Americans Don’t Trust Self-Driving Cars

Autonomous vehicles are widely regarded as the wave of the future for automakers. Also called “self-driving vehicles,” these cars are intended to fully operate on their own without a driver. Right now, autonomous cars are only in the testing phases in certain parts of the country. But according to a recent study, approximately half of Americans do not have confidence in the safety of autonomous vehicles.

People are right to be cautious. More than 500 people died and nearly 50,000 were injured in Maryland car accidents in a single year, according to the most recent data from the state Department of Transportation. If you’ve been injured in a crash, contact Waldorf attorney Matt Trollinger immediately for a free consultation.

Most Americans Do Not Trust Self-Driving Cars

According to a study conducted by Reuters, around 50 percent of Americans do not trust autonomous vehicles. Two-thirds of people stated that they would not purchase an autonomous vehicle. Additionally, 63 percent of individuals that responded to the study said they would not spend more money on a self-driving vehicle, and 41 percent of respondents said that they would not pay more than $2,000 for a comparable non-autonomous vehicle.

The concern is well-founded. There have been several highly publicized self-driving car accidents across the U.S. since the cars have been deployed, even with a backup human driver in the car who is supposed to intervene if a crash is imminent.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic brought the country to a halt, some carmakers are using the time to work on additional safety features until the U.S. reopens, while others have stopped entirely, according to a recent Forbes article. Efforts will likely get underway again as the country recovers.

Are Autonomous Vehicles Safe?

Whether or not autonomous vehicles are safe remains to be seen. It is clear that when self-driving cars require someone to be in the car and ready to take control of the vehicle at any time, these individuals must be ready to do so. Unfortunately, even if there is a human present in the vehicle, there is no guarantee of safety when an autonomous vehicle is in charge. In one self-driving car accident, the backup driver was found to be streaming video at the time of the crash.

In these types of cases, accident victims may be able to file a personal injury claim or wrongful death lawsuit against the negligent driver. Similarly, in cases where the autonomous cars fail and cause an accident, injured victims could have a product liability claim against the vehicle manufacturer.

Trollinger Law will continue to monitor the evolution of self-driving cars and how they may impact the safety of Marylanders.

How Can Trollinger Law Help Me?

If you have been involved in a crash involving an autonomous car, you need the legal help of an experienced car accident lawyer. Attorney Matt Trollinger is an accomplished trial lawyer with a track record of success representing accident victims in Waldorf, Charles County, and Washington, D.C. We know how to file car accident claims, determine liability, and negotiate with the insurance company to help you secure the compensation you deserve.

To learn more about how we can help, contact us today for a free consultation.

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Waldorf Attorney Matt Trollinger Named a “Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyer” by The National Trial Lawyers

Trollinger Law is proud to announce that Attorney Matt Trollinger has been selected as a “Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyer” by The National Trial Lawyers. The organization is invitation only and limited to only 100 attorneys in each state.

Lawyers are recognized for their outstanding trial results, leadership abilities, and excellence in practicing law. Selection is determined after a rigorous multi-phase evaluation which includes peer nominations and a third-party review.

Specifically, The National Trial Lawyers looked at Trollinger’s reputation, achievements over the past year, membership in professional organizations, and rankings and ratings by other legal organizations.

“During Matthew Trollinger’s first year as a Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyer, [he] has shown that he has continuously exemplified superior qualifications, leadership skills, and trial results as an admirable trial lawyer,” The National Trial Lawyers said in a press release.

In order to remain in the organization, members must be reviewed every year.

“It’s an honor to be included in the Top 100 again,” says Trollinger, founder of the Maryland personal injury law firm. “Providing top-quality legal services to injured people is what we do at Trollinger Law, and it’s a job we take seriously.”

To learn more about The National Trial Lawyers and their selection criteria, click here.

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Trollinger Law Gives Back During COVID-19 Crisis

The coronavirus outbreak has demanded a nationwide emergency response. While many of us are fortunate enough to quarantine at home, it is the brave first responders who are on the front lines battling COVID-19 at great personal risk to themselves and their families.

To thank them for their service and support local restaurants, Trollinger Law has spent April delivering delicious meals to healthcare facilities throughout Southern Maryland. If anyone deserves some comfort food to keep their energy and spirits up, it’s our dedicated medical workers.

Do you want to help, too? What Trollinger Law hears most from health workers is that they just want people to stay at home. We know it’s hard, but social distancing is the best method we have to tackle COVID-19 and avoid overloading hospitals. Let’s keep Maryland Strong together!

Trollinger Law Thanks COVID-19 Medical Workers’ and First Responders

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COVID-19 at Work: Your Legal Rights and Responsibilities

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on the way we work. Some Americans have been fortunate enough to work from home during this unsettling time. Others have lost their jobs. Then there is the segment of the workforce who are deemed “essential” workers. These are the people who are employed at businesses that are allowed to continue operating throughout the pandemic, regardless of stay-at-home orders.

Understanding your obligations as an employee is always important, but even more so in the middle of a national crisis. Trollinger Law is already assisting first responders who have been infected with the coronavirus. Below, Waldorf attorney Matt Trollinger answers questions about worker rights and responsibilities during COVID-19 in Maryland.

Can Your Employer Make You Go to Work During the Pandemic?

Maryland has been under a stay-at-home order since March 30, along with many other states across the country. Only businesses that provide essential services are allowed to stay open, such as:

• Grocery stores
• Hospitals
• Medical facilities, including mental health and rehabilitation services
• Police stations
• Fire stations
• Law firms
• Auto repair shops
• Gas stations
• Educational centers to pick up food or materials for distance learning
• Restaurants (take-out, drive-through, or delivery only)

Essential workers can be required to come in on a regular basis or even on special schedules. Employees who have the capacity to work from home are also obligated to do so if their employer requires it. If you choose to take vacation time to avoid going to work during the pandemic, your employer can cancel your scheduled vacation time and make you work instead.

If there is evidence that the coronavirus has spread in your workplace, your employer would likely not be able to force you to come into the workplace until it has been decontaminated and sterilized, as that would mean knowingly exposing employees to a direct threat of infection.

What If an Employee Comes to Work Sick?

If an essential employee comes to work with obvious signs of illness, he or she needs to be sent home to prevent others from becoming sick. An employer is not under obligation to provide work to an employee with symptoms of a contagious disease. If the employee must miss time from work, the employer can afford the worker sick leave. The employee may also be entitled to take unpaid sick leave pursuant to the Family and Medical Leave Act or similar state laws.

The trickier question is whether employees can learn the identity of a co-worker who is diagnosed with coronavirus. Medical privacy laws protect workers’ health information, but employers should certainly mention to their workers that someone in the workplace was infected, especially to those who worked closely with the individual. But whether than person can be named officially is a gray area that has not been clearly defined yet.

If it can be established that an employee was infected with COVID-19 at work, they may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, which can provide coverage for medical care and partial wage replacement during the recovery period.

COVID-19 Legal Responsibilities If You Test Positive

Currently, the law is unclear as to a worker’s responsibility if they receive a positive test for coronavirus. Public health authorities are asking individuals who test positive to provide lists of people that he or she has been in close contact with in the past few weeks. Knowingly exposing others to a communicable disease can be considered criminal assault and battery.

In addition, an employee who knowingly comes into work following a positive coronavirus test (or even while awaiting test results) may give an employer grounds for termination for knowingly or recklessly endangering the health and welfare of co-workers and customers.

COVID-19 Legal Questions? We’re Here to Help

The coronavirus pandemic has impacted us all. At Trollinger Law, we’re already working with Maryland’s brave first responders who have become sick while performing services in the line of duty. We all need to know our rights and responsibilities as a worker and a citizen in order to get through this stressful period as safely as possible.

If you have questions about your rights the COVID-19 pandemic, contact a Waldorf workers’ compensation attorney at Trollinger Law for a free consultation today. Contact us today – our clients will tell you that we get the results and compensation you deserve.

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