If you’ve been injured in a serious accident in Rockville, Maryland and believe the incident could have or should have been prevented, you may be wondering if you have any possible legal options. It’s a simple fact that it can be difficult to navigate the legal system in the U.S. At Belsky & Horowitz, LLC, our Rockville personal injury lawyer understands how overwhelming it can be to handle a claim for an accident you didn’t cause while trying to recover from your injuries. That’s why we’re here to provide you with the legal guidance and support you need to move forward.
Our firm has been representing Maryland citizens and fighting for their rights for years. We’re aware of how a personal injury can cause a lot of turmoil in someone’s life. When a personal injury has happened to you or a loved one, you don’t have to handle everything on your own. We can help alleviate the burden of the pain a personal injury causes as we fight for you to recover fair compensation.
The Challenges of Seeking Reliable Legal Representation
Choosing the right lawyer for your personal injury claim can be a complex process. While making a list of prospects is often the easiest part to do with a quick Google search, choosing the wrong lawyer can end up costing you a significant amount of time and money. You’ll want to conduct interviews with the attorneys you like the best and proceed from there. It’s a good idea to compile a list of questions. Their answers will likely help you decide your best option and you won’t feel overwhelmed during the meeting. You could ask questions like:
- What experience do you have working with clients in similar situations?
- What are your credentials?
- How do you go about achieving a successful outcome for your clients?
- How does payment work?
- Do you have any questions for me?
The questions above will give you an idea of what the lawyers are like. Based on their responses, your gut feeling, and who you like and trust the most, you’ll be able to narrow down your options and choose the right law firm for your needs.
It may also help you to know the signs of a reliable lawyer. As you meet with potential representation, look for the following:
- Prompt communication. A lawyer who gets back to you to answer questions will likely communicate in this way with you in the future. Not returning calls or emails is a sign that you may need to continue your search.
- Respects deadlines. A lawyer that is late for meetings or appointments may not meet certain deadlines that are important for your case. Look for a lawyer who is on time and prepared.
- Organized office. Look at the environment your lawyer works in. You can rely on an organized and neat lawyer to keep your important case documents together. Going through the legal process can cause stress. You don’t want to have to wonder if you can rely on your lawyer to keep your case organized.
- Avoids legal jargon. While legal terms may arise in your discussion, a lawyer who uses legal jargon and doesn’t explain things to you will likely do this if you proceed to hire them.
- Doesn’t guarantee results outright. An experienced lawyer won’t guarantee results from the start—they haven’t taken a look into your case and don’t have the full picture. Be wary of lawyers who promise results without knowing the details of what happened to you.
You deserve to have dependable representation. When you have a Rockville personal injury lawyer by your side, you won’t have to worry about communication and organization. We realize how going through the legal process after you’ve been injured in an accident can be overwhelming. We’ll do what we can to ease that burden off your shoulders.
Maryland Personal Injury Law Basics
Our law firm handles cases in all areas of personal injury law in Maryland, but the most common types of cases we represent clients for include the following:
- Car accidents. Car accidents happen when drivers look at their phones, go above the speed limit, or are closely following the vehicle in front of them. If a negligent driver caused an accident that harmed you, our lawyers can help you seek justice.
- Truck accidents. These accidents can cause devastating injuries that can affect you for the rest of your life. You deserve to get fair compensation for your injuries.
- Medical malpractice. Negligent medical professionals can cause irreparable harm to their patients when they make mistakes. Our team will hold negligent physicians accountable for their actions.
- Premises liability. Safety hazards on premises can result in serious injuries. The negligent party that didn’t take care of or warn others about the safety hazard may be held accountable.
- Product liability. When a product is hazardous, it can cause serious injuries to anyone who uses it. Auto parts, medication, and household appliances are a few examples of potentially harmful products.
- Nursing home abuse and neglect. When your loved one isn’t getting the care they deserve in their nursing home, you can get justice for your loved one.
- Wrongful death. If you’ve lost a loved one because of the negligent actions of others, our lawyers can help you stand up for your loved one. We’ll investigate how the other party acted negligently and will fight for you and your family to receive the peace of mind you deserve so you can grieve for your loved one.
Even if you don’t see your particular case above, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our attorneys today. Negligence can take many forms and result in a number of accidents. We may be able to help.
If you’re planning on filing a personal injury claim or are in the midst of a case, it’s crucial to understand the state laws that might apply to your case. While we’ll go over the basics, your personal injury attorney will be able to discuss the laws in significant detail, so you always feel in the loop.
One of the most critical laws to be aware of is the statute of limitations, which is the amount of time you have to file your lawsuit and go to court after an accident. In most cases, you’ll have three years after the accident date to take action; however, there are situations where you may have longer. Your attorney will know how long you have based on the circumstances surrounding your accident.
It’s also important to understand the shared fault rules. It’s not uncommon for the opposing party of your claim to argue that you share blame for what occurred. In the event it is discovered that both parties played a role in the accident, Maryland courts apply a rule called contributory negligence. This means that the injured person will not be able to collect damages from the other at-fault party, no matter how low the percentage of fault. Being prepared for this type of argument is crucial to filing a successful claim.
When it comes to collecting damages for personal injury cases, you may be eligible for economic and noneconomic awards. While economic awards refer to things that can be calculated like medical bills or lost wages, noneconomic awards refer to areas of loss like pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment. In Maryland, noneconomic damages are capped in certain circumstances. Your lawyer will be able to tell you if the caps apply to your case.
The Consequences of a Personal Injury
If you were involved in a motor vehicle accident, were harmed because of a defective product, slipped and fell on a sidewalk, or other reasons that can be caused by negligence, you may have received significant injuries. Some examples of severe injuries include:
- Head and brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Burn injuries
- Broken bones
- Sprains and strains
- Internal organ damage
- Loss of limb
- Permanent disability
- Disfigurement
Injury severity can range from being able to visit the doctor on your own to needing to stay in the hospital for a period of time. Even if your injuries are considered minor, they could still have an effect on your life. After your accident and you’ve received treatment, you may have an idea of the extent of your injuries and how long it will take to heal. This can include measures like needing to stay home from work, going to physical therapy, or taking a prescription medication. Eventually, your medical expenses will include the visits to your doctor and being able to afford the treatment.
For some, this can be difficult, especially if you’re missing work. Affording care while staying on top of other financial responsibilities without a consistent paycheck can cause stress. You may be in a situation where you feel like you have to choose between your medical care and food. With our Rockville personal injury attorney at your side, we’ll fight for you to receive maximum compensation for your injuries and losses. When you have this security, you won’t be faced with decisions like this in the future. You can continue to provide for yourself, your family, and receive the care you need until you’ve recovered.
However, a full recovery may not be an option for some. If an injury is catastrophic and results in losing an arm or losing function in your legs, then this injury is going to affect you for the rest of your life. Suffering a catastrophic injury can completely change everything. Taking medication and using medical equipment may be necessary to maintain a high quality of life. You may be unable to work, participate in activities you used to enjoy, and will need to adjust to living with this injury. While there will likely still be a recovery period, it will only reach a certain point.
As you’re finding your new normal, you may find that tasks you didn’t think about before the accident now require all your effort. This could include preparing food, performing daily hygienic tasks, or getting dressed. When a catastrophic injury occurs, the medical expenses and pain and suffering can both be extremely high. You may wonder how you’re going to maintain a living in addition to your medical care. That’s where our Rockville personal injury attorney comes in.
When someone else’s negligence results in a catastrophic injury, your accident should never have happened in the first place. The responsibility of fixing those injuries shouldn’t fall solely on you. While you can take measures to ensure your future by contacting a personal injury attorney, we can take care of the legal proceedings so you can work on adjusting to living with the injury.
Rockville: One of Maryland’s Oldest Cities
Dating back to Colonial America, Rockville was a small community of only a few families, a tavern, a courthouse, and a jail. It was known originally known as Hungerford’s Tavern—which was the name of the area’s most popular business and landmark. In 1801, the Maryland General Assembly officially named the area Rockville because of its proximity to Rock Creek. The population grew steadily in the latter half of the 19th century, and Rockville became incorporated in 1860.
In 1873, the Rockville depot on the Metropolitan Branch of the B&O Railroad put the area in closer contact with the growing District of Columbia. The city’s growth, however, slowed until the 1950s with the increase in suburban residential developments. Today, there are over 60,000 residents in Rockville and future growth is expected.
There are a number of attractions, dining options, and events and festivals to attend in Rockville all year. History buffs can check out the Josiah Henson Park or the Glenview Mansion. There are also a number of breweries to visit. Families can participate in annual events like the Lunar New Year Celebration or the Hometown Holidays Music Fest. The city really comes to life in the summer with farmers’ markets, Movies in the Park, and holiday celebrations for Memorial Day and Independence Day.
While Rockville has a rich history and offers a lot to the people who live here, there may be a time when negligence or recklessness causes a severe personal injury. It’s in times like that where you need a dependable Rockville personal injury lawyer at your side.
The Advantages of Having a Personal Injury Lawyer
When you’ve been injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault and you seek compensation, it’s important to have someone well-versed in personal injury law on your side. Personal injury cases can be complex and you want to make sure that you’re not doing anything that could potentially affect your claim.
After an accident occurs, you may find that the insurance company is already trying to get in touch with you. Insurance adjusters usually facilitate this communication. An insurance adjuster may try to prompt you to make an official statement about the accident and your injuries. This may not be the best idea because you may not know everything about your injuries and the treatment you’ll need. You cannot provide them with accurate information. If you tell them about your injuries when you don’t know their extent and later seek compensation for more severe injuries, they could question why you didn’t mention them in the earlier statement.
An insurance adjuster could offer an early settlement amount. This may seem like a good idea because you’ll receive the settlement, can begin paying for your medical bills, and start to move forward without going through the legal claims process. However, it’s important to remember that the adjuster may not offer you maximum compensation. It’s more likely the settlement could be for less than you deserve because the adjuster is working for the insurance company’s benefit. That’s why it’s essential to have representation looking out for your best interests.
With a Rockville personal injury lawyer as representation, we’ll fight for you to receive full compensation. This will give you the financial security you need to afford the expenses of the injury in the future. You won’t have to worry about getting an unfavorable compensation amount. Our lawyers can give the insurance company the necessary information without putting your claim at risk.
In addition to fighting for you, we can explain the legal process to you and answer your questions about what to expect. Whether it’s the process of gathering what you need for your claim or how long each step may take, we’ll make sure you’re aware of the status of your claim.
If your case goes to court, our lawyers can help. We have years of experience fighting for our clients in a courtroom. We’ll explain how the proceedings will go so you’re familiar with the process before it starts. Our lawyers will fiercely advocate for you to receive full and fair compensation.
Get Help From Belsky & Horowitz, LLC
While we may be located in Baltimore, we’re dedicated to helping all of Maryland’s citizens when they need it most. Rockville citizens deserve to know there are people they can turn to when they’ve suffered because of the negligent actions of another. We understand how difficult it can be to find a legal team willing to take on your case and help you recover what you’ve lost.
Our Rockville personal injury lawyers have years of experience in a significant number of practice areas and will not shy away from complicated cases. Our attorneys have seen how negligence can leave people with devastating injuries, expensive hospital bills, and need someone to fight for them. We’re proud to help Maryland accident victims and defend their rights to fair compensation.
If you or a loved one has suffered from a personal injury accident, you do have legal options. Our attorneys will go over your case in a free consultation so we can discuss how you can proceed. We’ll help you find the right way forward that protects your best interests. You can have peace of mind that our representatives are fighting for you and you alone. We’ll seek to hold the liable party accountable for their actions and for you to get justice.
