As citizens of the United States, we should have certain rights we can exercise when pulled over by police officers. It is crucial to understand these rights so that you have the ability to make smart decisions in the event that you are pulled over. Additionally, understanding your rights gives you the opportunity to determine whether or not any of them were violated during a stop. This could end up significantly bolstering the strength of your defense down the road. Which rights should you be familiar with in the event that you’ve been pulled over?

Filed under: Traffic Offense by hploski
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Many people in the state of Maryland confuse DWI and DUI offenses. While they are both drinking and driving offenses, there are several key differences between each of them. In this blog, we provide clarity and distinguish between the two offenses and their potential consequences.

Filed under: Traffic Offense by hploski
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The moments after a car accident can be very stressful and rattling. However, it is crucial to try to keep your composure to ensure your own safety and minimize any stressful financial burdens that occur as a result of the crash. What should you do in the moments after a car accident?

Filed under: Traffic Offense by hploski
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The MVA uses license points in order to decide whether a driver should enroll in a Driver Improvement Program, be suspended from driving or have their license revoked after failing to follow driving laws.  Points often accumulate after minor violations, such as speeding 15 mph over the limit, failing to use a turn signal, or running a red light, but only by 1 or 2 points for each violation.  The penalties for DWIs and DUIs, on the other hand, are much more severe.  In many states there are no points added in addition to the consequences of the charge, but in Maryland, 8 license points are added for a DWI, and 12 license points are added for a DUI. 

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In Maryland, police officers are constantly on the lookout for intoxicated drivers.  DUI and DWI charges are enforced on anyone who is caught driving impaired.  This strict enforcement is likely why Maryland has fewer drunk driving fatalities than other states, as well as why fatalities and serious injuries among drunk drivers are steadily declining.  Before making the decision to drive impaired, or if you’ve recently been arrested for doing so, it’s important to understand the penalties for a DUI or DWI charge in Maryland and how these penalties can be reduced. 

Filed under: Traffic Offense by hploski
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It’s an important responsibility for any driver to understand what should be done after a car accident.  In Maryland alone there are over 100,000 accidents every year, so whether you’ve recently experienced an accident or you just want to be better prepared, here’s what you should (and perhaps more importantly shouldn’t) do after a car accident.

Filed under: Traffic Offense by hploski
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With ride share services becoming increasingly popular, it is important to understand who is liable in Uber and Lyft accidents. If a person gets into an accident with an Uber or Lyft driver, or an individual is a passenger in a ride share vehicle, there will likely not be much success in suing Uber or Lyft directly. This is because drivers for these companies are considered independent contractors, so a person would have to sue the driver personally. However, if the driver was on duty at the time of the accident, Uber or Lyft will assume responsibility and cover injuries, car damage, and potentially other damages depending on the circumstances. Uber and Lyft have comparable insurance policies which will financially cover the driver, passenger, and other parties involved in the accident, but there are a few catches that make this process more difficult to navigate. Read on to discover the intricacies of who is liable in Uber and Lyft accidents.

Filed under: Traffic Offense by hploski
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