It’s important to understand that a seat that has been compromised in terms of safety may not always appear damaged to the naked eye. With that said, not all accidents necessitate the replacement of a child safety seat. Keep the following in mind in order to make an informed decision that will help to ensure your child’s safety moving forward.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) provides criteria to assess whether a car crash is minor. According to NHTSA, a crash is considered “minor” if all the following conditions are met:
If your crash meets all these criteria, it’s generally considered safe to continue using the car seat unless the manufacturer of the seat says otherwise. However, if any of these conditions are not met, it’s going to be important to replace the car seat.
If your crash was “minor,” know that different car seat manufacturers have their own guidelines regarding post-crash replacements. After a minor crash, consult the car seat’s instruction manual or the manufacturer’s website for specific guidance. Some manufacturers recommend replacing a car seat after any crash, regardless of the severity of it.
]]>Fortunately, the vast majority of personal injury claims are ultimately settled out of court. With the right legal guidance, you can often negotiate a fair settlement and avoid a trial altogether. Settlements are often preferred by both sides of a car accident claim, since trials are costly and unpredictable, as well as invasive and time-consuming.
Every situation is completely different, but settling “out of court” is not always the appropriate path to take in a car accident claim. Here are some reasons you may want to proceed to trial:
It’s always wise to have experienced legal guidance on your side before you start talking to an insurance company. That’s the best way to protect your interests and it sends a signal to the insurance company that you’re determined to get fair compensation for your injuries.
]]>Accidents can be frightening for children. Keep them calm and reassured. If they are very young, try to distract them from the scene. It’s important to stay as calm as possible yourself, as children will often mirror the reactions of adults and their trauma may be compounded if the adults involved are – for lack of a better phrase – freaking out.
Remember, if your child was in a car seat or buckled into a standard seat during the accident, do not remove them unless there’s an immediate danger (like fire). Improper handling can worsen hidden injuries. Wait for medical professionals to arrive and assess the situation. Some injuries are not immediately noticeable, especially in young children who may not be able to articulate their discomfort.
If you can, exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver. Take photos of the accident scene, including all vehicles involved, any visible damage, and the surrounding area. However, ensure this does not interfere with the safety and well-being of your children.
Finally, monitor your child for any signs of injury or trauma in the days following the accident. Sometimes symptoms or discomfort can appear days later. Additionally, be attentive to any signs of emotional trauma or anxiety in your child related to the accident and seek professional help if needed. You may also benefit from seeking legal assistance, as you may be entitled to compensation from an at-fault party.
It’s not just drivers who are at risk in parking lots either. Pedestrians and cyclists could still be killed if a driver hits them, despite the lower speeds than the road.
Drivers get distracted all the time, yet there is a high risk of them being distracted in a parking lot. This is partly because there is so much going on – they need to hunt for a parking space or reverse out while avoiding others entering the parking lane. And it is partly because people think they are safe once they are off the road. People can do things like programming their satnav, calling someone they are set to meet, or reaching for their shopping bags while waiting to park – making it easy to miss something happening around them.
Some parking areas have poor lighting, while others have none at all. That can make spotting others more challenging, especially if they have forgotten to turn their lights on. Poor weather and short hours of daylight can exacerbate this.
This is particularly relevant in the run-up to Christmas when the roads and stores are busier than usual, and people have so much to do. Drivers who struggle to remain calm despite the traffic and despite others taking “their” parking space will be less able to drive with the awareness, caution and reason needed to stay safe.
If someone injures you in a parking lot, getting help to determine why they crashed into you can help you get the compensation you deserve.
]]>Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for a car crash lawsuit filing to be rejected in one way or another. Of course, this can be devastating, to say the least. If this happens, you deserve to know what went wrong so you can figure out your next course of action. These are some of the reasons why a seemingly legitimate car crash claim might fall through the cracks.
Three years is the allotted time to pursue a legal claim in Maryland. If you don’t sue within the statute of limitations, the court might refuse your right to file a civil claim. The only exception to this rule may come into play if you were a minor when the crash happened. In this case, you may have to wait until you are 18 to file a case.
If you are involved in a car crash that, among other things, results in injury or death, then Maryland car accident law requires that you call the police. Upon arriving at the scene, the police will investigate the accident and write a report on what they believe happened. If you fail to call the police, and you decide to sue the other party later, they might argue non-involvement in the crash or, worse still, counter your suit with their own claim. You don’t want to leave anything to chance.
Pretty much every legal claim is won or lost on the strength of the plaintiff’s evidence. Simply put, you must prove that the defendant is to blame for the accident. And this is where your evidence comes in. Photos of the accident scene, eyewitness testimonies and the doctor’s report are some of the evidence you may want to put together when filing a car accident claim. Without strong evidence, your claim is unlikely to be successful.
If you are involved in a car accident that is not your fault, you need to take appropriate steps to safeguard your rights and interests. Otherwise, you could find that your future attempts to secure rightful compensation are ultimately doomed to failure.
]]>Those with high alcohol levels also frequently cause crashes. Many fatal collisions in the Washington D.C. area occur because someone has gotten behind the wheel after having too much to drink. Who is liable for a drunk driving crash that causes injury to others or even someone’s death?
Every state has slightly different rules regarding drunk driving and liability. In general, people can always assume that the impaired motorist is liable for the crash. Anyone who chooses to get behind the wheel after having too much to drink has responsibility for the impact of their decisions.
The other people involved in the crash could file an insurance claim against the drunk driver’s liability insurance policy. When there isn’t enough insurance, they may have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit. Unfortunately, a drunk driver does not necessarily have the resources required to fully compensate the other people involved in a collision. Occasionally, there will be outside parties with some degree of liability. The ability to file a lawsuit against a business after a drunk driving wreck will depend on the location.
If the crash occurs in Maryland, a business lawsuit is likely not an option. Maryland does not have a dram shop statute that passes liability onto businesses that serve someone who is already visibly drunk. Similarly, Virginia lacks a dram shop law. Those hurt in suburbs around Washington D.C. will have few options other than taking legal action against the drunk driver.
However, Washington D.C. has a local ordinance that can apply to drunk driving crashes within the actual DC metropolitan area. The law passes liability onto businesses that serve minors, those already intoxicated and those that staff members know have an alcohol addiction.
Exploring every option can help people more fully recover the losses incurred in a drunk driving crash caused by another’s recklessness. Seeking legal guidance is a good way to get started.
]]>Cell phone use is one of the biggest causes of distracted driving. Drivers can reduce the chances of distracted driving by being proactive and controlling how they interact with their phones while driving. Here’s how:
One way drivers can reduce distractions from their phones is by putting them someplace where the driver can not reach. For example, the driver may put their phone in a purse or bag. One common place people put their phones is in their vehicle’s glove compartment. If a driver is still struggling with distractions from their phone, they could put their phone in their trunk.
Most phones have a setting that can silence calls and texts. Some phones also have settings that set the phone to silent mode when the phone notices a vehicle in motion.
If a driver is still struggling to reduce distracted driving, they may consider turning their phone off. When the phone is off, no calls or texts come through, but they should reappear once the phone is turned back on.
Some people don’t have the opportunity to silence or turn off their phones. Perhaps they’re waiting for an important business call or a text from an injured family member. Drivers may consider giving their phones to passengers. The passenger may be able to respond to texts and calls on behalf of the drivers, which can allow the driver to focus on the road.
Many of the causes of distracted driving are caused by social media notifications. Some phone brands don’t allow social media applications. A driver may consider downgrading their phone to reduce distracted driving accidents.
While drivers can reduce the likelihood of auto accidents, they can’t make other drivers do the same. Victims of distracted driving accidents may need to learn about their legal options when seeking compensation.
]]>For decades, American drivers have been used to being able to make right turns at red lights. But ending this practice may significantly decrease motor vehicle accidents and make the roads much safer for everyone.
Most countries with significant automobile-driving populations don’t permit drivers to turn right at red lights. The US is somewhat unique in this regard. But for many years, the US didn’t allow it either.
In the 1970s, America went through a major energy crisis, and policymakers saw vehicles idling at red lights as a source of waste. As a result, they tied federal funding to states allowing drivers to turn right at red lights. The practice has continued unchanged since then.
Allowing drivers to turn right at red lights introduces extra chaos and unpredictability at many intersections. Pedestrians and bikers tend to cross a road when the light is red, and a right-turning vehicle can easily collide with them if the driver isn’t fully attentive.
Many municipalities are considering banning right turns on red lights, either entirely or by restricting the intersections at which it’s legal. Advocates for this policy change point out that waiting a few more seconds at a red light isn’t a major inconvenience for drivers, and the safety improvements are worth that minor cost.
Vehicles turning right at red lights is a significant cause of auto-pedestrian fatalities. Banning the practice might save lives, and this policy is currently under debate around the United States.
]]>Although you’ll find no complex category rules for motor vehicle accidents, these collisions exhibit typical patterns. Identifying how accidents happen can help drivers avoid them. These are the eight general categories:
Single-vehicle accidents frequently occur when a driver swerves to avoid another vehicle or an animal. They can also occur due to driver drowsiness. Multi-vehicle accidents, sometimes called chain collisions, involve three or more vehicles, with injuries ranging from minor to catastrophic. Rear impact accidents are one of the most common, resulting from driver inattention. While not common, frontal impact accidents frequently result in severe injuries and fatalities. Distracted driving also causes lateral impact accidents, usually occurring at intersections. In rotational impact accidents, vehicles spin around and often hit several others, causing various injuries. Sideswipes happen as initial impacts, frequently leading to head-on collisions. Rollovers happen when a vehicle flips onto its side or roof, sometimes with catastrophic results.
Causes of accidents resulting in personal injuries are not always readily apparent. However, most involve some neglect by one or more drivers. Distracted driving, especially when using devices behind the wheel, speeding, failing to yield, running red lights and impaired driving are underlying causes. Inexperience and dangerous road conditions can also contribute.
If you have been severely injured because of negligence, you may be able to file a claim for compensation. Successful claims can help pay for medical treatments, living expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering while you recover.
]]>The wrongful death statute in Maryland defines wrongful death as a death that occurs due to negligence or a criminal act of another person. It doesn’t matter if the actions were intentional or accidental.
Md. Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 3-904(a)(1) makes it legal for spouses, parents and children of the deceased to bring a sudden death lawsuit against those accountable for the death. There are also ways for the survivors to deal with the emotional aftermath of a wrongful death.
A grief counselor can help you cope with the loss of your loved one. The grief counselor is a source of support and guidance. They give you a safe space to express how you feel, work through the grieving process and develop coping strategies to deal with your grief.
Working with a grief counselor should help you come to terms with the wrongful death. Ultimately, you’ll have the strength to move forward in a positive manner and create a healthy life for yourself.
You might want to crawl into bed and do absolutely nothing. You’ll need plenty of rest, but it also helps to engage in enjoyable activities.
For example, perhaps you like to crochet, draw or knit. Continue to do those activities, even if you’re still grieving. Not doing anything can possibly cause you to feel worse about yourself or slip into depression.
You’ve experienced a major loss. You might feel the need to show strength for your children or family. However, it’s healthy to give yourself time to grieve. Grieving is important for maintaining your mental health.
The sudden death of a loved one is traumatic. It’s even more stressful when you’re dealing with a situation involving a wrongful death. You can overcome the trauma using various techniques to deal with the situation.
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