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Baltimore, Maryland Auto Accident Liability: Civil Lawsuits vs. Criminal Cases
By Jeffrey Butschky, Maryland Accident Injury Attorney
Depending on the circumstances, a serious motor vehicle accident may involve criminal charges against the offending driver. As Baltimore County accident injury lawyers, we represent the victims who are hurt or whose loved ones are killed by drivers charged with traffic violations involving fines and/or jail time in Maryland.
When someone is injured in a Baltimore County car accident where the driver held responsible is charged in the Criminal Courts — the accident victim may also file a lawsuit in civil court. The same is true when someone is killed in a traffic accident and the driver held responsible is charged with manslaughter or motor vehicle homicide: the survivors of the deceased accident victim or victims may also sue for damages in the Civil Court System.
This occurs in cases of alcohol or drug-impaired driving (Maryland DWI and DUI offenses), aggressive driving (e.g., displays of road rage, tailgating, speeding, abrupt lane changing, inappropriate passing on the right, running a stop sign or red light), reckless driving (displaying “wanton and willful disregard” for public safety and property, such as drag racing), negligent driving (defined by the state of Md. as driving “in a careless or imprudent manner that endangers” people or property), and leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident.
How a Maryland Civil Lawsuit Works in Auto Accident Cases With Criminal Charges
Under Maryland law, drivers charged with criminal offenses have a right to a speedy trial. The offending drivers are usually tried within a few months of the accident. So nine times out of ten, the criminal case goes first. As Baltimore County, Md. accident injury lawyers, we advise people who have been hurt by these drivers to call an experienced attorney who can file their civil lawsuit while the criminal case moves forward.
We communicate with the prosecutors involved in the criminal case to make sure our clients — the Maryland car accident victims — do what they need to do to efficiently move the criminal case forward. For example, we make sure our clients appear for any needed depositions or statements, show up in court to give testimony — whatever is needed from them to bring the criminal case to a conclusion and get the reckless drivers off the road and punished for their offenses. That helps our clients in their civil cases in Maryland.
The injury attorneys at the Butschky & Butschky, LLC assist individuals and families who have been hurt or had loved ones killed in motor vehicle accidents throughout Baltimore County, MD. This includes the City of Baltimore as well as Baldwin, Catonsville, Cockeysville, Hunt Valley, Lutherville, Monkton, Parkton, Parkville, Perry Hall, Randallstown, Timonium, and Towson, Maryland.
If you or someone in your family has been hurt in an auto accident and you have questions about filing an insurance claim or civil lawsuit, please contact us today. We have offices in Baltimore City and Sparks, Maryland, and we meet with clients at a convenient time and place for the client, throughout the State.
In Baltimore call (410) 625-1110; in Sparks, MD call (410) 472-3651; or call us Toll Free: (800) 722-6616.
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