Pikesville, MD Car Accident Lawyer

Car accidents happen all across the United States every day. While most car accidents are not incredibly serious in nature, every motor vehicle accident has a chance to result in extremely serious injuries. After a car accident, you could be burdened with enormous medical expenses and a lengthy recovery period. During that time, you might not be able to work and earn income or participate in activities you enjoy.

Our lawyers can help if you were in a car accident around Pikesville. We can analyze the particular facts of your case, interview witnesses and other important parties, and fight hard for you in court to get you the financial compensation you deserve.

Get in touch with our car accident lawyers from Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291 for a free case review.

Causes of Car Accidents in Pikesville, MD

Car accidents can happen for a variety of reasons. While you might think that the only thing that matters is that you are hurt, the reality is that understanding the cause of your accident can help our lawyers build a stronger case on your behalf. Finding out the cause of your particular car accident can assist in determining who exactly you should bring to court in your car accident lawsuit.

Speeding

Speeding is a common cause of car accidents in the United States. When a driver speeds, they do not have as much time to react to changing conditions around them. Consequently, if an unexpected situation happens, a speeding driver might not be able to adjust and could hurt someone.

Drunk Driving

Driving under the influence, or drunk driving, is incredibly dangerous. Many drunk driving accidents result in serious injuries or fatalities. In fact, the drunk driver is less likely to be injured in an accident because, in their inebriated state, they absorb more of the impact force more effectively than a sober person. In addition to seriously injuring other people, a drunk driver will likely also face criminal penalties.

Aggressive Driving

Aggressive driving habits can make roads dangerous for pedestrians and other motorists. A driver who is constantly switching lanes or tailgating is enough of a risk to other people. However, there is also the chance that other drivers try and take evasive maneuvers to avoid an aggressive driver’s antics and end up inadvertently hitting someone else.

Motor Vehicle Defects

Sometimes, a problem with a car causes an accident through no fault of the driver. In law, defects are broken down into two categories: manufacturing defects and design defects.

Manufacturing defects are problems that occur during the assembly of the vehicle. Examples of manufacturing defects that could result in a car accident are faulty airbags that do not deploy, incorrectly wired transmissions, or improperly installed brakes. Design defects, on the other hand, are issues with the design of a vehicle. An example of a design defect would be a fuel tank located in a position where it is likely to combust if the car is hit in an accident.

If you are suing for a defect, you will likely want to include the relevant manufacturer or designer of the vehicle in your lawsuit as a defendant.

Damages From Car Accidents in Pikesville, MD

You will be awarded damages by the court if you are successful in your car accident claim. In car accident lawsuits, damages are meant to “make the plaintiff whole” again. The idea is to put the plaintiff in as close a position as possible to where they were before they got injured. Financial compensation is often used as a proxy for returning a plaintiff to where they were when such a thing could not literally be done.

Damages are split into three main categories: economic, non-economic, and punitive damages.

Economic Damages

Economic Damages are based on things with actual monetary value. Items that fall under the category of economic damages have a paper trail of receipts, invoices, bills, or other methods of payment that denote their worth. Hospital bills, costs of surgery, and long-term treatment costs all fall under the umbrella of economic damages.

You can also claim economic damages for lost income or lost ability to work. For example, if you had to take a year off from your job to recover from serious injuries, you could ask for economic damages based on the income you would have had were you not injured and recovering. Additionally, if you can no longer work or have to take a less well-paying job, you could be compensated based on your projected future income or on the difference between the pay of your prior and current jobs.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are more nebulous than economic damages. While economic damages have a dollar value attached to them from receipts or bills, non-economic damages do not have those things to establish value. Items that factor into non-economic damages include pain and suffering, mental anguish, and the loss of the ability to do certain tasks because of injuries.

Since there is no paper trail denoting the value of non-economic damages, you and our lawyers will need to convince the judge and jury of their worth in court. Things like “pain” or “distress” are abstract, so you have some leeway to explain the damages you are asking for so long as it can be supported by convincing evidence.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are a special kind of damages that are not awarded in every case. Unlike economic and non-economic damages, which are designed to help the plaintiff, punitive damages are designed to punish the defendant. Courts will only award them in cases involving the most egregious offenders to communicate to the defendant that their conduct is unacceptable.

Talk to Our Pikesville, MD Car Accident Lawyers About Your Case

Rice, Murtha & Psoras has car accident lawyers ready to discuss your case at (410) 694-7291.