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.

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.

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.

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.

It’s easy to panic and forget important steps, even if you’ve been in an auto accident before. Unfortunately, making mistakes after a car collision may jeopardize your claim. One way to make sure your legal rights are protected is by working with a car accident attorney . An accident attorney in Burnie can help you learn about the steps you need to take, such as exchanging the right information with the other driver. Then, the car accident law firm can contact the insurance company and handle the claim for you.

Ignore the Accident

After a collision, one of the most important things you need to remember is that it’s illegal to leave the scene of an accident, even if it seems like a minor fender bender. It’s your responsibility to pull over and check to see if anybody is injured.

Make a Verbal Agreement

Many people try to handle arrangements with the other driver themselves, rather than call the authorities and work with an accident attorney. This is never a wise decision because making a “gentleman’s agreement” does not protect your legal rights. For example, there is always the possibility that the other driver doesn’t even have insurance. You should always call the police after a car collision and insist on filing a police report. Your accident attorney in Baltimore will use the police report, along with any other evidence, to substantiate your claim.

Give Away Too Much Information

It’s necessary to speak with the other driver to exchange certain information. For example, you’ll need to obtain the driver’s name, contact information, driver’s license number, VIN, make and model, and insurance information. You’ll also need to obtain the names and contact information of any witnesses, take photos of the damage and the scene, and document any injuries. However, when speaking with the other party, many drivers make the mistake of talking too much. Never apologize for the crash or make any other statements that could indicate fault on your part.

Handle the Claim Yourself

Another mistake many drivers make is to try to handle the insurance claim themselves. It’s a safe bet that the insurance company won’t offer you just compensation. You need the help of an experienced negotiator on your side. A car accident attorney can help you obtain the money you need to cover your losses.

If you’re like many people, you may be tempted to accept the first offer you get from the insurance company so that you can pay your medical bills, repair the damage to your vehicle, and move on with your life as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to move forward when the insurance company hasn’t offered you fair compensation. This is one reason why it’s essential to work with an accident attorney following a collision.

A car accident attorney will review your case during the initial consultation. The attorney at law will ask you questions about how the crash occurred and offer you a general assessment of the strength of your case. Once you hire the accident attorney in Baltimore, he or she can thoroughly investigate the matter and use any evidence to negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf. In the event that the insurance company still does not offer just compensation, your lawyer can represent your interests in the courtroom.

Handling an auto accident is never easy. It’s best to work with an experienced accident attorney, particularly if you have suffered from auto accident injuries . An attorney at law can safeguard your legal rights and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf to obtain maximum compensation.

As you’ll learn by watching this video, one way in which an accident attorney can assist you is by investigating the incident thoroughly. Collisions are often chaotic scenes and it’s common for important details to be omitted from police reports. An accident attorney in Baltimore can obtain additional statements from the involved parties and interview witnesses. This information can be critical in determining liability for the collision and obtaining compensation for your losses.

Millions of car accidents occur each year. Even a minor fender bender can lead to serious health issues. If you or a loved one has sustained injuries because of a crash, consider working with an accident attorney in Baltimore. By consulting a car accident law firm , you can explore your legal options for obtaining compensation for your medical bills and related expenses. Your accident attorney has likely represented other clients who have sustained similar injuries, including the following medical conditions.

Neck Injuries

Neck injuries are among the most common types of health problems sustained by car accident victims. Whiplash is a type of soft tissue injury that affects the delicate structures of the neck. It often occurs in rear-end collisions, when the head is suddenly forced in one direction, and then the opposite direction. The symptoms of whiplash can include neck stiffness, soreness, and pain, along with reduced range of motion and impaired flexibility. If left untreated, it is possible to suffer from chronic pain due to whiplash. The potential for a chronic medical condition highlights the importance of consulting an accident attorney right away. Other neck injuries may be even more serious, including cervical radiculopathy.

Back Injuries

Many people consult an accident attorney in Burnie because of back injuries sustained in a car wreck. Back injuries may involve soft tissue injuries, such as strains and sprains that cause pain and hamper mobility. Or, a back condition might involve damage to the intervertebral discs, which may sometimes require surgery. Other common types of back injuries include fractures of the vertebrae and lumbar radiculopathy. Very serious back injuries that affect the nerves of the spinal cord can lead to permanent paralysis.

Psychological Injuries

One type of frequently overlooked medical issue stemming from car accidents involves mental health. Your accident attorney may demand compensation for your psychological problems, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), emotional distress, and anxiety related to your injuries. If a loved one died as a result of a car accident, you could also demand compensation for this loss.