PALMYRA, Maine (AP) — Police say three people were taken to the hospital after a head-on, two-vehicle collision in Palmyra, but a 10-year-old girl in one of the vehicles escaped serious injury. Police say a 51-year-old man of Newport was flown to Eastern Maine Medical Center with possible internal injuries following the Sunday morning crash. His 10-year-old daughter was checked at the scene by ambulance staff but not transported.

A St. Albans couple was transported to Sebasticook Valley Hospital with possible chest injuries. They were identified as a 70-year-old man and a 64-year-old woman.

Authorities tell the Bangor Daily News that the man from Newport drove into the opposite travel lane while rounding a corner and the initial investigation showed that he most likely was driving too fast for conditions.

At Berman & Simmons, we are experts in assisting clients in car accident cases like this one.  We gather all of the evidence and use the best accident reconstruction experts to recreate the conditions of the accident.  We explore all angles of recovery for the victims and their families, including liability claims, underinsured or uninsured motorist claims and product defect claims arising out of dangerous and defective cars.  We have recovered millions of dollars in cases where other lawyers were unable to find a legal remedy.  If you or someone you know have suffered an accident-related injury or death, please give us a call or send an email.  We do not charge anything for a consultation.  For more information, visit our website at www.bermansimmons.com.

WEST PARIS, Maine — Two local teenagers are dead and two others went to the hospital after an early Saturday morning accident caused by drinking and text messaging while driving, Maine State Police Trooper Tom Welch said. “Alcohol and distracted driving are the primary causation factors,” the trooper said. The four young people had been at an underage drinking party, Stephen McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety, said Sunday. “They had left that party and were going back to it” when the deadly crash occurred, he said. State police got the call for help around 12:15 a.m., and when they arrived they found a mangled Subaru Impreza at the foot of a bunch of trees off Route 219. Passengers and West Paris residents, one a 19-year-old male, and  another a 16-year-old female who was a student at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School, both were killed instantly, Welch said.

The driver, a female, 18, of Paris and another passenger, a male, 22, of South Paris both were seriously injured. The driver was taken to Maine Medical Center in Portland and was listed in critical condition Sunday afternoon, a nursing supervisor said. The passenger had serious injuries that were not life-threatening, the trooper said. He was taken to Stephens Memorial Hospital in Norway, and was later released.

A state police accident reconstructionist is investigating the fatal crash. “The car drifted off the roadway, struck a driveway … [and] went airborne,” Welch said. The vehicle hit “a group of trees and came to rest at the base of the trees. The car actually hit the trees roof first.” The driver had been drinking and “she was texting,” the trooper said. The investigation has two parts — the underage drinking party and the fatal crash — that may lead to charges, McCausland said, adding that no charges had been filed as of Sunday. Once the investigation into the fatal crash is complete, “it will be reviewed by the district attorney’s office to see what charges are appropriate,” he said. The deaths of the two teenagers are bound to have devastating effects on their communities and the people who love them, Welch said. “This is just another one of those prime examples of why alcohol and distracted driving don’t mix,” he said. “That is why they are against the law.”

Although this was a single car accident, recovery for the injured victim and family of the decedents may be possible.  The product liability team at Berman & Simmons has successfully recovered against major auto manufacturers in one-car accidents where a defective or dangerous condition of the car caused or contributed to the accident.  Recovery for the passenger may also be possible through the driver’s liability insurance policy, particularly if the driver was speeding or otherwise negligent, or the passenger’s own underinsured or uninsured motorist policy.   For more information, contact Berman & Simmons at 1-800-244-3576 or read more on our website on our car accident practice page.

GARDINER, Maine — Icy roads are being blamed for a highway accident that claimed two lives in Gardiner, a crash that claimed one life in Bowdoin, and a truck crash that resulted in power outages in southern Maine.

Police say U.S. Route 201 in Gardiner was closed after a vehicle rolled over about a mile north of the Interstate 295 interchange, killing two men and injuring a third person. The first man, 62, of Gardiner and a second man, 25, of Pittston were killed in the crash, according to the Portland Press Herald. Both men were partially ejected when the cargo van they were riding in skidded out of control and rolled over before landing in a ditch on its side, Gardiner Police Chief James Toman said. A third man, 29, of Randolph, was taken by ambulance to MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta for treatment of injuries that were not life threatening. The section of Route 201, also called Brunswick Avenue, was closed for about three hours as police investigated the crash, Toman said. The crash occurred around 8 a.m., as the men were driving a Budget rental van south on Brunswick Avenue toward Interstate 295. According to Toman, the third man was riding in the cargo area of the van while other two men were up front. Police have not yet determined which of the men was driving, but Toman said it did not appear that any of the men were wearing seat belts. Maine State Police and Kennebec County Sheriff deputies assisted Gardiner police and fire department at the scene, Toman said.

In Bowdoin, the Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office said that another man, who was 45 years old, of Topsham was killed Saturday afternoon after crashing into a tree just before 3 p.m. on Route 201, WGME reports.

In Falmouth, ice covering Route 9 caused a truck rounding a curve to hit a pole Saturday morning, leaving more than 300 Central Maine Power customers without power for several hours. Nearly 100 gallons of fuel spilled in the road, which was shut down. WMTW-TV says there were no injuries in that crash.

Even in cases where accidents are caused by slippery road conditions, it is sometimes possible to recover under negligence or product defect theories.  In terms of negligence, the driver may have been going too fast or not driving attentively enough for the conditions.  Sometimes there are issues in terms of vehicle maintenance–brakes, tire tread, tire pressure, etc.  Finally, there have been technologies available for more than 10 years which assist a driver in maintaining control on slippery surfaces.  The most common technologies are anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control.  ABS brakes allow a driver to maintain control under braking conditions.  ESC automatically senses the slipping wheels and selectively applies braking and throttle to prevent a loss of control.  Beyond that, there are sometimes “crashworthiness” claims where injuries or deaths could have been prevented with a safer vehicle design.  Examples of crashworthiness claims include unlatching or seatbelt failure, failure of the airbags to deploy or deploying under conditions when they should not have deployed, roof crush, fuel fed fire, etc.  Unlike most personal injury firms which only consider negligent driving claims, at Berman & Simmons, we have the resources and expertise to evaluate all possible types of claims arising out of a severe and catastrophic vehicle-related injury.  Give us a call at 1-800-244-3576 or visit our website at www.bermansimmons.com to learn more about us and how we might help you.

SOUTH BERWICK, Maine — A three-vehicle collision that sent three people to the hospital Monday afternoon was still under investigation on Tuesday. The preliminary cause of the incident appears to be driver inattention on the part of a woman of Eliot, Maine, according to South Berwick Police Chief Dana Lajoie. At around 3 p.m., a gray 2007 Nissan Quest operated by the woman was heading south on Route 236 when it collided with a red 1998 Ford Taurus driven by a woman of Medford, Mass., who was stopped in traffic, waiting to turn left into a private residence off Route 236. When the driver of the Quest rear-ended the driver of the Taurus, the force of the impact sent the Taurus into a third vehicle traveling north on Route 236. The third was a blue 2006 Nissan Murano, driven by a woman of Berwick, Maine.

The driver of the 2007 Nissan Quest, her 4-year-old passenger, and the driver of the 1998 Ford Taurus were transported to the hospital. Lajoie did not know the extent of their injuries. South Berwick Fire Chief George Gorman said Monday afternoon the transported victims suffered from neck pain.

Lajoie said all three vehicles are considered destroyed. No charges are pending and the accident is still under investigation, according to Lajoie. The collision and subsequent cleanup closed a section of Route 236 for about an hour Monday afternoon. The section was reopened to traffic around 4 p.m. 

At Berman & Simmons, we are experts in assisting clients in car accident cases like this one.  We gather all of the evidence and use the best accident reconstruction experts to recreate the conditions of the accident.  We explore all angles of recovery for the victims and their families, including liability claims, underinsured or uninsured motorist claims and product defect claims arising out of dangerous and defective cars.  We have recovered millions of dollars in cases where other lawyers were unable to find a legal remedy.  If you or someone you know have suffered an accident-related injury or death, please give us a call or send an email.  We do not charge anything for a consultation.  For more information, visit our website at www.bermansimmons.com.

LEWISTON, ME — Two young people were injured when they were hit by a car on Ash Street just before 10 p.m. Tuesday.  A male, 21, of Greene, and a 17-year-old Lewiston girl were hit by a dark sedan as they walked across Ash Street at the intersection with Bartlett Street, police said.  At the scene, the male was lying near the corner as a firefighter stood over him. Farther down the street, the girl sat on the road, crying and asking a firefighter and EMT what had happened and where her friend was. A bystander picked up her shoe off the street and placed it next to her. Both were taken to Central Maine Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries including abrasions, Lewiston police Lt. Marc Robitaille said. The girl may have also suffered broken bones and was being X-rayed at CMMC, Robitaille said just after midnight on Wednesday morning.

The driver of the sedan, a male, 23, of Lewiston, said he had just turned off of Horton Street and was going no more than 25 or 30 miles an hour as he traveled through the intersection of Ash and Bartlett streets. He looked but didn’t see anything coming at the intersection, he said, and first thought he hit a pole or a snowbank when he felt the impact. “And then there was this girl on top of my car,” he said. He stopped and flagged down a nearby police officer to report the accident, Robitaille said. The accident remains under investigation, Robitaille said. Neither speed nor alcohol appear to be factors in the accident, he said.

At Berman & Simmons, we are experts in assisting clients in car accident cases like this one.  We gather all of the evidence and use the best accident reconstruction experts to recreate the conditions of the accident.  We explore all angles of recovery for the victims and their families, including liability claims, underinsured or uninsured motorist claims and product defect claims arising out of dangerous and defective cars.  We have recovered millions of dollars in cases where other lawyers were unable to find a legal remedy.  If you or someone you know have suffered an accident-related injury or death, please give us a call or send an email.  We do not charge anything for a consultation.  For more information, visit our website at www.bermansimmons.com.

BOWDOIN, Maine – Maine State Police say two teens from Lisbon are lucky to be alive after crashing at high speed on Saturday night. Shortly before 9:00 PM, police were called to Route 201 in Bowdoin near the intersection with Blanchard Road. Trooper Jon Leach says that a Toyota Scion driven by a male left the road at high speed and travelled “quite some distance” off the road, hitting several trees as it went. The driver and his male passenger, both 19 and both from Lisbon – suffered serious injuries. Trooper Leach says the teens suffered lacerations and broken bones but will likely survive their injuries. Both were taken to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, one by Life Flight helicopter.

Trooper Leach, who has 14 years experience with the Maine State Police, says he’s never seen anything like it. Both driver and passenger were wearing their seat belts. The crash remains under investigation, but Trooper Leach says speed was likely a factor in the crash.

Although this was a single car accident, recovery for the injured victims may be possible.  The product liability team at Berman & Simmons has successfully recovered against major auto manufacturers in one-car accidents where a defective or dangerous condition of the car caused or contributed to the accident.  Recovery for the passenger may also be possible through the driver’s liability insurance policy, particularly if the driver was speeding or otherwise negligent, or the passenger’s own underinsured or uninsured motorist policy.   For more information, contact Berman & Simmons at 1-800-244-3576 or read more on our website on our car accident practice page. 

WELLS, ME – Police said a car caught fire on Route 109 after a collision with another vehicle this evening. According to police, the accident occurred shortly before 5:30 p.m. near the Sanford town line. One driver, a man, 36, of Sanford, was injured in the crash and his car caught fire after the accident. The fire was put out by a passing motorist, police said.  The man was taken to Goodall Hospital and then transferred to Maine Medical Center. Police said they don’t know the extent of his injuries except that they were not life-threatening.

The driver of the other car involved in the accident, a male, 19, of Springvale, and a passenger in his car were not injured.

Police said no charges have been filed, and an investigation of the accident is continuing.

At Berman & Simmons, we are experts in assisting clients in car accident cases like this one.  We gather all of the evidence and use the best accident reconstruction experts to recreate the conditions of the accident.  We explore all angles of recovery for the victims and their families, including liability claims, underinsured or uninsured motorist claims and product defect claims arising out of dangerous and defective cars.  We have recovered millions of dollars in cases where other lawyers were unable to find a legal remedy.  If you or someone you know have suffered an accident-related injury or death, please give us a call or send an email.  We do not charge anything for a consultation.  For more information, visit our website at www.bermansimmons.com.

NORTHPORT, Maine — A good Samaritan climbed into a burning car to pull the driver to safety Wednesday morning after a dramatic two-vehicle accident on Route 1, police said. “It was a violent crash, with lots of rollovers,” Chief Deputy Jeff Trafton of the Waldo County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday afternoon. “But the lady got out. The lady survived.” The accident occurred about 10 a.m. after the southbound driver veered into the other lane, clipping the vehicle of a northbound driver.  The northbound driver, who tried to swerve out of the way of the oncoming vehicle, placed the first emergency call, Trafton said. The preliminary police report did not show the women’s ages or towns of residence, he said.

The southbound Subaru careened into a ditch near Family Traditions restaurant, hit the embankment and then rolled over and hit a fence. The vehicle kept on rolling over, hit a tree, hit some bigger rocks and apparently took out an overhead power line before coming to rest against a section of fence. “The vehicle started to catch on fire,” Trafton said.  Then a man, who was visiting a nearby home, ran over to assist the driver of the burning Subaru. She told him that she was stuck in the car, according to Sheriff’s Lt. Jason Trundy, who assisted at the scene. “He jumps into the back of the car, undoes her seat belt, helps her get out,” Trundy said. First responders brought the woman driving the Subaru, who suffered minor injuries, to Waldo County General Hospital in Belfast. She told deputies at the hospital that she wasn’t sure about the cause of the crash, Trafton said.

Northport firefighters, first responders and crews from Central Maine Power also assisted at the accident scene, according to officials.

At Berman & Simmons, we are experts in assisting clients in car accident cases like this one.  We gather all of the evidence and use the best accident reconstruction experts to recreate the conditions of the accident.  We explore all angles of recovery for the victims and their families, including liability claims, underinsured or uninsured motorist claims and product defect claims arising out of dangerous and defective cars.  We have recovered millions of dollars in cases where other lawyers were unable to find a legal remedy.  If you or someone you know have suffered an accident-related injury or death, please give us a call or send an email.  We do not charge anything for a consultation.  For more information, visit our website at www.bermansimmons.com.

BANGOR, Maine — A Patten woman involved in a head-on collision on Friday on Route 11 in Patten died Tuesday at a Bangor hospital, according to a Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department official. The woman, 67, whose name initially had not been released by police, was one of two women who were seriously injured in the crash, which occurred about 3:30 p.m. on a section of Route 11 known locally as South Patten Road. She was pronounced dead about 2 p.m. Tuesday at Eastern Maine Medical Center, where she was flown by LifeFlight air ambulance immediately after the crash, Sgt. Roy Peary of the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department confirmed Tuesday.

The other driver has been identified as another woman, Peary said. Though she initially was reported to be from Fort Kent, Peary said she is a Madawaska resident. She had been taken first to Millinocket Regional Hospital but later transferred to EMMC, Peary said. Information about her medical condition was not available Tuesday.

Both drivers were alone in their vehicles and wearing seat belts, he said. The posted speed limit on the stretch of road where the accident happened is 50 mph. Speed does not appear to be a factor in the crash, though the cause remains under investigation by the Penobcot County Sheriff’s Department and the Maine State Police, which is reconstructing the accident, Peary said.

At Berman & Simmons, we are experts in assisting clients in car accident cases like this one.  We gather all of the evidence and use the best accident reconstruction experts to recreate the conditions of the accident.  We explore all angles of recovery for the victim and her family, as well as the family of the decedent, including liability claims, underinsured or uninsured motorist claims and product defect claims arising out of dangerous and defective cars.  We have recovered millions of dollars in cases where other lawyers were unable to find a legal remedy.  If you or someone you know have suffered an accident-related injury or death, please give us a call or send an email.  We do not charge anything for a consultation.  For more information, visit our website at www.bermansimmons.com.

LEBANON, Maine — Icy roads were cited in two accidents that occurred in a matter of minutes early Friday morning, injuring two people. According to Asst. Rescue Chief Jason Cole, the first accident was reported just before 5:30 a.m. and occurred on Carl Broggi Highway near Blaisdell Corner Road. While crews were en route to that location, a second accident occurred on the same road near Goulet Auto.

In the first accident, Cole said, a Ford Explorer Sport Trak rolled over after hitting black ice and landed in a ditch in front of Triple J Feeds. When crews arrived on scene, they located the Explorer on its roof in the ditch. The 50-year-old driver from Lebanon, who has not been identified, was treated on scene by rescue crews for minor injuries and did not require transport to the hospital. Crews were on scene until about 7:15 a.m. until the vehicle was able to be uprighted and removed. In the second accident, a 1990 Chevrolet truck was traveling on Carl Broggi Highway when it also lost control on the icy road and struck a utility pole before going off the road and striking a tree. The operator of the vehicle, a 42-year-old man from Waterboro, Maine, was treated on scene but did not require transport to the hospital.

Cole said he thinks the October snow and ice took people by surprise and that many were not prepared for the weather. “The roads were extremely icy, the Lebanon Road Crews and Maine DOT were out treating the roads quickly, but for a short time before they were able to get the sand out, people were sliding off the road and these two accidents happened,” he said. “While working at both accidents, a lot of vehicles went by with a lot of ice build up on their windshields, so I think the ice took a lot of people by surprise.” With more snow expected this weekend, Cole urged residents to ensure they leave themselves enough time to properly clear off their windshields before driving and to drive cautiously on what could be icy roads. 

Even in cases where accidents are caused by slippery road conditions, it is sometimes possible to recover under negligence or product defect theories.  In terms of negligence, the driver may have been going too fast or not driving attentively enough for the conditions.  Sometimes there are issues in terms of vehicle maintenance–brakes, tire tread, tire pressure, etc.  Finally, there have been technologies available for more than 10 years which assist a driver in maintaining control on slippery surfaces.  The most common technologies are anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control.  ABS brakes allow a driver to maintain control under braking conditions.  ESC automatically senses the slipping wheels and selectively applies braking and throttle to prevent a loss of control.  Beyond that, there are sometimes “crashworthiness” claims where injuries or deaths could have been prevented with a safer vehicle design.  Examples of crashworthiness claims include unlatching or seatbelt failure, failure of the airbags to deploy or deploying under conditions when they should not have deployed, roof crush, fuel fed fire, etc.  Unlike most personal injury firms which only consider negligent driving claims, at Berman & Simmons, we have the resources and expertise to evaluate all possible types of claims arising out of a severe and catastrophic vehicle-related injury.  Give us a call at 1-800-244-3576 or visit our website at www.bermansimmons.com to learn more about us and how we might help you.