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What to Expect After a DUI?
It’s well known that individuals who get behind the wheel while intoxicated have a very high risk of causing a
collision, harming others and themselves, and causing extensive property damage. While many people do not plan to drive while intoxicated, poor judgment and reckless decisions can easily lead to a DUI arrest. If you’re facing DUI charges, you’ll need to get in touch with a DUI lawyer near Baltimore as soon as possible. Although the evidence against you may seem clear-cut, your DUI attorney can call the integrity of the evidence into question and negotiate with the prosecutor on your behalf.
Getting Arrested
Individuals who are charged with DUI are asked to take one or more field sobriety tests, along with a chemical test. If you refuse to do so, you’ll face administrative penalties, regardless of whether you’re convicted of the charge. You’ll be taken to the police station and processed, which includes taking your photograph and fingerprints. You may be required to remain in jail until you become sober, even if someone pays your bail right away.
Working with Your DUI Lawyer
As soon as you can do so, arrange for legal representation with an attorney who has experience handling DUI cases. Your Baltimore DUI attorney can help you understand what to expect from the legal process and answer any questions you may have. He or she will ensure that your legal rights are safeguarded. Your attorney at law will also investigate your case, evaluate the evidence, and build a strong defense on your behalf. Another benefit of hiring a DUI attorney is that he or she will be with you in court to represent your interests.
Administrative Penalties
In Maryland, your driver’s license can be automatically revoked if you refuse a chemical test. Your license can also be taken away if you do take a chemical test and the results indicate a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher.
Criminal Penalties
The criminal penalties you could be facing upon conviction vary depending on whether you have prior DUI convictions and the circumstances of the arrest, such as your BAC. You might be facing a jail term of 60 days to up to three years. Additionally, your license will be suspended or revoked for a period of time, you’ll be required to pay hefty fines, and you may be required to complete an alcohol abuse program.
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Why You Need an Attorney After a Car Accident
Auto insurance is supposed to protect drivers from unexpected losses in the event of a crash. Unfortunately, insurance representatives frequently offer settlements that are far less than what drivers deserve, since it’s in the best interests of the insurance company to increase profits. This is one major reason why it’s highly advisable to contact an accident attorney in Baltimore shortly after the collision. With a skilled personal injury attorney serving as your advocate and acting as negotiator, you can almost certainly obtain a much higher settlement offer from the insurance company.
Another benefit of working with a personal injury attorney is a reduced chance of settling too early. Your total losses may not be apparent for a while after the crash. Your neck pain may become a chronic injury that requires therapy, for example, and you may need to miss more time than expected at work to recover. An attorney at law will ensure that you receive sufficient compensation to cover your losses. Additionally, in the event that a fair settlement is not forthcoming, your Baltimore personal injury attorney may litigate your case in court.
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Car Accident Injuries: A Guide to Whiplash
One of the most common reasons why individuals visit an accident lawyer in Baltimore is to recover compensation for car crash injuries such as whiplash. Whiplash most commonly develops after a rear-end collision. This injury refers to damage of the soft tissues of the neck, which include the muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Whiplash symptoms may be mild or quite severe, and some car crash victims may require extensive rehabilitation. If you’ve been diagnosed with whiplash or other injuries after a collision, a car accident attorney can help you recover compensation for your losses.
How Whiplash Develops
As soon as a car is rear ended, it is propelled forward abruptly. Within a matter of milliseconds, the acceleration of the car seat forces the torso of the driver forward, followed quickly by the lower neck. However, the head is rotated and is forced backward, which results in hyperextension of the neck tissues . Following this, the head is then abruptly forced forward, which hyperextends the neck. When the neck is hyperextended, the muscles, ligaments, and tendons are forced to stretch beyond their normal capacity, causing tiny tears in the tissues.
Which Symptoms to Watch Out For
Whiplash is unlike most car crash injuries in that the symptoms may not be immediately apparent to victims. Sometimes, a car crash victim will contact the insurance company to file a claim only to find later that he or she has suffered injuries and requires medical treatment. This is why it’s best to work with a car accident attorney in Baltimore right away and to keep your lawyer apprised of all symptoms. The typical symptoms of whiplash include neck pain and stiffness, loss of range of motion, headaches, and dizziness, which may lead to nausea and vomiting. Some whiplash patients suffer from blurry vision, cognition deficits, jaw pain, and numbness or tingling in the upper body. In addition to keeping track of all symptoms, car crash victims should keep track of all their financial losses, such as medical expenses, so that an attorney may demand compensation from the responsible party/parties.
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Understanding the Consequences of a DWI
The consequences of being convicted of drunk driving can affect your life for years to come. However, if you’re working with an attorney at law at a DUI law firm near Baltimore, you’re much less likely to face severe penalties. Your DUI attorney may be able to negotiate a plea deal for you; in some cases, he or she may even have the charges dropped entirely.
The specific consequences for drunk driving in Maryland vary, depending on the circumstances of your case and whether you have a prior history of drunk driving convictions. For example, for a first offense, you could be facing up to two months in jail for a DWI or up to a year behind bars for a DUI. The court can also require you to pay hefty fines and you can expect your auto insurance rates to skyrocket. The judge can order your driver’s license to be suspended for varying amounts of time, depending on prior convictions. The state of Maryland takes drunk driving offenses very seriously and you should, too. By working with a DUI attorney, you have a better chance of a favorable outcome for your case.
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How to Reduce Car Accident Injuries in Children
Vehicle collisions are a leading cause of preventable death among children in the U.S. There are steps you can take to safeguard your children, such as using appropriate car seats and using safe driving habits. Unfortunately, not all car accidents are preventable, given that you cannot control the behavior of other drivers on the road. If your family does become involved in an accident, you can schedule a visit to a car accident law firm in Baltimore. An accident attorney can demand justice on behalf of your family.
Use an Appropriate Car Seat
At a car accident law firm, one of the questions your attorney is likely to ask is whether your child was in an age-appropriate car seat at the time of the crash. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), when infants are placed securely in appropriate car seats, the risk of death in a collision drops by 71 percent. Children up to the age of two should be placed in a rear-facing car seat, while those from age two through five can use a front-facing car seat. Thereafter, children should be placed in a booster seat until they have grown enough to wear a seat belt properly. Remember to check the upper weight and height limits of all car seats and booster seats your children use.
Place Children in Appropriate Areas
Your accident attorney may also ask where your children were seated in the car at the time of the collision. If your children are 12 or younger, they should always be seated in the backseat. Placing young children in a seat with an airbag can increase the risk of death in the event of a crash. Additionally, your attorney at law in Glen Burnie is likely to recommend placing children in the middle of the back seat, since this is the safest spot in the car.
Require Seat Belt Use
Generally, children no longer require a booster seat when they are at least 57 inches tall and seat belts fit them properly. If the seat belt fits properly, the lap belt will lie across the upper thighs, rather than the stomach. The shoulder belt should extend along the chest, rather than the neck. Always check to make sure your children have buckled up before starting your engine.
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Spotting the Symptoms of Whiplash
Individuals who consult an attorney at law in Baltimore often do so because they sustained serious injuries in a car wreck , such as whiplash. Whiplash is a type of soft tissue injury that can become a chronic condition if not treated promptly and properly. And unfortunately, it’s often difficult to quickly diagnose and treat whiplash, given the wide array of symptoms it can cause. When you visit a car accident attorney, be sure to disclose all of your symptoms and discuss the extent to which they interfere with your daily life.
You can hear more about the symptoms of whiplash by watching this interview with an orthopedic specialist. He explains that victims who seek the help of an accident attorney often experience neck pain, stiffness, and reduced range of motion. He also discusses the neurological symptoms that may arise, such as numbness and headaches. Since you may be out of work for a while as you recover, your attorney at law can help you demand fair compensation.
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Exploring Types of Workers’ Compensation Claims
Employers in Maryland are legally required to provide workers’ compensation insurance for their employees. This means that if you’ve suffered an injury or occupational disease during the course of your work, you can seek the help of a workers’ compensation attorney near Baltimore. Your workers’ compensation attorney can help you file a temporary or permanent disability claim.
Temporary Partial Disability
Your lawyer can help you request temporary partial disability benefits if you are not completely disabled and you are expected to recover. This type of workers’ compensation claim may be right for you if you’ve suffered a minor injury or mild occupational disease. During your recovery, you’re expected to perform part-time or limited duties. Since this will reduce your wages, you may be entitled to receive compensation to replace some of your lost income , in addition to compensation for medical expenses related to the health condition. Your workers’ compensation attorney can let you know how much money you may be entitled to.
Temporary Total Disability
If you are expected to recover from your occupational disease or injury, yet you cannot work at all during this time, you can file for temporary total disability benefits. Bear in mind that you will no longer be considered disabled when you return to your job duties in some capacity, even if you haven’t reached your pre-injury level of health. Alternatively, a healthcare provider may determine that you have obtained maximum improvement.
Permanent Partial Disability
Far too often, workers suffer work-related injuries and diseases that permanently disable them to some degree. Filing this type of workers’ compensation claim does not mean that you will receive workers’ compensation benefits for your lifetime. The length of time you’ll receive benefits depends on the severity of the injury and the body part that was injured. For example, you can receive benefits for 100 weeks if you’ve lost your thumb or the use of your thumb.
Permanent Total Disability
If your physician determines that you will never be able to return to work in any capacity as a direct result of the occupational disease or injury, your workers’ comp attorney serving Glen Burnie can help you file a permanent total disability claim. This type of claim is reserved for those who have suffered the most serious of injuries, such as the complete loss of limbs, eyes, hands, or feet.
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Temporary Disabilities and Workers’ Compensation Claims
Employers are legally required to purchase workers’ compensation insurance for most types of employees. This means that if you suffer an injury or illness while on the job, you can file a temporary disability claim with the help of your workers’ compensation attorney near Baltimore. This insurance program is required to pay for all of your medical expenses for the work-related injury or illness. For example, the costs associated with hospitalization, diagnostic tests, therapeutic procedures and surgeries, medications, and therapy sessions will all be covered. Additionally, if you miss work due to your injury, you’re entitled to recover a portion of your lost wages.
Often, however, it can be difficult for employees to file a workers’ compensation claim and receive all the benefits to which they are entitled. This is why it’s a good idea to consult a workers’ compensation attorney. A workers’ compensation attorney can ensure that the paperwork is filled out properly and submitted on time. In the event that you already submitted a claim and it was denied, your attorney at law can appeal the decision to help you receive the compensation you deserve.
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What Back Injuries Are Most Common in Car Accidents?
Millions of car accidents occur in the U.S. each year, causing countless injuries ranging from minor to disabling. One type of car accident injury that has the potential to cause the most damage to the body is an injury to the spine or other structures in the back. Sometimes, a back injury can involve paralysis and permanent disability. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car crash, contact a personal injury lawyer near Baltimore right away. An accident attorney can help you file a permanent disability claim, negotiate with the insurance company, and file a personal injury lawsuit if need be.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries are one of the most serious types of injuries that may be sustained in a car crash. The delicate spinal cord provides the link between the brain and the body. Damage to this bundle of nerves can result in partial or total paralysis, which involves the loss of reflex function, movement, and sensation. Spinal cord injury victims often require extensive medical care for the rest of their lives. They may also be at risk of further complications, such as infections, pneumonia, spinal fluid leaks, and blood clots. A personal injury attorney can demand compensation to provide for a victim’s lifelong medical care.
Herniated Discs
Intervertebral discs play a crucial role in spine health. They are cushion-like structures between the bones of the spine that enable flexibility and provide shock absorption. A disc herniation can occur due to severe trauma, such as trauma from a car crash. When a disc herniation occurs, the material on the inside of the disc becomes displaced through the exterior. The material can compress nerves, causing symptoms such as pain.
Lumbar Spine Injuries
The lumbar spine, or lower back, includes the largest vertebrae and is responsible for stabilizing the back. In addition to disc herniation, lumbar spine injuries may include a sprain, or damage to the ligaments, or a strain, which refers to damage to tendons or muscles.
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How to Avoid a Rear End Collision
Injuries caused by rear end collisions can lead to significant medical bills, both for the driver at fault and the individual whose car was struck. Although a car accident attorney located in Anne Arundel can help you obtain compensation for these losses, it’s definitely a good idea to reduce your risk of a collision altogether. If you’re being followed too closely, an attorney at law would likely recommend changing lanes, if possible, or pulling over to allow the aggressive driver to pass.
For more tips on rear end collisions, watch this video or consult a car accident attorney. This video explains a study that demonstrates that drivers tend to ignore how closely they are following the vehicles in front of them. They also tend to follow at the same distance regardless of speed. However, it’s critical to leave at least one car length of space for every 10 miles per hour. If you’re involved in a rear end collision despite using these safety tips, contact a car accident attorney for help.
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