Rush hour in Maryland, particularly on the Beltway, is among the country’s most highly trafficked and stressful rush hours. As more drivers enter Maryland for work, the risk of accidents increases significantly. Unfortunately, this is a self-perpetuating cycle. The more accidents there are during rush hour, the worse rush hour will be. Understanding the legal considerations in rush hour accidents is crucial for all Maryland drivers. It not only informs but also prepares you for any unforeseen circumstances. Below, we will discuss the common causes of rush hour accidents, the types of collisions you most frequently see, and the essential safety tips for commuters. This knowledge will work to prevent accidents and move traffic along during rush hour. The consequences of rush hour Maryland car accidents extend beyond immediate injuries or damages.
If you are in a serious rush hour Maryland car accident, and your injuries are severe, paramedics may have difficulty reaching you. This is a critical point to understand. It’s not just about the accident itself but also the potential delays in getting medical help. This is true anytime there are a lot of cars on the road. Traffic does not always have space to move over. Moreover, unfortunately, the fact that you are in an accident means many other drivers will slow down to look at the wreckage. This is bad for traffic flow and further delays the paramedics’ response to your injuries.
Remember, if you find yourself in a rush hour Maryland car accident, it’s crucial to seek legal advice. Contact a Maryland car accident lawyer today for a free consultation. This step can provide you with the necessary guidance and support during such a challenging time.
There is an infinite number of causes of rush hour Maryland car accidents. In our 70 years of practicing personal injury law in Maryland, a few stand out as the most common.
Tailgating is ubiquitous among commuters. Everyone wants traffic to move faster. Especially in Maryland, people might be on the way to an important meeting or presentation. Rush hour is almost always slow. Even in today’s hybrid world of work-from-home, rush hour is still slower than we would like. Thus, tailgating is common. Tailgating is driving too closely to the car in front of you. Doing so gives the tailgating driver less time to stop should the vehicle in front of him suddenly stop. Unfortunately, tailgating leads to inadequate stopping distance between your car and the vehicle in front or behind you. Accordingly, we see more rear-end accidents during rush hour in Maryland.
During the rush hour commute, we also see a heavy amount of quick accelerating followed by immediate stopping. This is due to poor visibility, which we will discuss below. But it is also due to distracted driving. Distracted driving coupled with tailgating leads to rear-end collisions. Whether thinking about an important meeting later at work, preparing to speak to a client, or even texting and driving, taking your eyes off the road and tailgating is enough to cause many accidents.
Poor visibility is a big issue while commuting to work. It leads to many rush hour Maryland car accidents daily. There are three primary causes of poor visibility. The first is sun glare. The sun’s angle can strain visibility during the early mornings or late afternoons. It can temporarily blind drivers. Let alone the fact that a driver may not be able to see the cars in front of him, you may not even be able to see the traffic signals. This can cause you to drive through a red light erroneously. On the opposite end of the spectrum of light comes darkness. This is the second cause of poor visibility. In the winter months, you may experience darkness during the morning or drive home from work in the evening. Especially if there is insufficient street light, you may run into trouble.
Suppose that a street has insufficient light. Now think about how many cars you have seen that fail to turn their headlights on or have malfunctioning headlights. This is a severe danger to other drivers on the road. The third cause of poor visibility is weather conditions. Rain and snow coupled with the sun glare or darkness can exacerbate any previous visibility conditions. Moreover, you may see fog or a dense mist. This is true particularly in the more rural parts of Maryland.
Stress in a rush hour Maryland car accident leads to aggressive driving. This can cause speeding, abrupt lane changes, or the aforementioned tailgating. All three of these examples are negligent and can lead to accidents. If another driver behaves this way and collides with your vehicle, you may have a viable negligence claim. Additionally, stress can lead to impaired decision-making. While it may provide you with more energy, it can also lead you to perform riskier maneuvers or misjudge a situation, leading to an accident.
The type of collision during rush hour is narrowed. While any collision can occur, some accidents occur more frequently during rush hour than in other parts of the day. These types are listed below.
The most important legal consideration in a rush hour accident is whether you are contributorily negligent in causing the accident. Rush hour is when we see the highest number of accidents. This is true primarily because of the higher number of cars on the road. However, there are also factors unique to rush hour that apply to all drivers. Do not allow the common causes of poor visibility, tailgating, or stress to contribute to the accident. If you are contributorily negligent, you may be barred from recovery.
Now that you have a thorough understanding of the common causes of rush hour Maryland car accidents, types of collisions, and the most important legal considerations, it is imperative to consider these safety tips.
Use technology wisely. While apps like Google Maps, Apple Maps, or Waze can help you avoid traffic, they can also be distracting. If you check your phone or report traffic, that is time spent with your eyes off the road. This endangers you. If you must use your phone, ensure it is through a hands-free device. You can speak on the phone but should have both hands on the wheel. Not only is that safer, but it is the law in Maryland.
Our Maryland injury lawyers have handled rush hour Maryland car accidents since our founding in 1954. Since then, we have helped thousands of accident victims and recovered over $150,000,000 for our clients. Call our office today for a free consultation at (202) 331-7227.
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