Everyone knows that texting and driving is dangerous, but that doesn’t stop negligent drivers from doing it. When a person isn’t fully focused on the road in front of them, the chances of an accident happening skyrocket. While most states have bans on texting and driving, state laws don’t always seem to be a strong enough deterrent.

Wireless companies are well aware of the problem, as many of them have instituted safe driving campaigns to discourage distracted driving. Those companies, however, may be able to do more. Let’s take a look at the possibility of phone manufacturers creating a cell phone that prevents use while driving.

If you’ve been in an accident and believe negligence played a role, you have the right to file a personal injury claim to seek compensation for your losses. As you will learn through the claims process, there are different types of damages you can seek—the most common being economic and noneconomic. Depending on the circumstances, however, you may be eligible for punitive damages. Let’s take a look at what punitive damages are and why they are rarely awarded in a personal injury trial.

If there comes a time in your life where you need to file a lawsuit for injuries or losses, you’ll want to be supported by an experienced and resourceful lawyer. Unfortunately, there are legal representatives out there that do not provide the representation their clients deserve and, as a result, the client is harmed financially. In some situations, this may be considered legal malpractice. While these cases are among the most challenging to prove, they are not unwinnable. If you think you’ve been wronged by a lawyer, it’s important to understand legal malpractice and how the “case within a case” doctrine works.

Workers in Maryland are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits in the event they’re injured on the job. There is a system in place that determines the benefits eligibility, which is based on factors like injury severity, wage losses, and job retraining. When injuries are severe and impact a person’s ability to work at all, they may be diagnosed as permanent. It’s important to understand how permanent impairment is calculated in workers’ compensation cases, so the injured party has an idea of what they’ll receive and how they’ll maintain their health in the future.

When a worker injures themselves on the job, a workers’ compensation claim can help them recover and pay their bills while they’re waiting for a medical clearance to head back to work. Depending on the situation, however, a preexisting condition could make recovery more of a challenge. While it’s not uncommon for employers to try to reduce what they have to pay out when a workers’ comp claim involves a preexisting condition, there are state laws in place that protect workers’ rights. Let’s take a look at how preexisting conditions can enhance the value of a workers’ compensation case in Maryland.

If you’ve been in an accident and are pursuing a personal injury claim to seek compensation for your losses, your lawyer has likely explained the long road ahead. During that time, you could run into financial difficulties—especially if you’ve had to take unpaid time off work to recover physically. If you start researching your options, you’ll likely come across lawsuit loans. While these do have some advantages, it’s important to understand the disadvantages and how signing up for one could impact your future. Let’s take a look at some facts about taking out a loan during a personal injury case.

Dear Clients, Friends, and Colleagues of Belsky, Weinberg & Horowitz:

Our thoughts are with those currently affected by the coronavirus and the healthcare workers caring for them. The safety of our clients, our office team, and our colleagues is our top priority during this chaotic time.

As of yesterday, our physical office locations across the state are closed, although the attorneys and staff are now working remotely to continue to provide legal services to our clients.  We are complying with the CDC guidelines and Governor Hogan’s most recent executive orders. To that end, although we have closed our physical facilities in an attempt to do our part to reduce the spread of COVID-19, we continue to communicate with clients, insurance companies, defense attorneys, medical offices, etc.

When you’ve been wrongfully injured, it’s your legal right to file a personal injury claim to seek monetary recovery for the damages you incurred. Depending on your situation, there are a number of legal theories that could apply to and affect your claim. If you’re dealing with a dangerous product or animal attack, strict liability could apply. This is the theory that allows plaintiffs to prove they’re owed compensation because of the legal responsibility of the party that caused their injuries. Let’s take a look at what strict liability means and why it applies to certain cases.

If you’re considering filing a personal injury claim, it’s likely you’re wondering how the process works—which includes how your attorney receives payment for their services. With most personal injury cases, attorneys operate on a contingency fee basis. In general, this implies the lawyer only gets paid if they successfully handle a case. Let’s take a closer look at contingency fees and how they could affect your claim.

If you’ve been injured and are in the midst of a personal injury trial, your lawyer has already explained to you what the path is likely to look like. In some instances, however, there are motions that can delay or stop a trial. If you hear the phrase “conflict of interest” brought against your lawyer during trial, it’s important to understand the implications and how it could affect your outcome. Let’s start by taking a look at the legal definition of conflict of interest.