Being in a car accident is a terrifying experience. Victims can suffer life-threatening and permanently debilitating injuries. Emotional trauma and financial distress can linger for years. Some accidents cannot be prevented, but most reckless driving accidents are caused by one thing: negligence.
If you were in a car accident caused by reckless driving and are suffering physical and emotional injuries the Regan Zambri Long reckless driving accident lawyers can help.
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You should never have to bear the financial burden of someone else’s negligence. Call today for a free consultation with a veteran reckless driving accident lawyer who will work tirelessly to secure the compensation you deserve.
The Regan Zambri Long reckless driving accident attorneys practice in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. We are deeply familiar with the laws, insurance policies, and court systems in all three jurisdictions. We are confident we can recover the highest compensation possible for your accident.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that reckless driving played a role in over 50% of fatal car accidents from 2003 to 2007, with speeding being the number one factor in the accidents. The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration took a survey and found that over half of the respondents (ages 15-21) admitted to going at least ten miles over the speed limit in the last month.
To determine if you have a reckless driving claim against a negligent driver, you must first determine what reckless driving includes. In general, reckless driving is when an individual commits a combination of moving traffic offenses that endangers other people or property. However, every state has a slightly different version of reckless driving.
In Maryland, a driver can be charged with reckless driving if he or she:
In Virginia, a driver can be charged with reckless driving if he or she:
In Washington, DC a driver can be charged with reckless driving if he or she:
Reckless driving accident victims can sustain very serious injuries that change their lives and the lives of their families forever. Not only do victims have to live with the physical pain of the injuries, but they are also suddenly slammed with medical expenses related to their injuries. The injuries reckless driving victims may sustain from the crash are:
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
Traumatic brain injuries occur when a sudden trauma causes damage to the brain. TBIs can take years to recover from if recovery is even possible. Many reckless driving accident victims who sustain traumatic brain injuries must go through extensive medical treatment, including rehabilitation and physical and occupational therapy. Ongoing treatment for the damage done to the victim’s brain may last for years for the victim to try to make a full recovery.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries are damage done to any part of the spinal cord or nerves at the end of the spinal cord. This type of injury can leave the reckless driving accident victim permanently paralyzed. The three types of paralysis a reckless driving accident victim may face following the crash are:
Paralysis victims must alter their entire lives – from their work to their daily tasks, to how their homes are arranged. Victims often fall into a deep depression and emotionally suffer from paralysis.
Whiplash
Whiplash is a misunderstood injury and often overlooked. However, it can be quite serious and cause chronic pain and back issues for the victim. Whiplash is when the neck is violently and rapidly moved back and forth, like the cracking of a whip. Reckless driving accident victims who sustain a whiplash injury may need ongoing medical treatment, like chiropractic care or muscle relaxers to cope with the pain.
Broken Bones/Fractures
Broken bones and fractures are common injuries following a reckless driving accident. While not all broken bones or fractures are life-threatening, many are severe enough to require invasive surgery, which is both costly and dangerous.
Internal bleeding/organ damage
Reckless driving accident victims may sustain organ damage or internal bleeding due to the impact of the crash. The symptoms of internal bleeding are not always noticeable right away, which is why it is so important to seek medical attention following a car accident, regardless if you think you are injured or not.
Other common injuries caused by reckless driving accidents are:
The physical pain and problems of reckless driving injuries are, unfortunately, not the only thing victims must think about following a car crash. The expenses that come along with the injuries can send an individual and their families into severe financial debt.
A traumatic brain injury victim may rack up around $3 million dollars in medical expenses after sustaining the TBI. A paralysis victim may pay over $500,000 in their first year after suffering the injury. Most insurance policies will run out before all expenses are taken care of. Insurance companies are also notorious for lowballing their clients – offering the lowest possible settlement to the victim. Insurance adjusters are known to manipulate facts in order to get the victim to accept a low settlement offer.
This is why it is crucial to call a Regan Zambri Long reckless driving accident attorney as soon as possible. We will make sure you are fairly compensated for your injuries and help you offset all medical costs from the accident. With a Regan Zambri Long lawyer by your side, you will be able to focus on your recovery rather than having to stress about finances.
The Regan Zambri Long reckless driving accident attorneys are nationally recognized and frequently featured in Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, and the National Law Journal. Many personal injury law firms in the DC Metro Area do not have the resources or the financial backing to take on large insurance companies, but Regan Zambri Long does.
During the claims process, the Regan Zambri Long reckless driving accident attorneys will negotiate with insurance companies for a settlement. However, if a favorable settlement is not found, we will prepare the case for trial to secure a favorable verdict from a judge. You can rest assured, that your Regan Zambri Long reckless driving lawyer will be with you until the end.
The first step in the claims process is to determine who is at fault for the accident. Your reckless driving attorney will obtain the police report, investigate the scene of the accident, speak to eyewitnesses, and use accident reconstruction to determine what and who caused the accident. It is not always the case that only one person is responsible for the accident. Your Regan Zambri Long reckless accident lawyer will pursue damages from every negligent party and hold them completely accountable.
Once your lawyer determines which party or parties are at fault for the accident, we will file a personal injury claim against them. The personal injury claim statute of limitations in Maryland and Washington DC is three years. In Virginia, it is only two years. The Regan Zambri Long reckless driving attorneys are deeply knowledgeable in all the DC Metro area laws and will make sure all the papers are filed correctly and on time.
During your free initial consultation, the Regan Zambri Long reckless driving accident attorney will discuss all the possible legal avenues you may take during the claims process. The damages you may pursue following a reckless driving accident are:
A: Car accident victims are often in shock following the accident. Here are a few steps that will help keep you safe immediately following an accident:
A: To recover compensation for your injuries, our reckless accident lawyers will prove that the other motorist involved in the crash was negligent. Negligence is when someone causes someone else injury due to careless, reckless, wanton, or intentional behavior.
Your Regan Zambri Long reckless accident attorney will prove two things to demonstrate the other motorist was negligent:
A: Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC practice contributory negligence, which means if you are found to have any responsibility (even 1%) in the accident, then you cannot claim compensation for your injuries. This is why it is so essential to have a Regan Zambri Long reckless accident lawyer by your side. We will work to prove you strictly followed the law and in no way caused the accident you were involved in. Our lawyers will fiercely fight for your rights to compensation and justice.