Maryland Hospital Error Injury Lawyer

Car crashes can leave victims with injuries ranging from mild to severe. In any case, the victim should not have to be the one to pay for the damages they face. the law allows victims of car crashes and their families to seek damages through insurance claims are lawsuits. However, pursuing compensation without the help of a lawyer can be confusing and potentially set you up for disappointing, unfair settlements.

You should speak to an attorney about your legal options if you were injured in a collision with another vehicle. As a car accident victim, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries and financial losses, including compensation for medical bills, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and repairs to your vehicle.

The lawyers at Rice, Murtha & Psoras are experienced Annapolis car accident lawyers serving crash victims throughout Maryland. If you or a family member was hurt in an accident, we can file an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit to pursue the compensation you need. To set up a free legal consultation, call today at (410) 694-7291, or contact Rice, Murtha & Psoras online.

Annapolis Car Accident Lawyers Serving Maryland

At Rice, Murtha & Psoras, we have a strong track record of successfully recovering compensation for seriously injured car accident victims. We know the tactics insurers use when trying to deny coverage, and will work strategically to maximize your recovery, fighting tooth and nail for every dollar that you are owed.

We can assist you with any type of personal injury claim involving an automotive accident, including claims involving broken bones, head or brain injuries, back or spine injuries, burn injuries, cuts and bruises, whiplash or other soft tissue injuries, paralysis, loss of fingers or toes, permanent scarring, and permanent disability or impairment. We also represent crash victims’ spouses and family members in wrongful death claims involving fatal car accidents.

Working with an attorney is recommended in any case that involves injuries and medical expenses. Generally speaking, your insurance company might want to see you succeed and get paid after your claim, but even your own insurance company may have profit as their primary goal. A car accident attorney representing you in your case is required, ethically and legally, to put your best interests first and help you succeed in your case. We can also help advise you on whether settlements are fair or just in your case instead of pressuring you to accept amounts that might fall short of what you deserve.

Annapolis Car Crash Statistics

Every year, the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) publishes a statistical report with information about car accidents, injuries, and fatalities statewide. According to the most recent version of the report available, which contains crash data for 2018, there were nearly 118,000 accidents that year, including more than 83,000 property damage crashes, almost 34,000 injury crashes, and a total of 486 fatal accidents.

While the report does not provide statistics specific to Annapolis, it does offer information about Anne Arundel County, where Annapolis is located. According to the report, nearly 10,700 crashes occurred countywide in 2018, marking the fourth consecutive increase in accidents. According to various news reports, fatal accidents have occurred in or near Annapolis at the following locations in recent years:

• The intersection of Kirby Lane and West Street (MD 450), near Hicks Avenue
• The section of U.S. Route 50 that passes through Anne Arundel County, including a fatal accident reported at the intersection of Route 50 and Ridgely Avenue

File a Car Accident Injury Claim in Annapolis, MD

Some car accidents have straightforward details. However, many give rise to complex insurance disputes, which can lead you to be compensated less than you deserve. You should hire an Annapolis car accident attorney to help file your claim, especially if the crash that injured you involved any of the following factors:

• Extensive damage to your vehicle or personal property
• Fatalities
• Hit-and-run drivers
• Intoxicated, distracted, speeding, or fatigued drivers
• Multiple vehicles
• Out-of-state drivers
• Serious or disabling injuries
• Uninsured or underinsured drivers
• Unlicensed drivers

At Rice, Murtha & Psoras, we represent injured drivers, passengers, and pedestrians in all types of Maryland car accident claims. We can help you file a claim for:

• Collisions with trucks or buses
• Head-on collisions
• Highway accidents
• Intersection accidents
• Left-turn accidents
• Parking garage and parking lot accidents
• Rear-end collisions
• Sideswipe accidents
• T-bone collisions
• Uber, Lyft, and taxi accidents

Maryland Car Accident Laws: Fault vs. No-Fault Insurance

Every state follows its own rules when it comes to fault, liability, and insurance coverage after an auto accident. In “no-fault” insurance states, it does not matter which driver caused the collision: the injury victim is generally compensated by his or her own insurer. the catch is that, in a no-fault state, the injury victim’s rights may be somewhat limited when he or she is seeking compensation for pain and suffering, unless the injuries were serious enough to meet certain thresholds.

In “fault” states, the at-fault driver is liable for the victim’s expenses. the at-fault driver’s insurance company will pay up to the policy limits unless the driver has no insurance, in which case he or she becomes personally responsible. However, the fault system requires the victim to show that the other driver caused the crash.

Maryland, like many states, follows the at-fault system. If you are injured in a car accident in Annapolis – or, for that matter, any other location in Maryland – you may sue the driver who hit you or, more commonly, file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. We can help you pursue damages, or compensation, for medical bills, pain and suffering, vehicle damage, property damage, lost income, and other losses you suffered as a result of the crash.

Determining Who’s at Fault in a Car Accident Case in Annapolis

After an accident, one of your biggest questions might involve issues of who is at fault. In Maryland, the law blocks victims from being able to sue if they were even a fraction at fault for the crash, so resolving questions of fault is very important. Your Annapolis car accident lawyer can help analyze the case and determine which parties to sue, helping to protect you from accusations of fault along the way.

Who’s at Fault?

The law determines fault by looking at whose negligent actions caused the crash. Many of the issues listed above – e.g., drunk driving and illegal left turns – form the basic cause of a crash. Any time that a driver ignores traffic signals, violates traffic laws, or makes a dangerous move behind the wheel, that can also form the “negligence” at the heart of a car accident case. If you, as the victim, did not commit any acts of negligence, the court will easily be able to determine that the other driver was wholly responsible for the crash.

Fault with Multiple Drivers

Sometimes, multiple drivers are at fault. This is common in crashes involving 3 or more vehicles, where two or more drivers might have done something wrong to cause your injuries. For instance, if one driver runs a red light and clips you in an intersection, spinning you into another lane where a speeding driver hits you, they could both be held liable for the resulting injuries. the court will assign partial blame to each driver, or potentially decide that one driver’s negligence “supersedes” the other’s fault.

Other Responsible Parties

Multiple parties can also be held liable when commercial drivers are involved. Truck drivers, bus drivers, and taxi drivers work for transportation companies that can be held liable for their driver’s mistakes if they occurred while the driver was on duty. These companies can also be held responsible for hiring drivers they should have known were dangerous or keeping drivers on staff after a history of bad accidents or traffic violations.

Contributory Negligence

It is important to have a lawyer handle your case to avoid counterclaims and accusations of fault against you. Controlling the narrative and avoiding saying things that could be construed as admissions of fault are both vital in Annapolis car crash cases. If the jury thinks you were partially at fault, that could block your case entirely.

Damages Available in Annapolis Car Accident Cases

If you were injured in a car crash, you should be able to recover compensation for any damages the car crash caused. At-fault parties, whether through their insurance company or out of pocket, can be ordered to pay damages to the victim. the damages you can recover often fall into a few main categories of important damages that are claimed in nearly any injury case, especially car accident injury cases.

First, damages for medical bills are often claimed to cover hospital bills, ambulance costs, and other medical expenses. the cost of paying for treatment after a car crash can often be so severe that victims of injuries could go bankrupt trying to afford the costs out of pocket. Lawsuits for car accident injuries in Annapolis are often lifesavers for victims, helping them get the coverage they need for medical care.

If your injuries are severe, you could be kept from returning to work. This means that you might not get paid without a disability program, which can make it harder to care for yourself and your family and to afford medical bills and other expenses. These damages have a direct link back to the crash, so they can also be claimed against the at-fault driver in your car accident case.
Victims also face damages that are not economic – damages that have no specific price attached. Many damages are hard to show or explain to others, such as the concept of how much pain you were in or how the emotional distress of the injury affected you. These damages are usually grouped under the name “pain and suffering,” and these and other “noneconomic” damages are often available in car accident claims.

What to Do After a Car Accident in Annapolis

Knowing the steps to take after a car accident can help you set yourself up for success. There are a series of important steps to take at the scene of the crash – if you are well enough to do so – and then there are important steps to take in the next few days after the crash. If you can, take pictures of the scene, get contact information from drivers and witnesses, and gather as much information as you can about lighting, weather, and other conditions. If you need it, get medical treatment right away. In the days following a crash, call a car accident lawyer, get a police report, and follow up with any additional medical care. Your lawyer can help you understand the next steps, but these are some of the most important steps in the immediate aftermath of the crash.

Call Our Annapolis Car Accident Lawyers Today

If you were injured in a car crash, or if you have lost a loved one, we are here to support you and seek answers. Contact us online to arrange a free legal consultation, or call Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291 to speak with a car accident injury lawyer in Annapolis today.