrests in the state of Maryland was still quite high with a total number of 22,614 in 2010 and 16,763 through September of 2011. Drunk driving accidents can result in life-threatening injuries or fatalities to innocent motorists on the road, which is a very devastating fact considering they are 100% preventable.

If you have lost a loved one in an auto accident that was caused by the negligence of another driver, the wrongful death attorneys in MD with Alpert Schreyer can help. Our law firm has years of experience helping Maryland residents who have lost someone in an accident get compensation for their loss; though no amount of money can lessen the devastation, compensation can help with things such as funeral expenses and loss of income. For a no-cost consultation and to see how our law team can help you during this difficult time, call (800) 489-1577.

An independent contractor who was working in the Purina plant near Hagerstown, Maryland, lost his life in an industrial accident recently, according to a report released by Public Opinion Online. Purina is known for its line of foods for cats and dogs.

The man, a resident of Mercersburg, was cleaning one of the machines in the plant when he lost his balance and fell into a feeder line. Emergency personnel responded quickly to a 911 call placed from the plant, but were unable to save the man’s life.

Both Purina’s health and safety officials and the Maryland Occupational Safety and Health Division are investigating the accident to determine how it happened. Officials did not want to comment on the man’s untimely death until the investigation was complete.

The families of employees who lose their lives on the job in Maryland are often eligible for workers’ compensation payments to help replace the lost wages and repay the medical bills from their lost loved one. Contract workers like the man lost in this accident, however, are usually not covered by Maryland workers’ compensation laws. However, the families of contract workers also have rights under Maryland law, especially if the loss of their loved one was caused by another’s negligence or reckless behavior.

If you have lost a family member while they were on the job in Maryland, please don’t hesitate to contact the experienced Maryland wrongful death attorneys at Alpert Schreyer, LLC. For a free and confidential consultation, call us today at 301-932-9997 or toll free at 800-301-7172.

Two brothers from York County lost their lives in a Maryland boating accident on the Chesapeake Bay recently, according the York Daily Record. The two brothers went out fishing with their third brother and a son-in-law, however, they decided to turn back because the water was rougher than they expected. As the fishermen turned the 23-foot boat toward shore, its motor died, and the boat began taking on water. The brothers were only able to grab three life preservers as the boat sank.

The son-in-law, the youngest of the fishermen, swam a mile and a half back to shore to seek help for the other three. By the time rescue workers arrived, however, two of the men had drowned and the third was nearing death. He remains in the hospital.

Investigators have not yet determined what caused the boat sink, and they have yet to locate the vessel, which sank before rescue workers had arrived.

Losing a family member is difficult, especially when it appears that someone else’s negligence was the cause. In a boating accident, underwater debris or a defectively manufactured boat, motor, or floatation device can quickly turn an enjoyable trip into a tragedy. If you or someone you love has been injured in a boating accident, the experienced Maryland accident lawyers at Alpert Schreyer, LLC can help you understand your rights and options. Call the law offices of Alpert Schreyer today at 800-301-7172 for a free and confidential consultation.

A helicopter crash that claimed four lives in 2008 has become the subject of lawsuits filed by both the state of Maryland and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), according to a recent article in The Baltimore Sun.

In September 2008, a Medevac helicopter crashed in Maryland that was carrying two automobile accident victims and two emergency medical personnel. The accident claimed the lives of everyone aboard except one accident victim. The state of Maryland sued the federal government not long after, claiming that the FAA had caused the crash after its air traffic controllers failed to safely guide the helicopter’s pilot through the fog to Andrews Air Force Base. In response, however, the U.S. government has filed suit claiming that the crash was caused solely by the pilot, a Maryland state employee.

Determining who bears responsibility for a fatal helicopter accident matters a great deal to those left behind. Some common causes of helicopter crashes and other aircraft accidents include defective aircraft parts, poor aircraft maintenance, air traffic controller negligence, pilot error, and bad weather conditions.

Due to the unexpected nature of a helicopter crash, or any tragic accident that claims the lives of loved ones without warning, family members are not only left with grief, but can also be left to face the challenge of financial strain due to medical bills, funeral expenses, and other expenses. If you have lost a loved one in an accident caused by another person’s negligence, Maryland law gives you certain legal rights and options. The experienced Maryland accident attorneys at Alpert Schreyer, LLC will help you understand your legal rights and fight for the compensation you and your loved ones deserve from negligent parties. Call 800-301-7172 to set up a free and confidential case evaluation.

A motorcyclist from northern Virginia lost his life recently when he crashed on the southbound ramp leading from Interstate 395 to Interstate 95, according to an article in The Baltimore Sun. The motorcyclist was a 23-year-old man from Fort Belvoir, a military installation in northern Virginia.

The man, who was traveling along with heavy traffic coming out of the Baltimore Orioles’ home-opening game, lost control of his motorcycle, and crashed. Although he was wearing a helmet at the time of the Maryland motorcycle accident, rescue workers were unable to revive him.

Maryland Transportation Authority police investigated the accident, which may have involved another vehicle. A school bus traveling in the area at approximately the same time was also involved in an accident in the heavy traffic. Fortunately there were no passengers on the bus and no one was seriously injured at the time of the incident. Interstate 395 was closed for several hours as rescue crews worked to save the motorcyclist and to clear vehicles from the roadway following the crashes.

Motorcycle safety gear like helmets, leather outerwear, and padding can help reduce injuries in some accidents. Unfortunately, even the best protective gear cannot keep all motorcyclists from being injured or even killed in a serious accident. If you have lost a loved one in a motor vehicle accident in Maryland that you believe was caused by another driver’s negligence, please contact the experienced Maryland wrongful death attorneys at Alpert Schreyer, LLC. We are committed to using our legal resources and courtroom experience to help injured victims seek the compensation they deserve from negligent parties. To learn more or to schedule a free and confidential consultation, call 301-932-9997 today.