In just a few short years ride-sharing services, such as Uber or Lyft, have significantly disrupted the traditional taxi industry. Uber rides are convenient and often more affordable than a traditional taxi service so many people like to use Uber when they need a ride somewhere. But just like any other vehicle on the road, Uber vehicles are just as likely to be involved in automobile accidents. What should you do if you are a passenger or driver in an Uber vehicle and your Uber ride is involved in an accident?

The severity of a Baltimore County car accident can vary widely, leading to injuries ranging from bruises and contusions to massive, life-changing wounds. One of the most serious injuries a victim can suffer is a spinal cord injury, since the spine is responsible for many aspects of the human body’s functioning. Not only will a person deal with immediate treatment, but there may be long-term care; some victims never fully recover from a spinal cord injury, so he or she could require assistance for a lifetime. If you’ve sustained a spinal cord injury in a car accident, consult with an experienced Maryland personal injury attorney for assistance in recovering compensation for your losses.

According to the US Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Analysis Division, there were 83,000 truck accidents that caused injuries in 2015. That number represents 20 percent of all reported cases that year, which was 415,000. Truck crashes usually lead to much more severe injuries that incidents involving passenger cars, mostly due to their larger size and the weight of the cargo they carry. Victims may go through extensive medical treatment, longer rehabilitation periods, and may be out of work for months – or more. If you’ve suffered injuries in a Maryland truck accident, talk to an experienced attorney about the causes of the collision and what you may be able to recover as compensation.

While the majority of Maryland car accident cases settle or are otherwise disposed of in the pre-trial phases of litigation, some matters do go to a full trial. However, the proceedings are quite different from what you may have seen in the movies or on TV. Your attorney will take the lead in representing your interests if your car accident case is headed for a trial, but the anatomy of a typical personal injury case will help you understand what to expect.

A work-related injury can be aggravating. Even a minor incident may leave you out of work for medical treatment and recovery. At a time when you’re dealing with pain and immobility issues, you’re also losing wages until you can return to your job. Maryland workers’ compensation law is intended to help you get back to work as soon as possible, so the system is a no-fault concept: You don’t have to prove your employer was responsible for the injury. You can prevail on a workers’ comp claim by showing that you were hurt while on the job, and sustained losses as a result. Under certain circumstances, the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission (WCC) will award sufficient benefits to compensate you for your losses until you return to work.

Other times, it may be necessary to attend a hearing before the WCC if there are disputed issues with your claim. A Maryland workers’ compensation attorney can assist you through the hearing process, which is relatively complex.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety statistics, there were 472 fatal car accidents in Maryland during 2015; another 41 people succumbed to their injuries at a time after the collisions occurred. These deaths impacted many families, leading to potential liability for parties that may have been negligent or reckless in causing the crashes. There are two different theories of liability for the damages that result from accidental death under state law, and both are intended to compensate the victims who suffer losses. You should discuss wrongful death cases and survival actions with a Maryland attorney if you’re the family member of someone who’s died in a car accident.

First of all, in order to have a case at all we must find that the other driver was negligent and that our client did not contribute to the accident. In Maryland, for example, if one is found to be 1% negligent they would be barred from any recovery via contributory negligence. Thus, once negligence is established we look at the accident itself and the injuries sustained.

Statistics show that the majority of Maryland car accident cases involving injuries are settled before they go to trial. The victim and the responsible party’s insurer usually come to an agreement on the amount intended to compensate for all losses, including medical treatment, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other damages. However, there’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes as the parties approach the settlement process: It’s not as easy as one side making a demand, reviewing a possible counteroffer, and reaching an agreement somewhere in between. You must have a strategy in place for settlement negotiations to obtain the highest possible amount available under the law, and your personal injury attorney knows about these best practices for the process.

Not all car accident cases in Baltimore County go through the full trial process, as many are resolved through settlement agreements intended to compensate the injured party for his or her losses. In a typical scenario, the attorney representing the accident victim…

Maryland police have always been tough on drunk drivers, but the penalties for a DUI/DWI conviction are even more severe since Noah’s Law went into effect October 1, 2016. Now, in addition to potential prison time, fines, and driver’s license suspension, some offenders will be required to install an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) on their vehicle. You need a strong defense when you’re facing such harsh punishment, and one strategy is the use of motions to weaken the prosecution’s case against you. A Maryland DUI/DWI lawyer can tell you more about presenting these motions during the pre-trial phases of your case.