Car Accident Lawyers in College Park
No one plans on getting into a car accident when they drive to work, school, or to meet friends out for dinner. Yet, there are approximately 16 million car accidents in the United States each year. In Maryland alone, close to 51,000 people were injured in car accidents in 2016. Fortunately, most car accidents are minor and result in little to no injuries. While you cannot control how other people drive, or other factors like inclement weather, you can make safe, responsible decisions every time you are behind the wheel.
Common Causes of Car Accidents
Car accidents are caused by a wide range of factors, including human error, poor road conditions, and debris on the road. The following are examples of the most common causes of car accidents:
- Distracted Driving
- Drowsy Driving
- Drunk Driving
- Poor Weather Conditions
- Reckless Driving
- Speeding
- Tailgating
- Tire Blowouts
Types of Car Accidents
While most car accidents tend to be relatively minor, others can cause major property damage and severe injuries. The following are examples of common types of car accidents:
- Rear-End Collisions: In most cases, these accidents cause minimal property damage and minor injuries. However, a common injury in rear-end collisions is whiplash, which can be quite painful if not properly treated.
- Low Speed Accidents: These accidents typically occur in parking lots, or other areas where the car is travelling below 10 miles per hour. Injuries are unlikely, unless the vehicle hit a pedestrian or a cyclist, in which case it can cause serious injuries.
- Single Vehicle Accidents: When a single driver loses control of the vehicle, injuries and property damage can be significant, particularly if the driver hits a tree, building, or guardrail.
- Sideswipe Accidents: These accidents occur when one car merges into traffic or changes lanes without looking and is hit by another vehicle.
- T-Bone or Cross Traffic Accident: These are often caused by one driver who fails to yield to oncoming traffic, or runs a stop sign or red light.
Common Car Accident Injuries
Safety technology has come a long way in recent years, making today’s cars safer than ever. However, safety features cannot prevent an individual from driving drunk, or from texting while driving. Unfortunately, accidents continue to occur, causing a range of injuries from minor scrapes and bruises to broken bones and head injuries. The following are examples of the most common car accident injuries:
- Arm injuries: Common arm injuries include cuts, lacerations, bruising, and broken bones.
- Back injuries: Damage to the spinal cord can cause nerve damage, chronic pain, muscle weakness, and in severe cases, paralysis.
- Chest injuries: Blunt force trauma to the chest can cause broken ribs, organ damage, and abdominal injuries.
- Head injuries: These can range from mild concussions to traumatic brain injuries, which require long-term medical care.
- Leg injuries: These also involve broken bones, cuts, and bruising. In extreme cases, the injury may result in a severed limb.
- Neck injuries: Whiplash is one of the most common neck injuries, but other, more serious neck injuries can be debilitating.
If you are involved in a car accident, try to remain calm, particularly if you or anyone else involved in the accident has been injured. Knowing the rights steps to take after an accident can make the situation far less stressful than it needs to be. Keep the following tips in mind:
- Move to a safe area
- Check on the other drivers involved
- Call 911 to report the accident
- Collect evidence by taking pictures of the accident scene
- Exchange insurance information with the other drivers involved
- Obtain medical attention, even if you sustained minor injuries
- Notify your insurance company
College Park Car Accident Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton Seek Compensation for Car Accident Victims
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, contact the car accident lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton as soon as possible. Whether the accident was minor or severe, and involved serious injuries and property damage, we will protect your rights and guide you through the claims process. We are committed to securing the maximum financial compensation you deserve for your injuries. To set up a free consultation, call us today at 800-547-4LAW (4529) or contact us online.
Our offices are located in Baltimore, Columbia, Glen Burnie, and Towson, allowing us to represent injured victims in Maryland, including those in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Maryland’s Western Counties, Prince George’s County, Queen Anne’s County, Southern Maryland, and the Eastern Shore, as well as the communities of Catonsville, Essex, Halethorpe, Middle River, Rosedale, Gwynn Oak, Brooklandville, Dundalk, Pikesville, Nottingham, Windsor Mill, Lutherville, Timonium, Sparrows Point, Ridgewood, and Elkridge.