In 1966, the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act required states to implement safety inspections for used vehicles. Eventually, the federal government loosened its power to enforce this provision, and many states rolled back their inspection requirements. However, Maryland retained part of its vehicle safety inspection system.
Car inspection laws in Dundalk, MD, require used vehicles to be inspected before a sale. The goal is to reduce car accidents due to equipment failures. However, the law’s limited scope leaves many unsafe cars on Maryland’s roads. After a crash involving an equipment issue, a Dundalk car accident lawyer from WGK Personal Injury Lawyers fights for fair compensation.
Contact us or you can call us at (410)-970-3080 to schedule a free consultation with one of our Dundalk car accident lawyers.
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How WGK Car Accident Lawyers Can Help After An Accident In Dundalk, MD
WGK Personal Injury Lawyers has represented clients in Dundalk, Maryland, against the people and businesses responsible for harming them since 1977. Our attorneys have over 90 years of combined legal experience. They have used that experience to recover millions of dollars in injury compensation for accident victims like you.
Our firm provides the following legal services after you get injured by someone else’s negligent actions:
- Review your case and identify your options for seeking compensation
- Gather evidence for your case from doctors and witnesses
- Prepare your insurance claim and negotiate with the insurer
- File a lawsuit to take your case to court when we cannot settle your claim
A car accident can result in severe injuries and significant financial losses. Contact WGK Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation with a Dundalk car accident attorney to discuss your losses and the compensation you may seek under Maryland law.
What Determines The Value Of My Car Accident Case?
The value of a car accident claim depends on the severity of your injuries. Injuries that cause long-term or permanent disabilities are worth more than those that will heal. Similarly, injuries that have a greater impact on your life are worth more than those with negligible effects.
What Compensation Can I Recover In A Car Accident Claim?
Accident victims can seek compensation for economic and non-economic losses. Economic losses include income losses and medical expenses. Non-economic losses cover the diminishment in your quality of life from your injuries.
For example, a brain injury might prevent you from returning to work and cause anxiety about your future without a job. You can seek compensation for both types of losses.
How Much Does A Car Accident Lawyer Charge?
Injury lawyers typically charge a contingency fee calculated as a percentage of the compensation secured by the lawyer. If the lawyer recovers nothing, you pay no legal costs. Instead, you only pay a fee if the lawyer wins or settles your case.
Can I Get Compensated If The Other Driver Blames Me For A Maryland Car Accident?
Unlike most states, victims who played even a minuscule role in causing their injuries cannot recover any compensation from the at-fault party. Thus, your lawyer will fight to explain away any actions that might have contributed to your crash.
What Are Some Common Car Accident Injuries?
The injuries from an equipment-related crash will depend on what happened. For example, if a vehicle’s brakes fail and hit you in a rear-end collision, you might suffer a concussion, whiplash, and chest bruises from whipping forward and backward.
What Equipment Failures Cause Car Accidents In Dundalk, MD?
Maryland is one of the few states that still conducts vehicle safety inspections. However, the state does not require annual inspections. Instead, it only mandates inspections when used cars are sold or transferred.
In a typical used car sale, the seller must have the vehicle inspected. If it passes, the seller receives an inspection certificate. If it fails, the seller cannot sell or transfer the car until they fix the problem. Some common issues that cause both inspection failures and car accidents include the following:
- Worn tires
- Broken or missing wheel lugs or lug nuts
- Defective brakes
- Malfunctioning steering
- Nonfunctional headlights and signal lamps
While Maryland’s inspection system catches many unsafe cars before they reach a new owner, it cannot identify vehicles that deteriorate or develop problems after a sale. As a result, you can still get hit by a car due to failing equipment.
What Is The Deadline To File A Car Accident Lawsuit In Maryland?
Maryland has a three-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. Although this might seem like a long time, it can pass more quickly than you think. You should speak to a lawyer promptly after a crash to begin preparing your case.
What Steps Should I Take After A Car Collision?
You should call the police after all injury crashes. They’ll investigate and produce a crash report. Also, carefully record the condition of both vehicles if the other driver claims an equipment failure caused the collision. Your photos could help an accident reconstruction expert.
Seek medical care for any injuries you suffered. Documenting these will help you prove their cause and prognosis.
Contact Our Dundalk Car Accident Lawyers For A Free Consultation
You may have a legal case even when the other driver blames a mechanical breakdown for hitting you. Contact WGK Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation to discuss your options for seeking compensation for your injuries.
