An accident can change your life in an instant. Whether it’s a car crash, a slip-and-fall, or medical negligence, victims often face serious injuries, medical bills, and time away from work. At Zirkin & Schmerling, our team of Greenbelt personal injury lawyers is dedicated to protecting accident victims and pursuing the compensation they deserve.
By hiring Zirkin & Schmerling Injury Lawyers, you gain an advocate who will carefully review your case, explain your legal options, and fight for the best possible outcome. While our main offices are located in Glen Burnie and Pikesville, Maryland, we proudly serve clients throughout Greenbelt, Anne Arundel County, and the surrounding communities.
Contact Zirkin & Schmerling today at 410-753-4611. We offer a free consultation with a personal injury attorney to help you understand your options and take the next step toward recovery after an accident.
Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle
Our Maryland law firm has the experience and resources to represent injured clients in all types of personal injury matters. Our injury lawyers focus on securing the full compensation you deserve while guiding you through the legal process. Below are some of the most common cases our lawyers handle for injury victims:
Truck Accidents
Crashes involving semi-trucks and commercial vehicles often cause devastating injuries such as spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, and internal bleeding. Our personal injury lawyers investigate driver negligence, unsafe trucking company practices, and federal safety violations — putting in the hard work to pursue fair compensation on behalf of our clients.
Dog Bite Injuries
Dog attacks can leave lasting physical and emotional scars. Common injuries include puncture wounds, nerve damage, infections, and facial scarring, especially for children. Our injury lawyers fight to protect injured victims by holding negligent pet owners accountable and helping victims in Greenbelt, Maryland, recover damages for medical care, lost income, and trauma.
Wrongful Death
Losing a loved one because of someone else’s negligence is one of the most difficult experiences. Whether caused by a fatal car accident, medical error, or workplace accident, these tragedies leave grief and uncertainty. By hiring the right personal injury attorney, relatives can pursue accountability and obtain the financial stability they need during a difficult time.
Medical Malpractice
When healthcare professionals fail to meet the standard of care, patients may suffer serious harm. Common injuries include surgical complications, birth injuries, anesthesia errors, and misdiagnosis-related illnesses. With the legal guidance of a personal injury lawyer, injured victims and relatives can get the justice they deserve in these complex personal injury cases.
Group Home Abuse
Families place trust in group homes to care for their loved ones. Sadly, abuse or neglect in these settings can lead to bedsores, malnutrition, dehydration, broken bones, and emotional trauma. Our attorneys in Greenbelt, Maryland, advocate for vulnerable residents by addressing their pain, securing resources for future care, and holding facilities accountable.
Causes of Jackknife Semi-Truck Accidents
A jackknife accident happens when the trailer of a semi-truck swings out from the cab at an angle, resembling the shape of a folding pocketknife. These car accidents are hazardous because they can block multiple lanes of traffic and cause chain-reaction collisions.
Several factors can cause a semi-truck to jackknife, often leaving other drivers little time to react. Here are some of the most common causes of a jackknife accident:
Sudden Braking
When a truck driver slams on the brakes, the trailer’s momentum can cause it to push forward and swing out of alignment with the cab. This loss of control is a leading cause of jackknife accidents, especially at high speeds, and often results in severe injuries and property damage.
Tailgating
Following too closely doesn’t leave truck drivers enough time to stop safely. If the vehicle in front slows suddenly, the trucker may brake hard, which can increase the risk of the trailer folding into a jackknife position. This type of car accident can be catastrophic for nearby drivers and lead to difficult negotiations with the insurance company.
Poorly Loaded Cargo
Improperly loaded or unbalanced cargo puts uneven stress on a trailer. This imbalance can make it more difficult for the driver to maintain control, particularly during sharp turns or sudden stops, which can lead to a jackknife situation and extensive property damage.
Weather
Rain, snow, and ice reduce traction, making large trucks harder to maneuver. Slippery roads increase the chance that a trailer will skid out of line with the cab, causing a dangerous car accident that may involve multiple vehicles and severe injuries.
Traumatic Brain Injuries That Can Lead to a Wrongful Death
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are among the most devastating outcomes of serious accidents. When the brain suffers a violent blow or jolt, it can cause swelling, bleeding, or irreversible damage that ultimately proves fatal. In many cases, families must also deal with the challenges of filing a personal injury claim while grieving their loss.
Common TBIs linked to these claims include:
- Severe concussions: Cause swelling in the brain and loss of normal function
- Cerebral contusions and hemorrhages: Cause bleeding inside the skull that increases dangerous pressure on the brain
- Diffuse axonal injuries: Cause torn brain tissue from strong rotational forces, disrupting critical functions
- Penetrating brain injuries: Cause direct damage to brain tissue from sharp objects or debris in an auto accident
When a loved one passes due to a preventable brain injury, families in Greenbelt, MD, may pursue a wrongful death claim to hold the negligent party accountable and recover compensation. In addition to coping with their loss, many also face the challenge of filing an insurance claim to cover medical costs and other expenses.
Our attorneys represent clients with compassion and skill, offering a free consultation and standing by their side every step of the way. By choosing Zirkin & Schmerling, you gain a team that works with experts, negotiates with insurance companies, and goes to trial when necessary, always putting your best interests first.
Maryland’s Medical Malpractice Statute of Limitations
In Maryland, victims of medical malpractice must file their claim within strict legal deadlines, known as the statute of limitations. Understanding these deadlines is critical, as they form the foundation of personal injury law in Maryland:
- General deadline: Within five years from the date the malpractice occurred
- Discovery rule: Within three years from the date the personal injury was discovered
- Whichever comes first: The shorter of the two applies
- Exceptions for Minors: Children harmed by medical malpractice may have extended timelines for filing claims.
Missing these deadlines almost always means losing the right to recover compensation, potentially costing victims and families significant money. That’s why our personal injury lawyers in Greenbelt, MD, encourage injured victims to act quickly. From our Maryland office, we provide guidance, case evaluations, and a free consultation so you can understand your options before it’s too late.
Our attorneys have recovered millions of dollars for clients in malpractice and personal injury cases, and we are prepared to fight for what you deserve.
How To Prove a Loss of Consortium Claim
A loss of consortium claim allows the spouse or relative of an injured person to seek damages for the harm done to their relationship. For many personal injury victims, these claims highlight the unseen struggles of an accident (the loss of companionship, emotional support, and intimacy). To succeed, individuals must show how the responsible party’s actions disrupted their lives.
Key evidence may include:
- Testimony from the spouse or related members: Shows changes in the relationship, such as emotional distance or increased daily pain, helping the jury understand the human cost beyond simple dollars
- Medical records: Document the severity of the personal injury and its long-term effects, including the connection between the harm and lost companionship and financial costs
- Expert testimony from doctors or mental health professionals: Explains how the personal injury prevents normal marital or family activities. An experienced personal injury lawyer can coordinate with these experts to strengthen the case.
- Witness statements from friends, coworkers, or relatives: Provide outside perspectives on the changes they’ve observed in the relationship
By demonstrating how the personal injury disrupted daily life, emotional bonds, and the ability to provide care and affection, families can make a strong case.
A personal injury attorney can handle the insurance claim, pursue a workers’ compensation claim if the injury happened on the job, calculate lost wages, and fight to recover money for the losses suffered. If the case proceeds to trial, your personal injury lawyer will protect your rights and ensure the voices of those hurt are heard.
Emergency Services in Greenbelt, Maryland
When someone is injured in Greenbelt, MD, obtaining immediate medical attention is the first step before pursuing a personal injury claim. Our firm encourages all accident victims to know where to turn in the event of an emergency. Below are some of the key emergency services in the area:
Greenbelt Police Department
550 Crescent Road, Greenbelt, MD 20770
(301) 474-8000
Greenbelt Volunteer Fire Department
125 Crescent Rd, Greenbelt, MD 20770
(301) 345-7000
Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center
8118 Good Luck Rd., Lanham, MD 20706,
(301) 552-8118
Greenbelt District Court
6500 Cherrywood Lane, Greenbelt, MD 20770
(301) 344-0660
Living in Greenbelt, MD
Greenbelt, Maryland, is a welcoming community in Prince George’s County known for its history and easy access to nearby cities and attractions. Initially established in the 1930s as part of a New Deal initiative, Greenbelt has grown into a vibrant city with tree-lined neighborhoods, parks, and a strong sense of community.
Residents enjoy convenient access to shopping centers, schools, and cultural events, while outdoor enthusiasts take advantage of Greenbelt Park’s trails and picnic areas. Its location along the Baltimore-Washington Parkway and near the Greenbelt Metro station makes commuting throughout the D.C. metro area simple. Greenbelt’s proximity to Anne Arundel County further enhances its appeal, providing close connections to both suburban and urban opportunities.
For those seeking legal representation after an accident, our firm is proud to serve the Greenbelt community. We provide compassionate support, offer a free consultation, and advocate for the rights of personal injury victims throughout Greenbelt, MD, and the surrounding areas.
Zirkin & Schmerling: Greenbelt Personal Injury Attorneys
Pursuing a personal injury case can feel overwhelming, especially when an insurance company is pressuring you to settle quickly after an accident. At Zirkin & Schmerling Injury Lawyers, our primary focus is guiding injured clients through their legal options and handling complex injury claims with the dedication they deserve. With some of the highest ratings in Maryland, we’ve built a reputation for strong advocacy and outstanding client care.
Our Greenbelt personal injury team is committed to helping accident victims secure strong verdicts and full and fair compensation.
If you or a loved one has been hurt in a Greenbelt, MD, accident, you don’t have to go through this alone. From our Maryland office, we represent clients in personal injury, insurance disputes, workers’ compensation, and a variety of other complex legal matters. Call Zirkin & Schmerling Injury Lawyers today at 410-753-4611 or schedule a free consultation.