When to Hire a Personal Injury Attorney
Whether you live, work or commute in Baltimore, Gaithersburg, Annapolis or the Washington, D.C., area, there are hundreds of motor vehicle collisions that take place every week throughout our geographic area. As automobile and commercial trucking accident lawyers, we know that being involved in most any serious traffic accident can be a traumatic and emotionally draining experience. This is why the legal team at Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers, believes that victims face enough uncertainties than to be saddled with the added worry of having to foot the entire bill for an auto accident that wasn’t their fault.
When a car, truck or motorcycle crash happens through no fault of your own, the medical and therapeutic treatment for the resulting physical and emotional injuries should not be the burden of the victim, but rather the responsibility of the driver or other party who caused the collision in the first place. Whether an accident involves a simple rear-end crash, a terrifying side-swipe beltway incident or a T-bone collision at an urban intersection, our personal injury experts are ready to provide legal assistance in filing an injury claim.
When it comes to personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits, victims and their families can often benefit from the guidance of an experienced Maryland trial lawyer skilled in auto accident and insurance law. The potential complexity of car and trucking-related injury accident claims in areas such as the District of Columbia will often necessitate the services of a personal injury attorney who has extensive knowledge of the legal statutes in both Maryland and Washington, D.C.
Because of the multitude of potential legal issues involved in any traffic-related personal injury lawsuit, the correct and proper interpretation of the applicable laws is important to the success of any case. Having an experienced legal advocate on one’s side is important not only when understanding one’s options following an automobile wreck, but also as one’s case progresses through the legal system. There are also some instances where the thoroughness of preparation on a plaintiff’s case can encourage the defense to settle out-of-court and therefore preclude a possibly lengthy court battle.
The damages pursued following a serious road accident can include those applying to property loss, medical expenses, rehabilitation costs and lost wages due to the inability of the victim to work or perform his job sufficiently well. In accidents involving an insured motorist, victims generally must deal with an insurance carrier, whose employees (insurance adjusters) have a goal to settle any claim with the least amount of cost to their company. Obviously, this approach generally does not benefit a claimant who has suffered significant physical injury and emotional harm.
It is important to understand that without the assistance of a skilled auto accident injury lawyer, the pace and direction of the case will be influenced almost entirely by the insurance adjuster; and the chances that such a scenario will end in favor of the traffic accident victim are very low indeed. On the other hand, having a car accident attorney working on one’s behalf means that the settlement process will be less lopsided. At Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers, we work hard to level the playing field for our clients.
Deciding whether or not to hire a personal injury lawyer can be a big question that looms in the mind of almost any accident auto victim. Certainly, in the case of a bad roadway collision, if a person believes that he or she was not at fault, then there is almost no reason not to at least contact an attorney to find out what your rights are. Many law firms, ours included, offer a free no-obligation consultation to help victims understand their options and to decide if their case is strong enough to merit filing a personal injury lawsuit.
It is important to remember that even if a victim of a serious car or trucking-related crash was not at all at fault, there is no real guarantee that his or her accident-related medical expenses will be covered by the other motorist’s auto insurance carrier. In fact, even if an insurance company decides to pay on a claim, there is no guarantee that the victim will be justly compensated for his or her total costs due to the accident. Again, insurance companies, their claims adjusters and their legal teams are all very experienced in the methods used to minimize settlements claims.
When considering whether or not to retain the services of a Maryland personal injury attorney, it is highly advisable in those cases where the victim(s) sustained serious injuries that may lead to potentially long-term physical or cognitive problems. Another instance where hiring a qualified auto injury attorney can be critical is when the accident was caused by a driver who is either uninsured or underinsured. This is especially true in cases where the other motorist strongly disputes your claim that they were at fault.
Another red flag for those who believe they can go it alone and deal directly with an insurance claims adjuster, is when the victim(s) feel that the adjuster is putting more and more pressure on them to agree to a quick settlement. Quick settlements, especially when they are on the insurance company’s terms, are rarely fair from the standpoint of the victim; avoid being pressured into making a rash decision and contact an experienced automobile accident lawyer.
Another situation where contacting a personal injury lawyer is a good decision is when an accident victim feels he has not been fully compensated for his current and future medical costs. At Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers, we remind potential clients that future medical expenses are just as important, if not more so, than the ones already incurred. Chronic conditions caused by a bad roadway collision, as well as the possible long-term care needed to enjoy a full life, are always something to consider when filing a personal injury claim.
Finally, bringing in a skilled lawyer to represent you as an automobile or trucking accident victim is crucial in cases where there is a risk of the statute of limitations coming into play and precluding a settlement claim that the victim is pursuing on his own. There are more than enough important reasons to contact a qualified attorney, but few good reasons not to.
For Maryland motorists who have been involved in a serious injury accident, the legal team at Lebowitz & Mzhen will review the facts of the case and help you to understand the process of filing a personal injury claim and the possible outcomes that may be anticipated based on various factors. A courtroom trial can be lengthy affair, but in some instances where the victim has a preponderance of evidence on his side, the defendant may opt for an out-of-court settlement versus a long and drawn-out legal proceeding.
Our legal staff is ready to help. At Lebowitz & Mzhen, we feel that there is little reason why a wronged and injured party should bear the tremendous weight of medical expenses and other costs brought about by another person due to their carelessness or outright disregard for the safety of others around them. The responsible party(s) should be held accountable and made to shoulder the burden of the victim’s medical and other expenses. Contact us at (800) 654-1949 for a free, no-obligation consultation; or email either Jack Lebowitz or Vadim Mzhen to arrange for an appointment to discuss your car, truck or motorcycle injury case.