Posted on May 12, 2022 in Truck Accidents

Maryland is one of several states with gaps in rideshare liability insurance. A loophole in rideshare insurance allows the company to avoid payments for passenger injuries during an accident. On Sept. 12, 2020, a car hit a Lyft car and drove off, and a Lyft customer ended up with six crushed vertebrae and a broken jaw. The company’s insurance doesn’t have to pay expenses or medical bills for passengers. The man needs more surgeries to fix his jaw but can’t afford them.

A NEW RIDESHARE BILL

Several lawmakers see that rideshare accident insurance gaps hurt the people using the apps. If a proposed Colorado bill goes through, rideshare companies in the state would need at least $1 million in uninsured motorist coverage for passengers. The coverage helps passengers without enough auto insurance against uninsured drivers or hit-and-runs. Some states reduced the amount of uninsured coverage to $300,000 to give drivers a raise and sick days. Ten states have expanded the minimum uninsured coverage of rideshare companies.

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 Posted on April 29, 2022 in Truck Accidents

Rideshare services have grown very popular in Maryland and elsewhere over the years. However, if you’re in a rideshare vehicle that gets into an accident, it can be complex when you want to file a personal injury claim.

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU’RE INJURED IN A RIDESHARE ACCIDENT?

Rideshare services have edged out traditional taxi cab services due to their convenience and cheaper fares. Instead of having to compete with others for a ride, you only have to download an app and order your own vehicle to get you to your destination. However, just like any other car, rideshare vehicles sometimes get into accidents.

If you have suffered injuries in a car accident while in a rideshare vehicle, you might want to file a claim. However, there are different situations that may determine what happens next.

As a passenger in a rideshare vehicle, you were probably not at fault for the accident. As a result, you can file a claim against the rideshare company’s insurance policy. Uber carries $1 million for car accidents involving their drivers’ vehicles. It doesn’t matter if your driver or a driver of another vehicle was at fault for the crash. When you are a passenger in a rideshare vehicle, you are legally entitled to file a claim against the rideshare company to recover compensation for your damages.

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 Posted on April 17, 2022 in Truck Accidents

If you’re a passenger in an accident in Maryland, it can be a frightening experience. Your property could have been damaged in the accident, and you could have been injured. There are a few options that are available so that you can get the compensation and help that you need during the aftermath that ensues.

THE OTHER INSURANCE COMPANY

After passengers are involved in motor vehicle accidents, they have the option to submit a claim to the insurance company of the other driver that was involved. Drivers are required to have at least minimal coverage while driving in most states, which means that the policy typically covers injuries and property damage of those involved in the accident. Keep in mind that there’s a limit as to how much is paid and that the amount begins to decrease as the number of passengers increases.

THE DRIVER’S INSURANCE

Even though you might not want to stir up any issues, you have the right to file a claim with the driver’s insurance company of the car where you were a passenger. A claim can be filed even if the driver was not at fault. One of the things to remember is that you’re not getting money from the driver, which can sometimes solve a few concerns if the driver is a family member or friend. A claim could also be filed only after the other driver’s insurance fails to pay out, resulting in approaching the company as the only option that’s available.

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 Posted on April 01, 2022 in Truck Accidents

Even if you’re one of the safest drivers you know in Maryland, it’s still possible for a car accident to occur. Whether you’re involved in a minor fender bender or a crash that results in your car being totaled, there are several types of injuries that can occur.

BRUISES AND SCRAPES

After a motor vehicle accident occurs, you could have bruises on various areas of your body. The location depends on where you got hit in the vehicle during the accident. An example would be a bruise on your arms if your arms hit the door. Scrapes are also a common result of an accident and can be minor abrasions or those that need a bandage or two.

CONCUSSION

During a car accident, you could get a concussion from hitting your head on one of the many surfaces in your vehicle. Some symptoms are minor, such as a headache or dizziness. However, a concussion could also cause memory loss. It’s important to seek medical attention for this injury to determine the severity of your concussion and get proper treatment.

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 Posted on March 18, 2022 in Truck Accidents

Maryland residents who get into car accidents may be at risk for serious injuries. The spine in particular can be vulnerable.

WHAT IS A SPINAL INJURY?

A spinal injury is one that can affect the neck, middle back or lower back. Injuries occur when the victim experiences impact that jolts the body forward violently and then back such as in a car accident.

People involved in car accidents should seek immediate medical treatment. While it’s common to experience aches and pains after a collision, injuries might be serious if the spine is affected. Prompt medical treatment can quickly diagnose these injuries and prevent them from worsening.

WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON SPINAL INJURIES FROM CAR ACCIDENTS?

Certain types of spinal injuries are exceedingly common after a car accident. Whiplash is probably the most common of all. It normally occurs after a rear-end accident as the neck is violently jerked forward and then back. The injury can affect the vertebrae and tissues in the neck region, causing pain and limited range of motion. In severe cases, a person might have headaches, tingling or numbness in their extremities, sleep problems, tinnitus and even difficulty concentrating.

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 Posted on March 04, 2022 in Truck Accidents

Even when a car crash only leads to vehicle damage, the resulting bills could be enormous. Persons suffering physical injuries or worse may look at economic devastation. While an insurance settlement might deliver a faster and more preferable outcome than a drawn-out lawsuit, Maryland claimants may need to be realistic about the timeline to close the process.

TIME AND INSURANCE SETTLEMENTS

Maryland falls under the heading of a “fault” state regarding auto insurance. That means someone must be at fault for a claimant to seek compensation from a provider for an accident. So, the victim must file against the other party’s liability coverage. In some cases, the injured party could file an uninsured motorist claim when the liable party lacks insurance.

Proving fault becomes a necessity when making a liability claim. That means the claimant must put evidence forward. Such evidence could be photos, witness statements, police reports, medical records, and more.

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 Posted on February 18, 2022 in Truck Accidents

A driver may get away with bad habits for a while, only to become involved in a terrible collision one day. Texting while driving represents a dangerous activity many drivers continue to embrace, regardless of the many crashes associated with fumbling with a phone while operating a vehicle. And several of those accidents on Maryland roads lead to fatalities, a stark reason why texting while driving remains dangerous.

MOMENTARY DISTRACTIONS AND DANGERS

Distracted driving contributes to scores of accidents each year. Of the many ways drivers become distracted, texting on a cellphone is a frequent reason.

Anything can happen on the road without warning. A bicyclist could run a stop sign making a collision difficult to avoid even if the driver’s attention is where it belongs. When the driver texts, the chances of hitting another car, a bicyclist, a motorcyclist, or a pedestrian increase. The driver is not paying attention to the road, making it harder to react.

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 Posted on February 10, 2022 in Truck Accidents

Motor vehicle crashes can be traumatic for those involved, particularly when they involve severe injuries or even fatalities. Amid these tragic incidents, different and sometimes contradictory recollections emerge. The differing stories may be due to the cataclysmic nature of the incident. It may be a conscious effort to omit crucial facts; it could be forgetting the details over time or for some other reason.

So, it is often useful to bring in independent investigators trained to examine the crash’s circumstances. They can then do a reconstruction and analysis of the incident. They can then determine if a semi-truck driver was going too fast, an SUV driver was distracted, or a motorcycle rider was acting recklessly.

LOOKING FOR CLUES

Motor vehicle crash experts do causation forensics that determines the crash’s how and why. They go to the site of the collision or use photos from the scene, looking for clues. These include:

• Skidmarks
• Damage to the surrounding area

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 Posted on February 04, 2022 in Truck Accidents

If you’re a motorist in Maryland, you may benefit from learning more about how the mediation process for auto accidents works. Mediation is a type of alternative dispute resolution used to help settle car accident claims. The parties involved may opt for mediation on their own accord or as the result of a court order. A trained professional known as a mediator attempts to help the two parties, or their insurers, reach an agreement.

UNDERSTANDING MEDIATION

Mediation and arbitration are not synonymous. The mediator doesn’t have the power to require anything of either party, but they can make recommendations. Mediation can only be accomplished if both parties reach an agreement. The mediator is there to try to bring the parties together and facilitate a mutual agreement. The insurer cannot be forced into mediation. If a lawsuit is filed, the courts may require mediation. If the insurer doesn’t agree to arbitration, mediation may still be possible.

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 Posted on January 20, 2022 in Truck Accidents

Maryland drivers must remember to stay on the lookout for motorcyclists while driving. Because of their smaller size, it’s easy to miss them until it’s too late.

CAR DRIVERS ARE USUALLY AT FAULT

In over 50% of motorcycle crashes in Maryland, the car driver is at fault. To do your part in keeping everyone safer on the road, get into the habit of checking two or three times for motorcycles before you change lanes, merge or pull into traffic. It’s far too easy to miss cyclists when you’re not actively checking for them.

ELIMINATE DISTRACTIONS WHILE DRIVING

Distracted driving is the cause of many accidents not just motorcycle accidents. You shouldn’t eat, text or talk while driving. Talking to passengers in your vehicle is also distracted driving. You should explain to your passengers that you would like to focus on the road to keep everyone safer.

MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS ARE FATAL FOR THE MOTORCYCLIST

Accidents in Maryland that involve a motorcyclist cause twice the fatality rate as all other fatal crashes in the state. Motorcyclists ages 24–31 in the state experience the greatest percentage of accidents among motorcycle wrecks. Most motorcycle accidents result in serious injury or death.

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