Baltimore Intersection Accident Lawyer

The main question asked after an intersection accident is who’s at fault and is possible to file a claim. The first step for you is to connect with Dubo Law, one of the best car accident attorneys in Maryland. Dubo team handled thousands of intersection crash personal claims and will secure you the proper amount for medical expenses, lost income and property damage costs. Some intersections can be big and involve multiple vehicles, especially during rush hours, so these cases can get complicated. Dubo is here to deal with all legal technicalities. Call us today at (443) 275-6345 for a free case evaluation!

(443) 275-6345

Proving Fault in Intersections Accidents in Maryland

With many vehicles and other traffic participants at intersections, it is sometimes difficult to determine who is to blame for the accident. The first step to prove the liability in an intersection accident is to check who stopped first and who had the right of way. For example, the driver was turning right, and the other driver was going straight through an intersection. The driver turning right has the right of way, which means that he wouldn’t be held liable for the accidents. If both drivers were going straight, they would share the fault if an accident occurs.

Speeding has a major role here too since it can prevent drivers from stopping on time thus causing a collision. So, another way to prove the liability may be by looking at who had more time to stop before the crash. The three most important things in determining the liability in an intersection accident are to evince negligence, duty, and fault of a responsible driver.

Intersection Accidents: Who is At Fault?

When proving the liability in an intersection accident in Maryland, both drivers and traffic defects may be at fault. In most cases, the at-fault driver failed to follow traffic rules, and this includes:

• Negligent or distracted driving – texting, talking, grabbing snacks or water, changing radio stations, etc.
• Speeding and aggressive driving
• DUI – Driving under drug and alcohol influence
• Making illegal left-turn or failing to yield the right of way by making the left-turn
• Failing to obey signs and traffic lights

In some cases, the driver is not held liable for an accident but for some other elements which you can’t really control. If there is a road malfunction, the agency that does the maintenance and design will be liable for the crash. Those included the following:

• Faulty roadway design
• Lack of road maintenance
• Malfunctioning traffic signals, lights, and downed signs
• Foliage or walls which obstruct drivers from seeing the road properly
• Other reasons include weather conditions such as snowstorms, heavy rain, hail, and vehicle defect like some mechanical issues.

Maryland Car Accident Laws

Maryland strictly follows a contributory negligence rule which means that if the driver was even 1% at fault for the accident, he/she won’t be entitled to any compensation. So, it is crucial to prove that the other driver was 100% responsible for the accident, so you can recoup losses such as medical expenses and lost income. In cases where the fault isn’t that obvious the wisest thing to do is let a car accident attorney handle all legalities for you. The attorney’s job is to reconstruct the scene, gather evidence, and collect all reports, receipts, and necessary documents.

Another important rule to consider is the Statute of Limitations in Maryland. It is the period of time in which you have the right to file a claim and seek compensation for damages. In Maryland the limitation is three years from the moment of an accident. It is important to meet this deadline because failing to do so you’ll be banned from asking for compensation ever again. There are few exceptions to this rule which involve minors, wrongful death claims and mentally incapacitated drivers.

• Minors have time until they become legal adults
• For wrongful death claims the clock starts ticking from the date and time of death
• If a person was mentally incapacitated at the time of an accident, the claim can be filed from the moment the person becomes mentally comprehensible again

Follow this link for more information on Maryland car accident laws.

Damages in an Intersection Crashes

Damages can be both economic and non-economic. Economic damages are easy to calculate since they can be evidenced by doctor’s reports, receipts, employer statements on patients’ wages, etc. These include:

• Medical expenses
• Medical checkups, tests, and hospital stay
• If a person’s injury resulted in a certain disability – physical therapy and health care assistance
• Lost wages for current and future income
• Mechanic repairs and possible replacement or rental of the vehicle

Non-economic damages are stress, pain and suffering and destroyed quality of life. It is very inconvenient to put a price tag on how much someone suffered after some traumatic accident. That many people develop PTD (Post Traumatic Disorder) which enables them to function properly daily.

The jury will decide on non-economic damage compensation, but a personal injury lawyer will play the major role. Attorneys use various strategies to prove that someone’s quality of life is ruined. Family, friends, and colleagues may be crucial in this fight since they can state how a person’s life and behavior changed after the accident.

Things To Do After an Intersection Accident

• If it is possible and you don’t have any major injuries, step slowly out of the vehicle and check for any injured parties.
• If there are any injured drivers or passengers, call an ambulance.
• Call the police in case someone is badly injured or there was great property damage. Otherwise, the police can choose not to go to the scene. You should file the report at the station in the next 24 hours.
• Gather evidence such as photos, videos, witness statements, etc. This can benefit you in case you’re filing a compensation claim.
• Exchange personal and insurance information with other parties

Possible Injuries in Intersection Accidents

Intersection accidents involve multiple vehicles but also other participants such as cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists so in case of an accident, multiple injuries may be present too. Some of the common injuries include whiplash, head injury, broken and fractured bones, bruises, and internal trauma. The severity of an accident dictates the severity of injuries. Usually, fatal accidents with death outcome involve speeding or aggressive driving since the vehicles are more likely to turn upside down.