Frederick Drunk Driving Accident Attorney
Drunk driving is one of the more common causes of crashes in the United States. While Maryland might not be among the worst states for drunk driving fatalities, still one out of every three people killed in the state in traffic crashes dies because of an impaired motorist. Drunk drivers also cause many injuries, some of which are devastating.
If you were hurt in a crash caused by a drunk driver, you might be able to recover compensation for your injuries. The law provides an avenue to recover from the driver who caused your injuries. To learn more about your legal options, contact a Frederick, Maryland car crash attorney.
At Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP, our personal injury lawyers are ready to discuss your claim, help you navigate the legal system, and develop a strategy tailored to your case. Call us today at 301-668-2100 to speak to an experienced Frederick drunk driving accident attorney.
Drunk Drivers Cause Some of the Worst Crashes in Maryland
Drivers who are under the influence of alcohol often cause some of the most serious crashes on the road. While many driving behaviors put people at risk of injuries and even death, the driving behaviors associated with drunk motorists tend to be more outlandishly dangerous. For instance, drunk motorists tend to be more inclined to speed and swerve and take risks sober drivers would avoid. Certain particularly deadly crashes, such as wrong-way accidents, are more likely to be the result of an impaired motorist than a sober driver. Wrong-way crashes are those that involve a driver entering the road heading against the flow of traffic on a divided roadway. A great deal of road designing effort goes into ensuring that a driver does not accidentally enter a highway on an exit ramp. Drunk drivers tend to be the most likely people to make such a devastating mistake.
What Damages Can I Collect if I Suffered Injuries in a Crash with a Drunk Driver?
If an impaired driver injured you in Frederick, Maryland, you will likely be able to collect compensation for your injuries. Damages will cover losses like the following:
- Medical bills, including future, predicted medical costs
- Lost earnings, including future, predicted lost income
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement
- Spouses can recover loss of consortium
You might notice that some of these damages cover actual financial losses from the crash, while others are more abstract. Medical bills can give a concrete number, and calculations can help to arrive at predicted costs. But pain and suffering do not come with a bill. In many cases, the non-economic damages will be a multiplier of the economic damages. While Maryland does cap non-economic damages, the amount awarded often exceeds the economic damages.
It is also worth noting that juries do not take kindly to drunk drivers who cause serious crashes. The jury’s attitude can lead to larger awards in such cases.
Will the Court Assume a Drunk Driver is at Fault?
To succeed in a drunk driving case in Frederick, Maryland, the injured person still must show that the impaired driver caused the crash and, therefore, the injuries. For example, if a driver rear-ends a motorist who was stopped at a red light, and the person who was hit turned out to be under the influence of alcohol, it would be difficult to say that the impaired driver played any role in causing the crash.
However, if a driver caused a crash, and that driver was drunk, the court might find that the drunk driver was negligent “per se.” Such a determination can simplify the claim for the plaintiff.
Negligence Law in Frederick, Maryland
It is worth noting that Maryland does not allow a person to collect for his or her injuries if the injured person played a part in the cause of those injuries. For example, imagine that one driver ran a red light and struck another car. The driver who ran the red light was likely at fault. However, what if the other driver was speeding and looking at his phone? Both drivers may share the liability for a crash. In Maryland, a driver who is partly at fault cannot collect compensation, even if the other driver is more at fault.
While this rule might make it more challenging to succeed in a negligence case in Maryland, plenty of people are able to successfully prove that another person was entirely at fault for the crash.
If you have questions about whether you have a claim against a drunk driver in Frederick, Maryland, contact a car accident attorney at Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP to discuss your case.
Call Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP After a Frederick Drink Driving Car Accident Injury
At Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP, our experienced attorneys are ready to serve as your legal advocates. Call us today at 301-668-2100 to speak to a dedicated Frederick, Maryland car crash attorney.
