What To Do If You’ve Been Injured by an Impaired Driver in Maryland

When you’re driving home from a long day at work or on your way out to meet family or friends for dinner, the last thing on your mind is being in a car accident. Unfortunately, accidents are far too common, and accidents caused by impaired drivers claim the lives of more than 10,000 people in the United States every year. If you’ve been injured by an impaired driver in Maryland, our team of experienced Baltimore car accident lawyers is here to fight for the compensation you deserve.

Alcohol-Impaired Driver Statistics

In the state of Maryland, it’s illegal to drive with a blood alcohol level (BAC) at or above 0.08%, yet impaired drivers get behind the wheel millions of times every year. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 1.5% of adult Maryland drivers admitted to driving after drinking too much.

2021 data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) shows that of all fatal crashes that occur at night between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., 49% of deceased drivers had blood alcohol concentrations of approximately .08%. The people killed in crashes involving an impaired driver are more likely to be the impaired drivers themselves, with 8,089 impaired driver fatalities in 2021 compared to a combined 5,295 deaths of occupants of other vehicles, passengers in the impaired driver’s vehicle, and nonoccupants.

Damages Caused by Impaired Drivers

Any car accident can be damaging and deadly, but car accidents due to impaired drivers usually are more catastrophic. The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDoT) Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) lists 6,627 crashes that were caused by impaired drivers in 2017, with 2,088 of those resulting in injuries and 167 resulting in fatalities.

Damages from impaired drivers include but are not limited to:

• Spinal injury
• Traumatic brain injury
• Broken bones
• Bruises and lacerations
• Post-traumatic stress (PTSD)
• Death
• Property or vehicle damage

Maryland Car Accident Liability

Maryland is an at-fault state, meaning that if you’re involved in a car crash, and the other driver caused it, you can pursue a claim against the motorist responsible. Insurance laws in Maryland are designed to ensure appropriate compensation to victims of a car accident, and all drivers are legally required to have a certain minimum amount of liability coverage that pays out in these instances.

However, Maryland also has a rule of contributory negligence, which means that if an injured person is proven to be even 1% at fault for the accident, they cannot recover any damages, even from the person who is the most at fault. There are some exceptions to this, like the last clear chance rule, which allows the injured or least-at-fault person to hold accountable the person most at fault if that person had a last clear opportunity to prevent the crash from happening.

What To Do Immediately After a Car Crash

While the immediate aftermath of a car accident can be traumatizing and hectic, it’s important to follow these steps as best you can so that you receive proper care and get all the information necessary to pursue a case against the impaired driver:

• Get yourself and any passengers to safety if possible
• Call 911
• Get the other driver’s information
• Take pictures or video of the vehicles and the crash site
• Get contact information from any witnesses
• Do not admit fault
• Seek medical attention
• Hire a lawyer

We understand that you might be disoriented or injured after a car accident and may not be able to do all of the things on that list. That’s why contacting our team is one of the best things you can do. We will help you through this process and gather all the information needed to fight for your case.

Compensation for a Car Accident Involving an Impaired Driver

Dealing with injuries and damages after a car accident can be overwhelming, between doctor’s appointments, insurance adjusters, taking time off of work, etc. The last thing you need is to deal with all of this on your own. At Belsky & Horowitz, LLC, we have experience getting our clients compensation for the following:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Mental anguish or post-traumatic stress
• Vehicle repairs or replacement
• Physical therapy
• Funeral and burial costs
• And more

While every case is different, and there is no real way to determine the exact amount of compensation you may receive after being injured by an impaired driver, know that having a lawyer from our team on your side will greatly increase your chances of getting the most compensation possible for your case.

Belsky & Horowitz, LLC—We’re Here to Fight for You!

Each state in the United States has a statute of limitations on any kind of accident, including car accidents, which is why it’s important to start your claim process as quickly as possible. In Maryland, you have three years from the date of a car accident to file a claim.

If you or someone you know was injured or killed due to the recklessness of an impaired driver in Baltimore or anywhere in Maryland, our expert team at Belsky & Horowitz, LLC, is here to help you during this difficult time. Contact us today for a free consultation.