District Heights DWI Accident Lawyers
DWI lawyers District Heights, MD residents recommend, may be able to help you if you have been injured in an accident in Maryland that was caused by a negligent driver. Not only is it a crime to drive while intoxicated, but it may also be seen as negligent and/or reckless in a civil court of law. You may be able to file a civil claim to seek compensation for expenses that are related to your injury, as well as for property damage.
If you or someone you love has suffered after being in an accident that was caused by a driver that was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, District Heights, MD DWI lawyers may be able to fight to get you the compensation you are entitled to.
District Heights DWI Accident Laws
What the victim of a District Heights accident can do to seek compensation for their injuries is dictated by the same laws that apply to accidents throughout the state of Maryland. Maryland is an at-fault state for determining who is financially liable for the damages a crash causes.
A person seeking compensation for damages that are the result of an accident with an intoxicated driver, will likely file a personal injury claim. If someone dies as the result of this type of accident it is often called a wrongful death personal injury claim.
If you have been in a DWI accident in MD, District Heights lawyers may be able to help you to prove that the influenced driver’s negligence is what caused your injuries and other damages.
To prevail in a personal injury claim of negligence in Maryland, the plaintiff (the injury victim, usually with the help of a lawyer or a team of lawyers) must prove the following four elements:
- The defendant was under a duty to protect others from injury
- The defendant breached their duty to protect others from injury when the defendant became injured
- The plaintiff suffered actual injury or loss
- The loss or injury was directly a result of the defendant’s breach of duty
It can be difficult to prove a personal injury claim, especially when insurance companies are involved. This is one of the many reasons that people recommend getting the help of reputable District Heights DWI lawyers when they have been injured in an accident where insurance companies are involved.
At-Fault Insurance
Maryland, like many other U.S. states, is an at-fault state when it comes to determining responsibility for causing an accident as well as for liability. States that have at-fault vehicle insurance are known as tort states.
Drivers in at-fault states are required by law to carry a certain amount of insurance in the event that they are found to be at fault for causing a crash. This is called liability insurance. Driver’s of private automobiles must have the following, minimum amounts of insurance coverage:
- $30,000 for bodily injury
- $60,000 for 2 or more people
- $15,000 property damage
Driver’s must have the above minimum amounts of insurance to register a vehicle in Maryland but even when a negligent driver has insurance, it is not often easy for accident victims to get everything they are entitled to without a fight.
For highly-rated DWI lawyers District Heights, M.D. accident victims are fortunate to have in their midst, contact Cohen & Cohen for a free case consultation and evaluation with no obligations.