Unless you’re using one to protect yourself from the rain, creating a patch of shade under the sun, or holding one as a prop in a musical number, you’re probably not thinking about umbrellas on a daily basis. Much less, considering that you could get injured by one. While it may sound initially silly, beach umbrellas can cause serious, sometimes fatal, injuries.
If you were injured by a beach umbrella in Maryland, you may be entitled to financial compensation. The law allows you to sue those who injured you because they were careless. Our lawyers can find out who you should sue and give you the best chance at getting the financial compensation you need after a serious injury.
For free help with your case, call our Maryland personal injury lawyers from Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291.
What to Do After a Beach Umbrella Injury in Maryland
If you or a loved one gets injured by a beach umbrella in Maryland, there are certain steps you should take right after the injury happens. Doing these things will not only make sure that you get the care you need in the short term, but they can also help our Baltimore personal injury lawyers form a stronger case on your behalf.
Get Medical Attention
Your first priority, as with any serious injury, is to get medical attention. In a beach setting, this could be a lifeguard, a responding EMT, or an ambulance. Let medical professionals who respond to the scene examine you and follow all of their instructions. If you are so severely injured that you need to be taken away in an emergency vehicle, then that is what is going to happen. If you are able to move under your own power, medical professionals have assessed you and decided you can stay, then you should address the rest of the steps on this list.
Collect Information
If you are able to stay at the scene of the accident, you should start trying to get as much information as you can about it. Find out who is responsible for the rogue umbrella. This could be an individual or group of people, or it could be the property of the beach it is located on, in which case a company owns and is responsible for it.
If possible, take notes and video recordings of the area. This can be beneficial to our lawyers in building a case for you. Additionally, interview any witnesses and make a record of what they say.
Call Our Lawyers
After you have dealt with the immediate aftermath of your injuries, it is time to get in contact with our lawyers so that you can start the process of your lawsuit. The sooner you contact and retain legal counsel, the sooner we can start working on your case. Remember, you only have a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit after you are sued based on the statute of limitations. In Maryland, that is three years from when you get injured, per Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. Art., § 5-101.
Injuries From Beach Umbrellas in Maryland
Beach umbrellas can cause a number of injuries if they go flying and hit you while you are going about your business. Some injuries are more dire than others, but you are able to file a claim for damages if you have suffered any of these injuries or others.
Blunt Trauma
Probably the most likely injury from getting hit by a runaway beach umbrella is some sort of blunt trauma. Blunt trauma can be serious to varying degrees but always involves damage from a hard impact.
Less serious blunt trauma injuries would include bruises and other “black and blue” markings. However, do not think that because an injury is “less serious,” it will prevent you from filing a lawsuit. It is merely less dangerous from a medical standpoint. You have every right to file a lawsuit if you are injured by someone else’s negligence.
Broken bones can occur due to blunt trauma. If the umbrella hits you with sufficient speed and force, it could fracture some of the bones in your body. This could mean broken ribs, broken arms or legs, or a fractured skull.
More serious blunt trauma injuries can include traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). The most common form of TBI is a concussion, also known as a “mild TBI.” Concussion symptoms include difficulty remembering things, mood swings, and sensitivity to light and sound. More serious TBIs can result in the loss of basic motor functions like walking, speaking, or manipulating things with your hands. In the most dire cases, a TBI can result in death.
Impalement
When an umbrella goes flying through the air at the beach, it has a chance to go right through someone. This may seem far-fetched, but it has happened. The possibility cannot be outright ignored.
Getting impaled by an umbrella is a very serious injury that will require immediate emergency medical evacuation and treatment. If an umbrella goes through a person’s heart or brain, it will likely kill them instantly. However, even if not instantly fatal, impalement can severely damage vital organs. Even when an impaled umbrella misses vital organs, it can still result in serious, potentially permanent damage. Moreover, it will take skilled medical professionals to extract the impaled object. This can be quite expensive, and you may need to file a lawsuit, even if the injury is covered by insurance, in order to get the compensation you need.
Talk with Our Maryland Umbrella Injury Lawyers Today
Our Ocean City, MD personal injury lawyers from Rice, Murtha & Psoras can help you with your case when you call (410) 694-7291.