The Various Causes of Accidents in Montgomery
One of the most common causes of an auto accident in Montgomery is negligence by a driver. Speeding, texting or using cell phones while driving, fatigue, breaching traffic rules or signs, and the use of alcohol or drugs are common examples of negligence.
Defective vehicle parts also contribute to a number of accidents in Montgomery County and surrounding areas. Product defects are a result of poor design or a flawed manufacturing process. Poor auto repair and servicing can also be a factor. In fact, tire and brake defects account for most defect-related auto accidents. In many cases, an expert is needed to determine liability.
Besides the above-mentioned reasons, other factors that contribute to accidents include bad weather conditions, unsafe road routes filled with potholes, construction work, and falling materials, such as tree branches. When possible, always drive defensively.
An experienced Montgomery County auto accident attorney can protect your legal rights, seek the help of experts, and help you receive fair compensation for your injuries and lost wages.
Though many cases are settled through negotiation, your local attorney should always be prepared to defend a personal injury case in Montgomery County court.
Consult a lawyer before you settle with an insurance company. You have the right to be compensated for economic damages, such as medical expenses, and non-economical damages, such as pain, suffering, and mental distress.
Personal Injury in Washington – Know Your Legal Rights
Have you or your loved one sustained personal injury in Washington DC? Read on to know that you have a duty of protecting your rights to compensation legally.
Following (but not limited to) are the causes for personal injury in Washington DC:
- Medical Malpractice
- Motor Vehicle Accidents
- Railroad Accidents
- Aviation Accidents
- Boating Accidents
- Cruise Line Accidents
- Swimming Accidents - Drowning
- Burn Cases
- Casino Accidents
- Construction Injuries
- Premises Liability
- Dog Bites
- Workers' Compensation
- Food Poisoning
- Hotel Liability
- Store Accidents
- Product Defect Injuries
- Machinery Accidents
- Serious Scarring
- Wrongful Death
- ATV Accidents
Victim of personal injury due to any of the above mentioned causes and lot of other external factors is entitled to various compensations, which can be acquired by a skilled legal approach.
Say if you sustained a serious injury in an automobile accident, it is wise to retain a Washington DC auto accident attorney immediately. The reasons being:
- You may concentrate in your physical recovery.
- An attorney having expertise in a similar case will be able to strategize your case well to present in trials.
- The attorney from the same jurisdiction will be fully aware of the relevant laws in Washington, which will help in seeking the deserving compensation.
- Experienced attorneys are also compassionate and will understand your situation and involve you to a permissible degree during the legal proceedings.
Having said all these, as victim you are expected to be determined, until you receive your compensation for all the damages and cooperate with your attorney.
Distracted Driving Concerns
Controlling and reducing traffic accidents is a burgeoning concern today. As part of the effort to make roads safer, the government established various traffic agencies such as the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT), which address road safety at the national level, and state associations such as the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) that develops programs to improve road safety statewide and locally.
Of recent concern is the newly coined term distracted driving. NHTSA devotes an entire website entitled the US Government Website for Distracted Driving to raise public awareness about road safety issues. Despite proactive measures taken by the federal government, distracted driving continues to cause accidents. These accident victims find themselves resorting to Georgia accident lawyer for legal help.
Preventing driving distraction through social media networking
Some of the latest driving distractions are cell phones, texting, and social media networking through Twitter, MySpace, Facebook, and similar sites.
The Hill reports the latest government battle to keep social networking from distracting drivers in an article called DOT to automakers: Put the brakes on social media in cars. Innovative ideas to keep up with the times led auto manufacturers to consider adding social media applications to onboard car computers. The computer capability exists to add such features through already existing auto navigation and performance monitoring computers.
However, automakers must report to the DOT, and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood took a stand against this potential additional distraction. He spoke with various auto manufacturers voicing his objection and engaged them in campaigns against distracted driving. BMW and Subaru both agreed to discourage texting, tweeting, and Facebook posting while driving through a public service announcement campaign. The idea that automakers can create greater conveniences to distract drivers directly clashed with the DOT effort to disabuse drivers of doing anything but driving while in the car.
Distracted driving statistics
NHTSA reports the following statistics on distracted driving:
- 20 percent of injury crashes in 2009 involved distracted driving
- 18 percent of fatalities in these distracted driving crashes involved cell phone use
- The age group with the greatest percentage of distracted drivers was the under-20 age group
- Using a cell phone while driving whether hand-held or hands-free delays driver reaction time and is comparable to drivers testing with .08 blood alcohol content (Source: University of Utah)
If you are an accident victim because of distracted driving, consult an accident attorney in Georgia to find out about your legal rights.
A Note to Victims of Auto Accident in Prince George’s County
You plan for a weekend trip with your friends and head out according to plan. Unfortunately, you wind up involved in an automobile accident. All of you suffer injuries and realize you do not know what to do next.
When an accident occurs because of some else’s negligence, what you need to do is contact an attorney.
If you experience injuries in a car accident, you can best pursue financial compensation by filing a personal injury lawsuit. If you are from Prince George’s County, MD, you will need to contact a Prince George’s county auto accident attorney for advice on your case.
Watch the statute of limitations
A statute of limitations limits the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit following an accident. The relevant statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim in Maryland court is three years from the date of your auto accident.
If you are badly hurt in a car accident or if you are not in a position to approach a lawyer, another member of your family can contact an attorney to get him or her working on your behalf. Remember, a lawyer’s role is vital following an accident caused by the negligence of another. A skilled attorney will maximize the amount of financial recovery you ultimately receive, which can alleviate your monetary concerns as you recover from your injuries.
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