The Baltimore Sun reported that a driver was killed this weekend in a fatal hit-and-run Baltimore County car accident.
According to news reports, the fatal hit and run crash occurred Saturday night at 10 p.m. in Baltimore Highlands at the intersection of Virginia Ave. and Annapolis Rd. The suspect, who was driving a cargo van, allegedly fled the scene of the accident but was later apprehended by police and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. The driver of the car that was struck by the van perished and a passenger suffered personal injury. The Sun reported that the driver was 20 years old and lived on Virginia Avenue, Baltimore. The suspect, age 54, is also from Baltimore.
Baltimore County accident lawyers are familiar with the many hazards of driving on Maryland’s roads and highways. Some regional statistics…
Baltimore County and Baltimore City Traffic Fatalities for 2007
In the state of Maryland in 2007, there were 179 alcohol-related motor vehicle deaths (involving drivers with blood-alcohol levels above the legal limit of .08). Of fatal traffic accidents for that same year, 216 involved speeding and 120 involved an intersection. There were 72 deaths in Baltimore County (12 percent of the total for the state) and 47 in Baltimore city (8 percent of the total). (NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts Maryland 2003 – 2007)
In this fatal hit/run car accident case, the suspect was apprehended. Hit-and-run scenarios include drivers who failed to stop their vehicles following a car, SUV, motorcycle, truck accident, or pedestrian accident; who flee on foot; and/or those who cause an accident and either fail to exchange information, report the accident or offer assistance at the scene.
In some cases, where the hit/run suspect is never found, the victims’ own auto insurance may “stand in” for the at-fault driver’s insurance and provide coverage for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and property damage resulting from the accident. As always, it is best to consult an experienced Maryland injury attorney in hit and run auto accident situations. You may want to do this even before you contact your insurance company, so that your attorney can clearly explain the various scenarios which may unfold in this complex situation.
Victim identified in Baltimore County crash
The Baltimore Sun, Sept. 14, 2009
Driver dies in hit-and-run
The Baltimore Sun, Sept. 13, 2009