It is axiomatic that wearing a helmet is the single most effective way of reducing head injuries and fatal accidents on motorcycles and bicycles. One study shows that wearing a helmet has been shown to decrease the risk of serious injury on a motorcycle by 70% and decrease the risk of a fatality by 40%.
Wearing a bike helmet is the lowest possible hanging fruit to save lives on motorcycles and bicycles. We are making tons of progress, we just need that progress to continue.
Trampoline injury lawsuits are on the rise because trampolines have really made a comeback. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has firmly stated its opinion: “The trampoline should never be used in home environments or in school physical education classes or outdoor settings or recreational settings.” Yet, in massive numbers, no one follows this advice. Injuries can still occur despite padding and netting.
Trampolines may seem like innocent fun, but they pose a significant risk of injury. These injuries can range from minor sprains and fractures to serious neck and spinal injuries, and in rare cases, can result in death. According to a report from the American Academy of Pediatrics, emergency departments in the United States treat approximately 100,000 trampoline-related injuries annually. These statistics underline the urgent need for increased safety measures and responsible use.
Our lawyers handle serious personal injury accident claims. Although we do not charge a fee for handling property damage claims for our injured clients, we almost invariably are drawn into property damage claims, many of which involve total loss to the vehicle.
In Maryland, a car is considered to be a total loss when the cost of repairing the damage exceeds 75% of its value. This is due to the state’s total-loss threshold, which is a percentage set to determine when a vehicle is considered a total loss. If the repair costs are more than the total-loss threshold, the insurance company will classify the car as totaled.
What Is Total Loss Only? TLO stands for Total Loss Only, which is a term commonly used in insurance investigations. The TLO designation is used to describe a vehicle that has been involved in an accident and is deemed to be a total loss due to the cost of repairs exceeding the actual value of the vehicle. In other words, the insurance company has determined that it would be more cost-effective to declare the vehicle a total loss rather than repair it. The TLO designation is important in insurance investigations as it can impact the amount of compensation an individual is eligible to receive for their vehicle after an accident.
The Baltimore Washington suburban corridor in central Maryland has changed dramatically over the last few decades. The 30 mile stretch along I-95 connecting the two cities has become one of the most densely developed and populated areas in the entire country. This intense suburbanization has generated a massive volume of vehicle traffic and transformed the roadways in central Maryland.
Columbia in Howard County is one of the areas in the Baltimore-Washington corridor that has undergone the most dramatic change during this period. In the early 1990s, Columbia still felt like the isolated “planned community” that it was originally designed to be.
Today, however, Columbia is the second largest town in Maryland with a population of well over 100,000. The volume of vehicle traffic and the nature of the roadways in Columbia have followed a similar pattern of development. What used to be single-lane roads with stop signs have evolved into 4 or even 6-lane commercial routes clogged with traffic lights.
As I’ve written before, we spend a lot of energy trying to track down defendants. Not in most cases. But when our lawyers can’t find someone with relative ease, it can be a big hassle. In 2020, people are moving more quickly and leave fewer tracks when they move.
One effective weapon we have used over the years is Accurint which provides access to over 34 billion current public records that you can utilize to find your man or woman.
Many people researching information on their accident claims in Maryland ask what COMAR is. COMAR is the Code of Maryland Regulations. COMAR regulations are Maryland state agency regulations. You can find all the COMAR regulations here.
What is COMAR and who writes these crazy regulations? COMAR stands for Code of Maryland Regulations. These regulations come from the executive branch of the Maryland government. So they are the governor’s regulations as promulgated by administrative agencies. How do they get the power to make what is essentially state law? Like Congress, the Maryland Legislature delegates some rule-making authority to the executive branch (the governor).
If you have been injured in an accident and you are pursuing a personal injury claim, it is important to know the insurance policy limits of the defendant. The insurance policy limits are the maximum amount that the defendant’s insurance company will pay out for a claim.
When our lawyers get a wrongful death or serious personal injury case, our first concern is insurance coverage. The fear is that you will prove your claim is worth a certain dollar amount. But then you cannot collect because there is inadequate insurance coverage.
How do you find out what the insured’s policy is in a Maryland car accident? In the old days, the only way to get the policy limits was to sue.
When a disability insurance claim is denied, it can be a frustrating and stressful experience, particularly if you’re relying on those benefits to support yourself and your family. Fortunately, there is often an opportunity to appeal the decision and potentially get the benefits you need. However, the appeals process can be complex, and there are many factors that can influence your chances of success.
First and foremost, it’s important to understand the grounds for the denial. Disability insurance policies can be complicated, and there are often a variety of exclusions, limitations, and requirements that must be met in order to qualify for benefits. If your claim was denied because you didn’t meet one of these requirements, or because the insurer believes that your condition isn’t severe enough to qualify for benefits, your chances of success on appeal may be lower.
Back in the old days from 1972 to 1989, insurance companies had to provide PIP insurance with Maryland car insurance policies that provided some measure of coverage for lost wages and medical bills after a car accident regardless of fault. Then the car insurance companies wore down the Maryland legislature and PIP was no longer a requirement. The grand compromise was that car insurance companies would “offer” PIP, but that the insured could waive PIP coverage.
Please note, I’m making all of this up. I was in college at the time and I’m sure even people who were there don’t remember exactly how it happened. But I will bet you it happened just like that.
Anyway, to waive PIP in Maryland, the waiver must be both affirmative and written (although electronic signatures count as “written” in 2010). So a Maryland car insurance company must have a waiver to deny coverage after a car accident. If it has the waiver, it wins. If it does not, it loses.
Most of us have experienced some neck pain or lower back pain in our lives. As a personal injury lawyer who handles car accident cases, I see these complaints all the time. Car accidents exert extreme forces on the human body, particularly the spine.
The neck and lower back are two areas that are commonly injured in accidents because of car crash mechanics. The vertebrae in the neck are called the cervical vertebrae and those in the lower back are called the lumbar vertebrae.
As the car comes to a sudden stop, the body lurches forward and is caught by the seat belt, causing the neck to whip quickly. This is what is commonly known as whiplash.
