Towson Personal Injury Lawyer

Originally settled in 1752, Towson takes its name from two brothers who owned a farm northeast of the current York and Joppa Roads. Known for a time as “Towsontown,” this part of Maryland was a relatively rural community until 1854 when Towson was named as the county seat for Baltimore County. Today, Towson’s 14 square miles are home to more than 55,000 residents, some of whom may experience some kind of debilitating or life-threatening personal injury at some point in the future.

Because an injury can often occur at the most unexpected moment, some people living in neighborhoods throughout the Towson area — such as Idlewylde, Rodgers Forge, Wiltondale and Hunt Crest Estates — may find they need legal representation when it comes to traffic accidents or other incidents resulting in personal injury. Lebowitz & Mzhen, LLC, has years of experience helping individuals throughout Maryland settle claims for medical-related expenses and other associated costs following a roadway accident.

As with many cities and towns throughout Maryland, the Towson area has seen its share of fatal and other serious traffic accidents. The average number of traffic-related deaths in this locale — averaged across four recent years (2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021) — is just under 10 fatalities annually. The average number of motor vehicles involved in fatal Towson traffic accidents is less than eight per year, while the number of pedestrians killed in the Towson area averages two to three annually. Based on police records, drunk driving tends to account for at least one fatal accident each year.

A while back, the Baltimore Sun published an article naming, among others, a handful of intersections in the Towson area that received failing grades from Baltimore County’s Bureau of Traffic Engineering and Transportation Planning due to rush hour congestion and poor traffic flow. While this was not a list of specifically dangerous intersections, the fact that traffic flow may be sub-par in these areas could suggest that they are locations where an impatient or inattentive driver might make a poor decision behind the wheel and, in doing so, endanger the occupants of nearby vehicles. These potentially trouble-prone traffic locations are as follows:

• York Rd. at Burke Ave.
• Falls Rd. at Seminary Ave.
• Falls Rd. at Greenspring Valley Rd.
• Falls Rd. at Joppa Rd.

Physical Toll of Maryland Auto Accidents

The physical injuries that car, truck and motorcycle crashes leave behind can, in many cases, be difficult to recover from. Victims can suffer a range of injuries — from lacerations and broken bones to internal organ damage and traumatic brain injury (TBI). The severity of physical injuries tend to be worse in collisions between vehicles moving at high speeds, or in some cases, when a large vehicle such as a semi tractor-trailer strikes a smaller vehicle even at low speed.

Quite frequently, occupants of family sedans, minivans or SUVs involved in highway collisions can sustain cuts, bruises and sometimes burns, with varying severity. Bone fractures are also a common occurrence, while spinal fractures and closed-head trauma are possible when impact forces from a traffic collision are high. As Maryland auto injury attorneys, the experienced legal team at Lebowitz & Mzhen, LLC, is well versed in Maryland personal injury law, as well as federal statutes pertaining to personal injury and auto insurance claims.

Internal Injuries resulting from Roadway Collisions

Drivers and passengers involved in car, motorcycle or trucking-related wrecks may suffer internal organ injury. Although these types of injuries may not be immediately evident at the scene of a serious Towson traffic collision, they can quickly lead to a life-threatening condition requiring immediate medical intervention at a hospital emergency room. Often associated with internal injuries is a substantial accumulation of blood within the victim’s chest or abdominal cavity; the blood loss from a ruptured organ can itself result in a very grave situation.

Some victims of bad traffic wrecks — although they may be awake and aware of their surroundings — may not initially realize the seriousness of their condition. If left untreated, internal organ damage can be fatal. Naturally, the sooner a car or motorcycle accident victim receives medical attention, the better the chances of survival. As experienced personal injury attorneys, Lebowitz & Mzhen injury specialists have the skills and training to assist individuals in the filing of claims against a negligent driver after suffering internal organ damage or another kind of accident-related bodily injury.

When vehicle speeds are high, a Beltway accident or interstate crash can result in serious injury to a victim’s internal organs. Affected organs can include the liver, spleen, pancreas, and even the stomach. When internal bleeding takes place, a car accident victim can go into shock due to the resulting significant blood loss; if too much blood is lost, the victim’s body may begin to shut down as well. The following is short list of the most common — and life-threatening — internal injuries that can be caused by a serious roadway accident:

• Abdominal Aorta Rupture: This, often fatal, internal injury can take place when the victim’s stomach becomes compressed during a traffic collision. A very large quantity of blood can be lost, spilling into the injured victim’s abdominal cavity, often causing death within minutes of the injury
• Pneumothorax: Often resulting from penetrating trauma — such as a broken rib — to one or both of the victim’s lungs. If too much air enters the chest cavity, the lung’s normal function can be progressively impeded to the point of serious reduction in oxygen intake. Because of this, pneumothorax can be deadly if medical treatment is not rendered in a timely fashion
• Ruptured Spleen: Damage to the spleen often results from blunt-force trauma, which is quite common in high-speed traffic accidents. In the case of a severe car, truck or SUV accident, vehicle occupants who receive a heavy blow to the left side of their body may sustain injury to the relatively delicate spleen, which can rupture from the shear force of an impact. Situations such as this often require surgical removal of the damaged organ; loss of one’s spleen is survivable, but comes with an increased risk of serious infection — such as pneumonia — for the balance of the victim’s life

These kinds of serious injuries can result from a variety of automotive collisions, and depending on the circumstances may have fatal consequences. Car accident victims who suffer any kind of internal injuries or organ-related trauma should be transported to the local emergency room as soon as possible. Blunt-force, penetrating and deceleration trauma should all be considered as potential outcomes in the aftermath of a Towson car or motorcycle accident — an ambulance ride to a local ER is the usual course of action.

Emergency Medical Assistance Near Towson, MD

Based on reports, EMS and ambulance response times for accidents in and around Towson, average around 8.4 minutes to get to the scene of a crash once a 911 call has been made. This local response time compares favorably with that of the average EMS response time for Baltimore County as a whole (9.7 minutes), but less than that for Maryland in general (7.8 minutes). The average ambulance transit time from the scene of a Towson traffic accident to an ER is approximately 29 minutes; much better than the 35-minute average for Baltimore County, and just over 40 minutes for Maryland in general.

When an injury-related traffic accident occurs it is better for victims if there is a well-staffed emergency room close by. In the Towson area, the closest hospital is about one mile away — University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center (7601 Osler Dr, Towson, MD 21204). In addition to emergency and urgent care, St. Joseph Medical Center provides additional healthcare-related services, including:

• Cancer Treatment
• Digestive Health
• Cardiac Care
• Neuromuscular
• Nuclear Medicine
• Orthopedics
• Pain Management
• Pediatric Medicine
• Psychiatric Care
• Respiratory Care
• Women’s Health

Other hospitals not far from the Towson area include the following:

Greater Baltimore Medical Center
6701 N. Charles St.
Towson, MD 21204

MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital
5601 Loch Raven Blvd.
Baltimore, MD 21239

Auto Accidents Involving Minors, Infants and Young Children

Traffic collisions that result in injuries to minors and children can often cause a parent to react with anger or guilt from not being able to avoid an accident that caused their child’s injuries. Yet, while these parents may feel that they could have prevented the accident, many times this is just wishful thinking because, as is often the case, the true cause of their child’s injuries are likely attributable to negligence or recklessness on the part of another person or persons.

As Baltimore injury attorneys, we remind parents of injured children that they are legally entitled to compensation for that child’s past, present, and future medical expenses, depending, of course, on the seriousness of their child’s injuries, for which medical expenses can be considerable. Retaining experienced legal counsel is all the more important in situations where a child’s injuries require expensive around-the-clock medical care, for which many parents usually cannot easily afford to pay.

In cases where a child has died due to another driver’s negligent or reckless behavior, sometimes the filing of a wrongful death lawsuit may be in order. This kind of legal action is understandable when the parents, as a result of another individual’s negligent actions, have been deprived of their child’s love, affection and companionship. Furthermore, if the child endured pain and suffering from the time of his or her injury to the moment of death, a lawsuit — known as a survival action — can usually be filed with the appropriate court.

Courthouse Venues Near Towson, Maryland

The Towson courthouse is the home of the Baltimore County Circuit Court. Located at 401 Bosley Avenue, this courthouse is the trial court of general jurisdiction for the area and has full common law and equity powers in all cases of criminal, civil, juvenile and family law.

As Maryland personal injury attorneys, Lebowitz & Mzhen, LLC, trial lawyers are experienced in representing our clients in courtrooms here in Towson, or elsewhere throughout the state. Our skilled litigators know how to prepare a proper legal suit with the intention of taking a client’s case to court. However, we also know that a well-crafted personal injury case can many times result in a pretrial settlement.

In such instances, an out-of-court or pre-trial settlement can often help a family avoid protracted litigation and spare parents the mental anguish of reliving the pain and suffering endured by their beloved child. As qualified personal injury attorneys dealing in auto accident, medical malpractice and other civil lawsuits, our main objective is to serve our clients well and obtain the best possible legal outcome. In addition to representing victims who have been hurt or seriously injured, we also fight for the families whose loved ones have died as a result of another person’s negligence.

There is also a district court in the Towson area. The District Court for Baltimore County – Towson, is located at 120 E. Chesapeake Avenue. This court hears landlord/tenant cases, replevin actions, traffic violations, criminal cases classified as misdemeanors and certain felonies. For personal injury lawsuits, the amount being sought will need to be $30,000 or less for the district court to hear the case; claims greater than $30,000 will necessarily need to be brought in front of a circuit court judge. Please note that the District Court for Baltimore County – Towson does not conduct jury trials.

Locating a Police Report for a Traffic Accident in Towson, MD

Public safety in the Towson area is handled by the Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD). To better serve the residents of Towson, the BCPD maintains a precinct (Precinct 6) at 115 West Susquehanna Ave., Towson, Maryland 21204. The precinct’s office hours are 8am-4:30pm, Monday through Friday. For non emergencies, the main office number is (410) 887-2361.

Obtaining a police accident report following a traffic accident in the Towson, MD, area will depend on which law enforcement agency responded to the crash. Typically, this would be a Baltimore County officer or, if the accident occurred on or near a state route, possibly an officer from the Maryland State Police. Below is the process for obtaining a police report from the Baltimore County PD:

In Person — If the responding officer works out of the BCPD Precinct #6, you can visit the precinct to personally request an accident report. Remember that accident reports are typically not available immediately following an accident; like most law enforcement entities around Maryland, the BCPD recommends that victims of auto accidents allow two weeks after a traffic accident to make their request, which allows time for internal review and processing. Always call ahead to make sure someone will be available to handle your request.

By Mail — Visit the BCPD website (https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/departments/police/request-reports) for a downloadable “Police Report Request Form,” which should be filled out and mailed to the BCPD’s Information and Records Management Unit at:

Information and Records Management Unit, Records Requests
700 East Joppa Road
Towson, Maryland 21286-5501

Be sure to enclose a self addressed/stamped envelope, as well as the nonrefundable $15 fee (paid by personal check or money order made out to Baltimore County, Maryland. Do not send cash). Follow the instructions on the request form, and include information such as the Accident Report Number (if known); date, time and location of the accident; names of the individuals involved (drivers’ and passengers’ names, etc.); your name and the address that you would like the report mailed to. For questions about requesting accident records, call the BCPD 410-887-2390.

Obtaining an Accident Report from the Maryland State Police (MSP)

In cases where a State Trooper responded to a traffic accident in the Towson area, an automobile crash report will be filed by the MSP officer in charge of the accident investigation. Formal accident reports that are prepared and filed by MSP officers are referred to as Motor Vehicle Accident Reports.

For auto accidents where a Maryland State Police (MSP) trooper has responded, the Central Records Division (CRD) of the MSP handles the associated reports; the CRD collects, analyzes, and distributes reports and other data regarding car accidents, as well as incident reports on criminal activity. The CRD will respond to requests for copies of car or trucking accident reports filed by a Maryland State Trooper, as follows:

In Person — No sooner than 10 days following a roadway accident, a copy of a Vehicle Crash Report can be requested from the MSP Barracks where it was filed. State troopers responding to traffic accidents in the Towson area may be posted at Barrack R (Golden Ring – 8908 Kelso Drive, Essex, MD 21221) or possibly Barrack D (Bel Air – 1401 Belair Road, Bel Air, MD 21014). There is a $4 non-refundable search fee that can be paid via personal check or money order (no cash). It is advisable to call the particular MSP barracks ahead of time to be sure someone will be available to accept your request. The non-emergency phone numbers for these MSP barracks, as well as the MSP Headquarters in Pikesville, are listed below:

Barrack D (Golden Ring) — (410) 838-4101
Barrack R (Golden Ring) — (410) 780-2700
MSP HQ (Pikesville) — (410) 486-3101

Online — Police accident reports can also be ordered via the MSP website (mdsp.maryland.gov) by going to the “Contact Us” page and clicking on the Central Records Division link. Once there, click on the “Request for Motor Vehicle Accident Report” button toward the bottom of the page and follow the directions to request your accident report.

Mail-in — For requests by mail, go to the bottom of the same MSP webpage and download a copy of the Accident Request Form (you will need Adobe Reader installed on your device) and follow the instructions. Once completed, mail the request along with a check or money order for $4 to the address provided on the form. When a copy of your accident report becomes available, the MSP records division will mail the document to you.

Once a copy of your Motor Vehicle Accident Report is available, you can receive it in person by going to the Central Records Division (1711 Belmont Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21244; 410-281-2700. Office hours are 8am-4:30pm, Monday through Friday, except holidays).

Helping Victims Recover Personal Injury Damages

When it comes to a Towson traffic accident lawsuit, a vehicle accident report — whether filed by the Baltimore County PD or the state police — is likely to be a critical piece of supporting documentation for your personal injury claim. In all instances — auto accident injury cases, as well as those involving nursing home abuse, prescription medicine misfills, products liability claims and medical malpractice — Lebowitz & Mzhen, LLC, is ready and willing to assist victims and their families recover damages associated with medical costs and lost wages; pain and suffering; and long-term expenses for the extended convalescence and ongoing physical rehabilitation that inevitably follow in the aftermath of a debilitating personal injury accident. We are available for a no-obligation consultation by phone (800-654-1949), by e-mail, or by appointment at our offices in Owings Mills, Maryland.