A major insurance company is facing a public outcry over its handling of a claim arising out of the death of one of its policyholders. The case arose out of an auto accident in Baltimore that killed a woman who was insured by the company. The woman's family believed the other driver was at fault. The other driver's liability insurer paid the family $25,000, which represented the limits of its coverage.
Because $25,000 was not enough to compensate the family for their loss, they asked the victim's insurance company to pay them $75,000 since the woman's policy covered "the actions of an uninsured or underinsured driver that caused injury or death up to $100,000." Rather than paying the underinsured motorist benefits, however, the deceased woman's insurance company took the position that she, not the other driver, was at fault in the accident.
In order to get a jury verdict that the other driver was at fault and to compel their insurance company to pay, the family sued the other driver. At trial, the insurance company's lawyer took the side of the other driver against its own client in an effort to avoid paying the underinsured motorist benefits. The company continued to argue at trial that the deceased woman should be found at fault. An independent witness testified, however, that the other driver had run a red light and caused the accident. The jury ultimately found the other driver at fault.
The woman's family was outraged that the insurance company treated them this way. The woman's brother made a blog post about the case and received so many supportive comments online that the company felt compelled to issue a public statement saying they respected the jury's decision.
Although the actions of the insurance company in this case may have been unusual, its attitude, unfortunately, was not. Car accidents victims need to be aware that their own insurance company will typically not have their best interests at heart. An attorney experienced in personal injury law and insurance coverage issues can help a family get the compensation they are entitled to.
Most accidents in Baltimore and beyond are preventable. Sadly, a simple mistake can have devastating consequences. Drivers in Maryland and elsewhere must drive cautiously and remain attentive to prevent accidents. A recent crash near Baltimore shows what can happen when people aren't paying attention to the road.
Around 1:30 p.m. on July 16, a 55-year-old man driving along Interstate 795 collided with another vehicle. The impact caused the man to crash into the back of a flatbed truck. According to authorities, traffic had slowed on the interstate. However, the 55-year-old driver failed to reduce his speeds.
The 55-year-old man was taken to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center after the crash. However, he died a short time later.
The crash caused all of the northbound lanes of I-795 to be closed for three hours as authorities reconstructed the accident.
It appears that the 55-year-old driver was at fault. However, when people are harmed because of another driver's reckless behavior there may be cause to file a civil lawsuit against any negligent parties. Families who lose a loved one in a crash may wish to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit. While no amount of money can take away the pain of losing a loved one, it may provide family members with some sense of justice.
People in Baltimore often get in their cars expecting that they will make it to their destination safely. However, a negligent driver can quickly change that. Losing a family member in a crash is devastating. People may find it difficult to move forward with their lives. Because of the often tragic consequences, reckless drivers should be held responsible.
After a three-week long trial, a Baltimore family was recently awarded $55 million. Jurors involved in the medical malpractice case agreed that the negligent care one mother was given left her son with severe developmental disorders.
The boy's mother originally intended to give birth at her home with the help of a midwife. However, when the baby became stuck, the mother was brought by ambulance to John Hopkins Hospital. Doctors ordered a cesarean section but the emergency procedure did not take place until two hours later. The family believes their son will never have a normal life because of the hospital staff's delayed action.
Officials with John Hopkins Hospital maintain that hospital staff provided appropriate care. They say they plan to appeal the jury's decision.
When people in Baltimore go to the hospital, they expect that they will receive proper care and treatment. Part of that means receiving treatment in a timely manner. Certain medical conditions are time sensitive. Several minutes or hours may be the difference between life and death.
Medical treatments and long-term care can be costly. Although the Baltimore family will forever be forced to deal with their son's developmental disorders, the compensation they are awarded through the malpractice lawsuit should help alleviate any financial burdens.
Baltimore residents who have been harmed due to a doctor's negligent care may also consider filing a medical malpractice lawsuit. Doctors and other medical professionals have a duty to provide their patients with appropriate care. When they fail to do that, they should be held responsible.
The car accident occurred just before 6 p.m. on Dec. 15 after Towson University police officers tried to stop a car with stolen license plates. Police say officers began to approach the car when the driver of the vehicle sped away. As the vehicle fled, it went out of control at the intersection of York Road and Towsontown Boulevard, hitting another car with four occupants inside.
The four people in the car were sent to area hospitals as a result of the accident. The conditions of the victims have not been released. As Baltimore County residents can imagine, they will likely suffer some pain and hardship because of their injuries
The two people in the car that caused the accident were taken in by police officers.
According to the news source, Baltimore County Police are investigating the incident. In a case like this, it is vital that the facts and circumstances be thoroughly investigated.
It appears that the driver of the vehicle that sped away from police was acting recklessly. The victims of motor vehicle accidents, such as this one, typically have grounds for pursuing a civil lawsuit. Regardless of what authorities decide to do in the form of criminal charges against the driver, the four persons injured in this accident deserve proper payment for their injuries. They may find it best to work with an experienced personal injury attorney as they pursue compensation.
On Dec. 11 around 7 a.m., a Baltimore police car was involved in an accident with another car. The accident happened at the intersection of Clifton and Longwood in Southwest Baltimore.
According to police, both the police officer and the other driver were taken to an area hospital. Fortunately, neither suffered life-threatening injuries.
At this time, it is unclear what the exact cause of the accident was. It remains under investigation by police.
Although car accidents are a fairly common occurrence, they are nonetheless frightening and debilitating, for some. If the cause of an accident was due to the reckless or negligent actions of another person, individuals may be eligible for compensation.
Those in Maryland who have been injured in a car accident may find it best to work with an experienced personal injury attorney. The attorney can work with experts to determine who was responsible for the crash. They may also consult with physicians to determine how the injuries may impact an individual now and in the future.
Often individuals involved in a car accident are not able to work due to their injuries and may even have to seek medical treatment. An attorney will be able to fight for the necessary compensation to help those injured pay their medical bills, make up for any lost wages and for any pain and suffering they may have endured.
A car accident can be life-changing, but fortunately, there are places to turn for help.
The man was a part of the community service program due to a previous drug charge. He was assigned to ride a city trash truck in 2008. A few days into his duties, a supervisor told him to ride on the truck platform. Unfortunately, the man was not given the required protective eyewear. As a result, he was hit in the face by tree branches and leaves, and hit a telephone pole. The man fell from the platform into an alley and sustained injuries that resulted in $55,000 in medical costs. He also claims that after he suffered the personal injury, he lost wages from his regular day job as a carpenter.
The man's initial lawsuit against the city was dismissed in Baltimore Circuit Court, but the Court of Special Appeals has ruled that the city should be responsible for the injuries since he was technically a city employee at the time.
The man's attorneys reached a personal injury settlement for him with the city out of court. It was approved by the Board of Estimates, which consists of the Baltimore mayor, council president, the city comptroller, as well as other city officials.
In cases like this, a person injured at work or as a result of someone else's negligence can pursue compensation even if the injury occurs as someone is serving part of a sentence mandated by a criminal charge.
