Queen Anne’s County, MD Car Accident Lawyer

Drivers face the risk of car accidents every day. Some accidents happen because of conditions that drivers can’t control while other accidents happen because of another driver’s negligent actions. Don’t allow yourself to be saddled by medical debt if you have been the victim of a car accident in Queen Anne’s County, Maryland. Seek the help of an experienced car accident attorney to file a personal injury lawsuit against the driver that was responsible for the accident that caused your injuries.

Contact the Queen Anne’s County car accident lawyers from Rice, Murtha & Psoras if you would like to learn more about how you can file a personal injury lawsuit following your car accident. Statutes of limitations go into effect on the date of your injury so it’s important that you act quickly. Call (410) 694-7291 today to learn about how you can schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.

Reasons Why Car Accidents Happen

Unfortunately, the potential causes of car accidents are numerous. Certain causes of car accidents are much more common than others, though. the following are the most common causes of car accidents in Queen Anne’s County, Maryland and elsewhere.

Ignoring Traffic Laws

One of the most common causes of auto accidents is the failure to obey traffic signs and signals. the signs, signals, and marking present on roadways exist for one reason, which is to keep drivers and passengers safe. Drivers that don’t respect stop signs, traffic lights, speed limits, and other signs create unsafe conditions for themselves and other drivers on the road. If you were the victim in an accident that was caused by another driver’s failure to respect traffic signals, get in touch with the Queen Anne’s County car accident lawyers from Rice, Murtha & Psoras .

Distracted Driving

Safe driving means focused driving. Drivers that divert their attention to other matters (eating, drinking, interacting with other passengers, talking on the phone, texting, using social media, putting on music or podcasts) greatly increase their risk of getting into an accident.

Reckless Driving

Reckless driving is one of the riskiest things that drivers can do. While some drivers may believe that driving recklessly or submitting to road rage is a healthy way to release emotions, it can impede drivers’ ability to make safe decisions.

DUI/DWI

Drivers that are under the influence of alcohol have impaired judgment, reduced reaction abilities, and motor skill deficiencies, all of which greatly increase their risk of getting into an accident with another driver. In addition to civil lawsuits following car accidents that they cause, Drunk drivers can also face serious criminal charges that can result in heavy fines, suspension or revocation of their driver’s license, fines and fees, and jail time.

Inclement Weather

Many accidents happen inclement weather makes driving conditions dangerous. Drivers have no control over whether it rains or snows. Drivers can, however, control how they react to bad conditions created by the weather by slowing down, using their lights and windshield wipes, and using extreme caution.

Proving Fault in a Queen Anne’s County, MD Car Accident

To win your personal injury lawsuit, you and your lawyer will have to prove that you suffered injuries in a car accident because the other driver, the defendant, was negligent. Proving that another party was negligent has four components. the first is showing that the defendant had a duty of care based on your relationship to each other. If, for example, you were in a car accident, the defendant had a duty of care that is based on your relationship as drivers on the same road. the next thing you have to show is that the defendant breached their duty of care by either committing or failing to commit a certain action. Then, you will have to show that your injuries happened as a direct result of the defendant’s breach of duty. Finally, you will have to demonstrate that your injuries resulted in damages that you can be compensated for.

It’s important to note that you will not be able to recover compensation if you were at all responsible for your injuries. This is because of Maryland’s system of contributory negligence. Under this system, the court assesses the fault that you, the plaintiff, and the defendant had in the accident and then assigns a percentage of fault to both of you. If your percentage of fault exceeds one percent, you will not be able to receive compensation. Maryland is one of only a few states that uses the system of contributory negligence; most other states use a system of comparative negligence in which a plaintiff’s compensation is reduced by their percentage of fault.

Damages You Can Claim in a Car Accident Case

After a car accident, you claim both economic and non-economic damages. the economic damages that you can recover include medical bills, wages that you have already lost, wages that you will not make in the future due to your injury, and damaged property. the non-economic damages that you can recover after a car accident include pain and suffering, loss of companionship, loss of household chores, and loss of investments.

Car Accident Lawyer Serving Queen Anne’s County, Maryland

Don’t wait to file your personal injury claim for your car accident in Queen Anne’s County, Maryland. Begin the process today so you can get compensation soon. the auto accident lawyers from Rice, Murtha & Psoras are eager to help you with your case. Get in touch with them today by calling (410) 694-7291.