Randallstown Car Accident Lawyers
If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident that resulted in serious injury and damage, contact our Randallstown car accident lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton. To schedule a free, confidential consultation, call 800-547-4LAW (4529) or contact us online.
Randallstown is a busy suburb of Baltimore where a variety of accidents and personal injuries are an unfortunate reality. Car accidents can happen unexpectedly to even the most responsible drivers, especially if another motorist is guilty of reckless, distracted, or drowsy driving, or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Our dedicated Randallstown car accident lawyers fight to recover compensation for injuries and damages their clients suffered as the result of an accident.
Our experienced attorneys have a track record of winning favorable settlements and verdicts, with a reputation for personal attention to each individual client and case. We represent clients in a range of practice areas, including:
- Bankruptcy
- Bus Accidents
- Car Accidents
- Criminal and DUI Defense
- Medical Malpractice
- Personal Injury
- Rideshare Accidents
- Trucking Accidents
- Social Security Disability
- Workers’ Compensation
What Steps Should I Take After a Car Accident?
Being involved in a car accident can be a stressful and overwhelming experience, especially if there are significant injuries and damages involved. Understanding the proper steps to take after a car accident can help protect your safety, health, and legal rights. Take the following steps after being involved a car accident:
- Report the accident: Regardless of how serious you believe the car accident and any related injuries are at the time, call 911 or local law enforcement immediately after a car accident. You should never leave the scene of the accident before the police arrive to take a report.
- Seek medical assistance: Get immediate medical attention following a car accident. Have emergency medical responders assess your injuries at the scene of the accident, and allow them to transport you to the closest hospital if further treatment is needed. If there are no responders at the scene, be sure to get yourself examined by a medical professional as soon as possible after the accident.
- Exchange information: Make sure to get important information from any other parties involved in the accident, including names, phone numbers, driver’s license numbers, license plate numbers, and insurance information. This is especially important if the police do not respond to the scene and take a report. A car accident lawyer can help you obtain all necessary information if you are unable to at the time of the accident.
- Speak to witnesses: If there were any eyewitnesses to the car accident, get their contact information so that your attorney can reach out to them at a later date. It is always a good idea to get all possible information from anyone present at the scene of the car accident, as it is more difficult to do so after the fact.
- Collect evidence: Try to take pictures of the accident site, including damage to the vehicles involved, any skid markings, hazards on the road, traffic signs and signals, and weather conditions. This information can help with the claims process and any future legal proceedings.
- Notify your insurance company: Contact your auto insurance company as soon as possible after a car accident. If another party’s insurance company or attorney attempts to contact you, do not to speak with them or provide any information about the accident. Doing so can jeopardize your claims.
- Call an experienced car accident lawyer: Hiring a skilled car accident lawyer will ensure that your rights are protected, your case goes smoothly, and that the maximum compensation is recovered for the injuries and damages you sustained as a result of the accident.
What Are Different Types of Car Accidents?
Car accidents can range from minor fender benders to pileups involving several vehicles. There are a number of different types of car accidents, including:
- Hit and runs: In a hit and run accident, at least one of the parties involved leaves the scene during or immediately after the collision. Leaving the scene of an accident is against the law, and can lead to criminal charges.
- Rear-end accidents: These are one of the most common types of accidents, and are usually the result of a driver not being focused on the road. Rear-end accidents can occur when one driver is at red light or stop sign and the driver behind fails to stop in time. Some rear-end accidents are the result of drivers failing to look before merging or changing lanes.
- Multi-vehicle accidents: Accidents involving several vehicles can not only cause severe injuries, but are often a legal and liability challenge. Multi-vehicle pileups typically happen when there is a chain reaction on highly congested roads, resulting in complex liability issues and multiple claims to manage.
- Sideswipe accidents: Sideswipes accidents are often the result of one driver not seeing another in their blind spot, and typically occur when drivers are merging or changing lanes. Injuries caused by these kinds of accidents can range from minor to fatal, especially in situations where a car is forced into oncoming traffic.
- T-bone accidents: These accidents usually happen at a right-angle, when one driver runs through a traffic signal or stop sign and impacts another vehicle entering the intersection. Occupants in the vehicle that sustains the force of impact are the most vulnerable to severe injuries.
What are Common Car Accident Injuries?
Car accident injuries can range in severity depending on the circumstances and type of accident. Common injuries that can be incurred in a car accident include:
- Broken bones and fractures
- Burns and scaring
- Cuts and lacerations
- Internal organ damage
- Head trauma
- Muscle sprains and strains
- Soft tissue injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
What are Common Causes of Car Accidents?
There are many possible causes of car accidents, some of which involve conditions that are out of a driver’s control. However, the majority of accidents are caused by irresponsible driving behaviors.
The following are common causes of car accidents:
- Distracted driving: Distracted driving occurs when a driver’s focus and attention is away from the road. The most common distraction these days involves activities on smartphones, leading many states to make it illegal to text and drive. Other forms of distracted driving include eating while driving, talking to passengers in the backseat, adjusting music, and grooming in the mirror.
- Aggressive driving: Driving aggressively is one most dangerous types of driving behaviors, as well as one of the most common causes for devasting crashes. Examples of aggressive driving include weaving in and out of traffic, taking sharp turns, tailgating, sudden braking and exiting parking lots at a high speed. Aggressive driving is also called “road rage.”
- Drowsy driving: Driving while fatigue is commonly seen in truck drivers working long hours with little rest, although all drivers can get sleepy and pose serious risks on the road. People who drive professionally, late at night, or early in the morning are more likely to be tired and cause a drowsy driving accident.
- Driving under the influence: Also known as impaired driving, this nationwide problem has become a leading cause of car crashes with fatal injuries. Consumption of alcohol and drugs impacts a driver’s judgement and reaction time, which can result in the most devastating impacts and injuries. A high percentage of accidents caused by driving under the influence involve teen and young drivers.
- Speeding: Speeding is a dangerous practice and top cause of the most serious car accidents. When drivers travel above the speed limit, they reduce their ability to control their vehicles and stop in time to avoid a high impact crash. situation. It also limits a vehicle’s ability to stop in time, even if the driver reacts properly. Speeding is a reckless behavior in all kinds of drivers, but is especially dangerous in those who drive large commercial trucks.
- Weather and road conditions: Inclement weather such as rain, snow, and icy conditions can result in slippery roads and poor visibility for drivers, causing a variety of kinds of accidents. Motorists should pay attention to traffic and weather reports when determining when or if it is safe to drive.
- Product defects: Sometimes a defect in the manufacturing of a vehicle, or a faulty part, is the cause of an accident. In these cases, liability for the accident and injuries rests with the auto manufacturer or car repair shop.
Randallstown Car Accident Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton Work Vigorously to Secure the Best Possible Outcomes
If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident that resulted in serious injury and damage, contact our Randallstown car accident lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton. To schedule a free, confidential consultation, call 800-547-4LAW (4529) or contact us online.
With offices located in Baltimore, Columbia, Glen Burnie, Owings Mills, and Towson, we serve clients throughout Maryland, including those in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, Howard, Montgomery counties, Maryland’s Western Counties, 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, Severn, and Elkridge.