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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?

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).

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insurance policy limitIf 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.

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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.

Why Was the Disability Appeal Denied?

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.

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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.

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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. 

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Within the United States, Progressive Auto Insurance is one of the largest insurance companies, holding over 10 million policies and growing. They stand along the lines of other insurers, such as State Farm, Allstate, Nationwide Insurance, Farmers Insurance, and USAA.

Progressive offers policies to individuals for automobiles, motorcycles, boats, and even recreational vehicles. Known best by their advertising campaigns sporting a quirky saleswoman, Progressive wants to be known to consumers as just that – a “progressive” insurance company.

Progressive Claims in Maryland

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Tire regrooving is a service that intends to improve vehicle mileage, fuel efficiency, and traction. Truck drivers, construction workers, and farmers often regroove tires to cut costs. It allows them to maximize tire use, eliminating the need for new tires. Regrooving tires involve carving a tire’s grooves to restore tread depth and improve friction. Car mechanics use either a handheld tool or a regrooving machine to do this. Tire regrooving is resurging because of increased fuel and tire manufacturing costs. But a regroove tire comes with real risks.  The result is sometimes a personal injury case that makes it to a courtroom.

How Do Regrooved or Retreaded Tires Work?

Regrooved tires, also known as retreaded tires, are tires that have had their worn-out treads removed and replaced with new tread material. This process extends the life of a tire, allowing it to be used again after it has been worn down.

Regrooving is typically performed on truck tires, as they are subjected to heavy loads and high mileage, making them expensive to replace. By retreading tires, a significant portion of the tire’s original structure is still intact, including the casing, belts, and sidewalls.

The process of regrooving involves removing the worn-out tread down to the tire’s base, which is then inspected for any damage. If the casing is in good condition, a new layer of tread material is applied to the tire and cured, usually through a combination of heat and pressure. The finished product is then ready to be used again, providing a cost-effective alternative to buying a new tire.

What federal laws cover tire regrooving?

Tire regrooving is subject to federal regulations.  Specifically, 49 CFR Section 569.3(c) defines a “regroovable tire” as tires that are “designed, and constructed with sufficient material to permit renewal of the tread pattern.” This means tires can only be legally regrooved if they have enough rubber to maintain its original tread pattern. Non-commercial vehicle tires are not regroovable because they are too thin to preserve its tread pattern.

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Workplace injuries are a fact of modern life and many workers get injured on the job every day in Maryland. But most workers, even those in high-risk fields, do not spend a lot of their free time preparing personal game-plans for what to do if they get hurt on the job. This mentality is easy to understand, but it can be detrimental.

If you suffer a work-related injury, knowing what to do and, more importantly, what not to do can have a big impact on your ability to get compensation.

Maryland’s workers’ compensation is a complex legal scheme designed to help employees who have been injured on the job. But that is easier said than done.  Navigating the process can be like walking through a minefield for many victims.  Too many workers’ compensation victims make mistakes that can negatively impact their claims.

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Consider the following common scenario. One morning while you are driving to work, you slow down for traffic on I-95 and get rear-ended by the car behind you. Your car is a mangled mess.

At first, you feel fine physically. You even make it into your office and work a full day. You go to be still feeling fine and counting yourself lucky. Then in the middle of the night, you suddenly wake up with shooting pain in your neck and shoulder.

By morning, the pain is so bad that you can barely get out of bed let alone go to work. Your spouse takes you to the local urgent care facility. Nothing is broken, but the doctor says you may have suffered a herniated disc in the car accident. He also says you probably tore your rotator cuff. You spend the next 3 months in and out of various doctor offices undergoing escalating treatment efforts to stop the debilitating pain in your back and shoulder. You end up missing almost 4 months from work and racking up thousands in medical bills.

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So many of our clients call knowing they need a Maryland personal injury lawyer to handle their claim. Their focus is simply that I think I will get more money in my pocket and less fear of getting ripped off if I hire the best lawyer I can.

Let me explain generally what we do.  As a personal injury lawyer, I help clients who have been injured due to the negligence or intentional actions of another person or entity. My job is to represent the interests of my clients and help them recover compensation for their losses, including medical expenses, lost income, and damages for pain and suffering.

So if you are reading this before you call a lawyer, you will have some idea of what we do and what we will do for you as we advance your claim forward to settlement or trial.

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