A car accident can have a devastating impact on the victim and their loved ones. When you are trying to navigate insurance claims, cope with painful injuries, and adjust to the disruption a car accident caused in your life, it can be difficult to think about pursuing legal action, too.
In Maryland, victims of a car accident can bring a personal injury claim to request compensation from the person who caused their injuries. This compensation is meant to cover the expenses that the victim must pay as a result of the crash, as well as compensate them for things like pain and suffering.
This process may sound simple, but there are many different things to consider and discuss before you pursue compensation. You can contact the Law Offices of Adam M. Smallow to start learning more about whether you may be able to receive compensation from the driver who caused your crash. If you qualify, a Fort Washington car accident lawyer from our firm can manage your case for you.
Call the Law Offices of Adam M. Smallow today at (410) 777-8960 for your free case review with our car accident team. During this call, we can review your accident and your legal options. We can also suggest medical providers that our own families would go to after a car accident.
Establishing Negligence in a Car Accident Case
Under Maryland law, a car accident is a type of personal injury claim. In a personal injury claim, the plaintiff typically has to prove four things to establish negligence:
- Duty: the defendant owed them a duty to act with reasonable care.
- Breach: the defendant did not act according to this standard.
- Causation: this breach of duty caused the plaintiff’s injuries. In other words, had the defendant acted differently, the plaintiff would not have been injured.
- Damages: the plaintiff’s injuries had a financial impact.
In general, drivers owe one another a duty to use reasonable care when behind the wheel. Every time you get behind the wheel, you must drive according to this standard. When a negligent driver causes a car accident, they may be liable for the victims’ damages.
For legal consultation with a car accident attorney in Fort Washington, call (410)777-8960
Common Car Accident Causes
There are a few common types of bad driving behavior that can lead to car accidents. These poor driving habits may have been a factor in your accident. Knowing why your accident happened and how the other driver breached the duty of care can help you prove your case. Here are some common causes of car accidents:
- Distracted driving: this includes talking on the phone, texting, surfing the web, eating, talking to passengers, and attending to children or pets in the car.
- Speeding: drivers are often in a hurry or simply do not pay attention to how fast they should be going on each section of the roadway.
- Intoxicated driving: this can include both alcohol and other substances. Even prescription pills can affect someone’s ability to drive and make them unsafe on the road.
- Aggressive driving: we have all seen someone tailgating, making rapid lane changes, or acting aggressively towards other passengers while on the road.
- Not yielding the right-of-way: when we approach an intersection or other section of road where traffic is merging, there are certain rules about who has the right-of-way. Drivers may cause an accident by failing to read signage or simply ignoring the fact that someone else has the right-of-way.
- Severe weather or road hazards: if there is severe weather like torrential rain or a road hazard like debris in the road, drivers should adjust their speed and driving practices accordingly.
These are not the only forms of driver negligence that can cause a car accident. The Law Offices of Adam M. Smallow is available to help you learn more about your accident and gather evidence for your claim. This evidence may include eyewitness testimony, video footage from local cameras, and consultations with accident reconstruction specialists.
Maryland’s Contributory Negligence Law
It is also important to note that Maryland’s contributory negligence law applies to car accident cases. In this system, a plaintiff cannot recover compensation if the defendant can show that they are even 1% at fault for the accident.
The Law Offices of Adam M. Smallow can help you navigate this law when we work together on your case. Call us today at style=”white-space: nowrap;” (410) 777-8960 for a free and private consultation with one of our team members.
Fort Washington Car Accident Attorney (410)777-8960
Damages Available to Car Accident Victims in Maryland
One of the most common things that accident victims want to know after they are hurt in a car crash is what types of compensation they may be eligible to receive.
In general, the plaintiff may receive compensation for expenses that are directly related to the crash. Some of the most common categories of compensation that plaintiffs collect in a car accident claim include medical bills, estimated ongoing medical care costs, lost earning capacity, missed paychecks, and pain and suffering.
A Fort Washington car accident lawyer from the Law Offices of Adam M. Smallow can review your damages and help you understand their potential value.
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Call the Law Offices of Adam M. Smallow Today
Do not feel like you are alone after suffering a terrible and painful car accident. Call (410) 777-8960 for a free consultation on your case with a representative of the Law Offices of Adam M. Smallow.
The Law Offices of Adam M. Smallow prioritizes communication. If you sign up to work with a Fort Washington car accident lawyer from our firm, you will get 24/7 text message access to our staff via a unique text number.
Make sure to act soon if you are thinking of taking legal action for your injuries. Car accident victims generally need to bring their personal injury lawsuit within three years of the date that they were injured, according to Maryland Courts and Judicial Proceedings §5–101.
Call or text (410)777-8960 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form