It’s never easy to start picking up the pieces after you’ve been in a serious car accident. You’re forced to deal with difficult questions like how to handle your absence from work, how you’ll pay for your medical bills, and how your insurance will be affected – all at a time when you simply want to rest and spend time with your loved ones. The attorneys of Whitney, LLP are here to help lighten your burden and protect your legal rights as you go through this difficult time.
Our skilled attorneys have years of experience handling car accident cases throughout Maryland. We take an aggressive but strategic approach to each case we handle, which is why we’ve been able to obtain favorable outcomes for many of our clients. We are dedicated to seeking the maximum compensation possible for our clients. When a careless or aggressive driver harms another motorist, they should be held accountable for their actions.
A deadline called the statute of limitations restricts how long you have to file an accident claim, so don’t wait until it’s already too late. To start discussing your accident in a free, completely private case evaluation, call the law offices of Whitney, LLP at (410) 583-8000 today.
Who is Liable for Compensating Car Crash Victims?
All drivers have a legal responsibility toward other drivers, cyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians, known as the duty of care. This means all drivers are required to follow the rules of the road, and to avoid taking any actions which could create a foreseeable risk of injury or death to other people. If a driver decides to ignore traffic safety laws, or makes a careless mistake which should have been avoided, it is possible that he or she could be liable for compensating the victim or victim’s loved ones.
The success of most personal injury lawsuits, including lawsuits related to automotive accidents, hinges on proving that the defendant caused the accident and resulting injuries by being reckless or negligent (careless) in some manner. Some common examples of reckless and aggressive driving behaviors include:
- Driving the wrong way on a one-way street.
- Driving too fast for the weather conditions (e.g. fog, heavy rain).
- Failing to come to a complete stop at a stop sign.
- Failing to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks.
- Making an improper left turn.
- Running a red light or speeding up to go through a yellow light.
- Speeding.
- Suddenly accelerating or decelerating in a traffic lane without justifiable reason.
- Tailgating (following too closely).
- Using high beams in an aggressive or inappropriate way.
Major Roads in Silver Spring, MD
Silver Spring and the surrounding Montgomery County area is home to many major roads, which are frequently congested with aggressive, speeding commuters on their way to work in Baltimore. Some of the larger roads in Silver Spring where accidents are common include:
I-495, also called the Capital Beltway or DC Beltway, accessible from:
- Colesville Road (US 29)
- Georgia Avenue (MD 97)
- New Hampshire Avenue (MD 650)
The Intercounty Connector (ICC), which has interchanges at:
- Columbia Pike (US 29)
- Georgia Avenue
- Layhill Road (MD 82)
- New Hampshire Avenue
Other major roads in Montgomery County include:
- I-270
- I-370
- MD 27 (Ridge Road/Father Hurley Boulevard)
- MD 28 (Darnestown Road)
- MD 185 (Connecticut Avenue)
- MD 190 (River Road)
- MD 355
- Montrose Road/Randolph Road
Common Injuries Caused by Automotive Accidents
Despite safety features like air bags and seat belts, car accidents frequently result in severe injuries or even wrongful death. The CDC reports that unintentional injuries caused an alarming 130,557 fatalities in 2013 alone – nearly 358 deaths for every day of the year.
The CDC also reports that traffic accidents are one of the leading causes of traumatic brain injuries (TBI), accounting for more than 14% of all TBI cases from 2006 to 2010. TBI is one of the most debilitating injuries an accident victim can ever have to suffer, because it can lead to a wide range of serious medical complications which change every aspect of the patient’s personal and professional life. Depending on which area of the brain is affected, and how severely the victim is injured, TBI can cause long-term or permanent medical problems such as:
- Anxiety
- Chronic Headaches
- Chronic Pain
- Depression
- Incontinence
- Paralysis
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Other types of injuries which often result from crashes and collisions include:
- Back Injuries
- Bone Fractures (Broken Bones)
- Hand and Wrist Injuries
- Joint Injuries
- Lacerations
- Leg and Foot Injuries
- Scarring and Disfigurement
- Soft Tissue Injuries
- Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI)
- Third Degree Burns
If you were injured in a car accident in Silver Spring or the surrounding area, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, property damage, and other expenses related to the accident. Call the law offices of Whitney, LLP at (410) 583-8000 today to start discussing your options in a free and private legal consultation.