East Riverdale Car Accident Lawyer

Car accidents happen every day, and each of these accidents has a chance to injure people involved. Injuries from car collisions are often very serious and require lengthy and expensive medical treatment. It may take a very long time to recover from a car accident, both physically and financially, and that is to say nothing of the intense mental toll that dealing with the aftermath of car accidents can take.

When you are dealing with the effects of a motor vehicle accident, you deserve legal help. Our attorneys can handle the complications that can arise out of car accident lawsuits, and we can put our skills to work by collecting evidence, talking to opposing counsel and insurance companies, and fighting hard in the court of law so you can get the financial compensation you deserve after a motor vehicle collision.

Let our car accident attorneys go over your case for free by calling Rice, Murtha, & Psoras at the number (410) 694-7291.

Who Can You Sue for Car Crashes in East Riverdale, MD?

When you file your claim, it is important that you sue the right parties. This is because the law only lets plaintiffs recover damages from parties that have actually wronged them. When you talk with our car accident lawyers, we can help determine who caused your accident and who you should file your lawsuit against.

Drivers

It is almost always a good idea to include the driver of the vehicle who hit you as a defendant. After all, they have the most control of their car when the collision takes place. There are a lot of different reasons that drivers cause car crashes. Speeding, drunk driving, aggressive driving, or inexperience can all contribute to a motor vehicle accident taking place.

Employers

Sometimes, you can sue someone’s employer after car crashes. There is a legal principle called “respondeat superior,” which lets plaintiffs sue employers for the negligent acts of their employees. The reason this exists is because, many times, employees are what is called “judgment proof,” meaning that they do not have the capital to provide financial compensation to you, even if you are successful in court. Employers, by contrast, are much better situated to compensate plaintiffs.

The “catch” is that the employee must be doing something work-related when the accident happens for the employer to be liable. For example, if a pizza delivery van hits you on the way to drop off an order, you can sue the pizza place because the driver was doing their job when they hit you. However, if that same pizza driver clocks out for the day and hits you on the way home, you cannot sue their employer because driving home after a shift is not related to work.

Car Manufacturers and Designers

You can also sue the manufacturers and designers of motor vehicles in your case. You should file your claim against these parties when you suspect that the accident was caused by a problem, or “defect,” in the car.

Manufacturing defects happen when a mistake is made during the construction, maintenance, or repair of a car. Examples of manufacturing defects would include faulty electrical wiring or incorrectly installed brakes. By contrast, design defects are inherent in the design of the car. Even a “correctly” built vehicle will still have these problems. An example would be an ignition switch that can be jostled to turn off when driving over bumpy roads.

Government Entities

In some limited circumstances, you can sue government entities. Generally, these claims are filed when a car accident happens because of dangerous road conditions. There are special considerations for suing a state or local government, so you should speak to our attorneys about the particulars of your case if you are pursuing this route.

Damages in East Riverdale, MD Car Collision Cases

The ultimate goal of your claim is to get damages from the defendant. Damages are the legal system’s way of restoring the plaintiff to their lifestyle before the crash. Depending on the nature of the plaintiff’s injuries, this may not be literally possible, so financial compensation is used as a proxy.

Medical expenses, lost opportunities to earn income, and property damage can make up a significant portion of your damages. You can demonstrate the value of these things by showing invoices, receipts, or other documentation to the court. Additionally, you can get financial compensation for less tangible things like physical pain or mental distress. Since there is no receipt for those kinds of things, you will have to prove their worth to the court through legal arguments.

Finally, you can sometimes get a special kind of compensation called punitive damages. These damages are designed to punish particularly egregious defendants and can be tricky to get, so you should talk to our attorneys if you are considering seeking punitive damages.

The Statute of Limitations for Car Accident Lawsuits in East Riverdale, MD

Once a car crash happens, victims have a set period of time within which they must file their claim. A law called the statute of limitations puts a timer on how long plaintiffs have to file a lawsuit for a given wrongdoing. For car collision claims, the statutory period is set at three years by Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. Art., § 5-101. Once the statutory period has run out, you cannot file a claim or be awarded damages. For that reason, it is important that you get in touch with legal counsel quickly after you are involved in a car accident.

Reach Out to Our Car Accident Lawyers in East Riverdale, MD Today

For a free case review from our car accident attorneys, contact Rice, Murtha & Psoras by calling (410) 694-7291.