Columbia, MD Personal Injury Lawyer
For over 70 years, our Columbia, MD, personal injury lawyers at Gelb & Gelb have provided unparalleled legal representation to injury victims across Howard County and surrounding areas. Columbia, MD, the second most populous city in Maryland, is home to several hundreds of our past clients. Further, while Columbia is technically a suburb of Baltimore, it is conveniently located between Baltimore and Washington, D.C., where our flagship office is located. When we opened our second office in Maryland, we did so to devote even more resources exclusively to Maryland.
Now, we have attorneys on call seven days a week to answer calls from Maryland injury victims, new clients, current clients, and former. From the East Columbia Business District to Guilford and Hickory Ridge, our Columbia, MD, personal injury lawyers are committed to serving every corner of Howard County.
Types of Personal Injury Cases in Columbia, MD
Our Columbia, MD, personal injury lawyers handle every case that comes through our doors from beginning to end. Unlike other firms, you will not be directed through a maze of assistants and paralegals. We make communication between attorney and client our top priority.
The range of cases our injury attorneys work on ranges varies considerably. We handle all the classic personal injury cases that may come to mind. But we also handle, subject to a few caveats, any case where you are injured due to someone’s negligent or intentional conduct. For example, while a bar assault case may spring to mind criminal culpability, there is also the civil element. In such a case, the defendant and potentially the bar or nightclub will be liable for your damages.
Car Accident Expertise in Columbia, MD
Our Howard County, MD, personal injury lawyers handle car accident claims daily. There is too much you need to know to cover in this section. However, you should be immediately aware that there are specific deadlines you must act by. For example, if you wish to make a personal injury protection (PIP) claim, you must do so within one year of your accident. However, this does not mean contacting an attorney two weeks before the statute runs. Applying for your PIP, even if it is a part of your insurance policy, takes time to request an application from your carrier, complete it, and return it before the deadline.
Of course, Maryland also has a three-year statute of limitations for injury claims. But beyond that, the longer you wait, the more challenging it is to preserve evidence. This goes for all cases, not just car accidents. For example, obtaining a copy of a two-year-old police report is more complicated than a one-month-old report. For the foregoing reasons, it is imperative to contact a Columbia, MD, personal injury lawyer as soon as possible for advice on the next steps.
Motorcycle Accident Claims in Columbia
Whether on the Patuxent Freeway, Columbia Pike, or any other roadways in Columbia, MD, motorcycle accidents occur frequently. Motorcycles are particularly susceptible to severe and deadly collisions. In part, this is due to the lack of safety equipment available to riders. But it is also due to motorcycles being slightly more challenging to detect on the road. Whether the rider is in a driver’s blind spot or the car’s driver is simply behaving carelessly, motorcycles are disproportionately the victims of negligence on the road.
An average of 72 motorcycle riders die each year in Maryland. While not all are due to negligence, many of them are. Call our Columbia, MD, personal injury lawyers immediately if you or someone you know is in a motorcycle accident.
Navigating Slip and Falls in Columbia, MD
Slip and falls in Columbia, MD, are subject to varying laws. The applicable law depends on the owner of the premises in which you have fallen. If you fall at a business, you are a business invitee. Thus, you are entitled to greater protections under tort law than if you are visiting a friend’s house as a licensee. But this does not mean you are universally protected if you fall at a business. Most notably, you must not be contributorily negligent in Columbia, Maryland. Maryland is a contributory negligence jurisdiction, which means you are barred from recovery for your injuries if you are even 1% negligent yourself in the fall.
Moreover, there are other elements we must prove. We may need to prove that the business or entity was on notice of the hazard and did not resolve it or sufficiently warn you of the risk before your fall. Alternatively, even if not already on notice, they are liable if they fail to inspect for dangerous conditions within a reasonable period. There is no set time for what is a reasonable period. However, if the hazardous condition has been there since early morning, and you slip in the late afternoon, that is unlikely to be considered reasonable. Reach out to our award-winning Columbia personal injury law firm for more information.
Columbia, MD Wrongful Deaths
Wrongful death claims in Columbia, MD, pertain to the death of a loved one. You may be entitled to make a wrongful death claim if you are a spouse, child, or parent of the decedent. The wrongful death statute in Maryland acts as a limitation. Its purpose is to prohibit dozens from seeking compensation for one death. Note that this claim is separate from the decedent’s estate’s right to make a claim. And, of course, who ultimately has a right to that estate is up to either the decedent’s Will or, if not, the intestacy laws will control.
A wrongful death claim is meant to compensate close family members for loss of support, companionship, etc. A court will also consider the level of dependence of the plaintiff in a wrongful death case. Thus, the damages you may be entitled to are subject to a complex calculation. For questions regarding a wrongful death claim, contact our Columbia, MD, personal injury lawyers for a free case evaluation.
Other Categories of Cases
Consider the following other categories if seeking personal injury compensation in Columbia.
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Dog Bites
- Nightclub or Bar injuries
- Truck accidents
Choosing the Right Columbia, MD Personal Injury Lawyer
There are many attorneys in Columbia, Maryland. Choosing the right Columbia, MD, personal injury lawyer depends on many factors.
- Important in legal representation is trust. A lawyer may be the best personal injury attorney in Columbia, MD. But if you cannot trust them, they cannot adequately represent you. You must be able to trust your attorney so that you can disclose pertinent details to your case. Failure to do so may lead to you recovering less than you deserve based on your issues. Of course, it also exposes the possibility of the problem being revealed in court regardless. Thus, establishing trust early in the process is vital for effective representation.
- Hiring an injury claims attorney with experience is vital. Experience practicing law shows us how to value your case. While law school teaches an attorney the factors to consider, only experience teaches us how a judge or jury will view a case.
- The right lawyer has an excellent reputation. Reputation is essential for several reasons. First, it is vital to research the best Columbia, MD, personal injury lawyer. Without a stellar reputation, there is no way to trust that attorney. Second, a lawyer or law firm with an excellent reputation has relationships with insurance companies, judges, and opposing attorneys. When we say judges, that does not imply anything that would influence a case. Rather, it leads to understanding what a judge might like to see in court. Regarding insurance companies, having an insurer know of a lawyer and their ability may lead to higher settlement offers for your case. Please read what our former clients have to say about us.
- Serving all of Howard County: a local Columbia, MD personal injury law firm. Local representation matters. Local lawyers are more familiar with the roads, the judges, the jury pool, the court system, local rules, and much more.
Schedule a Free Consultation with a Columbia Personal Injury Lawyer Today.
The Personal Injury Claim Process in Columbia, MD
Our Columbia, MD, personal injury lawyers are happy to walk you through the process in person or on the phone regarding your unique case. However, we also outline the process here as a frame of reference.
- Stage one is the start of your case. This is when you are first injured. Whether it is due to negligence, recklessness, or intentional acts, your cause of action and right to compensation starts here. At this stage, we always advise that you get to safety and get immediate medical attention if need be. If you are in a motor vehicle accident, get over to the side of the road. If you are in a bar fight or assaulted by a bouncer at a nightclub, speak to the police and get to safety as quickly as you can.
- Collect Evidence. While your Columbia, MD, personal injury lawyers will conduct a full-scale investigation as needed to uncover fruitful evidence, collecting as much evidence as possible at the injury scene is always prudent. Use your phone to take pictures, collect names, put a bar, restaurant, or other entity on notice, collect insurance information, tag number, and any additional relevant information.
- Case Evaluation. During your consultation with your attorney, we will explore the merits of your case. In some instances, the defendant may be legally liable for your injuries, but your injuries do not warrant pursuing your claim. If this is the case, consultation may be worthwhile as we can advise you of steps to recover your incurred damages.
- Medical Care. By this point, you may have already gone to the emergency room. When a plaintiff suffers serious injuries, we encourage the victim to continue to receive follow-up care as recommended by the treating physician. If you never go to the doctor, there will be minimal evidence that you ever suffered an injury, and your chance of recovering compensation will be diminished.
- Settlement Negotiation. Once you complete your medical treatment, our Columbia, MD, personal injury lawyers will better understand what your case is worth. We then draft a demand letter for settlement to the adverse insurer. It takes the insurer about four to six weeks to evaluate your claim and our demand. Then, we begin our settlement negotiations. This also can take a couple of weeks, but we keep you informed as we receive new offers for settlement. We will advise you on whether to accept or reject the offer based on what we believe your case is worth. Note that roughly 97% of personal injury cases are settled.
- Resolution. In the large majority of cases, we can settle your case at this stage. If not, we will file suit on your case in the Howard County Court system. Or, if the defendant lives in a county we believe is more favorable for your case, we will file there.
Compensation and Settlements in Columbia, MD Personal Injury Cases
The above graphic shows the formula for calculating damages in a personal injury case. Of course, it is not always this simple. An unlimited number of factors can influence how a jury values your case. Moreover, the skill of your Columbia, MD, personal injury lawyer in influencing the jury also plays an important role.
Speak With a Columbia, MD, Personal Injury Lawyer
Our Columbia, MD, personal injury lawyers provide free consultations for those whose accidents occurred in Maryland or when the defendant resides in Maryland. If you believe you have a case, don’t hesitate to contact us.