Most people who perish in Maryland motorcycle accidents are wearing helmets. It’s a startling fact we saw recently: 85% of Maryland motorcyclists involved in a crash are wearing a helmet at the time of the collision. We also know even minor motorcycle accidents are very serious for motorcyclists because their bodies are so exposed to […]
Maryland’s child support payment system has become increasingly unfair and ineffective over the past two decades, according to a new report from the Abell Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for residents of Baltimore. Maryland parents current on their child support orders have an average income of $44,000 – the payments […]
Do drivers in Maryland realize it’s illegal to use a handheld device while driving? Even if you’re aware of this, plenty of Baltimore’s citizens still drive distracted, which can and does cause crashes on our roads and highways. We think we’re pretty lucky to have the nation’s first and only integrated trauma center so nearby […]
The dog days of summer are the worst time for dog bites in Maryland. At Zirkin & Schmerling, we’ve noticed September is one of the worst months for dog bites in our state. It’s not just a summer statistic, either. In 2018, 3,280 dog bite injury claims were settled by just one insurance company alone. […]
We read recently that the city of Baltimore is the 200th safest driving city among the most populous cities in America. At first glance, this may not seem like bad news for Maryland’s largest city and economic hub; perhaps middle of the road among cities, so to speak? Except Baltimore is ranked dead last, so […]
When we hear someone’s death is the result of someone else’s negligence, we take pause. In June 2016, Janet Stomps, the mother of three and grandmother of three, with a fourth on the way, was killed after her car was struck by a 19-ton trash truck on Ritchie Highway in Glen Bernie. The driver of […]
Adopting a child in Baltimore is a thoughtful decision that’s carefully planned. We often consider adoption as a way to start a family after a desire to parent a child goes unfulfilled – such as infertility or to defy the biological clock. Other times, we adopt out of a sense of duty to a child […]
When we’re driving, we all have little lapses in judgment that can ruin our day. Perhaps we’re in a hurry and aren’t aware we’re driving over the legal speed limit on our commute into Baltimore. Or maybe we need a reminder that we don’t always have to be driving over a speed limit to get […]
In the aftermath of a dog bite attack, we suggest a few actions you should take immediately to protect your safety and legal interests: get medical treatment document the incident and your injuries contact the dog’s owner for background on the dog and get their insurance information (do not speak with their insurance representative) After […]
You are out driving on the streets of Baltimore with your children in the car. Without warning, you’re struck by another vehicle. If you’re fortunate, it’s just an inconvenience. If you’re not, well, you can imagine the rest. We all want to avoid such a possibly devastating, life-threatening and potentially expensive event like an accident […]
