White Marsh, MD Car Accident Lawyer
Every time you drive, you take a risk. While this is not something people typically think about, other motorists on the road often drive recklessly, endangering themselves and others. When vehicles collide, severe injuries could occur as tons of metal and steel twist and clash.
People suffer everything from lacerations to permanent paralysis in car accidents.
Our White Marsh, MD, car accident lawyers have years of experience representing people injured in car crashes in Maryland. Call Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291 to schedule a free consultation with a dedicated car accident lawyer.
Causes of Car Accidents in White Marsh, MD
Car accidents occur for multiple reasons in the White Marsh area. Careless or intoxicated drivers collide with other drivers, hit pedestrians, and cause single-vehicle crashes. Some typical causes of car accidents include the following:
- Distracted driving
- Drunk driving
- Reckless or aggressive driving
- Speeding
- Running red lights and stop signs
- Failing to yield
- Tailgating
- Changing lanes without signaling
Injuries From Car Accidents in White Marsh, Maryland
Cars are heavy metal objects, and when they collide, passengers are subjected to significant forces and potential flying debris. Often, people walk away from car crashes without a scratch.
In other situations, car accident victims might not be as lucky.
Often, injuries from car accidents are severe, resulting in substantial physical pain, emotional distress, and financial loss. Some common injuries sustained in auto collisions include fractures, lacerations, head injuries, brain damage, and spinal cord injuries.
What to Do After an Auto Accident in White Marsh
Depending on the severity of your injuries, there are several things you should do if you are involved in a car accident.
You should always report the incident to the police.
Once they arrive at the scene of the accident, they will ensure that you and anyone else involved receives medical attention as needed. The police will also complete and file a report that includes information regarding the accident, the individuals involved, and a preliminary description of the cause of the accident.
Suppose you are able to talk to any eyewitnesses present and take photographs of the accident site. Be sure to include clear pictures of the vehicles involved, skid marks or debris on the road, and your injuries, if any.
Even if you do not believe you are injured, you should still seek medical attention. While serious injuries require immediate attention, the severity of some injuries might not be readily apparent.
You should also follow all instructions from your doctor and complete all prescribed treatments and therapies. If you delay or discontinue medical treatment, the defendant could claim your injuries were not truly severe.
Finally, call our experienced White Marsh, MD car accident lawyer to represent your interests. Do not talk to an insurance company or sign anything that an insurance company might give you without consulting with a car accident attorney near you.
Allow our attorneys to evaluate your case, gather evidence regarding the accident, and explain all of the options available to you.
Calculating Car Accident Settlements in White Marsh
Every personal injury lawsuit is unique, and litigation regarding car accidents is no different. Various factors impact fault and potential settlements.
Initially, our trusted White Marsh car accident attorneys will work to negotiate a reasonable settlement with the defendant’s insurance company. If required, we will prepare to take your case to trial to litigate any necessary issues, including the following:
- Determining the amount and type of damage to every vehicle involved in the accident
- Preparing expert medical testimony regarding the severity of your injuries
- Providing proof that your injuries were sustained in the accident
- Presenting evidence of the permanent effects of your injuries, including disabilities and lost wages
Determining Liability in White Marsh, Maryland Car Accidents
Determining liability can be challenging, depending on the circumstances surrounding your accident. To hold another motorist responsible for the injuries and financial costs of a car crash, an injured driver must establish four elements:
- Duty
- Breach of Duty
- Causation
- Damages
Drivers in White Marsh, Maryland have a duty to operate their vehicles safely without endangering other drivers or pedestrians. This means that the actions and decisions they make behind the wheel should match the decisions a reasonably prudent driver in similar circumstances would make.
For example, if the weather is severe, a prudent driver would slow down and keep a sensible distance between their car and the vehicles in front of them.
Speeding and tailgating during a heavy rainstorm would be a clear violation of that duty, as would other traffic violations and instances of unsafe driving.
Furthermore, the defendant’s actions must have directly caused your injuries. If there was some interceding accident after your car crash that caused your injuries, the driver would not be liable for your injuries.
Using the accident report, medical reports, and expert testimony, our White Marsh lawyers will work to establish that your injuries were a direct result of the crash, not some other accident.
Additionally, your injuries must result in actual damages, which can be economic or noneconomic. Economic damages are usually easier to quantify and include medical expenses, the cost of repairs to damaged vehicles, and lost income. Noneconomic damages are more challenging to calculate.
These include, but are not limited to, pain and suffering and the loss of enjoyment.
The State of Maryland follows the harsh “contributory negligence” doctrine. Under this legal doctrine, if you are found to have contributed to the accident in any way, then you would be prohibited from collecting financial compensation from the defendant or their insurance company.
The defense will usually argue that your actions contributed to the crash to try to avoid liability. However, our White Marsh car accident lawyers are familiar with the tactics employed by defense attorneys and will argue that your behavior did not contribute to the accident.
Call Our White Marsh, MD, Car Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Injuries sustained in a car accident could have significant consequences, including substantial medical expenses, loss of wages, and possible life-altering disabilities. You need the representation of our experienced White Marsh, MD car accident lawyer to fight to get you and your family properly compensated. Call Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291 to schedule a free consultation.
