Recent Blog Posts
Recovering Damages After a Maryland Hit and Run
Recently, a pedestrian was in critical condition after a hit and run, in which the pedestrian was thrown across an intersection. The driver of the car didn’t stop, and the pedestrian had to go to a trauma center to be treated for life-threatening injuries. The police searched the area and found the vehicle involved… Read More »
Going and Coming Rule in Maryland Workers’ Compensation Case
In State v. Okafor, a police officer driving to work in uniform was in a car accident. His patrol car had been having engine trouble, so he took it to a repair facility for patrol cars, and he was driving his own car at the time of the accident. His car was clipped, resulting… Read More »
Sole Proprietor with a Maryland Workers’ Compensation Claim
In Long v. Injured Workers’ Insurance Fund, the court considered a case in which the owner of a flooring installation company, a sole proprietor, was injured. Before 2011, the owner had elected to be a covered employee under LE § 9-227. His company did work as an independent contractor for the contractor Ryan Homes…. Read More »
Maryland Garbageman Seriously Injured By Coworker
Local government employees in Maryland are restricted in their ability to sue for injuries caused by an employer or coworker. In Blue v. Arrington, a Baltimore City employee (Arrington) hurt another employee (Blue) while they were working at their jobs for the City. The injured plaintiff was working as a Seasonal Maintenance Aide on… Read More »
Claims of Subjective Pain in Maryland Social Security Disability Cases
In the unpublished case Tanner v. Social Security Administration, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals considered a case in which the Social Security Administration had twice denied a claimant’s disability insurance benefits claim. The case arose when the claimant, a special education teacher, got in between two fighting students. Her shoulder, neck and upper… Read More »
Injured Worker Covered by Workers’ Compensation Insurance
In a recent Maryland Court of Appeals case, the Court determined that even though a contractor did not have workers’ compensation insurance, they could be an employee of the general contractor, and therefore covered under the general contractor’s workers’ compensation insurance policy. The Court looked at the employer-employee relationship under common law principles. In… Read More »
SSDI Offsets to Long – Term Disability Benefits in Maryland
In the 2012 case of Garcia v. The Hartford, the surviving spouse of Jose Garcia, Elvira Garcia, sued the insurance company The Hartford for a violation of ERISA. The decedent had participated in his employer’s long-term disability plan. The plan was insured and administered by The Hartford and was governed by ERISA. The purpose… Read More »
Train Accidents in Maryland
Recently, a train hit a car in Westminster, Maryland at the intersection of Route 27 and Winters Street at night, and a woman was injured and taken to the shock trauma department of a hospital. The conductor sounded its horn, and the train signal was activated. The train hit the passenger side and dragged… Read More »
Maryland District Court Remands SSDI Case Based On Newly Discovered Evidence
In a recent social security disability case, a Maryland District Court considered a situation in which the plaintiff, Kowana Chase, had been denied benefits. The plaintiff claimed disability from August 2005 through 2009 and filed her application in 2007. The disability claimed was the result of musculoskeletal connective tissue injury, status post cervical fusion,… Read More »
Multi-vehicle Accidents and Insurance Issues in Maryland
Recently, a serious six-vehicle crash closed down U.S. Route 29 in Howard County, Maryland. The crash started in the northbound lanes when a driver was speeding and driving in an erratic fashion. Eventually, he hit a Honda CRV and a Honda Crosstour and slammed into the center median guardrail. His car flew into the… Read More »
