Brandywine, Maryland Car Accident Attorneys

Lawyers Addressing Negligence in Brandywine Car Accident Cases

People across Maryland can suffer serious injuries in car accidents. The majority of the time, these accidents are caused by drivers who violate traffic laws or act negligently. In and around Brandywine, roadways like U.S. Route 301 and Maryland Route 5 carry heavy volumes of traffic. Whether it takes place on a busy highway or a local road, a single careless act by a driver can result in a devastating collision. In these situations, injury victims may be unsure about their options and how they can address the losses and damages they have experienced.

At Farmer & Klopfer, our attorneys work to protect the rights of car accident victims. We can investigate crashes, build a thorough case for an injury victim, handle negotiations with insurance companies, and fight to recover the compensation our clients need. With our compassionate approach and our experience representing clients in these cases, we work to ensure that our clients can focus on their recovery without experiencing ongoing financial problems.

Why Distracted Driving Is an Increasing Factor in Car Accidents

In the 21st century, distracted driving has become one of the most serious road safety problems affecting people in Maryland and throughout the United States. Smartphones have become a constant presence in most people's daily lives, and the temptation to use phones or other devices while behind the wheel has caused many people to engage in unsafe behavior that can lead to car accidents.

Distracted driving may involve many other activities aside from smartphone use, and these distractions may include:

Visual Distractions

A visual distraction is anything that causes a driver to take their eyes off the road. Reading or sending a text message is a dangerous example of this type of distraction. Other visual distractions may include looking at navigation apps or turning around to look in the back seat.

Manual Distractions

Manual distractions cause a driver to remove one or both hands from the steering wheel. This can affect their control of their vehicle and lead to an accident. Eating and drinking while driving, adjusting the radio or climate controls, reaching for objects on the floor, and handling a phone can make it impossible to respond in time to sudden hazards.

Cognitive Distractions

Cognitive distractions involve a driver focusing their mind on something other than the road. A driver who is talking on the phone while using a hands-free device may be distracted, even if they are looking at the road and keeping their hands on the wheel. Other issues may also cause a person to lose focus on driving, such as daydreaming.

Speeding and Traffic Violations That Can Lead to Car Crashes

Traffic violations of all kinds can create dangerous conditions on the road. Drivers may be held responsible for committing violations that lead to accidents.

The Dangers of Speeding

Speed limits are put in place to prevent driving at unsafe speeds. When drivers violate speed limits, they may not have enough time to react to hazards, and they may not have enough space to stop before colliding with another vehicle that has slowed down, a pedestrian who is crossing the road, or another hazard.

Running Red Lights and Stop Signs

Intersections are among the most dangerous locations on any road. A driver who runs a red light or blows through a stop sign may crash into another vehicle before the other driver has any chance to anticipate and avoid the collision. These crashes may involve a T-bone impact, which is one of the most dangerous types of collisions due to the injuries that can affect people on the side of a vehicle that is struck by another car or truck.

Failure to Yield

Drivers are required to yield the right of way in a variety of situations — when merging onto a highway, when making a left turn across oncoming traffic, and when a pedestrian is in or approaching a crosswalk, among others. A failure to yield is a traffic violation that places others in immediate danger, and when it leads to a crash, the driver who failed to yield is typically responsible for the resulting injuries.

Improper Lane Changes, Tailgating, and Other Violations

When drivers change lanes without signaling, they may cut off other drivers or force another vehicle off the road. When a person follows too closely behind another vehicle, they may not have enough time to stop before a rear-end collision occurs. Other violations of traffic laws may also lead to dangerous accidents, such as illegal turns or illegal passing.

Driving Under the Influence

When a person has been drinking alcohol or using drugs, their ability to drive safely will be seriously impaired. Issues such as increased reaction times, poor coordination, and vision impairments can lead to drunk driving accidents. An intoxicated driver may be held liable for the injuries caused when they are involved in a collision.

Building a Case After a Car Accident

A successful car accident claim will often depend on gathering the right evidence, presenting it effectively, and responding to strategies that insurance companies may use to reduce or deny claims. Our lawyers can assist with:

Securing Evidence From the Scene

We can act quickly to obtain police reports that document an officer's observations about the causes of an accident. We can also gather evidence such as dashcam footage, traffic and security camera recordings, and photographs of vehicle damage, skid marks, and road conditions. We can act quickly to preserve physical evidence before repairs are made, the accident scene is cleaned up, and video footage is deleted.

Identifying and Interviewing Witnesses

People who saw a crash can provide testimony about what happened and who was responsible. Our team can identify witnesses, obtain their contact information, and get statements about what they observed before their memories fade.

Working with Accident Reconstruction Professionals

If necessary, our lawyers can work with analysts who can examine vehicle damage, road markings, and other evidence to determine how a crash occurred and who was at fault. Reconstructing an accident can help prevent disputes about who was responsible.

Documenting Injuries and Losses

The compensation a person can receive after a car accident case will address their injuries, financial losses, and other ways their life has been affected. Our team can build a thorough record of the damages that have occurred through evidence such as hospital records, treatment notes from doctors, prescriptions, physical therapy records, and more. We will document lost income, reduced earning capacity, and other effects that an injury has had on a person's daily life.

Contact Our Brandywine, MD Car Accident Lawyers

At Farmer & Klopfer, our team can provide the legal representation needed to secure compensation for the injuries and damages that have occurred in a car accident. Contact our Brandywine car accident injury attorneys at 301-843-3890 to schedule a free consultation.