Randolph Rice is an experienced Baltimore speeding accident lawyer who can help you recover financial compensation for car crash injuries in Maryland. If another driver caused your accident by speeding, he or she may be responsible for your medical bills, lost wages, and other losses resulting from the crash. You may be able to sue the driver who hit you, file an accident claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance company, or file a claim with your own insurance provider, depending on the circumstances.
Don’t go up against an insurance company or its attorneys on your own. To speak with a speeding injury lawyer about your options after a car accident in Baltimore, call Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291, or contact us online to set up a free legal consultation.
Speeding Auto Accident Statistics
Speeding is a common cause of car accidents, not only in Maryland but throughout the United States. According to the statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), speeding-related accidents were responsible for nearly 9,400 fatalities during 2018, while in 2017, speeding was identified as “a contributing factor in 26% of all traffic fatalities.”
Common Injuries in Car Crashes Caused by Speeding
Due to the powerful forces involved, high-speed car accidents frequently cause serious injuries. While some may heal with time, others can cause permanent disability or impairment.
Depending on its severity, the treatment for a car accident injury may involve multiple surgeries, intensive physical therapy, or ongoing care and assistance from nurses. It is important to ensure that the victim’s medical costs and out-of-pocket losses are properly calculated, especially in the event of a permanent or catastrophic injury, which is where having legal guidance becomes essential. Types of car accident injury claims that Rice, Murtha & Psoras can assist you with include:
- Amputation injuries
- Back and spinal cord injuries (SCIs)
- Broken bones
- Dislocated joints
- Head and brain injuries
- Road rash injuries
- Torn ligaments
- Whiplash injuries
What You Should Do if You Are Injured in a Car Accident in Baltimore
After a car accident in Baltimore, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and financial losses. However, you must show that the other driver was at fault for the accident, which requires that you take certain steps. For instance, it is vital for you to seek medical treatment as soon as possible after a car accident, not only to receive care for your injuries, but also to help strengthen your claim. If you delay seeking care, the insurance company may try to claim that your injuries were not severe, or that your injuries were caused by something other than the accident and are therefore not covered.
It is also important to contact the police, who will create a report describing accident conditions. While a police accident report cannot be used as trial evidence, it can still be useful when negotiating your personal injury claim, filling in key details and, in some cases, pointing towards eyewitnesses. Moreover, state law requires all fatal or injury crashes to be reported to the police.
You should also exchange information with the other driver, if possible. At a minimum, you should obtain their name, contact information, and insurance information.
Finally, you should reach out to an experienced car accident injury lawyer in Baltimore for assistance. Your attorney will take care of gathering evidence, talking with medical experts, reviewing insurance policies, analyzing crash factors, filing claims, negotiating with insurance adjusters, and advising you of your rights, options, and responsibilities at all stages of the process. Even if you were struck by a hit-and-run driver whose identity you do not know, you should speak with an attorney about possible ways of recovering compensation.
Getting Compensation for a Speeding Accident Injury
You may be able to obtain compensation if you were injured in a crash or collision that was caused by speeding. However, you will need to show that the other driver was at fault for the crash and resulting injuries. In a case that involves speeding, a key strategy will likely be showing that the other driver was above the speed limit, thereby violating the rules of the road. If other factors also contributed to the crash, such as distraction or intoxication, they should be carefully investigated as well.
If you were even partially at fault for your own accident, you may lose your ability to recover compensation due to Maryland’s contributory negligence law. Insurance companies may try to use this fact to their advantage, arguing that your actions were to blame for the crash. Protect yourself by consulting an attorney who will fight aggressively to uphold your rights after an accident caused by speeding, like Randolph Rice.
Baltimore Attorney for a Car Accident Caused by Speeding
The NHTSA lists “disregard for others” as a major cause of speeding-related car accidents in the United States. When other drivers are careless or reckless, they place everyone’s safety at risk. If you were hit by a speeding driver in Baltimore or the Baltimore region, you should speak to a lawyer about your legal rights and what you can do to pursue compensation.
Find out whether you could have a personal injury claim for a speeding accident today. Call Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291 for a free legal consultation, or contact us online.