Car Accidents

Auto Accident Attorneys in Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC

If you or a family member or friend has been injured as a result of an auto accident, call the Schupak Law Firm at 240-833-3914 now for a FREE CONSULTATION.

At the Schupak Law Firm we have decades of experience handling thousands of auto accident cases in Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC. We have achieved great success for our clients, winning some of the largest verdicts and settlements in the Washington DC metropolitan area.

We Have Recovered Over MILLIONS in Verdicts and Settlements for Our Clients

Our successful track record is a result of our unwavering commitment to vigorously represent each and every client to achieve the highest possible result in each auto accident case. We are experts at valuing cases. You can trust that we will relentlessly pursue your rights from the beginning to the end.

Why Choose The Schupak Law Firm to Represent You in an Auto Accident?

We understand that involvement in an auto accident case is a stressful and traumatic event that deeply impacts a client’s life. We appreciate and understand that our client’s rely on us to guide them through the complicated and complex legal process and to vigorously advocate on their behalf so they can focus on their health, family and job. Unlike many attorneys who never or rarely see the inside of a courtroom, we have tried many cases which gives us leverage with insurance companies because they know that will not hesitate to take a case to trial if we feel that they are not offering a fair and equitable settlement. Having handled many cases throughout Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC, we are also quite familiar with the nuances and legal differences in all three jurisdictions.

Most accident victims will not be thinking clearly after a car accident because they are overwhelmed dealing with their injuries and may remain in shock. Insurance companies will do everything they can to get you to settle the case as quickly as possible for the least amount because this is in their best interest – not yours. They will attempt to persuade you to settle the case before you’ve had time to adequately deal with and treat your injuries or weigh your options. Although the insurance company will be polite and appear as if they genuinely want to help you, legal counsel is critical to ensure your rights are protected. The after shock of an accident may prevent you from clearly thinking about what is in your best interest.

Contact The Schupak Law Firm Today

You have nothing to lose by calling us for a FREE CONSULTATION. You PAY NOTHING unless we recover. Let us use our decades of experience and proven track record of success to help you.

Protect your rights. Contact the Schupak Law Firm today so we can level the playing field in your favor.

Top Reasons to Contact The Schupak Law Firm if You’ve Been in an Auto Accident

• You Pay Nothing Unless We Recover
• We Will Get Maximum Compensation for Your Injuries
• We Have Recovered Millions of Dollars for Our Clients
• We Have a Proven Track Record of Success
• We Have Decades of Experience
• We Will Relentlessly Pursue Your Case so You Can Focus on Your Recovery

Legal Responsibility-Negligence

With millions of cars on the road it’s no wonder that auto accidents happen every single day. Most car accidents are caused by the careless behavior of the driver. Under the law we must prove that a careless driver was “negligent” by showing that the driver failed to behave in a way that a reasonable person would have behaved. When a driver is careless and injures someone else as the result of their carelessness, then under the law that person was “negligent” and consequently, legally responsible.

In a car accident case, the person who was injured is referred to as the plaintiff and the driver or person who is sued is called the defendant. In order for the Plaintiff to be successful in a lawsuit against the defendant, they must prove the four elements of negligence:

• Duty: The plaintiff must prove that the defendant owed a duty of care to the plaintiff. A driver has a duty to drive safely following traffic laws, not driving recklessly and maintaining a proper lookout for other drivers and pedestrians
• Breach The plaintiff must prove that the defendant breached his/her duty of care by failing to act as a reasonable person would have acted under the same circumstances. When a driver drives recklessly or fails to follow traffic laws and other driving laws, they have breached their duty of care
• Causation The plaintiff must prove that the defendant’s breach of his/her duty of care caused the plaintiff harm/damages. It is the plaintiff’s burden of proof to show that a driver who drove their vehicle in a reckless manner was the direct and proximate cause of your injuries.
• Harm The plaintiff must suffer harm as a result of the defendant’s breach of their duty. When the plaintiff suffers harm, also referred to as damages, in the form of injuries and costs, then under the law, the defendant was negligent and the plaintiff is entitled to damages as a result of the defendant’s reckless behavior.

Types of Auto Accidents The Schupak Law Firm Handles

If it is possible and your injuries are not life threatening, below is a list of post accident steps to follow:

What to Do After a Car Accident

• If possible, move your car to a safe area
• Check to make sure other passengers and pedestrians are not hurt. If anyone is injured, call 911.
• If there are significant injuries and or property damage, call police to the scene to obtain a police accident report but do not admit fault or blame others – simply tell the police what happened and allow them to write up the report
• Gather and exchange information including names, numbers, drivers’ license numbers, license plate number, insurance information, witness information, location of the accident, name of responding officer(s) and their badge number(s)
• Don’t comment on whose fault it may be even if you believe at the time that it was your fault. Making statements such as “my brakes weren’t working properly” or “I’m sorry I shouldn’t have tried to make that turn” can be used against you as evidence of negligence. Remember, when you are in a car accident, you will most likely be suffering from shock and not able to think clearly so it’s best not to make any rash or impulsive statements at the time of the accident
• Take photos of the scene
• Contact your insurance company to file a claim
• Seek medical attention
• Keep track of medical treatments and medications you receive
• Before you settle with your insurance company, call the Schupak Law Firm for a FREE CONSULTATION to find out whether you have a claim worth pursuing to maximize your recovery

Causes of Car Accidents and Types of Car Crashes

A car accident can happen to anyone and they happen in all different situations. The attorneys at The Schupak Law Firm will help determine who was at fault and what compensation is available by evaluating the resulting property damage and seriousness of the injuries. Every accident has a different set of circumstances caused by a different set of facts. The manner in which an accident occurs depends on a variety of factors and how vehicles collide with other vehicles, pedestrians and objects.

Call the Schupak Law Firm today to make sure you get the best representation and recover the maximum compensation.

• Head on collisions are when 2 vehicles collide head on into one another and tend to involve the most serious injuries. They can often be fatal due to the traumatic impact and force of the collision.
• Rear end collisions are a common type of vehicle accident and involve the collision of one vehicle into the back (or rear end) of another vehicle. Rear end collisions are caused by many different factors including: tailgating, distracted driving, bad weather conditions, road defects, or the sudden appearance of objects on the road like animals, debris, or children/pedestrians that cause the front car to stop suddenly. The most common injury in a rear end accident is Whiplash . Whiplash is a term to describe pain and stiffness in the neck and shoulder area that occurs when the neck, shoulder, and spine suddenly and violently move or snap beyond their normal range. Sometimes whiplash is referred to as hyperextension. Back injuries can also result from rear end collisions even of the collision happens at low speeds as the spine can compress the disks located in your lower back. Resulting pain can be long lasting and severe. Many rear end vehicle accidents occur at low speeds, even less than 20 miles per hour. Frontal airbags are designed to deploy in moderate to severe frontal crashes of 14 miles per hour. Therefore, if a driver is involved in a slow speed rear end collision, their injuries may result from hitting the steering wheel and involve the breakage of face bones including the nose, cheek bone or jawbone. Further you can also suffer eye damage with a detached retina.
• Side impact collisions are also referred to as “ T-bone collisions ” or “ broadside collisions ” and can be very serious. Injuries that result from a side impact collisions may include head injuries, back and neck injuries, eardrum damage, shoulder injuries, whiplash and leg injuries. Research has shown that even at low speeds, side impact collisions can cause serious injuries to the passengers of the impacted vehicle. Many side impact collisions are caused by failing to stop at an intersection, running a red light or failing to yield.

There are many causes of car accidents but distracted driving has become an epidemic with devastating consequences.

• Distracted Driving/Cell Phone Use and Texting has become the number one cause of accidents in the US. A distracted driver is the a driver who diverts their attention from driving to some other activity such as texting, talking on the phone, eating food, looking for something in their car, or applying makeup. There are 3 main types of distraction – 1) visual – taking your eyes off the road; 2) manual- taking your hands off the wheel and 3) cognitive-taking your mind off driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 80 percent of auto accidents are caused by some form of driver distraction. Driving is serious business and in order to safely operate a vehicle, you must devote 100% of your attention to the task at hand-safely operating your car. The statistics are staggering. Although 98% of adults say that they know texting and driving is unsafe, 49% admit to engaging in this practice. It is estimated that a minimum of 26% of total crashes involve drivers talking and/or texting on cell phones.

Other Causes of Auto Accidents Include:

• Speeding
• Drunk Driving
• Reckless Driving
• Bad Weather Rain/Ice/Snow/Fog
• Night Driving
• Design Defects
• Tailgating
• Wrong-Way Driving/Improper Turns
• Teenage Drivers
• Drugs
• Road Defects/Potholes
• Tire Blowouts
• Animal Crossings
• Constructions Sites
• Running Red Lights and Stop Signs
• Snow/Ice
• Unsafe Lane Changes
• Road Rage
• Drowsy Driving
• Deadly Curves
• Animal Crossings
• Street Racing
• Loose Objects in Car
• Police Car Chases

Types of Car Accident Injuries

Car accident injuries can vary greatly and depend on the severity of the crash. Some of the most common injuries include:

• wrongful death when a serious auto accident results in a fatality or death, the victim’s survivors may file a lawsuit on behalf of the deceased. In these types of cases, in particular, you need an attorney with a proven track record of success in handling wrongful death cases like the Schupak Law Firm.
• back and neck are common injuries as a result of a vehicle crash caused by the violent and sudden stop of the vehicle. This violent and sudden stop often results in compression of your spine and the disks located in the l ower back area, sometimes referred to as “herniation.”
• whiplash is also referred to as hyperextension or hyperflexion and is caused by the sudden snapping of your neck, shoulders and spine including muscles, ligaments and tendons beyond their normal range. The National Safety Council reports that 20 percent of rear end collisions result in whiplash injuries. Pain caused my whiplash can last more than a year and be extremely agonizing.
• head and face injuries can result from the rapid force of an airbag deployment or even when an airbag doesn’t deploy, if you hit your face against the steering wheel and fracture facial bones like a nose, cheekbone or jawbone.
• lacerations , contusions and abrasions are common injuries as a result of a vehicle crash and are usually less serious injuries.
• seatbelt injuries are a result of being thrust forward as a result of a violent impact causing lacerations, bruising and abrasions to your hip, chest and torso areas.
• spinal cord injuries motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries in people under the age of 65. The spinal cord or the vertebrae contains nerves that connect a person’s brain with other parts of the body. An injury to this area can be extremely serious as it can impede messages to other parts of the body causing the person to lose some or all of the ability to control movement and sensation which is referred to as paralysis. Spinal cord injuries are among the most serious of auto accident injuries and can have life long debilitating consequences.
• knee injuries often result from car accidents such as a side door or rear end collision that causes damage to the patella, the meniscus, or other ligaments like the ACL or the MCL, in the knee.
• hip displacement injuries are often the result from side collision accidents because the hip joint often takes the side door impact and the hip joint is then susceptible to socket dislocation and fracture.
• traumatic brain injuries
• herniated disks and spinal compression injuries are a result of collisions where the force of the impact ruptures the disks around the spinal cord.

What Compensation Am I Entitled to?

• Lost wages and income
• Past, current and future medical expenses
• Physical pain and suffering
• Permanent Disability
• Property Damage
• Loss of extremity
• Emotional Distress
• Inability to have children
• Loss of consortium or companionship
• Punitive Damages

Types of Car Insurance That Covers Personal Injury Claims

• The negligent driver’s bodily injury liability coverage – this applies when it was the the driver’s fault
• Personal Injury Protection PIP is also called no fault insurance and will pay for your medical costs, up to the policy’s limits, even if you were at fault.
• Medical payments coverage this pays for medical expenses regardless of fault and is similar to PIO insurance but unlike PIP it does not cover lost income, funeral expenses and losS of services, it only pays for medical payments
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage this pays for your bodily injury expense if your been the victim of a hit and run or hit by a driver who doesn’t have insurance or limits too low to meet your expenses