Posted on November 11, 2020 in Truck Accidents

Many insurance companies in Maryland try to appeal to their customers with humorous commercials and friendly mascots. While they might act like they’re on your side, the fact is that insurance companies aren’t here to help you. Instead, they’re here to make a profit. If you get into a car accident, it’s important to keep this fact in mind while dealing with the other driver’s insurance company.

HOW CAN PEOPLE ENSURE THAT THEY’RE GETTING THE MAXIMUM COMPENSATION?

If you’ve suffered from a motor vehicle accident, you probably want to get the matter settled as quickly as possible. For this reason, it might be tempting to take the insurance company’s first offer. However, you should avoid taking this offer for two reasons. One, the insurance company is probably intentionally offering an amount that’s much lower than what you deserve; two, if you accept that amount, you won’t be able to pursue the maximum compensation in court.

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 Posted on November 06, 2020 in Truck Accidents

The results of a recent study suggest that drivers in Maryland and around the country would be wise to pay particular attention during the first few minutes after getting behind the wheel. After analyzing more than 3 million car trips made by 40,000 drivers over a two-year period, researchers from a company that provides telematics services to insurance companies found that accidents most often occur during the first six minutes of driving.

SHORT TRIPS CAN BE DANGEROUS

When the researchers looked at data gathered during trips lasting up to 10 minutes, they found that almost one in four of the accidents that occurred took place during the first three minutes of driving and almost 40% of the crashes happened during the first six minutes behind the wheel. They also noticed that almost 90% of the trips lasted less than half an hour. One of the data scientists involved concluded that road users could reduce their chances of being killed or seriously injured in car accidents by completing short trips on foot or on bicycles.

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 Posted on November 05, 2020 in Truck Accidents

Speeding and distracted driving, such as participating in virtual meetings while driving, have been on the upswing this year. Knowing what to do after motor vehicle accidents can protect your safety and your ability to pursue a lawsuit.

IMMEDIATELY

If you can, immediately pull your vehicle over to a safe and illuminated place where bystanders can see you and the other motorist. Do not leave young children, pets, or adults with disabilities in a hot and locked vehicle.

Young children should stay in their car seats until a first responder assesses them for injuries. Children and non-ambulatory elderly adults should remain in the vehicle if it is not hot.

After you park, see if you or your passengers have injuries. Call first responders immediately if anyone has even minor injuries. If you do not know the location, have someone provide it when you call 9-1-1. Stay on the call until the dispatcher says you can hang up.

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 Posted on October 29, 2020 in Truck Accidents

Mobile phones have made it easier than ever to stay in touch and informed while on the go. Unfortunately, too many drivers drastically overestimate their ability to safely multitask while behind the wheel.

In Virginia, distracted drivers account for over 1,500 motor vehicle accidents each year. To help reduce auto injuries and deaths related to cellphone use, a new state law banning the use of a handheld communications device while driving became active on July 1st, 2020.

As of January 1st, 2021, violators of the law may face a fine of $125 for a first offense and subsequent fines of $250.

HOW DANGEROUS IS DISTRACTED DRIVING?

According to DRIVE SMART Virginia, a recent Virginia Tech study found that 80% of all collisions involve driver inattention within 3 seconds of the accident. Additionally, texting while driving increases the chance of a collision by %2300.

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 Posted on October 22, 2020 in Truck Accidents

Ridesharing service such as Uber and Lyft may seem like safe ways to travel in Maryland. However, they are still driven by humans who can act recklessly and cause catastrophic car accidents. According to one study, collisions caused by ridesharing have not gown down the way these services would like to claim.

RIDESHARING IS NOT AS SAFE AS IT SEEMS

While the number of drunk driving accidents have gown down since ridesharing began in 2010, the overall number of accidents involving ridesharing has not seen a decline. Specifically, accidents at pick-up and drop-off sites saw an uptick in collisions involving other motorists and pedestrians, leading victims to suffer injuries.

Distracted driving may be one factor behind this uptick in crashes. Inexperience in city driving may also be a contributing factor to the increase in collisions.

WHAT CAN I DO IF I’M SERIOUSLY INJURED WHILE RIDING IN AN UBER OR LYFT?

If you are injured in a ridesharing accident, you are not alone. Uber and Lyft drivers can act recklessly or negligently, just like other drivers.

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 Posted on October 13, 2020 in Truck Accidents

When you receive injuries from a car accident, you expect your auto insurance company (or the other driver’s) to step up and settle your claim. You deserve to focus on your recovery after an accident, but that can be incredibly difficult to do if an insurance company refuses to settle your claim.

WHY INJURY CLAIMS AREN’T SETTLED

Some of the reasons insurance companies won’t settle an auto accident injury claim include the following:

1. Insufficient proof. When you report your accident and injuries to your insurance company, an insurance adjuster will evaluate your claim. The evaluation process includes reviewing the police report, witness accounts, accident reconstruction, and any photos or surveillance video. If the adjuster doesn’t find enough proof of your injuries or who is liable for the accident, that can hinder your ability to get your claim settled.
2. Pre-existing conditions. Maybe you suffered from chronic back pain for years, but your back was feeling better before your accident. Due to the accident, however, you now need weekly chiropractic appointments and massage sessions. Sometimes insurance companies try to deny accident victims a settlement claim because of pre-existing conditions. If the accident aggravated a pre-existing condition, you should be able to get coverage for your recovery and treatment costs.

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 Posted on October 09, 2020 in Truck Accidents

After a motor vehicle accident caused by someone’s negligence, insurance companies are usually chomping at the bit to escape liability and having to payout compensation to victims. That means that if you’ve been injured in one of these wrecks then you need to be prepared to be bombarded with settlement offers that try to get you to commit to a certain amount of money in exchange for not pursuing a personal injury lawsuit at trial. While accepting a quick payout might sound tempting, it might not be right for you.

HERE’S WHAT TO CONSIDER

Before accepting or declining a settlement offer, you need to carefully analyze your case. The presence of the following factors might mean that it’s better for you to take your case to trial:

• Your damages far exceed the settlement offer: Insurance companies always try to lowball your damages, but if they’re way off the mark, then you might want to consider going to trial.

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 Posted on September 25, 2020 in Truck Accidents

After an accident, many drivers file a personal injury claim in the hopes that they will receive compensation to cover their medical expenses. Unfortunately, insurance providers frequently offer an initial settlement far below the actual value of a claim, if they don’t reject the claim entirely.

If you have experienced this firsthand, you may have already tried negotiating your settlement without success. If that’s the case, your best option is to file a personal injury lawsuit against the party or business responsible for your injuries. Before doing so, however, it’s important to understand the costs involved in litigating a personal injury case and how that might factor into your settlement.

CONTINGENCY FEES EXPLAINED

When pursuing litigation in a personal injury case, many people believe that the attorney’s fees are not worth the price of admission. However, most personal injury attorneys operate on contingency fees and only receive compensation if the case is successful.

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 Posted on September 25, 2020 in Truck Accidents

Not long after a motor vehicle collision, the scene of the accident can become chaotic with emergency personnel and law enforcement arriving to assist. Tow trucks take damaged vehicles off of the road and crews remove debris off the roadways.

Capturing photographs of your surroundings immediately following a car accident helps you preserve all evidence for future use before the scene of the accident has been altered. Photos of specific types of evidence can prove to be especially helpful in providing an indisputable perspective of the accident once it comes time to file an insurance or personal injury claim.

1. VEHICLE DAMAGE

Take a variety of pictures to capture the severity of the damage. Capture clear, detailed pictures of your own car’s damage from the accident, as well as any other vehicles involved in the crash. Do not forget to photograph any internal damage, such as deployed airbags.

2. ACCIDENT SCENE

To support your case and the information from your statement, police reports and witness accounts, you need to take pictures of the entire accident scene. This includes videos and photos of skid marks, weather conditions, debris, traffic signs, road conditions, traffic patterns, surrounding businesses and anything else relating to the accident.

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 Posted on September 23, 2020 in Truck Accidents

Sport utility vehicles (SUV) are big and rugged, providing plenty of clearance and great visibility. It isn’t surprising that they are popular, but their popularity comes at a price. Multiple studies have shown these heavy vehicles are much more likely to cause fatal injuries in pedestrian crashes and collisions with bicyclists.

According to a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), pedestrian accidents rose 13% from 2009 to 2016, but the percentage of pedestrians killed increased by more than twice that rate.

The 2018 IIHS report states that pedestrian fatalities in crashes with SUVs rose more than 80% from 2009 to 2016, while fatalities caused by cars and other types of vehicles rose by half that or less.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that more than 850 bicyclists are killed each year in the approximately 47,000 collisions between motor vehicles and bicycles.

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