Prince George's County Legal Blog

Which types of incidents result in traumatic brain injuries?

On behalf of Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., P.A. posted in personal injury on Friday, September 11, 2020.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) as one of the leading causes of disability and death. The federal agency's 2014 data shows that as many as 155 individuals died from TBI-related complications each day that year. It also shows that the number of patients who went into the emergency room (ER) between 2006 and 2014 with TBI-related symptoms increased by nearly 53%. There are various ways in which these TBIs occur.

CDC data from 2014 shows that falls were the leading cause of TBIs that year. Their research shows that nearly half of patients who went to the ER that year with TBI symptoms did so after suffering a fall. Juveniles and elderly individuals were most often involved in these incidents. Virtually half the patients seen in the ER were kids ages 0 to 17. At least 81% of the elderly patients who came to the hospital with TBI-related symptoms had a fall before doing so.

How should you behave during a traffic stop?

On behalf of Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., P.A. on Friday, September 4, 2020.

A police officer pulling someone over can ruin his or her day. Whether officers believe a driver was speeding or they have reasonable suspicion that a driver is intoxicated, a traffic stop can cause a driver to feel anxious and worried, even if that person does not believe that he or she did anything wrong.

Often, that anxious feeling can stem from not knowing what to do or expect during a traffic stop. Whether an officer has pulled you over while driving before or not, you can still feel uncertain about the situation. As a result, it is important that you know how to behave and what your rights are during a traffic stop.

How parental alienation can ruin your child custody prospects

On behalf of Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., P.A. posted in family law on Friday, August 28, 2020.

Most divorcing spouses struggle to come to terms with the prospect of not seeing their kids every day. It's this thought that motivates them to do whatever it takes to get as much visitation or custody time with their kids as possible. Sometimes parents engage in parental alienation of their child in hopes that it will improve the chances of a Maryland family law judge ruling in their favor. Engaging in such activities can hurt their case in the long run, though.

The parental alienation concept was coined by a child psychiatrist in the 1980s to describe instances in which vengeful moms and dads fabricated stories about their son or daughter's other parent to paint them in a bad light. They often did this to sway a judge to rule in their favor in a custody case.

Vehicle safety technology cannot prevent all pedestrian accidents

On behalf of Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., P.A. on Friday, August 21, 2020.

It can seem like technological advancements happen every day. You may have seen numerous automobile advertisements boasting various safety features on new models intended to keep drivers, passengers and other travelers safe. While these features can certainly help reduce accidents in some cases, they are not foolproof.

You and your loved ones may often walk or bike to various destinations for exercise or easier travel. However, if your travel takes you close to Maryland roadways, you know that you face the serious risk of involvement in a collision with a vehicle. Can technology help with that?

Defense strategies when you're facing drunk driving charges

On behalf of Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., P.A. posted in Criminal Defense on Friday, August 14, 2020.

Being charged with drunk driving is a serious offense. Your license may be suspended or revoked depending on the severity of the circumstances of your case. You may be facing felony or murder charges and a lengthy stay in prison if someone is seriously hurt or killed due to your actions.

There are several affirmative defenses a person charged with DUI can use. A defendant may be able to assert that the Breathalyzer test police used wasn't correctly calibrated. The defense may also argue that the law enforcement officer made a mistake in they thought they observed.

Why Breathalyzer tests are not all they're cracked up to be

On behalf of Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., P.A. on Saturday, August 8, 2020.

If Maryland police ever stop you because they believe you are driving while under the influence of alcohol, they'll likely ask you to submit to sobriety testing. The Breathalyzer, or other forms of the breath test, is common for use by law enforcement officers to determine if a person has alcohol in his or her system. While these tests are generally highly accurate, the truth is they are anything but.

According to reports, breath test results are often wrong. An investigation conducted by the New York Times found that most test results are skewed. Machine or human error is often to blame.

Beware of distracted drivers on Maryland roads

On behalf of Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., P.A. on Thursday, August 6, 2020.

When you get behind the wheel to drive, you're obligated to adhere to Maryland safety regulations and traffic laws. If you are negligent and cause a collision because of it, you may be accountable if someone suffers injuries in the crash. Always remember that the reverse is also true. There are many distracted drivers on Maryland roadways, and they place you at great risk for injury.

No matter how stellar your own driving habits happen to be, you can't predict what another driver might do at any given moment. You can stop at all the stop signs and red lights, as well as never exceed posted speed limits or fail to yield rights-of-way at intersections. However, if a nearby driver isn't cautious at the wheel, you might be the one who suffers injury because of his or her negligence.

What are the most commonly misdiagnosed medical conditions?

On behalf of Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., P.A. posted in personal injury on Tuesday, July 28, 2020.

Unfortunately, the practice of medicine isn't an exact science. Each person's symptoms are unique, and conditions may manifest themselves differently depending on the individual. That is why doctors and hospitals have to follow specific steps and protocols to avoid common medical malpractice mistakes.

Some conditions are more challenging to diagnose than others, often leading to many symptoms falling through the cracks. Lupus often goes misdiagnosed. Many times this condition is negligently diagnosed as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia or rheumatoid arthritis. Many patients receive the wrong treatment because doctors order incorrect tests and imaging necessary to diagnose a patient's condition.

Are you worried that you cannot afford divorce?

On behalf of Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., P.A. on Thursday, July 23, 2020.

Being trapped in a difficult situation is not ideal for most people. You may have felt less than happy with your marital relationship for some time, and you may feel that you could live a much more fulfilling life without your spouse. To some, filing for divorce may seem like the obvious option, but you may have financial concerns holding you back.

Worrying about your monetary affairs is understandable. After all, everyone needs funds to meet daily needs. You may think that you cannot afford the expenses of divorce and continue to meet those needs on your income alone. However, you may have more options than you initially believed.

What are the penalties for driving without insurance in Maryland?

On behalf of Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., P.A. posted in Criminal Defense on Tuesday, July 14, 2020.

No one wants to be pulled over by the police. If law enforcement officers stop you for a traffic infraction and discover that you were driving without auto insurance, then you're in for a long conversation, though.

Driving without auto insurance is against the law in the state of Maryland. It could lead to some severe consequences if police catch you doing this. Police will most likely impound your vehicle. Law enforcement officers gain the right to search your car in its entirety once they do so.

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