Hillcrest Heights DWI Lawyer

Serious injuries deserve experienced attorneys

DWI Lawyer Hillcrest Heights, MD

If you or someone you love has been injured in Hillcrest Heights in an accident with a driver who was driving while intoxicated (DWI) a DWI lawyer HIllcrest Heights, MD victims of DWI accidents recommend, may be able to help you to seek compensation for your or your loved one’s injuries. Knowing that you have someone who is knowledgeable about personal injury laws in Hillcrest Heights and throughout Maryland on your side may help to alleviate some of the stress and anxiety that accidents usually cause. If you are in the awful situation of grieving over the unexpected loss of a loved one, you do not have to feel like you are alone in this terrible time.

What is the difference between a DWI and DUI?

In Maryland, DWI stands for driving while impaired and DUI stands for driving under the influence. These are both criminal charges for driving while impaired by alcohol and/or drugs but a DWI is a lesser charge than a DUI. Some states do not differentiate between the two terms and use them interchangeably to indicate that someone has been driving with over the legal amount of alcohol in their system and/or under the influence of drugs, including illicit, prescription and over the counter medications.

People who are arrested on the suspicion of a DWI or a DUI typically face criminal charges. If someone is convicted of one these, it stays on their permanent, criminal record. If this person has injured someone else in a DWI or DUI accident, the victim typically has the right to file a civil claim for a personal injury with the help of a DWI lawyers who are licensed to practice in Hillcrest Heights and throughout MD.

What should you do if you have been injured in a DWI or DUI accident?

Seek Medical Attention If you have been injured in an accident caused by a negligent and intoxicated driver, if you have not already received emergency and/or other medical care you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. It is important to do this for your own well-being but also to have a record of your injuries.

Be sure to keep record of all doctor appointments, procedures, medications, etc., that are related to your accident. Your Hillcrest Heights, DWI lawyers may need to use this as evidence when trying to protect your rights by seeking compensation for your injuries.

Seek Legal Advice It is recommended that DWI accident victims seek legal advice as soon as possible after they have been injured in an accident. If you have expenses that are the result of an accident with a negligent DWI driver, you should not have to pay for these nor should any of your insurance companies. MD DWI lawyers can help typically help to protect the rights of injured people in Hillcrest Heights.

A good lawyer will have experience with knowing what sort of compensation a victim will need over their lifetime to ensure that they suffer as little as necessary in the long-term.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a DWI or DUI accident, it may be in your best interest to discuss your rights with a reliable personal injury lawyer who knows how to fight for the rights of DWI accident victims and their families.

For highly rated DWI lawyers HIllcrest Heights, MD DWI injury victims and their families can rely on, contact Cohen & Cohen for a free case evaluation with no obligations.

Is a Maryland DWI injury claim the same as a personal injury claim?

In Maryland, a personal injury claim typically will be the broad umbrella of a DWI injury claim. When someone in Maryland is injured because of someone else’s negligence, recklessness or malice, they may be entitled to compensation through a personal injury claim. Driving while intoxicated or driving while under the influence is usually seen as negligence and/or recklessness. Even though it is against the law to do either one of these people unfortunately injure people while doing this. If this has happened to you or someone you love, a Hillcrest Heights, MD DWI lawyer may be able to help you to seek compensation for your injuries through a personal injury claim.

Why do victims of DWI accidents seek compensation?

Victims of DWI accidents typically seek compensation for expenses that are the result of their accident. This can include both immediate expenses such as the bills that are sitting in a pile on your counter or desk. as well as compensation for possible long term expenses such as additional medical treatments, loss of income or benefits, etc. A good place to help you determine what sorts of compensation you may be entitled to is with a DWI lawyer who is licensed to practice in Hillcrest Heights and throughout MD.

A DWI accident victim should not have to pay for their injuries. It is bad enough that an innocent person is injured and in pain or unwell, they should be able to focus on healing and trying to get as well as they can- not on how they are going to pay for being able to do this and how they will support their family in the meantime.

What kinds of compensation to DWI accident victims seek compensation for?

As mentioned earlier, DWI accident victims often seek compensation for expenses that they already know about as well as for possible future expenses. People recommend doing this with the help of a DWI lawyer who is familiar with Hillcrest Heights, MD courts and judges. These expenses include but are not limited to:

• Medical expenses, including hospitalizations, medications, doctor appointments, treatments, etc.
• Emergency services
• Loss of income
• Loss of childcare
• Loss of household management and maintenance
• Loss of benefits
• Loss of abilities
• Loss of quality of life
• Pain and suffering

The surviving family members of a deceased DWI accident victim may be able to seek compensation for the above as well as the following:

• Funeral and burial or cremation expenses
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of parental support and guidance
• Grief and suffering

According to Hillcrest Heights, MD DWI lawyers, in DWI accidents, there can be many factors that contribute to who will cover your medical bill expenses. These factors can be, but are not limited to, who was at fault, who has insurance, and what kind of insurance you have.

The the major types of car insurance are collision and liability.

Collision – This insurance pays for car damages (meaning not your medical expenses). Whoever is at fault will not affect this insurance type.

Liability – If you are at fault for an accident, your liability insurance will pay the for the other drivers damage and injuries. If the other driver is at fault, their liability insurance will pays for your damage and injuries.

Hillcrest Heights, MD DWI lawyers will likely inform you that other insurance you may have can also help cover the costs. For example, your health insurance may pay for your medical bills and your automobile insureace may also help may for some medical costs if included in your plan. This means that potentially costs necessary for medical treatment could be covered for you and any passengers in your car.

If the other driver who caused the accident happens to not be insured, your own insurance may be able to cover damage and injury expenses. If your insurance won’t cover it, you can sue the driver at fault.

Other possible liabilities

Bars and nightclubs could also potentially held accountable for drunk driving accidents. According to skilled Hillcrest Heights, MD DWI lawyers, Dram shop liability has to do with the body of law governing the liability of taverns, liquor stores, and other commercial establishments that serve alcoholic beverages and liquor. Dram shop laws regulate the sales of alcohol to anyone who is visibly intoxicated or to minors. These laws most frequently apply to drunk driving cases. If you do happen to be injured by a drunk driver, these dram shop laws could help you file a claim against the bar, liquor store or nightclubs that sold the alcohol to the clearly intoxicated person.

Legal Steps

The suspect of a DWI will meet with a judge within 7 to 10 days after the accident to be formally arraigned charges. You have the right to testify at the case. At court, the defendant will be assigned charges and enter a plea of guilty or not guilty. Contacting experienced Hillcrest Heights, MD DWI lawyers is very important to ensure that your rights are protected.

Helpful factors towards winning your case.

It is extremely important that the police be notified about the accident as soon as possible. Police officers who respond can offer assistance to the scene by directing traffic and make the crash scene more safe. Police officers can also investigate the scene to try and establish who is at fault since they are tried to locate and gather evidence by taking photographs, measuring skid marks, determining points of impact, and documenting the paths of each vehicle both before and after initial impact. Having these pictures and a a police write up report can dramatically increase your chances of winning the case and proving the other driver was drunk and at fault in the accident.

When people drink and drive and then cause crashes that harm others, they should be held accountable. Contact Cohen & Cohen today to get the justice you and your loved ones deserve. Call us to set up your free consultation with trusted Hillcrest Heights, MD DWI lawyers.

If you or someone you love is the victim of a DWI accident, it may be in your best interest to have a good lawyer on your side.

For a DWI lawyer Hillcrest Heights, MD accident victims and their families can rely on, contact Cohen & Cohen for a free case evaluation any time of the day or night, any day of the year.