If you are getting ready to give a closing argument in a car accident case (or any tort claim) and are looking for idea, we have sample closing statements available, two of which led to seven figure verdicts.
Lockshin v. Semsker set forth some disconcerting parameters for how to deal with the medical bills owed that are reduced because the health care provider waived the fees on the case in Maryland. Semsker did not cover all of the potential scenarios of how defendants can reduce what it is required to pay in medical bills but it does indicate that it would be through a post-verdict hearing process.
California thankfully appears to be going in a different direction on this issue.
In 2008, the United States Coast Guard counted 4,789 accidents in which 709 people were killed, 3,331 people were injured. Not surprisingly, the month with the most boat accident deaths is August. The economic loss that comes with boat accident is also staggering: $54 million alone in just recreational boating accidents.
Alcohol was found to be a factor in 17% of boat accidents. Thankfully, only one Maryland death in 2008 was attributable to alcohol.
You can find more boat accident statistics here.
The Washington Post reports on a moped accident death in Maryland. From the report, it sounds like a classic "left turn, did not see the moped/bike/motorcycle accident.
In these cases, the Defendant is responsible for the death of the moped driver, assuming the facts are as I think they are. But juries hate bikes, motorcycles and, particularly, mopeds. Why? Because jurors can imagine missing motorized bikes and bicycles and because everyone has seen these vehicles used inappropriate on the roadways. Almost invariably, regardless of the facts, these cases are a fight.
Can you recovery in a Maryland accident case against two different defendants? Generally, the answer is no. But, n Maryland, the policy against double recovery does not apply when a judgment against the original negligent part for the original tort only has been satisfied, at least when the subsequent tortfeasor has not been joined in that suit.
Our Maryland traffic lawyers handle serious injury car accident cases. Our firm does not defend Maryland traffic accident defendants nor do we handle soft tissue injury claims. But our law firm does handle serious injury accident claims in Maryland. If you would like more information or have a question about your case, call 800-553-8082 or get a free online consultation.
Our law firm is handling more car accident cases in Howard County/Columbia in recent months. If you have been injured in a car accident in the Ellicott City/Columbia area call 410-553-6000 get a free online consultation for your accident claim.
What does a fracture leg case settle for in a settlement with the insurance company? According to one study, the average verdict at trial in a fracture leg lawsuit is $470,887. While this is not an average settlement number because it represents verdicts not settlements, it is a lens to settlement value. Still, every case is different.
Cell phone related accident statistics are pretty amazing: 342,000 auto accident injuries and $43 billion each year in property damage, lost wages, medical bills and fatalities. Some statistics suggest that there are over 2,500 cell phone car accident related deaths in 2009.
Trying to put 342,000 accidents in perspective is mind numbing. You cannot help but wonder, given the improvements in technology and driver education and and safety, if all the talk would be how much safer road travel now is if it wasn't for cell phones. Technology is giving to us... and taking away.
Let's assume this study is exaggerating the impact of cell phone usage on car accident and the number is really 200,000. Is using a cell phone while driving really worth 200,000 car accidents.
The moral of the story is that tough cell phone usage laws, while incredibly inconvenient for all of us, would decrease the death toll on our nation's highways. It would cause a lot of car accident lawyers to lose their jobs and, ironically, I think this would be a great thing.
- Car Accident Lawsuits (an overview)
- Does Hands Free Help Prevent Car Accident (surprising answer)
- Texting While Driving (new Maryland law)
We often get calls from clients wanting to bring a legal malpractice claim because their lawyer foolishly recommended settlement. A part of the reason why there are so many claims in this regard is that some lawyers do not want to try cases and will recommend a settlement in cases where a lawsuit would maximize the value of the claim.
In order to state a cause of action for legal malpractice in Maryland, the claim must be based on a recommendation that a case be, or not be, settled, the injury victim's legal malpractice lawyer is required to specifically allege that the prior attorney's recommendation for settlement was one that no reasonable lawyer would have taken under the circumstances. This law, regrettably, gives lawyers who wrongfully push clients to settle a pass.
