Dedicated Suburban Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
An injury in a Maryland motorcycle accident is a traumatic event, especially since serious injuries are far more common for motorcyclists than for other motorists. When you are laid up in the hospital due to a motorcycle accident, you need to be concentrating as fully as possible on recovering your health, not on battling a stingy insurance company.
In addition to the shock and pain that inevitably accompanies a personal injury accident, you are likely to face two other concerns – financial distress and a profound sense of injustice. The financial distress mounts as medical bills roll in, while the sense of injustice rises as you realize that the accident was caused by somebody else’s misconduct, not yours. We aim to help you deal with both of these concerns.
Your Personal Injury Claim
A personal injury claim is a legal right to monetary compensation, and it arises when you are hurt in an accident caused by someone else. A claim doesn’t magically turn itself into the cash that you are entitled to, however – that takes dedication, experience, and skill. The motorcycle accident lawyers at Koonz McKenney Johnson & DePaolis LLP, turning claims into cash is what we have been doing every day for 35 years now.
“Can I Afford a Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer?”
If you lack financial resources, you might assume that you can’t afford to hire a law firm. You can afford to hire our personal injury attorneys, however, because we won’t charge you anything unless we win. That means you won’t owe us a dime until the other side pays. Unlike your relationship with the insurance company, which loses a dollar for every dollar it pays you, we are on the same side – the more you make, the more we make.
What Our Clients Say
“We owe so much to Mr. Schloss and you for taking care of us and leading the way when times were tough. Money can’t buy that kind of dedication.” – A Maryland Client
“You have taught me so much about patience and the law. My wife and I both believe you have done an excellent job watching out for our best interests. It’s because of your hard work that we have had about the best year since the start of this whole mess.” – Another Maryland Client
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is lane-splitting legal in Maryland?
No. If you were lane-splitting at the time of the accident, you will have an uphill battle winning your claim, because Maryland bars recovery if you were even one percent at fault for the accident. It might still be possible to prove that your lane-splitting was not negligent (even though it was illegal), or that it did not cause the accident.
What types of damages might I be eligible for?
Maryland offers three possible types of damages:
- Economic Damages: Medical bills, lost earnings and other financial losses.
- Non-Economic Damages: Intangible damages, such as pain and suffering and mental anguish.
- Punitive Damages: An extra amount designed to punish the defendant for “actual malice.” A “road rage” claim might qualify for punitive damages.
Can I file a lawsuit on behalf of a loved one who died in a motorcycle accident?
You can file a wrongful death claim if you are the spouse, parent or child of the victim. Damages are substantial and are apportioned among the victim’s next of kin, although not necessarily equally.
My motorcycle accident occurred because the other driver turned left in front of me. Whose fault was the accident?
The determination of fault depends on many factors. However, in automobile/motorcycle accidents that occurred while the driver was turning left, the automobile driver is usually held liable. You could still lose your claim, however, if you are judged partly at fault.
What are some examples of automobile driver misconduct that causes motorcycle accidents:
Some of the most common causes are:
- Tailgating;
- Failure to yield;
- Failure to see the motorcycle;
- Texting or driving drunk; and
- Turning left in front of a motorcycle.
Is Maryland a “fault” or a “no-fault” auto insurance state?
Maryland is a “fault” auto insurance state. Your options in the event of an accident that was the other driver’s fault are:
- file a claim against the at-fault driver’s auto insurance policy;
- file a claim against the at-fault driver’s personal assets; or
- seek compensation from your own insurance policy, if its terms allow you to (uninsured motorist insurance, for example).
How can I receive compensation for a “hit and run” accident if the truck driver is never found?
Maryland’s uninsured motorist policy covers hit-and-run accidents. If your damages exceed policy limits, however, you might have trouble locating a source of compensation. Uninsured motorist insurance is not mandatory in Maryland.
You Probably Won’t Have to Go to Court
The ideal resolution to your claim would be a quick and generous out-of-court settlement. Although we cannot absolutely guarantee results in any particular case, we can say that the great majority of our cases are settled out of court (although sometimes only after we file an initial complaint with the court). One of the reasons defendants are so eager to settle with us is that when we do go to court, we usually win.
Let’s Make It Happen Together – Call Our Suburban Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today!
Koonz McKenney Johnson & DePaolis LLP was established for one purpose and one purpose only – to help personal injury victims receive the full compensation they deserve. Our Maryland motorcycle accident and injury lawyers don’t represent insurance companies, only injury victims like you. And it works – over the past 35 years, we recovered more than a billion dollars from our clients, including numerous multi-million dollar recoveries.
The right personal injury law firm can make a huge difference in the amount of compensation that you eventually receive. If you have been injured in a Greenbelt, Maryland motorcycle accident, call us at (301) 830-4344 or simply contact us online for a free case evaluation.