Personal Injury

Car accidents are among the greatest causes of personal injury in the United States. Over 6 million car accidents occurred in the United States in 2019, with 6% ensuing fatalities and 3 million with injuries reported. Here in Maryland, 2020 had 530 fatal car accidents with thousands more injured with car accidents occurring every single day.

If you’re hurt in a car accident, you need to talk to a Maryland car accident attorney right away. As the injured party the at fault driver’s insurance company will begin calling and harassing you asking for details of the accident and attempting to settle the matter for pennies on the dollar even before you have had the proper medical evaluation, testing and treatment for your injuries. This is a commontactic of insurance companies that all too many of people fall for not knowing any better.

Besides the insurance company putting pressure on you, the period following an auto accident can be extremely stressful. After a car crash injury with the added stress of medical bills & expenses, lost wages, physical & emotional pain and suffering, and damage to your vehicle, there’s so much going on it’s often overwhelming.

The attentive and knowledgeable staff of Nowicki & Associates are here to help navigate you through this difficult time.

Our experience in auto accident litigation is extensive and unsurpassed, for you we will:

-Help you get proper medical treatment with some of the best medical practitioners around your home or work that are most convenient for you or your loved one.

-Assess your accident in full detail and explain each and every step of the process along the way.

-Examine medical evidence and monitor and evaluateyour injuries throughout your medical treatment, both temporary and permanent injuries.

-Calculate any and all losses causally related to the car accident.

-Maximize the compensation you recover due to medical bills & expenses, lost wages, physical & emotional pain and suffering, and damage to your vehicle.

Should you contact an injury lawyer after your car accident? YES.

Typically, even the most minor of injuries result in, bumps, bruises or sprains that become more noticeable a day or two after the car accident.However, even if it turns out you don’t need to hire a lawyer, consultations are always free. If you’re in doubt, use our contact form or give us a call and ask. We’d be happy to take the time to discuss your matter at length with you and provide you with our expertise, legal analysis and what to expect given your exact situation at hand.

The more severe the accident, the more likely you are to benefit from the counsel and expertise of an experienced car accident attorney. Adjusters and insurers will try to take advantage of victims who are not represented by an attorney experienced in Maryland accident law. Insurance companies aren’t in business to look out for your best interests and it’s rare that the victim of a serious accident will “come out ahead” in an injury settlement without consulting a lawyer.

If you do end up hiring us to represent you, there will be no upfront fees or advance payments required for your case. If you recover nothing, you owe us nothing. We’re here to get you the best result possible and we work on a contingency fee basis.Our only concerns are our client’s maximum compensation and happiness with our work on their behalf.

The Most Common Types of Serious Auto Accidents

There are several common types of accidents that often result in serious injuries for the parties involved, these usually include: Rear-End Accidents, T-bone Accidents, Sideswipe Collisions, Head-on Collisions, Single Vehicle Crashes, Rollover Accidents, Hit and Run Accidents.

Common Injuries in a Car Accident

Spinal and Back Injuries

While not the only neck injury a vehicular collision can cause, one of the most common injuries is commonly referred to as “Whiplash.” Whiplash occurs when an impacted vehicle causes the victim’s head to be thrown forward, backward, or to the side; the velocity of this action can inflict severe strain on the muscles and ligaments of the neck down to the lower back.

While most cases of whiplash resolve themselves with time, some can be permanently disabling. Additionally, the trauma of a vehicular collision can cause various forms of damage to the soft tissues of the upper and lower back, and in serious cases, can even lead to disc bulges, herniation or associated skeletal trauma. In these cases, a long recovery period is common, and may frequently require treatment through surgery, back injections, physical therapy, and/or long-term pain management.

Severe spinal injuries are also, unfortunately, one of the most costly automobile injuries to treat. Extensive trauma to the spine can result in paralysis, both partial or total, as well as death. In some cases, spinal cord injury cannot be fully corrected, resulting in permanent disability. This can result in an inability to work, care for oneself, or engage in normal everyday activities.

17.3 percent of all TBIs (Traumatic Brain Injury) or Concussions (the most common and least serious type of traumatic brain injuries) in the United States are caused by car accidents. Traumatic Brain Injury can occur when a rapid movement of the skull causes the brain to impact the hard surface of the skull; because our brains rest freely within the skull, rather than in a fixed position, a traumatic event can cause enough impact to damage the soft tissues of the brain. Traumatic Brain Injury or Concussions can result in bruising, swelling, or bleeding of the brain, as well as several other severe conditions such as skull fracture. While many victims may suffer immediate unconsciousness or other visible symptoms, Traumatic Brain Injuries and Concussions can also be difficult to diagnose; many sufferers do not encounter symptoms of the damage until much later and as a result all too often hospitals fail to diagnose (or even request the patient be evaluated) for a Traumatic Brain Injury or Concussion at the patient’s initial visit.

Emergency care is essential in the case of a Traumatic Brain Injury, and in many circumstances, may require extensive follow-up treatment, including brain imaging diagnostics such as a CT (Computer Tomography) scan or MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging). Serious neurological injuries can cause substantial impairment to the victim’s cognitive functioning, and in severe cases, may require extensive or even lifetime rehabilitation.

Broken Bones

The upper and lower limbs are particularly susceptible to injury in the event of an automobile accident and typically require both emergency and follow-up treatment. Broken bones are at a high risk for infection, and in serious cases, may require physical therapy and/or surgical techniques to fully repair function of the injured limb. In the most severe accidents, trauma to the limbs can result in loss of the limb, causing substantial impairment to one’s quality of life and ability to engage in everyday tasks and responsibilities.

Minor breaks, sprains, or spurs are also common in automobile accidents. While these injuries are not typically complex to treat, though some may require an extensive period of healing and rehabilitation to restore function in the injured area.

Facial Injuries/Dental Damage

Facial injuries and Dental Damage can range from minor, such as bruises, scrapes, or cuts, to more severe, including fractures, deep lacerations, burns, or dental/jaw damage and lost teeth. Lacerations, such as deep cuts, scrapes, or punctures into the underlying skin, are frequently encountered even in minor car accidents, as the soft tissues of the face are particularly susceptible to trauma from impact with parts of the vehicle’s interior, thrown objects such as personal items or broken glass, or in severe cases, punctures from related injuries such as broken bones or other sharp objects.

Damage to the facial bones is also not uncommon, and can range from cosmetic damage to debilitating injury (such as a broken jaw). In some cases, victims may require reconstructive (cosmetic) surgery to restore the proper look and/or function to the face. While some injuries, such as a broken nose, are relatively simple to treat, complex injuries like jaw dislocation can require extremely long periods of treatment, rehabilitation, and recovery.

Psychological Injuries

Regardless of physical injury following a car accident, many victims can suffer from one or more associated psychological symptoms associated with the event. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), for example, is a common disorder often requiring the treatment of a professional following a car accident; victims with PTSD may suffer severe distress resulting from the traumatic event, whether short-lived or requiring several years of treatment to obtain a full return to normal thought processes. Associated disorders resulting from a car accident can also include anxiety, whether a generalized state of unease or acute, severe panic attacks, and/or depression, whether due to the trauma of the event or the ensuing recovery.

In some cases, victims may be entitled to compensation for emotional distress resulting from the car accident.

Minor Injuries

Virtually every car accident will result in some sort of injury or trauma to the parties involved. Many times hands might strike the steering wheel or dashboard, the seatbelt causes injuries to the shoulder, knees will strike the undercarriage of the steering wheel, general pain to the neck and back, headache will ensue. Many of these injuries will result in minor sprains, cuts, bumps, or bruises to the person. Even the smallest of injuries deserve compensation.

Catastrophic Injuries & Death

Below are just a few of the types of catastrophic injury cases we have handled for our clients.

Brain Damage Cases:

At Nowicki & Associates, our catastrophic injury attorneys handle cases involving brain injuries and brain damage at all levels of severity.

Brain damage is often caused by an impact to the head, and it may include subsequent complications due to lack of oxygen, and rising pressure or swelling in the brain. Unfortunately, brain damage, particularly when it involves a “closed head” impact, often goes undiagnosed in emergency rooms. In many cases, a person with a closed head brain injury may not even realize at first that they have been injured. A victim of a traumatic brain injury may undergo changes in disposition, be unable to concentrate, have memory problems, loss of vision, or suffer from hearing loss or deafness.

Appropriate treatment of a brain injury can involve diagnostic testing, medications, rehabilitation and even surgery. As with any serious injury, an extensive team of caregivers may be necessary. It is not uncommon for an injured individual to see a neurologist, neurosurgeon, psychiatrist, psychologist, vocational specialist, and numerous therapists.

All levels of brain injury can cause physical, emotional, social, and job-related changes in your life. Recovery can be a continuous process of adjustment and accommodation for an injured person and his or her family members.

Amputation Injuries:

Amputation can range from the loss of a fingertip to the loss of an arm or a leg. Loss of a limb frequently results in significant blood loss, shock, infection, and even death.

An amputation injury often causes a reaction of grieving or depression in the victim, and almost always results in some level of negative emotional impact. Our attorneys always make sure our clients and their families find the support they need during the extremely difficult period of adjustment or for as long as they need it. We work with an extensive network of professionals throughout Maryland who can help make sure that you have the resources you need to deal with all the effects of your injuries and loss.

Nerve Damage:

Nerves are extremely important in ensuring the body functions properly. They are responsible for controlling sensitivity and sensation throughout the body, and any damage suffered can have serious consequences. This might involve loss of or an enhancement of sensation, including significantly increased pain, victims may not be able to work or function as they normally would as the discomfort can be extreme.

Nerve damage can present as: Partial paralysis or complete paralysis following a surgery; Pins and Needles/ Numb limbs; Cold feeling in the legs or arms; Loss of sensation/ Loss of function of the body part due to the particular nerve; Legs or Arms feel heavy; Struggle in lifting up the foot or toes; Struggle in picking up or holding objects. 

Paralysis Injuries:

Paralysis, which can include paraplegia or quadriplegia, is the loss of strength or mobility in a part of the body.

The extent of the paralysis depends upon the severity and the location of the injury. Paralysis and loss of sensation may be partial or total, temporary or permanent. If function and mobility are not regained within several months after the injury, the loss is more likely to be permanent.

Any injury that damages the spinal cord or nerve pathways in the spinal cord can cause permanent loss.
People who are weak or paralyzed due to a spinal cord injury are also at risk of developing other problems, such as bedsores, urinary tract infections, and pneumonia.

Death:

A fatality to a loved one will traumatize a family both mentally and financially. Let us help guide you through the horrific time in your life and help put some pieces back together.

If you are interested in learning how Nowicki & Associates can help you, contact our office to arrange a consultation. Call us at 410-879-0026 or email Tyler J. Nowicki, Esq. directly at Tnowicki@jwnlaw.com. All consultations are free and we’ll take the time to answer each and every question.