A bankruptcy is an opportunity for a family or business to undergo a financial “reboot.” It can bring relief for the kind of crushing financial burdens that create stress and anxiety.

Depending on the type of bankruptcy claim you are filing, you could either have some of your existing debt forgiven or be put on a manageable repayment plan. In either scenario, you have the opportunity for a fresh start to rebuild your finances.

It is essential to recognize that merely accumulating a certain amount of debt does not guarantee bankruptcy approval. It has to be approved by a bankruptcy court after a detailed filing process.

That’s why you’ll benefit from speaking with an experienced Baltimore bankruptcy attorney, such as those you’ll find at Belsky & Horowitz, LLC. We have helped many clients navigate the complexities of filing for bankruptcy approval.

When a major piece of art goes up for auction, it is typically sold for significantly more value than when it was originally purchased. That is a clear example of how an item goes up in value the longer it is owned. That is not the case with most cars. The value of your vehicle began depreciating the moment you drove it off the dealer’s lot.

Overall, your car’s value is determined by some of the following factors:

• Mileage
• Condition
• Color
• Options and add-ons
• Where you reside
• Accident history

How much your car is worth at the time of an accident will determine the level of compensation you can receive from a claim. What does it mean if your car was totaled? That will be the final determination about the post-accident value of your car.

Having insurance protects you from being financially drained in the event of an unforeseen harmful incident. That holds true when you have policies for your health, your home, and your car. Automobile insurance goes one step further by providing protection to victims of accidents that were not their fault. In Maryland, those protections became mandatory in 1972 when the state began requiring all car owners to carry auto insurance.

Of course, just because there is a mandate does not mean every driver has insurance. What happens if you get into an accident with a driver who doesn’t have a policy? That is where your uninsured motorist policy gets activated. That is also a mandatory policy in Maryland, but some options and waivers can be applied to your policy that will either diminish or enhance your protection.

Tire defects may not be something you think much about when traveling on the road. However, they can play a significant role in car accidents.

These tire defects can cause the car to lose control and veer into other vehicles or stationary objects.

In many cases, the responsible party is not the driver of the vehicle, but whoever designed, manufactured, or installed the product.

How common are tire defects? We will look at this issue and what you can do if you have suffered damages in an incident.

Vehicle airbags are designed to save lives. In many car accidents, they do exactly that.

Unfortunately, when it is engaged, an airbag can cause injuries rather than prevent them. Whether from a defect, improper deployment, or the sheer force of impact, these injuries can lead to serious medical problems and financial burdens.

If you were injured by an airbag, you may wonder if you can get compensation, and the answer is yes… in certain situations.

It should come as no surprise that medical expenses are the leading cause of personal bankruptcies.

According to some estimates, up to 58% of the individuals who have filed for bankruptcy did so because of exorbitant medical bills. The stress over unpaid medical bills can directly impact a person’s ability to recover from their injuries. What happens if there is a bankruptcy ruling along with approval for a workers’ compensation claim? Will one cancel out the other?  

Since the early 1900s, every state has instituted some form of protection for its workers in the form of a workers’ compensation insurance program. This type of insurance is paid by the employer to provide compensation for medical expenses and lost wages for any employee injured on the job.

The keyword here is “employee.” Does workers’ compensation cover independent contractors?

The short answer is “no,” as stipulated by the Maryland Workers’ Compensation, an independent contractor is not entitled to receive benefits from workers’ compensation insurance. However, these potential claims can become complicated when the employer intentionally misidentifies their worker.

They could claim an employer is an independent contractor when, in reality, they would be considered an actual employee. These are the instances where the counsel from the attorneys at Belsky & Horowitz, LLC, can be a big help.

When you think of workers’ compensation, you often picture physical injuries. Sometimes, workers can suffer injuries on the job that aren’t as easy to see.

What if the harm you suffer on the job is mental or emotional? Does workers’ compensation cover mental illness?

If you’re struggling with a work-related mental health issue, here’s what you need to know about your rights and options for workers’ compensation.

Getting hurt at work can turn your world upside down. Following a workplace accident, you’re left juggling doctor visits, missing paychecks, and worrying about whether you can keep your job.

That’s a lot to handle.

Fortunately, Maryland’s workers’ compensation system is designed to help you during this crisis. But the truth is, even a small mistake in the process can delay your benefits or, worse, cause your claim to be denied.

What mistakes should you avoid when filing a workers’ comp claim? If you’ve been injured on the job in Maryland, you need to know what not to do.

The following are the most common pitfalls with workers’ compensation claims.

The passing of a loved one because of a work-related injury or illness can leave an emotional and financial hole in its wake. While nothing can replace the person you’ve lost, Maryland’s workers’ compensation system offers financial help to support the surviving family members.

What do workers’ compensation death benefits cover? In this blog, we will explain the benefits available under Maryland’s workers’ compensation program.