Personal Injury Law

Maryland Wrongful Death Settlement Reached in 2007 Pedestrian Accident on Coastal Highway

By Jack Lebowitz, Esq. and Vadim Mzhen, Esq.

A little over two years after 21-year-old Tyler Adams was killed while in a Maryland motor vehicle crash while crossing Coastal Highway on June 17, 2007, his family has settled their wrongful death lawsuit with the defendant.

Adams, an Easton resident, and his friend Dale Blankenship were crossing the highway before 2am when a Jeep Cherokee driven by Brian Scott, 19, struck them. While Blankenship, also from Easton, sustained minor injuries, Adams died from his injuries.

No criminal charges were filed against Scott. Adams?s family sued him for Maryland wrongful death in August 2007. Their civil complaint sought $1.75 million in punitive and compensatory damages. The terms of the Maryland wrongful death settlement are confidential.

While Scott, a minor at the time of the deadly Maryland car crash, ran a red light and was suspected to be driving under the influence, Adams was also suspected of being under the influence and not in the crosswalk when the pedestrian accident occurred. The issue of whether or not there was actual presence of malice in the case has been an issue of debate during two years of legal wrangling.

Adam?s death was one of the 614 Maryland traffic crashes that occurred in 2007. And while one motor vehicle fatality or one pedestrian death is one fatality too many, it is good to note that there were less Maryland traffic fatalities-591 traffic deaths in 2008. There were also less drunk driving-related deaths?178 Maryland alcohol-impaired driving fatalities in 2007 compared to 152 in 2008. The number of Maryland pedestrian deaths for both years?116 pedestrian fatalities?stayed the same.

Losing someone you love in a Maryland pedestrian accident is devastating and can feel incredibly senseless and unfair. There are steps that you can take, however, to hold a negligent motorist liable for your loved one?s wrongful death.

Full post as published by Maryland Accident Law Blog on July 10, 2009 (boomark / email).