When you’ve suffered injuries due to someone else’s negligence, you need experienced personal injury attorneys who understand Maryland personal injury law and will fight for your rights. Zirkin & Schmerling Injury Lawyers is a full-service law firm based in Baltimore, committed to protecting your rights and ensuring beneficial outcomes for personal injury victims across Maryland. Our personal injury lawyers in Essex Maryland have decades of combined experience helping accident victims recover full and fair compensation through every personal injury claim.
Contact our Essex personal injury lawyer team today at 410-753-4611 for a free consultation. Let our Maryland personal injury lawyers put their extensive knowledge to work for your case. Schedule your free consultation to discuss your personal injury claim today.
Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle
Our Essex personal injury attorneys handle a wide variety of personal injury cases throughout Maryland. The following represents some of the most common types of cases we work on, but our law firm offers legal representation for many other injury-related matters as well.
Car Accidents
Car accidents make up most personal injury cases at our firm, and we understand the complex legal process when you’ve been injured due to someone’s failure to follow traffic laws.
Whether your collision occurred on Interstate 695 or local Essex roads, our personal injury lawyers will investigate the accident and work to establish negligence against the at-fault party.
We help auto accident victims recover compensation for medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages while handling insurance claims. Every case requires thorough documentation and expert evaluation of medical records to build a strong claim.
Catastrophic Injuries
When accidents cause life-changing injuries like traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, or severe burns, victims face mounting medical bills, extensive therapy, and significant expenses. Our experienced personal injury lawyers help catastrophic injury victims recover maximum compensation for both current and future medical costs through complex personal injury claims that require experienced legal representation. We provide comprehensive legal services to help victims navigate this difficult time and secure fair settlements. In severe cases involving egregious conduct, punitive damages may also be awarded beyond standard compensation.
Rideshare Accidents
With rideshare services like Uber and Lyft becoming increasingly popular in Maryland, accidents involving these vehicles are now more common, presenting unique challenges like determining insurance company responsibility and navigating multiple policies.
Our Essex personal injury attorneys help clients injured as rideshare passengers, drivers, or other motorists seek compensation from all available sources.
We work to obtain compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other damages while handling the complex legal process. Our team guides you through the entire personal injury claims process to ensure you receive fair compensation.
Wrongful Death
Losing a loved one due to someone else’s negligence is devastating, and our wrongful death attorneys help surviving families pursue compensation for funeral expenses, lost future earnings, and their suffering. Whether the death resulted from a motorcycle accident, medical malpractice, or other negligent acts, we provide compassionate representation while aggressively pursuing full compensation. Our personal injury lawyers understand that holding responsible parties accountable provides both financial security and justice for grieving families. In cases of egregious misconduct, punitive damages may also be available beyond standard compensation.
Medical Malpractice
Our personal injury law firm handles complex medical malpractice cases involving birth injuries, surgical errors, misdiagnosis, medication mistakes, and other forms of healthcare negligence that cause serious harm to patients. These challenging personal injury lawsuits require extensive investigation, detailed medical record analysis, and expert testimony from qualified medical professionals to establish when healthcare providers failed to meet accepted standards of care.
We work with leading medical experts who can clearly explain how a doctor, nurse, or hospital’s actions deviated from proper medical practices and directly caused any injuries sustained. Our experienced medical malpractice attorneys are committed to holding negligent healthcare providers accountable and securing maximum compensation for victims and their families.
Abuse in Group Homes
Group home residents deserve safe, caring environments, but abuse and neglect unfortunately occur in these facilities, and our Maryland personal injury lawyers have extensive experience representing victims and their families. These sensitive cases require attorneys who understand both the legal complexities and the emotional trauma experienced by victims and their loved ones.
Our firm provides dedicated legal services to hold negligent group home operators accountable and help victims recover compensation for injuries, medical costs, and suffering. Each claim demands careful attention to detail and compassionate advocacy to ensure justice for vulnerable residents.
How Group Homes and Nursing Homes Are Different
While both group homes and nursing homes provide residential care services, they serve different populations and operate under different regulations. Group homes typically house individuals with developmental disabilities, mental health conditions, or other special needs who require supervised living arrangements but do not need the intensive medical care provided in nursing homes.
Nursing homes primarily serve elderly residents who require skilled nursing care and assistance with daily activities. Understanding these differences is crucial when pursuing legal action, as the applicable laws and standards of care may vary significantly.
What Constitutes Group Home Abuse
Group home abuse can take many forms, and recognizing the signs is essential for protecting vulnerable residents. Physical abuse includes any intentional infliction of injury, such as hitting, restraining improperly, or using excessive force during care. Sexual abuse involves any unwanted sexual contact or exploitation of residents who may not be able to consent or protect themselves.
Emotional abuse encompasses verbal threats, humiliation, isolation, or other forms of psychological harm. Neglect occurs when caregivers fail to provide necessary care, supervision, or basic needs such as food, medication, or hygiene assistance. All forms of group home abuse violate residents’ rights and dignity and exceed what any reasonable person would consider acceptable treatment of vulnerable individuals.
Scarring and Disfigurement Injuries From a Car Accident
Car accidents can cause severe injuries that result in permanent scarring and disfigurement, significantly impacting victims’ quality of life and future opportunities. These injuries often require extensive medical treatment, including plastic surgery and ongoing reconstructive procedures.
Facial
Facial scarring and disfigurement are among the most traumatic consequences of vehicle accidents, as they affect not only a person’s appearance but also their emotional well-being and social interactions. Injuries to the face can result from broken glass, airbag deployment, contact with the dashboard, or ejection from the vehicle. These injuries may require multiple reconstructive surgeries and can lead to permanent disability, difficulty eating or speaking, and significant emotional distress. Our Essex personal injury lawyers understand the long-term impact of facial disfigurement and work to ensure victims receive compensation for both current and future medical needs.
Amputation
Traumatic amputations or injuries requiring surgical amputation represent some of the most severe consequences of motor vehicle accidents. These devastating injuries typically result from crushing forces, entrapment in vehicles, or severe trauma that makes limb salvage impossible. Amputation injuries require immediate emergency medical care, multiple surgeries, extensive rehabilitation, and long-term prosthetic needs. Our personal injury lawyers understand the costs associated with these cases and fight to recover the compensation you need.
Burns
Burn injuries from car accidents or motorcycle accidents can occur due to vehicle fires, chemical exposure, heated surfaces, or electrical systems. Severe burns often require immediate treatment at specialized burn centers, multiple skin graft surgeries, and years of rehabilitation. The healing process is typically painful and lengthy, with many burn victims requiring ongoing medical care for the rest of their lives.
Sources of Compensation After a Rideshare Accident
When you’ve been injured in a rideshare accident, multiple sources of insurance coverage may be available depending on the circumstances and the driver’s status at the time of the incident.
Rideshare Company Policies
Both Uber and Lyft maintain substantial insurance policies that provide coverage during different phases of the ride process. When a driver is actively transporting a passenger or en route to pick up a passenger, the rideshare companies typically provide coverage of up to $1 million for third-party liability.
During the period when a driver is logged into the app but hasn’t accepted a ride request, lower levels of coverage apply. However, accessing these corporate insurance policies can be challenging, as insurance companies often attempt to minimize payouts.
Each insurance company has different procedures for handling personal injury claims.
Driver Personal Insurance
Rideshare drivers are required to maintain personal auto insurance, though many personal policies contain exclusions for commercial activities like ridesharing. Some insurance companies now offer specific rideshare endorsements that fill gaps in coverage between personal policies and rideshare company insurance. The availability and adequacy of driver personal insurance can vary significantly, and determining coverage requires careful analysis of policy terms. Our experienced personal injury attorneys work with insurance company experts to identify all available coverage sources.
Lawsuit
When insurance coverage is insufficient to fully compensate victims for their injuries and losses, pursuing a personal injury lawsuit may be necessary. Lawsuits can be filed against the rideshare driver, other motorists involved in the accident, or potentially the rideshare company itself in cases involving negligent hiring or supervision.
A personal injury lawsuit allows injury victims to seek compensation for damages that may not be fully covered by insurance, including non-economic damages such as pain and suffering and emotional distress. Personal injury cases may proceed to civil court when settlement negotiations are unsuccessful.
Personal Injury Economic Damages
Economic damages represent the measurable financial losses that result from personal injuries caused by someone else’s negligence. These damages are designed to restore injury victims to their financial position before the accident occurred.
Immediate and Future Medical Expenses
Medical expenses typically represent the largest component of economic damages in personal injury cases, encompassing all costs associated with treating accident-related injuries. Immediate medical expenses include emergency room visits, ambulance transportation, hospital stays, surgeries, and initial treatments. Future medical out-of-pocket expenses may include additional surgeries, physical therapy, prescription medications, and long-term care needs. Our Essex personal injury lawyers help medical experts accurately project future medical costs and ensure settlement amounts adequately cover both current medical bills and anticipated future treatment needs.
Lost Income
When injuries prevent victims from working, lost wages become a significant economic loss that must be included in any fair settlement. Lost income calculations include not only wages already missed but also future earning capacity that may be permanently impaired by the injuries. For victims who cannot return to their previous employment, vocational rehabilitation experts may assess their ability to work in other capacities. Our Essex personal injury lawyers work with economists and vocational experts to accurately calculate both past and future lost income.
Property Damage
Property damage in personal injury cases most commonly involves vehicle repair or replacement costs, but may also include damage to personal belongings damaged in the accident. In cases involving total vehicle loss, victims are entitled to the fair market value of their vehicle immediately before the accident, plus associated costs such as registration fees and rental car expenses. Our personal injury lawyers ensure that all property damage is properly documented and included in settlement negotiations.
Emergency Services in Essex
Police
Baltimore County Police Department, Precinct 11
216 North Marlyn Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21221
(410) 887-0220
Fire
Essex Volunteer Fire Company
1449 Sussex Road, Essex, MD 21221
(410) 887-0329
Hospital
MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center
9000 Franklin Square Drive, Baltimore, MD 21237
(443) 777-7000
Court
District Court of Maryland for Baltimore County, Essex location
8914 Kelso Drive, Essex, MD 21221
(410) 512-2300
Living in Essex, MD
Essex, Maryland, is a charming waterside community located along the Baltimore County coastline, offering residents a unique blend of suburban convenience and coastal living. The area features beautiful waterfront views, numerous parks, and recreational opportunities that make it an attractive place to call home. The community is known for its strong sense of neighborhood pride and active local organizations.
Contact a Trusted Essex, MD, Personal Injury Lawyer Today
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident anywhere throughout Maryland, you don’t have to face the legal process alone. The Essex personal injury lawyers at Zirkin & Schmerling have the experience, resources, and dedication needed to help personal injury victims recover the compensation they deserve. Our MD personal injury lawyer team understands the physical pain, distress, and financial hardship that follow serious accidents.
Contact Zirkin & Schmerling Injury Lawyers today at 410-753-4611 for your free case evaluation with a personal injury lawyer. Our personal injury law firm works on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no attorney fees unless we successfully recover compensation for your case. Let our Essex personal injury lawyers handle the insurance company negotiations while you focus on your recovery. Schedule your free consultation.