Every driver has a responsibility to operate his or her motor vehicle in a reasonably safe manner. Although the dangers of drunk driving are widely known, many individuals still make the reckless decision to get behind the wheel while intoxicated. If you were the victim of a drunk driver and you sustained injuries or property damage, you have the legal right to consult a personal injury lawyer located in Baltimore. A personal injury attorney will conduct a case review, examine the available evidence, and explain your legal options. It’s important to note that any civil liability assessed against the drunk driver is entirely separate from criminal charges that will likely be filed against him or her.

Filing an Insurance Claim

Your personal injury attorney may recommend filing an insurance claim to recoup the costs associated with your medical expenses and other losses. You could file an insurance claim against your own auto insurance carrier or the drunk driver’s carrier. Typically, obtaining a just settlement from an insurance company requires some negotiation on the part of your attorney at law.

Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit

Insurance claims often result in favorable settlements for victims of drunk drivers. However, if an acceptable settlement is not forthcoming or your losses exceed the allowable limits by the auto insurance policy, your personal injury lawyer may recommend filing a lawsuit. However, because Maryland follows no-fault rules for auto accidents, it is not strictly necessary to exhaust an auto insurance policy’s limits in order to be eligible to file a lawsuit. Even if you do have your lawyer file a lawsuit, this does not automatically mean that you will have to go to court. Many personal injury lawsuits are resolved through out-of-court settlements.

Filing a Wrongful Death Lawsuit

If a drunk driver was responsible for causing the accident that claimed the life of your loved one, you may wish to consult a personal injury lawyer about filing a wrongful death lawsuit. Wrongful death litigation may offer you a sense of closure and justice for your loved one.

Many people only pursue a temporary or permanent disability claim for acute injuries. However, you can also visit a workers’ compensation law firm serving Baltimore to meet with an accident attorney about repetitive strain injuries. Any type of job and occupational industry has the potential to lead to repetitive use injuries. Since these injuries can grow progressively worse if left untreated, it’s advisable to consult a workers’ compensation attorney right away.

Watch this video for a brief introduction to repetitive use injuries in the workplace. You’ll hear some startling statistics about occupational injuries and you’ll learn about the areas of the body that are most often affected by them. This video also explains the types of repetitive movements that are likely to lead to injuries.

Employers are responsible for following OSHA guidelines to maintain a safe work environment. Even in a generally safe work environment, however, accidents can sometimes occur. If you sustain injuries at your job in Baltimore, a workers’ compensation attorney can help protect your legal rights. An accident attorney can ensure that you follow the necessary protocols to receive workers’ compensation benefits. In the event that your initial claim is denied, a workers’ compensation attorney can file an appeal on your behalf.

Repetitive Use Injuries

Many jobs require repetitive movements, such as bending and lifting, twisting and turning, and reaching and grabbing. Whether you work in a cubicle or on an assembly line, you could be at risk of repetitive use injuries. These can include carpal tunnel syndrome, back muscle strain, disc herniation, and tenosynovitis. While repetitive use injuries may not always be visible to the naked eye, they can be just as debilitating as a serious acute injury. Repetitive use injuries may lead to missed time at work and reduced quality of life. With the help of an attorney at law, you can obtain the benefits you need to rehab your injury.

Machinery Injuries

If your job requires you to use heavy machinery, your employer should have trained you to use this machinery safely. Your employer should also provide the necessary safety equipment, which may include safety goggles or face shields. Despite taking these precautions, workers may still suffer from serious injuries from machinery malfunctions or other problems. These types of injuries can range from minor lacerations to accidental amputations. Talk to your attorney if you think you may need to file a permanent disability claim in the wake of a serious injury.

Falls

Falls are another danger common to many workplaces . Falls may occur in cluttered hallways or aisles while carrying heavy objects, or while navigating a ladder or scaffolding. They can cause traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), bone fractures, internal trauma, and many other serious medical problems. After sustaining serious injuries in a fall, you may be out of work for quite a while.

As a driver, you owe a duty of care to everyone on the roadway. Part of fulfilling this responsibility involves never getting behind the wheel while you are impaired by alcohol or drugs. However, mistakes do happen and many people misjudge the extent of their impairment. If you do get pulled over on suspicion of DUI, you will need the guidance of a seasoned DUI attorney . Representation from a DUI attorney in Baltimore is your best chance of a favorable outcome.

Pull Over Safely

As soon as you realize that you are being pulled over, it’s essential to avoid giving the police officer any further evidence of your alleged impairment. Look for a safe place to pull over. While doing so, avoid driving erratically. Remember to use your turn signal to indicate to the officer that you are complying.

Place the Officer at Ease

Police officers are trained to watch for potential signs of additional problems, such as a confrontation. Acting suspiciously may mean that your DUI attorney will have to defend you from additional charges. As soon as you have parked your car, turn off the engine, turn on the interior light if it’s dark outside, and place your hands on the wheel. Do not reach for your driver’s license or registration until the police officer requests them. If you do so while the officer is approaching your vehicle, he or she will assume that you’re reaching for a weapon or trying to hide contraband.

Cooperate to a Certain Extent

Your DWI lawyer will advise you to remain polite and cooperative with the police officer. Treat the officer respectfully and provide information such as your name and address when asked. However, do not forfeit your legal rights. If the officer asks you if you’ve been drinking, you can say, “I’m not trying to be uncooperative, but I’ve been advised not to answer those questions.”

Comply with DUI Testing

The police officer may ask you to perform a field sobriety test, such as walking the line. You have the right to refuse a field sobriety test. However, you should not refuse chemical testing because you will be subjected to penalties. Police officers do have to follow certain rules when administering chemical tests. You have the right to request an independent chemical test, in addition to the test administered at the police station.

If you have sustained a workplace injury, it’s in your best interests to consult a workers’ compensation lawyer located in Baltimore. Legal guidance is especially important if your injury is severe enough to require hospitalization. A workers’ compensation attorney can help you by filing a temporary or permanent disability claim on your behalf. You can prepare for your consultation with the workers’ compensation attorney by gathering together copies of your medical records, the incident report, and your medical bills. You should save all documents pertaining to your diagnostic tests, medications, lab fees, surgery, other medical treatments, and hospitalization.

When your workers’ compensation lawyer files the claim on your behalf, he or she will argue that your injury was a direct result of occupational activities. This is essential for your injury and hospitalization to be covered under workers’ compensation. In the event that your initial claim for compensation is denied, your workers’ compensation attorney can file an appeal on your behalf.

If you contact a DUI law firm near Baltimore, the DUI attorney will generally advise you to consent to an alcohol or drug test after being pulled over on suspicion of DUI . This is because Maryland, like many other states, has implied consent laws. As your DUI attorney can explain to you, violating these laws can result in significant penalties. These penalties can be imposed in addition to any criminal penalties that may result from a DUI conviction.

You can hear more about implied consent laws by watching this video or consulting a DUI lawyer at a DUI law firm. This video explains that by obtaining the privilege of a driver’s license, you automatically consent to being tested for alcohol or drugs if a police officer has reason to believe you have been driving while impaired.

All employees have the right to a safe workplace. Regardless of whether a company has six employees or 600, employers have an obligation to exercise reasonable caution regarding potential workplace hazards. If you do sustain an injury while you’re on the job, you have the right to contact an accident attorney. An accident lawyer in Baltimore can file a temporary or permanent disability claim on your behalf. Your accident lawyer can also investigate the incident to determine whether your employer may have been neglecting basic safety protocols.

Identification of Potential Hazards

Every workplace has potential hazards. It’s the responsibility of the employer to assess what those hazards are. Some potential causes of injuries are common to most workplaces, such as slippery or cluttered floors that may lead to a fall. Others are specific to certain industries, such as the possibility of sharps injuries at a hospital or exposure to toxic chemicals at a manufacturing plant. To promote a safe work environment, employers may need to periodically assess new hazards and update safety procedures.

Proactive Approach for Injury Prevention

Another characteristic of a safe work environment is that the company encourages a proactive stance toward preventing injuries. An accident attorney may evaluate whether an employer has measures in place to prevent unqualified and improperly trained employees from performing dangerous jobs. All new employees should receive adequate training regarding safety procedures. They should be able to identify possible hazards and to know how to respond appropriately. Employees may need to undergo periodic training programs to refresh their knowledge and skills. These may include emergency preparedness drills. Additionally, employers should take a proactive approach toward equipment safety. Heavy machinery may need to be serviced on a regular basis and checked for possible malfunctions. Employers have the responsibility to ensure that each employee is properly equipped with protective gear and is compliant in using it.

Procedures for Incident Reporting

Regardless of the precautions a company takes to promote a safe work environment, accidents can still occur. It’s essential for human resource departments to make reporting procedures accessible for employees. Additionally, employees should be encouraged to report any potential hazards they notice in the workplace.

You may have heard that in criminal law, there are time periods within which a prosecutor might bring charges against a defendant for any particular crime. These time periods are known as statutes of limitations. The same principle applies to personal injury cases. Since there is a deadline to file a personal injury claim, it’s best to go to a personal injury law firm located in Baltimore as soon as possible after the incident occurred. Doing so will preserve your legal right to have a personal injury attorney help you seek justice.

Defining the Statute of Limitations

In many states, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases is set at two years. However, Maryland allows most civil tort cases to be filed no later than three years from the start of the time period. In some cases, the deadline is shortened to one year. This applies to allegations of intentional personal injury, such as assault, rather than damages caused by negligence. If you do not act within this time period, you may forfeit your right to have a personal injury attorney file a claim on your behalf.

Establishing the Start of the Time Period

One step your personal injury lawyer will take is to determine when the statute of limitations for your case should have begun. In most cases, the statute of limitations logically begins from the date of the incident. For example, if you were struck by a car on January 1, 2016, the statute of limitations would begin on that date and run for three years before expiring. However, plaintiffs in personal injury cases do not always identify their losses on the same day during which they occurred. For instance, you may have slipped and fallen on someone else’s property. You may have thought you were fine initially, but then later you developed symptoms of a concussion. It is possible that the statute of limitations would begin on the date that you could reasonably expect to know that your symptoms were caused by the incident. However, it’s always best to consult an attorney at law sooner, rather than later, given that personal injury cases can take time to build.

If you’ve been hurt while on the job, a workers’ compensation attorney can help you obtain the compensation you’re entitled to receive. Your workers’ compensation law firm serving Baltimore may file a temporary or permanent disability claim on your behalf, depending on the results of your medical examination. Whether or not your disability is expected to be permanent directly influences the amount of compensation you might receive.

For instance, as your workers’ compensation attorney can advise you, you may receive up to two-thirds of your average weekly wages while you are on temporary total disability. However, this compensation is subject to a maximum limit of 100 percent of the average weekly wage in Maryland. If your workers’ compensation lawyer files a claim for a temporary partial disability, it means that you can still perform some work duties and so your compensation will be adjusted accordingly. For a permanent total disability, Maryland workers may receive two-thirds of their average weekly pay, subject to the maximum limit of the state’s average weekly wage.