Maryland Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys
Despite all the warnings against drunk driving, there are still thousands of drunk driving accidents Maryland residents experience. When individuals drive drunk, they can’t think as clearly and are more likely to crash into other vehicles. Many people have gotten seriously injure and even killed because of drunk drivers.
Here are a few ways you can defend yourself from drunk drivers so that you can avoid drunk driving accidents in Maryland:
- Do not get too close to the car in front of you: It’s a good idea to stay several car lengths behind the vehicle in front of you. If you notice that the driver is swerving or acting strange, you will be able to get away from him or her a lot easier.
- Do not drive late at night: To avoid drunk driving accidents Maryland locals are afraid of, try not to drive at night. Drunk driving accidents are more likely to happen in the evening hours, especially on the weekends.
- Wear your seatbelt: While you can’t stop people from driving drunk, you can protect yourself as much as possible. One of the best ways to do this is to wear your seatbelt. If your seatbelt is fastened and you get into a drunk driving accident, you will be less likely to suffer serious injuries.
- Be careful at intersections: Drunk driving accidents Maryland residents fear often happen at intersections. That is why you should drive a little slower through intersections and look both ways.
- Be a designated driver: Volunteering to drive intoxicated people home can prevent drunk driving accidents. For example, if you are at a party and notice that a person has had too much to drink, offer to take him or her home.
- Notify police if you suspect a drunk driver: If you believe that driver is drunk, don’t hesitate to report him or her to the police. When you call the police, give them the exact location of the vehicle and the description of the vehicle.
- Hide a person’s keys: If you are at a gathering where people are drinking, do not be afraid to hide someone’s keys if you think he or she has had too much to drink. That person might be mad at first, but hiding his or her keys can prevent drunk driving accidents Maryland locals worry about.
Hiring a Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
If you were hurt in a car accident caused by a drunk driver, you deserve to speak to a drunk driving accident law firm Maryland. He or she can help you file a lawsuit against the driver and receive compensation for your medical bills, lost wages and other damages. Your lawyer may communicate with insurance adjusters on your behalf and protect your best interests. What happened to you wasn’t fair and you deserve justice for that.
If you are ready to discuss your case, contact Cohen & Cohen P.C. for a free consultation. Our dedicated lawyers are ready to listen to you and offer valuable advice.
Even with strict laws and punishments in place for if a person is caught while driving drunk in Maryland, the need for a good drunk driving accident law firm Maryland residents can rely on is on the rise. In most states in the U.S., people that are of the drinking age are allowed to have a certain amount of alcohol and still be allowed to drive while legally under the blood alcohol content (BAC) limit. An unfortunate reality is that many people are not responsible when it comes to their alcohol consumption and driving, and drive with a BAC that significantly above the legal limit. Drunk driving accidents are all too common in Maryland and the surrounding states. Many people are injured and die because of drunk drivers.
If you or someone you love has been in an accident with a drunk driver you may find it helpful to discuss your rights with a lawyer at a personal injury law firm that is experienced with successfully defending the rights of injured people and their families. An injured drunk driving accident victim and/or their family may be entitled to compensation from the drunk driver and his or her insurance company.
If you or someone you love has been charged with drunk driving in Maryland or the surrounding states, it may be in your best interest to discuss your situation with an experienced drunk driving law firm Maryland residents can rely on.
It is never pleasant to see lights flashing behind you telling you to pull over, but when the stop turns into an arrest for driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI) your reality can start to feel like a nightmare. Whether the only contact you’ve ever had with the police are polite nods and thank yous, or if this is your fifth arrest and you are accustomed to the routine and what to expect next, many people find it helpful to know that they have a law firm on their side defending their rights.
The laws that govern DUI/DWI charges and convictions differ from state to state, as do the penalties for these charges. This is one of the reasons that many people find it helpful to seek the counsel and guidance of a law firm that has lawyers that are licensed to practice in the state where the charge occurred. While many of the DUI/DWI laws of Maryland are similar to those in the surrounding states, it is still important to know that your lawyer truly knows the laws that he or she is going to be using to try to uphold your rights.
The dedicated law firm of Cohen & Cohen has successfully been defending the rights of their clients in Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC for 30+ years. If you or someone you love has been charged with a DUI/DWI, it may be valuable to your defense to enlist the help of a drunk driving law firm Maryland is fortunate to call its own- that also has experience with the intricacies of Maryland DUI/DWI laws. An example of this is that many people who are suspected of driving while drunk or intoxicated are asked to take field sobriety tests even though they are not obligated to submit to these when you are being arrested for drunk driving. Another example of this is, many people who are charged with a DWI/DUI are offered preliminary breath tests while still on the street even though they are not told that they can refuse this without consequence (unlike the formal breath test that is performed at a police station or other facility.) These are things that the average person does not usually know about, nor do they know how to use them to defend themselves against a DUI/DWI charge.
The consequences for a DUI/DWI in Maryland include but are not limited to, fines, jail time, suspension of drivers license, points added to a license, increased insurance rates, and the conviction going on a person’s permanent, criminal record.
If you or someone you love has been charged with a DUI, you may find that talking to a lawyer at a reputable law firm will answer questions that will help you to make more informed decisions about what your next steps should be. The consequences for drunk driving are too harsh for someone to be subjected to them unnecessarily. For a highly rated drunk driving law firm Maryland drivers can trust, contact Cohen & Cohen, today.
Drunk Driving and Impaired Driving Statistics
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) every day in the United States, 29 people die in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol impaired driver.
- 10,497 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes in 2016. This accounts for 28%
of all traffic-related deaths in the United States that year. - 214 traffic deaths among children ages 0 to 14 years involved an alcohol-impaired
Driver. - More than 1 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or
narcotics in 2016. - 111 million adults self-reported to driving while alcohol impaired in 2014.
- Both legal and illegal drugs are involved in about 16% of motor vehicle crashes.
If you or a family member are unfortunately part of the latest statistics on people who have become victims of drunk driving accidents, it may be in your best interest to enlist the help of a reputable drunk driving accident law firm Maryland drunk driving accident victims and their families can trust.
Alcohol Impairment and Drunk Driving
When a person drinks alcohol, depending on how their particular system processes it, their body weight, their muscle mass and other factors, the alcohol impairs the person’s abilities. It can impair cognitive abilities, motor skills, memory, and balance, to name a few of the things alcohol consumption can negatively impact. This is why there are laws against driving while under the influence of alcohol and other altering substances. Drunk driving is usually considered a crime. Even if a drunk driver who injures someone else goes through a criminal trial, the drunk driving victim and their family may be able to file a civil claim against the drunk driver in order to get compensation for expenses related to the drunk driving victim’s injury.
The law firm of Cohen & Cohen has been defending the rights of injured people and their families for over 30 years. We have helped countless people who have been injured in drunk driving accidents. If you or someone you love has been in an accident with a drunk driver, a member of our dedicated legal team is available to go over your situation and to give you a free case evaluation. For a drunk driving law firm Maryland is fortunate to have in its midst, contact Cohen & Cohen today.
