Glen Burnie Car Accident Lawyer

Glen Burnie Car Accident Attorney

Reach out to a Glen Burnie car accident lawyer about your injuries and other subsequent damages to get an accurate estimate of what you may receive in compensation. The qualified legal team at the Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink, PA, has assisted numerous injured victims and their families in recovering damages from an unexpected accident that resulted from another person’s negligence, including motor vehicle traffic incidents, slip-and-falls, and more.

How Do Most Car Accidents Happen?

Traffic accidents happen every day across the state of Maryland — and the nation. While most times driving is completely safe, and no harm is incurred while on the road, there are, unfortunately, several ways a motorist can cause an accident or involve others in their collision. These are some of the most common reasons traffic accidents can occur in Glen Burnie:

• Distracting driving. Distracted drivers are one of the most frequent reasons for car collisions to happen. Perhaps unsurprisingly, there are increasingly more distractions in modern life, including the radio or music, conversations with passengers or over a phone call, looking at your mobile phone, eating and drinking, checking your appearance in the mirror, daydreaming, and more.
• Speeding. Driving over the speed limit is another common cause of collisions, and especially fatal accidents, due to drivers not being able to stop in time for sudden stops or unexpected hazards. Remember: the posted speed limit of an area is there for a reason — it takes into account the level of normal traffic, sudden turns or blind spots in the road, etc.
• Reckless or aggressive behavior while driving. Aggressive and reckless driving behaviors include tailgating, running red lights, swerving in and out of traffic, cutting people off, and more.
• Impaired driving or fatigue. Driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances — including prescription medication as well as illicit drugs — is very serious as it impairs your normal faculties and ability to drive safely. Additionally, driving while drowsy is nearly as dangerous as driving while drunk, affecting your reaction time, sound judgment, and vision.
• Not following traffic laws. Examples include changing lanes without being aware of your surroundings, ignoring traffic signs and regulations, improperly turning (e.g., not using turn signals or slowing down), and driving the wrong way.
• Weather conditions and driving at night. Driving at night impacts your vision and diminishes the visibility of the environment, along with there being more tired and/or intoxicated drivers on the road. Bad weather can also impair your ability to see where you’re going and, sometimes, your ability to control your vehicle. E.g. fog, heavy rain, snow, ice.
• Obstacles and animals crossing. Road obstructions can be difficult to consistently see or navigate around, such as construction zones or potholes, causing a vehicle to suddenly stop, swerve out of the way, collide with another motorist/pedestrian, etc. This is also the case for large animals crossing the road or jumping in front of your car.
• Inexperienced motorists. Teenage drivers are less familiar with traffic law and how to properly maintain their vehicles, resulting in careless or hesitant driving behaviors.
• Dangerous intersections. Accidents are more likely to occur in dangerous intersections like Ritchie Highway and Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard, or Crain Highway and Furnace Branch Road. Poor visibility, complexity, and heavy traffic can all contribute to accident risk.

What to Do After a Car Accident in Glen Burnie

What you do immediately after a car accident can impact not just your health and safety but also your ability to recover compensation. If you want to improve your chances of being fairly compensated for any damages incurred, you should:

1. Request medical help. You’ll need to call 911 to report the accident. While you’re on the phone with emergency services, request medical help so that you can be evaluated by an EMT or paramedic. Documentation of your injuries immediately after the crash can be helpful evidence in support of your claim.
2. Ask for a crash report. You should request a copy of the crash report filed by the police. It may have information your lawyer can use to determine and prove fault.
3. Exchange information. Most people realize that they need to exchange information with other drivers, but you should also stop to collect contact info from witnesses.
4. Take photos and videos. If you’re physically able and it’s safe for you to do so, you should try to take pictures or videos of as much of the accident scene as possible. Be sure to get evidence of the vehicles’ positions, any damage to the cars, their plates, and nearby traffic controls and road conditions.
5. Get a medical evaluation. Even if your symptoms following an accident feel minor, you should follow up with a doctor and follow their treatment advice.
6. Preserve evidence. You’ll need to preserve any evidence that accrues following the case, including items damaged in the crash and receipts from towing and storage. You should also keep copies of your medical records and take photos of any injuries prior to getting them treated.
7. Notify your insurer. You’ll have to let your insurance company know that you were in an accident, but you should avoid crafting a detailed narrative. Leave this work to your lawyer.
8. Hire a lawyer. You should hire a car accident attorney as soon as possible following the crash. Your lawyer can represent you in negotiations and assist you with other essential steps, such as filing paperwork and gathering evidence.

What Not to Do After an Accident

There are also a few actions you should avoid after a car crash if you want to preserve your right to file a claim against the responsible driver. You should never:

• Apologize at the crash scene.
• Admit fault.
• Make recorded statements without understanding your rights.
• Post on social media about the crash or your injuries.
• Accept a settlement offer without consulting a lawyer first.

Bodily Injuries That Motor Vehicle Collisions Commonly Cause

Physical injuries following a car crash can range quite a bit due to the different circumstances of each collision, such as how fast the vehicles involved were going, how the vehicles collided, etc. Some injured drivers and passengers may sustain relatively minor bodily harm, but depending on the accident itself, some individuals may suffer more moderate to severe injuries, with some even causing permanent damage or resulting in a person’s wrongful death.

More minimal injuries may entail bruising, scrapes and abrasions, lacerations, soft tissue injuries such as sprains or strains, minor brain damage, and minor burns; moderate to serious physical injuries include severe burns, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), damage to internal organs, internal bleeding, broken bones including shattered or compound fractures and serious breaks, neck and back injuries including to the spinal cord and surrounding nerves, and crush injuries.

In addition to these serious injuries, some accidents also unfortunately result in catastrophic harm to the parties involved. Catastrophic injuries can inflict long-term or permanent damage to the victim, causing difficulties in daily functioning and quality of life. Examples include amputation of or loss of the use of a limb or appendage, injuries to the face, including impacts to one’s vision, hearing loss, severe scarring and other disfigurement, and partial or full paralysis.

Those who are left disabled from an incident are usually awarded a large settlement for the lifelong impacts. Families of accident victims who did not survive their injuries are also able to pursue compensation for their loss. Injured individuals with only seemingly minor injuries are still entitled to recover their damages and may be able to receive more compensation than they think.

What Damages Can I Recover After a Traffic Accident?

Consulting with an experienced injury law attorney will give you an idea of how strong your claim is and the amount of the potential settlement for your injuries. For damages amounting to $5,000 or less, injured individuals can file a small claims action with the district court.

If a person’s damages are more than $5,000 but do not exceed $25,000 in total, they may file their injury claim either with the district court or circuit court. If your injury attorney anticipates your settlement to be worth more than $25,000, the injury claim must be handled within the circuit court. An injury settlement award will include the injured person’s economic and non-economic damages and, in some cases, punitive damages as well.

Non-economic damages are also known as pain and suffering damages and can be hard to determine a monetary value for; the court will decide what amount should be awarded for non-economic damages after reviewing all presented evidence and taking all factors of the case into consideration. The cap for pain and suffering for most injury claims is currently $810,000 and will next increase to $950,000 as each year the cap is adjusted to account for inflation.

Maryland has no cap for economic damages, which are quantifiable losses that are easily calculated by adding up your various bills and other expenses related to your injury, such as past medical bills, including rehabilitative or ongoing care, and any future care that is expected, loss of income, diminished capacity to earn income, damage to personal property, etc.

Punitive damages are rarely awarded but may be applicable when the liable party’s misconduct was particularly egregious; these damages, meant to deter the offender from similar wrongdoing in the future, also lack a cap and are usually calculated by multiplying the total compensatory damages (economic and non-economic added together) by a number decided by the court.

Maryland Car Accidents by the Numbers

If you’ve been injured in an accident, you’re certainly not alone. There were 110,401 accidents reported in Maryland in 2023, 577 of which were fatal, and another 28,577 of which caused injuries. While fatal car accidents have been on the decline since then, Maryland’s roads still pose serious dangers to motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists alike. If you’ve been in an accident due to someone else’s negligence, you should hire a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer.

FAQs About Glen Burnie, MD Car Accident Law

What Is the Average Settlement for a Car Accident in Maryland?

There isn’t an exact average settlement for a car accident injury claim since each case’s circumstances and details impact the outcome. Severe injuries tend to result in larger settlements because more medical expenses are generated. It also depends on the strength or abundance of the evidence proving the liable party’s fault in the car accident case. If a victim is even slightly at fault for the accident, they are barred from a settlement.

How Long After a Car Accident Can You Sue in Maryland?

You can file a claim in Maryland within three years from the date the injury occurs. This means that if someone who sustained bodily injuries after a traffic accident for which they were not at fault wishes to pursue a settlement, they must officially file an injury claim within three years of the accident date; in some cases, such as with delayed discovery of injury, the statute goes into effect after the date of the collision.

Is Maryland a No-Fault State for Car Accidents?

Maryland is not a no-fault state, but an at-fault state, for car accident injury cases. This means that if the person seeking compensation for their injuries and other damages following a traffic collision is even 1 percent responsible for the incident, they are prohibited from recovering a settlement payout for their losses. This strict mandate is referred to as contributory negligence.

Do I Need a Personal Injury Lawyer After a Crash in Maryland?

You’re not required to have a personal injury lawyer after your car crash in Maryland in order to pursue a settlement payout. However, your chances of acquiring compensation are better with the help of a qualified, experienced Glen Burnie car accident attorney. A lawyer who is educated and has a deep understanding of car accident laws can help you avoid receiving insufficient compensation and protect your rights in court.

Hire a Car Accident Lawyer Today

It doesn’t matter whether your crash occurred on I-97 or in front of your home. If you’ve been in a crash, you need to hire a car accident lawyer as soon as possible. Our experienced and skilled team at the Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink, PA, helps accident victims across Anne Arundel County. We’re familiar with both negotiating with insurance companies and how cases move through local courts. Schedule a meeting with one of our compassionate injury lawyers today.