Law Office of Elizabeth A. Lawrence Blog

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. 

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. 

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.

Special Immigrant Juvenile Status is an often-misunderstood type of juvenile protection. It is a unique type of immigration remedy that takes the help of an experienced lawyer to obtain. What is Special Immigrant Juvenile Status Protection, and what do you need to know about it?

As we enter October, it’s important to remember that the deadline for REAL ID compliance is less than a year away. Starting October 1, 2020, all air travelers are required to present a state-issued driver’s license, valid passport, military ID or REAL ID-compliant driver’s license to board a flight within the United States. If you are not prepared for REAL ID compliance, you will not be able to get to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint or fly.

Every accident is different, and in the aftermath of a car accident, your biggest priority is your safety and the well-being of everyone who was in your car. However, once you are entering the recovery period, you need to start thinking about your car accident claim value. Will you be able to recover money sufficient for covering the cost of your medical treatment? Will you be able to purchase a new vehicle if yours is totaled? Understanding the compensation that you can receive in a car accident claim is critical.

Filing an appeal in a criminal case is a strategic, sometimes even risky choice. It is important to understand how the appeals process works in Maryland so that you can make choices confidently alongside your attorney. If a defendant does not like the outcome of his or her case, they can appeal the case depending on the circumstances. Of course, the goal of appealing is to get a more favorable ruling for the defendant, however this is not always the outcome. That is why it is important to be cautious and deliberate when filing for an appeal in a criminal case.

After being arrested for a DUI or DWI, figuring out next steps can be daunting. If convicted, individuals could face fines, jail time and temporary or permanent suspension of their driver’s license. If you are not a United States citizen, a DUI or DWI may carry adverse Immigration consequences which could lead to revocation of green card and detention by ICE. It is highly recommended that you follow a few best practices on your end during the days after your arrest, as well as hiring an attorney. Your case mostly depends on the facts of your situation to determine the outcome, and an attorney will know which facts will strengthen your case. You can prepare for your case by taking several critical steps.

If you are accused of sexual assault, it is very important to take the accusation seriously, regardless of your innocence or guilt in the situation. Pressure is high in these types of cases, in part because having a sexual assault charge on your record could be damaging to your reputation and can impact many aspects of your life. When a person is accused of any criminal offense, regardless of culpability, it is always recommended to hire an attorney from whom to seek counsel. In order to help tell your side of the events, you should hire an attorney if you are accused of sexual assault.

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.