Lutherville Side-Impact Collision Attorney
When a driver runs a red light or violates a stop sign, that motorist puts themselves and others at risk of suffering a side-impact collision. These crashes are some of the most serious to take place on the road. Over 5,000 people lost their lives in side-impact crashes in 2018 in the United States. Statistically, about one out of every four people to die in a car crash is killed by a side-impact collision.
If another driver injured you in a side-impact crash, you might be entitled to collect compensation. To learn more about your legal rights and your options for pursuing a claim, call the dedicated Lutherville, Maryland, car crash attorneys at Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP. Our attorneys know what your claim means to you and your family. Contact us at 410-769-5400 to consult with an experienced Lutherville car accident attorney today.
Why Are Side-Impact Crashes So Severe?
Side-impact crashes tend to cause serious injuries and fatalities because when a car is struck on its side, many of the vehicle’s safety features cannot effectively protect the occupants. The fronts and backs of cars are designed to crumple in the event of an impact. The so-called crumple zone slows the vehicles down and reduces the forces involved in the impact. In this way, the people inside of the vehicle are more protected in frontal and rear-end crashes than they are in side-impacts. Additionally, some automobiles now come with side airbags or curtain airbags; these safety features are not in all cars, however. Curtain airbags have been proven to provide some protection in side-impact crashes. Perhaps in the future, all occupants will have this safety feature available to them. For now, many people inside of cars that are struck on their broadside are just inches away from the point of contact.
Modern cars are also larger than they were in the past, which means that the impact now often happens at the head level of the occupants in the car struck on its side. This fact can lead to serious head trauma, brain injuries, and fatal injuries.
Negligence in Side-Impact Crashes in Lutherville, Maryland
Many side-impact crashes are the result of a driver who ran through a red light. Other times a driver blew past a stop sign or continued after stopping but did not have the right-of-way. When a driver violates a traffic law, such as running through a red light, that driver will be considered negligent. When a negligent driver causes your injuries, you can collect compensation from that driver so long as you were not also negligent. In Maryland, even if you were less at fault but still somewhat negligent, you will not be able to collect compensation from the other driver.
How Do I File a Claim?
If you were injured in a side-impact crash in Lutherville, your first step is to contact a Lutherville, Maryland, car accident attorney. Your attorney will first try to negotiate a settlement on your claim. If the negotiations fail to yield favorable results in your case, your attorney will file a complaint and initiate a lawsuit. In the course of the lawsuit, you will engage in a process called discovery. During discovery, both sides have the right to obtain information from the opposing side. In many cases, you, the other driver, witnesses, and others, such as medical professionals, will also sit for depositions. This period of litigation can help the parties come together and settle their differences.
If your case still does not settle, your attorney will take your case to trial. During the trial, your attorney and the opposing counsel will have the opportunity to present their cases in front of the jury. At the end of the trial, the jury will decide on liability and damages. If you succeed in convincing the jury that the other driver was liable, you will be able to collect damages for your medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, and other related losses.
Statute of Limitations in Lutherville, Maryland
Maryland law limits the amount of time that a person has in which to file a lawsuit. The statute of limitations provides three years in which you can file your claim against a negligent driver. If you wait too long, you can no longer collect compensation from the other motorist. Although three years might sound like a long time, it is not a good idea to procrastinate. Your attorney needs to negotiate your claim from a position of strength, and the more time you have to build your case, the better.
Call Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP Today
Contact Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP today at 410-769-5400 to speak to a dedicated Lutherville, Maryland, car crash attorney. Our lawyers have worked for over three decades to represent people injured in car accidents throughout the state. We understand how important it is for you and your family to have a strong legal advocate who can pursue your claim while you focus on healing.
