Posted on March 26, 2023 in Truck Accidents

Traffic collisions can be a life-threatening experience for Maryland motorists; unfortunately, they are all too common. Understanding the different types of traffic collisions can help drivers stay safe on the road and know how to react in the event of an accident and how to prevent them.

REAR-END COLLISION

This type of collision occurs when one vehicle hits another from behind. Rear-end collisions are often caused by tailgating or distracted driving, such as texting. These accidents can range from minor fender benders to more serious accidents with injuries.

HEAD-ON COLLISION

This is one of the most dangerous types of motor vehicle accidents. It occurs when two vehicles traveling in opposite directions collide front-end to front-end. Head-on collisions often occur due to speeding or reckless driving and can result in fatalities.

T-BONE COLLISION

T-bone collisions happen when one vehicle hits another vehicle broadside, forming a “T” shape. T-bone collisions often occur when one vehicle runs a red light or stop sign at intersections. These accidents can be especially dangerous for the vehicle’s occupants on the side that is hit.

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 Posted on March 09, 2023 in Truck Accidents

Car accidents occurring in Maryland often result in victims sustaining severe harm. If you were involved in such a harrowing situation, you can file a personal injury claim to recover damages. One common damage from car accidents is pain and suffering. This is how to be compensated for it.

UNDERSTANDING PAIN AND SUFFERING

Many victims of motor vehicle accidents suffer pain and suffering. It refers to the physical pain from the injuries that have been sustained and the mental anguish that accompanies it. These are general damages in personal injury claims; although they cannot be seen, doctors can observe them during medical exams. For example, whiplash can cause limited range of motion in the neck, indicating pain.

RECOVERING A SETTLEMENT FOR PAIN AND SUFFERING

Maryland is a fault state when it comes to motor vehicle accidents, which means that injured victims can recover a settlement for pain and suffering and other damages through the at-fault driver’s insurance policy. However, because the state also has a contributory negligence law, the injured party must not be found to be at all responsible for the accident. Even being found 1% at fault could bar you from being able to recover compensation for your damages.

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 Posted on February 23, 2023 in Truck Accidents

Truck accidents usually occur on Maryland roads when they’re least expected. Although these situations are always dangerous, they can also be hazardous. Improperly loaded cargo can result in catastrophic injuries and even death in certain situations.

RULES FOR CARGO ON TRUCKS

Per the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, there are certain rules and regulations that the trucking industry must strictly follow. Cargo is heavily regulated in order to ensure safety. It must be properly loaded on a truck, be securely held in place by the proper tie-downs and cannot exceed a certain weight limit. Any system used to secure cargo cannot be damaged or weak. Loaders are required to use edge protection if the cargo can potentially cut a tie-down.

Any violation of these rules and requirements can lead to a truck accident. Issues affecting the cargo load can make for a deadly situation no matter what the circumstances.

WAYS THAT CARGO COULD BE IMPROPERLY LOADED

Imbalanced cargo is problematic because the weight distribution is uneven, which can cause a truck to have a rollover accident. It could also lead to parts of the truck such as the brakes failing. This can be deadly when the trucker is unable to properly handle the truck or stop.

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 Posted on February 10, 2023 in Truck Accidents

When some accidents occur in Maryland, injuries to vehicle occupants are readily apparent, but when minor ones happen, everyone may seem okay at first. Although you may feel like you’re okay after a motor vehicle accident, even minor ones can bring about changes in your body that are not initially apparent. Injuries can appear slowly.

INJURIES THAT CAN DEVELOP OVER TIME

Motor vehicle accidents can transfer significant forces throughout your body. These are the five most common areas for injuries to appear after minor accidents slowly:

• Neck
• Brain
• Back
• Soft tissues
• Internal Organs

When left untreated, many slowly developing injuries can become chronic problems with debilitating results. Whiplash is the most common accident injury, and because it’s complex, symptoms and treatments can vary. It can also cause a concussion, which is a traumatic brain injury. Concussion symptoms include headache, confusion, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, memory problems, and tinnitus. Spinal injuries can cause numbness or paralysis that develops gradually. Back pain resulting from strained muscles can also occur. Soft tissue injuries to feet, ankles, knees and sometimes the joints of the arms can also develop. You may not even associate the pain in those areas with the accident. Finally, internal bleeding is often not immediately obvious, but as the condition progresses, it can become life-threatening.

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 Posted on February 08, 2023 in Truck Accidents

Maryland motorcyclists find riding freeing and a thrilling adventure. Although there is something magical about it, riding a motorcycle is dangerous and increases the risk of accidents. If a person gets into a motorcycle accident with another vehicle, they can sustain a variety of injuries. Many of these are catastrophic because of the open design of motorcycles.

HEAD AND SPINAL INJURIES

One of the most common is a traumatic brain injury (TBI), which occurs when the individual is thrown from the bike and lands on their head. Riders who don’t wear helmets are more susceptible to this injury.

Spinal cord injuries occur when a rider suffers blunt force trauma to any part of the spine. It could result in pain, numbness, tingling and even paralysis depending on the severity of the injury. Whiplash isn’t as serious, but it can cause a motorcycle rider to suffer torn muscles, tendons and ligaments, pain and a limited range of motion.

ABRASIONS, CONTUSIONS, AND SKELETAL DAMAGE

Motorcycle accidents often lead to road rash, a less serious injury. However, some lacerations might require stitches or even skin grafts. Riders also often sustain broken ribs upon the impact of an accident. Some can suffer broken arms or legs or even amputation.

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 Posted on January 25, 2023 in Truck Accidents

Trucks might cause a multi-vehicle collision that leaves many drivers and passengers injured. Several reasons contribute to accidents of this nature. Understanding why they happen could assist truck drivers and those in the vicinity of large tractor-trailers in taking steps to avoid a crash. However, some accidents are the fault of one or more parties.

TRUCK ACCIDENT CAUSES

Fatigued driving stands as a reason for many fatal collisions. Big rig drivers who cannot concentrate on the road or even keep their eyes open due to tiredness might cause a crash. Federal and state regulations require mandatory breaks, but they are sometimes ignored. Even if the driver follows the law, other circumstances, such as illness, may cause drowsiness.

Drunk driving could cause devastating accidents, as well. Truck drivers with substance-abuse issues may take to the road intoxicated. Using alcohol or illegal. Drugs are not the only underlying factors in driving under the influence situations. Even a legal over-the-counter prescription could cause accidents.

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 Posted on January 11, 2023 in Truck Accidents

If you’ve been in a motor vehicle accident in Maryland you might wonder which kind of head injury doctor to see for your concussion or traumatic brain injury (TBI). There are different types of doctors you might see depending on your situation – we’ll discuss them in this article.

TYPES OF HEAD INJURY DOCTORS

PEDIATRICIANS OR GENERAL PRACTITIONERS

If you don’t need hospitalization for your head injury, your personal physician might be able to provide a diagnosis. Some may give outdated advice, however, like lying in a dark room until the symptoms disappear, but this could lead to long-term symptoms. If they cannot treat you properly, they will refer you to another specialist.

SPORTS MEDICINE PHYSICIANS

The quality of concussion care depends on their specialty. When they have experience in concussion treatment, they can be a great resource, especially if they are connected to a clinic and can refer you immediately for therapy.

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 Posted on December 23, 2022 in Truck Accidents

An automobile accident may result in body damage that costs thousands of dollars to repair. Many collision victims feel relief when they discover an insurance claim may cover a substantial amount of the damage. However, some car crashes in Maryland result in so much damage that the vehicle is declared “totaled.” Repairing a totaled vehicle might not be an option.

TOTALED CARS

A totaled car suffers damages that exceed the vehicle’s worth. So, if a car’s current resale value is $2,000 and the damage is $3,000, repairing the vehicle might not make much sense. However, an accident victim may file a claim with an insurance company for the car’s value. That means an insurance settlement could cover the cost of the car. Often, the insurance company will take the totaled vehicle away, taking the burden of disposing of the vehicle off the owner’s hands.

The victim may file a claim against a negligent party’s auto liability coverage. If a negligent driver doesn’t carry insurance, a victim might file a claim with their insurance company, provided they carry uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage.

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 Posted on December 12, 2022 in Truck Accidents

Snow, ice, wind and poor visibility all produce questionable driving conditions during Maryland winters. Although the period between Memorial Day and Labor is the most dangerous time of the year to drive, winter produces its own unique challenges. Nevertheless, drivers can take precautions when they must be on the road in winter.

WINTER DRIVING HAZARDS TO AVOID

The number one hazard that causes winter motor vehicle accidents is ice. Whether it comes from melted snow or sleet, or water on the road that has solidified, ice is extremely dangerous because it often remains invisible on the road and causes vehicles to spin out of control. Other factors causing winter accidents include:

• Poor visibility from fog or ice and snow buildup on the windshield
• Low tire tread and pressure
• Battery failure
• Sub-freezing temperatures
• Road salt that damages your vehicle’s undercarriage

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 Posted on December 09, 2022 in Truck Accidents

Many Maryland residents choose to ride motorcycles instead of larger passenger vehicles. While they get a great sense of freedom from riding, there are serious risks, including crashes. These are some facts and statistics on motorcycle accidents.

INCREASE IN FATALITIES FROM MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS

In spite of only 3% of all registered vehicles being motorcycles, there was an increase in crashes resulting in fatalities. Between 2019 and 2020, deaths stemming from motorcycle accidents increased by 11% and accounted for both operators and passengers.

In recent years, most motorcycle fatalities took place on urban roads during the daytime and in good weather conditions. Most of these accidents involved two vehicles and occurred while motorcyclists were wearing helmets.

MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT INJURIES

The rate of injuries not resulting in death among motorcycle riders decreased by 2%. At the same time, during the period of 2019 to 2020, motorcycle riders suffered injuries at an increased rate of 10%. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), injuries sustained by motorcyclists decreased by 21% compared with the rate from 2016.

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