Maryland and DC Personal Injury Attorney

This is all that the law of Maryland and the District of Columbia requires, it is important to hire a trial lawyer who understands that juries sometimes hold a Plaintiff to a higher standard than the law requires. Further, though most of Eric’s cases settle before a lawsuit is filed or—if a lawsuit is filed—before a case goes to trial, Eric has found that thinking about and preparing his cases as if each one will go to trial is the best way to maximize his clients’ cases. As an experienced trial lawyer who tries cases every year and a former adjunct professor of trial advocacy at GW Law School, Eric is extremely qualified to do this.

Car Accidents

Many car accidents occur in Maryland and the District of Columbia each year. Maryland follows a fault system, and you can sue an at-fault driver for damages if you are injured. The Maryland Rules of the Road may help determine who was at fault in an accident. However, there are situations that are more complicated, especially when more than one person or entity may have been at fault. In some cases, it is necessary to hire an accident reconstruction expert. If a personal injury attorney in Maryland succeeds in establishing liability (fault), an accident victim can recover compensatory damages for their economic and non-economic losses caused by the accident. The District of Columbia also follows a fault system, but citizens of the District who are injured in car accidents in the District may have to elect between using the fault system or choosing to use their Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits from their own insurance policy.

Truck Accidents

Truck accidents are often devastating. Trucks can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds, which means that people in smaller vehicles or on foot are at risk of catastrophic injuries or even death in the event that they are struck by a commercial truck. Truck accidents can involve squeeze plays, jackknifing, overloading, drunk driving, fatigued driving, or mechanical malfunctions, among other issues. It is important to look at the various factors that contributed to a truck accident. In some cases, it may be appropriate to hold a trucking company, a third-party loader, or a manufacturer accountable.

Bicycle Accidents

Bicycles are treated like other vehicles in Maryland. There are important exceptions to this in the District of Columbia. For the most part, they must abide by the same laws as motor vehicles. Yet there is little that stands between a bicyclist and the force of a collision with a larger vehicle. If you are injured in a bicycle accident due to the negligence of the driver of a larger vehicle, you may be able to sue the driver of the larger vehicle. In most cases, your Maryland or District of Columbia personal injury attorney will need to establish the driver’s negligence.

Pedestrian Accidents

If you are a pedestrian in an accident that involves a larger vehicle, the injuries may be life-altering. It is crucial to work with an attorney who understands the full scope of the damages to which you may be entitled. After a pedestrian accident, you will need to show that the driver did not use reasonable care under the circumstances. You may be able to show a breach of the duty to use reasonable care if, for example, the driver who struck you was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, failed to yield to you at a designated crosswalk, disobeyed traffic signals, or was distracted. However, it is important to consider any non-obvious factors that might have contributed to a pedestrian accident. For example, a pedestrian accident might have occurred because a property owner did not repair a dangerous condition on the property that obstructed a driver’s view.

Premises Liability and Slip and Falls

You may be able to bring a premises liability lawsuit if you are injured on somebody else’s property. Maryland and District of Columbia property owners are required to take reasonable steps to keep their property safe. They should inspect for dangerous conditions on the property and either make repairs or issue warnings. If they do not, they may be held accountable with the assistance of a personal injury lawyer who practices in Maryland or the District. For example, if you slip in a grocery store and break a leg, you may be able to bring a premises liability lawsuit against the grocery store owner.

Inadequate Security and Sexual Assaults

Property owners and managers also owe a duty to keep their property free of dangers such as sexual assaults and other criminal activities that could result in injuries or death. Each state has its own rules regarding negligent security. If you were injured because the security measures taken by a property owner or landlord were not reasonable under the circumstances, such that the environment was ripe for criminal activities, and your injuries resulted from a criminal activity, you may be able to pursue compensation by bringing a premises security lawsuit. The issue will be whether the criminal attack that caused your injuries should have been foreseen by the property owner, such that better lighting or greater security should have been implemented.

Medical Malpractice

When you go to the doctor, you trust that you will be diagnosed and treated appropriately. Unfortunately, doctors and other health care providers sometimes make mistakes that cause injuries. In order to establish medical malpractice and recover damages, your Maryland or District of Columbia personal injury lawyer will need to show that the defendant’s conduct fell below the professional standard of care, causing you harm. These standards often differ depending on whether the malpractice took place in Maryland or the District. In Maryland, there are a number of procedural hoops through which a plaintiff must jump in order to maintain the case. For example, within 90 days of filing a medical malpractice complaint, you will need to file a certificate of merit from a qualified medical expert. The District of Columbia has its own procedural hoops for medical malpractice cases.

Products Liability

Unfortunately, some manufacturers put unreasonably dangerous products on the market. If you are harmed by a defective product, you may be able to recover damages by bringing a product liability lawsuit. Dangerous products could include a defective airbag system, medical equipment with defective instructions or warnings, or kitchen equipment that explodes. There are three types of actionable defects. These are design defects, manufacturing defects, and marketing defects. In Maryland and the District of Columbia, you may be able to recover damages from a manufacturer under theories of strict liability, negligence, or breach of warranty.

Fire and Explosion Injuries

Fires and explosions can result in devastating burns and scars, or even death. Burn injuries are often quite expensive. They may necessitate skin grafting, long-term hospitalization, psychological counseling for trauma, and rehabilitation. The circumstances will dictate which remedies may be available and which elements must be proven. When these injuries occur on the job, workers’ compensation benefits may be the appropriate remedy vis-à-vis the employer. But when a fire or explosion occurs on a construction or industrial site where multiple separate entities and individuals are present, a personal injury lawyer practicing in Maryland or the District may look at whether other parties may have been responsible for the accident.

Wrongful Death

You may be able to sue someone who was responsible for your loved one’s death. The Maryland Wrongful Death statute allows surviving family members to recover compensation for the loss of their loved one if their loss was a result of another party’s wrongful acts. The family’s right to recover damages in a wrongful death action is separate from the right of the decedent’s estate to recover damages in a survival action. The District of Columbia does not allow for certain wrongful death damages. It is best to discuss this with an experienced lawyer.

Local Counsel

The Stravitz Law Firm provides local counsel services throughout most of Maryland and in the District of Columbia. Mr. Stravitz is a seasoned trial lawyer, and he can make suggestions beyond those related to compliance with local procedures and practices. He can act as local counsel in lawsuits in Maryland Circuit Courts, the Federal District Court in Baltimore and Greenbelt, and D.C.’s Superior Court and Federal District Court. Mr. Stravitz has served as trusted local counsel for more than 15 years. In addition to handling personal injury lawsuits, he has also served as lead counsel for breach of contract, defamation, subrogation, and insurance coverage disputes.

Consult an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney in Maryland

Often, victims feel overwhelmed by catastrophic injuries. It is difficult to make crucial decisions that could affect your entire life while also dealing with serious and permanent injuries. The Stravitz Law Firm is dedicated to navigating the complicated legal system for our clients, bringing skill, wisdom, guidance, and strength. Each of our clients has a one-on-one relationship with Mr. Stravitz and remains well informed about necessary actions and decisions. Mr. Stravitz handles cases in many areas of Maryland and in Washington, D.C. Contact us at 240-467-5741 or via our online form.