Doctors and other medical professionals are legally required to give reasonable care and not cause any harm to the patient. They have a duty to follow certain steps to determine what’s wrong with a patient and find the cause of their illness or injury. From that point forward, they have protocols and procedures to follow which inform them of the best way to treat their patient. Before proceeding with any treatment plan, they need to explain all the steps to their patient along the way.

Following these guidelines keeps patients safe and informed of what’s happening to them. All of these steps, guidelines, and protocols are part of a broad set of legal standards referred to as “standards of care”. Medical standards of care are typically-accepted guidelines that professionals in the medical field all strive to operate by. When professionals don’t operate by accepted standards of care and a patient is hurt or suffers as a direct result, that patient may be legally entitled to sue for malpractice.

In a serious accident involving injury or significant property damage, having a police report filed is an important part of making sure the details of the event are accurately recorded. Once you’ve contacted the authorities, they’ll investigate the scene and file their report. It’s important to understand how to find out if a report has been filed and how to access it, as the information on there can help you build a case against the other driver if you’re seeking compensation for the crash.

When are Police Reports Filed for Car Crashes in Maryland?

In Maryland, car accidents aren’t typically investigated by law enforcement when the only consequence is minor property damage – so drivers involved in crashes like that do not need to contact the police or file a report. Instead, drivers are required to move off the road and exchange information with each other. The Maryland State Police provides a Collision Information Exchange Form to make the process easier.

Car accidents result in a variety of injuries. The type of accident, force of the crash, and health and age of the occupants play a role in determining how severe the physical harm will be. When thinking about injuries that can inhibit a person’s life, broken bones, head trauma, and back injuries often come to mind first. Soft tissue injuries, like whiplash, however, can seriously impact a person’s day-to-day life.

Whiplash, which is another term for a neck strain or sprain, is one of the most common injuries a person can sustain after a wreck. This has a lot to do with the forces the body is subjected to in a crash. When the neck is rapidly forced back and forth, like the cracking of a whip, the bones in the spine, disks between bones, muscles, ligaments, nerves, and tissues can be injured. While the discomfort may not be immediate depending on the severity of the injury, the symptoms that follow are likely to be painful.

If you’ve been diagnosed with whiplash or you are concerned you may have developed the condition, you’ll benefit from understanding as much about the condition as you can, in addition to seeking medical treatment and following your doctor’s orders.

Finding yourself dealing with the ramifications of a car accident is bound to be stressful – especially if you’ve been injured. If, however, you’re the victim of a hit-and-run accident, the experience is likely to be that much more frustrating. Whether you were in the vehicle at the time of the accident or not, you’ll need to contact your insurance company and try to resolve the matter as efficiently as possible.

Drivers involved in crashes are supposed to stop their vehicles, assess the situation to determine if medical attention is required, share contact information with the other driver(s), and contact the police so an official report can be filed. In Maryland, it is illegal for drivers to leave the car accident scene without completing those steps. Punishments, depending on the severity of the wreck, may range from fines to point removal on their driver’s licenses, or even jail time.

We all know that drunk driving is unsafe and an overall bad idea. We are also aware of the associated dangers and the tragic outcomes that can follow. Unfortunately, that knowledge isn’t enough to keep some drivers from operating their vehicles while intoxicated. No matter their reason, the decision is always a wrong one.

While we help drunk driving accident victims, we also strive to encourage the prevention of such accidents. Let’s dive deeper into the facts you may not know about drunk driving. The key to aiding in the prevention of such tragedies is to know as much as possible.

When someone is involved in a serious car accident, they’ve suffered from a traumatic event. When these events result in devastating injuries or worse, then the person is going to have some degree of shock. Sometimes, they develop psychological trauma from the accident and need help.

While most people and even medical professionals may neglect to consider the emotional and mental consequences of being in a serious wreck, the effects and implications are very real and can have a lasting impact on a victim’s ability to perform their regular day-to-day tasks and enjoy a healthy lifestyle. How common are mental conditions like PTSD, anxiety, and depression after being in a car accident? Let’s examine some facts about these conditions.

In 2017, there were 114,848 motor vehicle accidents in Maryland. While many of these resulted from negligent drivers, it’s likely that a number were caused by poorly-maintained roads. Poor road conditions play a role in a significant number of crashes all across the country. Despite the impact on people’s lives, state and local governments do not always correct road problems or take measure to warn drivers about possible hazards.

When cars wind up in an accident, it’s easy to place the blame on one of the drivers; however, it’s important to remember that it’s possible for wrecks to happen when all drivers are following traffic laws and operating their vehicles in a safe, responsible manner.

When a doctor or medical professional performs a procedure on a patient, begins treatment, or administers a test, the patient is legally required to be made aware of everything about the procedure, treatment, or test, its risks, the desired outcome, and any other crucial information such as recovery time, etc. They must willingly agree to move forward before the test or procedure is done. In some cases, the patient will have to make a difficult decision about their own care. This process is something called informed consent, and allows patients to have realistic expectations as well as stay properly informed and educated.

According to Maryland law, a wrongful death implies a fatality that occurred as a result of other party’s negligence or unlawful actions. A number of situations can result in wrongful death, and when a wrongful death occurs, families have the right to file a lawsuit to seek compensation for what they’re loved one was put through, as well as the consequences related to the loss.

Wrongful death claims are made all over the country. The following cases exemplify what justice looks like when a loved one’s life has been wrongfully taken:

Seniors who reside in assisted living or continuing care communities in Maryland have legal rights that should always be respected. These rights are listed in the Health General Article under Section 19-343. They state that nursing homes will provide residents with care while respecting their dignity, and respect the residents’ individualities. By law, facilities cannot refuse these rights to a resident as they are protected.

Residents have a long list of rights that make sure they’re treated fairly and respectfully. When a nursing home doesn’t uphold these rights and your loved one suffers as a result, the lawyers from Belsky, Weinberg & Horowitz, LLC may be able to step in and ensure your loved one gets the justice they deserve.