Maryland Blind Spot Car Accident Lawyer
While car safety technology has come a long way to this point in 2024, only so much can be done to fix blind spots. Glass mirrors have not been configured to show every conceivable angle on either side of your car. On larger trucks, a second mirror is positioned slightly differently from the main mirror to show the blind spot. However, due to the aesthetic challenges of two side-view mirrors on each side, most car manufacturers elect not to do that. While this produces a better-looking vehicle, our Maryland blind spot car accident lawyers have anecdotally observed there is no risk. The other option is for the car to have an automatic detection system that will alert the driver via a light or sound. This can be effective at preventing blind spot accidents. However, these systems only sometimes work.
It can be scary if you are driving on the road and seeing a driver not notice you. If a driver merges into your lane and sideswipes you, you do not necessarily have a duty to avoid the accident if it is unsafe to do so. Of course, you are at fault if you rear-end the car in front of you. That is true even if they had moved into your lane only seconds before. Especially without a witness, winning that case is next to impossible, as the property damage speaks for itself. However, in a blind spot car accident, the property damage is less telling of how the accident transpired.
When you are injured in an accident by a driver who did not check their blind spot, speak to a Maryland blind spot car accident lawyer immediately. We can prove the defendant’s liability and get you the compensation you deserve.
The Role of Negligence in Blind Spot Accidents
Our Maryland blind spot car accident lawyer must have evidence to prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, that negligence played a role in causing your accident. If negligence, recklessness, or intentional conduct is not a proximate cause of the accident, then you technically do not have a claim. So, how do we show negligence in a blind spot accident? If a driver fails to check their blind spot, it breaches a legal civil duty. However, that alone is not enough. That breach of duty must be the legal and actual cause of your injuries. This makes sense once you think about it. Why should it matter that a driver did not check their blind spot if nothing happened? It would not be worth anyone’s time to pursue such a claim.
However, if failing to check a driver’s blind spot results in a sideswipe, there is negligence, and you have a case. The role of negligence is the crux of a blind spot car accident in Maryland. If a driver does not use a blinker when merging into your lane, this is a form of negligence. The same goes for a failure to check their mirror. This is true regardless of whether you are in their blind spot. However, these minor details matter less than the driver coming into your lane and making contact with your vehicle. When we are proving negligence, that is the proximate or legal cause of the accident. The fact that the driver did not use their blinker is unquestionably an actual cause, but that is not necessary to prove liability. A Maryland blind spot car accident lawyer can help you prove liability in your accident case.
Legal Options After a Blind Spot Accident
Your legal options after a blind spot accident center around the ability of your Maryland blind spot car accident lawyer to obtain compensation in a timely manner. When we pursue a claim through an insurance company, they will try anything to avoid payment. That is the nature of their business. Unfortunately, without proper legal guidance, you may fall into their traps and allow them to avoid making a payment. This is why it is critical to have legal counsel from the very start. Your legal options after a Maryland blind spot accident are civil. If the car crash is an accident, you generally do not have a basis to file a claim with the state for criminal charges. Of course, if the other driver was drunk or speeding, the police officer may fine the driver anyway. Nonetheless, you should focus on your civil options.
Pursuing a civil claim against the negligent driver entitles you to money damages. This covers your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Below, we explain the basics of evaluating the value of a Maryland blind spot car accident.
Evaluating the Value of a Maryland Blind Spot Car Accident
To correctly evaluate the value of a claim, we must look at two categories of damages. The first is the economic damages you suffer from your accident. This is made up of medical expenses and lost wages. This can include past and future damages. A prudent Maryland blind spot car accident lawyer will consider any medical costs you will have to pay in the future for injuries sustained in the accident. Accordingly, if you have prescription medication costs for the next 20 years due to ongoing back pain, you are entitled to compensation for those expenses. When we settle a case, we waive your right to file suit. In return, you are paid an agreed-upon sum.
Thus, you cannot resolve the case and make another claim 20 years from now. This means we must consider all potential expenses now. Of course, it requires some speculation to determine the amount you will be paying for the next 20 years. The insurance company will try to argue that you will only have back pain for the next 12 years. This is why you need an effective Maryland blind spot car accident lawyer advocating on your behalf.
Noneconomic Damages
In evaluating the value of your claim, we also consider the noneconomic damages. This is the second category of damages to consider.
When you are in an accident, you may suffer an injury. If you injure your back, of course, you can recover for the cost of the medical treatment. However, you are also entitled to compensation for suffering from an injury. This value will depend on the nature of your injury, how long it takes to recover fully, and what a jury thinks at trial. If we are settling your case and never make it to trial, the attorneys for both sides will evaluate the case value from the perspective of a jury in that particular Maryland county.
Compiling Evidence for Your Case
Below is a list of evidence to compile. A skilled Maryland blind spot car accident lawyer will use these pieces of evidence to prove liability and damages at trial or during a settlement negotiation.
- Police report. This is generally inadmissible at trial but is helpful in the negotiation phase.
- Witness statements
- Video Footage
- Photographs of the accident scene
- Medical records
- Vehicle damage report
- Cell phone records
- Expert testimonies
Speak to a Maryland Car Accident Lawyer
A Maryland blind spot car accident lawyer at Gelb & Gelb can help you win your case and recover maximum compensation. Call our office today for a free consultation at (202) 331-7227.