Posted on September 11, 2020 in Truck Accidents

Losing a loved one is always difficult, but when families have no time to prepare for it and rely on the deceased for emotional or financial support, it creates an incredibly challenging situation. This is especially true if their loved one earned a significant amount of the family’s income.

However, families of victims who lost a loved one in a fatal accident may be able to receive compensation through a wrongful death action to relieve some of the financial difficulties they may experience.

POTENTIAL TYPES OF COMPENSATION

Bereaved families can receive compensation for their pecuniary losses. This generally consists of the victim’s remaining lifetime income they will never receive due to their untimely death. It can also include compensation for services that the victim provided for the family that they will now have to pay others to complete.

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 Posted on September 10, 2020 in Truck Accidents

After a crash, people often report the claim to their insurance company and wait for a check. In many cases, accident victims accept the first offer from their insurance because they think it seems adequate, and they may just want to get some money quickly and move forward.

However, before you accept an offer, there are some things to consider.

1. You could deserve far more than the insurance company is offering. An insurance check may seem fair after a crash. However, the chances are high that it will not account for the total cost of your damages. It may only cover some repairs to your vehicle, but not other costly factors like missed work or ongoing therapy you need for chronic pain.
2. There could be multiple parties at fault. Crashes can involve multiple vehicles or commercial trucks, and there could be several liable parties. Holding each party accountable allows you to maximize the damages you receive, especially when one of the parties is a trucking company, for instance, as they have more financial resources than individuals.

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 Posted on August 27, 2020 in Truck Accidents

Despite huge repercussions like jail time, some irresponsible Maryland drivers may choose to drive off after causing an accident. If a negligent driver strikes a pedestrian, they may be especially inclined to drive away from the scene of the accident since their car likely did not suffer catastrophic damage.

HIT-AND-RUN ACCIDENTS ARE TOO COMMON

One such accident happened on John Hanson Highway in Prince George’s County. According to police, a driver operating a sedan struck and killed a pedestrian who was walking along the shoulder of the road.

The driver left the vehicle near the scene but fled without helping the victim or speaking to the authorities. Police have yet to make any arrests but did conduct an investigation which closed the road for several hours.

OPTIONS AFTER A HIT-AND-RUN ACCIDENT

Unfortunately, many hit-and-run accidents go unsolved. In some cases, police may locate the driver only to discover that they have neither money nor insurance to pay any compensation for their negligence. This can leave a Maryland victim, or the surviving family, wondering where to turn.

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 Posted on August 13, 2020 in Truck Accidents

When you are in a major car accident in Virginia caused by someone who is clearly breaking the law, you will want to take quick and decisive legal action against the negligent individual. When a person violates traffic laws, leading to a car crash, they should be held accountable in a court of law. Violating traffic laws are generally deemed negligent behavior

Earlier this summer, the commonwealth of Virginia enacted a law against handheld cellphone use while driving that will start being enforced in January 2021.

THE PROBLEM WITH HANDHELD CELLPHONE USE WHILE DRIVING

In Virginia, distracted drivers cause over 1,500 crashes annually, killing between seven to 10 people. When a person is handling a cellphone while driving, they are distracted in three major ways:

1. They are visually distracted because their eyes are on their phone, not on the road.

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 Posted on July 30, 2020 in Truck Accidents

Maryland and Virginia landlords must keep their premises safe for their tenants and guests. But they may also face liability for dangers that attract and injure children. The attractive nuisance doctrine may hold landlords legally responsible through a premises liability lawsuit for injuries suffered by children from an enticing and dangerous object on their property.

ATTRACTIVE NUISANCE DEFINED

Generally, landlords are not responsible for injuries suffered by trespassers. However, this doctrine is intended to protect children, even if they trespass, because of a dangerous and tempting object. Children would not have entered the property if it did not contain this item, according to the doctrine.

There is no specific age for children to qualify for protection. The courts will consider the child’s maturity and their ability to understand the object’s danger.

A common attractive nuisance is a swimming pool. The owner would be liable if the child drowned in the pool, especially if there was no fence or other safety equipment. Other examples include construction debris, lawnmowers, gardening equipment, trampolines, climbing walls, and refrigerators and other appliances.

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 Posted on July 29, 2020 in Truck Accidents

Far too many families in Silver Spring and the surrounding communities know the pain a drunk driving accident can create. Despite generations of warnings in public service messages by politicians, celebrities and families of victims, intoxicated drivers continue to get behind the wheel and cause motor vehicle crashes that result in severe injuries or deaths.

Drunk drivers have caused about one-third of traffic fatalities each year over the past decade. Even though law enforcement agencies across the nation arrest about a million people annually for drunk driving, the problem persists.

COULD NEW TECH END DRUNK DRIVING FOR GOOD?

Technology might be able to finally solve this painful societal problem once and for all. A new study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) says that if alcohol detection systems were required equipment in new vehicles, it would save thousands of lives each year and eventually end drunk driving.

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 Posted on July 26, 2020 in Truck Accidents

You were stopped at a traffic light on your way home from work when a distracted driver rear-ended your beloved Mustang. You were more concerned about the damage to your car than to yourself. You felt fine after the accident, so why bother going to see a doctor?

THE UNSEEN EFFECTS OF CAR ACCIDENTS

The human body is not conditioned to endure the kind of violent jolt that results from a vehicle crash, even one as minor as a rear-end fender bender. The sudden impact produces adrenalin and other chemicals that may mask pain and injury symptoms in order to help the body cope temporarily.

Outside of some jittery nerves, you may feel okay physically, but symptoms of an injury can manifest several hours or even days later. Prompt medical attention is essential since you may have underlying injuries that are not immediately apparent.

TIMING IS KEY

When you suffer an injury because of another driver’s negligence, you have the right to pursue financial compensation to cover your medical expenses, lost wages and more. Keep in mind, however, that timing is critically important.

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 Posted on July 19, 2020 in Truck Accidents

A motor vehicle accident can be a life-changing event for a victim and their family members. While the impact itself may only last seconds, the repercussions of an accident can last for months, if not years. When a Maryland resident suffers serious injuries and significant financial losses due to their involvement in a roadway crash, they may struggle to get back on their feet for years to come.

There are proactive steps that all auto accident victims can take to protect their rights and legal options to seek compensation from their collision. One of the most helpful decisions that a victim may make is to ask for case help from a knowledgeable personal injury attorney. This post will address some of the reasons an attorney may be an asset to a motor vehicle accident victim, but readers should be aware that the information presented does not constitute official legal advice.

ATTORNEYS KNOW THE LAW SO VICTIMS CAN FOCUS ON RECOVERY

Every state has its own set of laws that govern the individuals who live, work and pass through its borders. Maryland is no different, and the laws that dictate what individuals may do and how they may be held liable for the injuries of others can and do change. An accident victim may find themselves confused and overwhelmed by the nuances of the law if they attempt to take it on by themselves; a personal injury attorney who has worked in Maryland can guide their client through the web of statutes and rules that will influence the outcome of their case.

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 Posted on July 08, 2020 in Truck Accidents

When a tractor-trailer barreling down a Maryland highway collides with a passenger vehicle, it’s likely that the occupants of the passenger vehicle will suffer greater injuries than the truck driver. If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident involving a big-rig, you can file a personal injury claim against the parties responsible for your accident to recover compensation for any injuries and damages.

WILL ONLY THE TRUCK DRIVER BE HELD RESPONSIBLE?

In most cases, the truck driver will be the first party named in a truck accident lawsuit. Truck drivers, as well as other drivers on the road, have a duty to exercise reasonable care when operating their vehicles. A breach of this duty occurs when a truck driver drives at an excessive rate of speed, fails to stop at a red light, drives too many hours consecutively, or otherwise violates traffic laws or federal trucking regulations. If the truck driver’s breach of duty caused your accident-related injuries, the driver may be sued for negligence.

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 Posted on June 26, 2020 in Truck Accidents

Many residents of Maryland and Virginia are spending time outdoors this summer more than ever before, some riding motorcycles. While this can be a great activity to get outside and view some scenery across the country, the reality is that many other drivers on the roadways don’t pay attention, especially when it comes to motorcycles on the road. The result? Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of motorcyclists are struck by negligent or reckless drivers every year in Maryland and Virginia.

Unfortunately, collisions between a motorcycle and a passenger vehicle oftentimes leave the motorcyclist and any passengers in far worse shape than others involved in the crash. Motorcyclists and their passengers could suffer severe injuries in these crashes, including brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and, in the worst-case scenarios, fatalities may occur.

For those who are able to survive such a crash, there may be legal options to consider. In a personal injury lawsuit, injured victims may be able to recover financial compensation that can be used to pay for mounting healthcare expenses. Some victims will face such expenses for years after a motorcycle accident – perhaps even for the rest of their lives.

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