Have you been hurt in a car accident that was not your fault? If so, contact a car accident lawyer in Glen Burnie and Severn right away. Only car accident lawyers are familiar with state negligence law and understand how the system works. Personal injury law mandates that all drivers on the road exercise a certain standard of care. When drivers are negligent—and that negligence results in personal injury—they are liable for any damages that result. Keep reading to learn more about the elements of negligence in car accident cases, including a breached duty of care, direct causation, and demonstrable damages.

Breached Duty

As your car accident lawyer will explain, the first element of negligence involves a duty of care and the breach of that duty. In short, if you are hurt, car accident lawyers need to prove that another driver was obligated to be reasonably careful and failed to act carefully. All drivers are legally required to drive carefully, so that element is easily satisfied. A breach of the duty occurs when a driver unreasonably fails to stop at a red light, watch for crossing pedestrians, or follow at a safe distance.

Direct Causation

Car accident attorneys also need to show the court that the other driver’s failure to drive carefully directly caused your injury. Even if another driver does not stop at a stop sign, rear ends your vehicle, and you suffer an injury, the driver is only liable if his failure to stop directly caused your injury. For example, if you suffer a back injury but have had longtime back problems, your car accident lawyer will need to show that your recent injury is directly attributable to the other driver.

Demonstrable Damages

The final step in proving negligence is showing damages. Damages are injuries for which you may be compensated. Common examples of car accident damages include lost wages, diminished employment opportunities, medical bills, and pain and suffering. If you suffer a minor injury that requires no medical care or time off work, you will not have a car accident claim.

After being arrested, your first step should be to contact a DUI lawyer near Glen Burnie and Severn who also handles DUI and other criminal cases . Only DUI attorneys can help you fight a DUI or more serious criminal charge.

As your car accident lawyer will explain, you should never speak to the police without having your car accident lawyers present. When you are arrested, the police are obligated to advise you of your Miranda rights. You have the right to remain silent and to know that anything you say can and will be held against you in court. You also have the right to have your criminal and auto accident lawyer present. If the police fail to apprise you of your legal rights, your attorney may be able to have the case thrown out.

Divorce lawyers near Glen Burnie and Severn also regularly counsel clients who want to retain ownership of a family pet during a divorce. Pet custody issues can be complicated and require the attention of an experienced divorce lawyer.

Deciding to divorce is difficult under any circumstances, which is why you need a divorce lawyer who is experienced handling a wide range of family law issues. While custody of children is determined using the best interests of the child standard, pet custody is a property issue. To get custody of your pet, you and your divorce lawyers will need to show that you either owned the pet or provided the majority of care. Your divorce lawyer can also prove that you are better able to care for your pet.

If you and your former spouse have made the difficult decision to split up, you should consult with divorce lawyers in Glen Burnie and Severn as soon as possible. A divorce lawyer is well versed in family law and familiar with the family court system. Even if your divorce is amicable, you will need a divorce lawyer to make sure your rights are protected, especially if children are involved. To learn more about Maryland divorce law, continue reading for some answers to frequently asked questions.

Is No-Fault Divorce Permissible?
As your divorce lawyers will advise you, no-fault divorce has recently become legal in almost every state, including Maryland. In the past, family law mandated that couples remain married unless one partner could prove that the other was at fault. While a divorce lawyer may now seek no-fault divorce, which means neither partner was legally responsible for the marriage’s dissolution, your attorney can only secure a no-fault divorce if you and your spouse have been living apart for at least one year without interruption.

What are the Grounds for Fault Divorce?
In Maryland, one spouse may still file for a fault-based divorce if he or she can prove that the other partner was responsible for the demise of their union. Your divorce lawyers will discuss your options with you, but permissible grounds for a fault divorce include adultery, desertion, conviction of certain crimes, insanity, cruelty, and excessively vicious conduct. Desertion occurs if one spouse has been gone for one year, without interruption, and deliberately intended for his or her abandonment of the other partner to be final.

Can Someone Be Legally Justified in Leaving a Marriage?

If your former spouse accuses you of desertion, your divorce lawyer can defend you against the charge by proving that you were justified in leaving the marriage. In that case, you will not be at fault. For example, your ex may have acted in such a way that you felt compelled to leave because he or she threatened your health, reasonable comfort, or self-respect.