Tag: car accident attorneys Baltimore

The Causes of a Traumatic Brain Injury

Posted on by YostLaw

Headaches, dizziness, concussion, loss of consciousness, forgetfulness, depression and nausea are some of the symptoms of traumatic brain injury. Traumatic brain injuries, or concussions, can be caused by blunt force to the head. According to the Centers for Disease Control, car accidents are one of the leading causes of traumatic brain injuries. Car accident victims who hit their heads on headrests, steering wheels, windows or windshields may have traumatic brain injuries. Even if a car accident victim does not hit their head, they could have a traumatic brain injury from the movement their head made at the time of impact.

Unlike other injuries from car accidents, a victim may not notice the signs of a traumatic brain injury for several days or even weeks. Even if a victim has a normal MRI or CT scan they could still have a traumatic brain injury or concussion. Doctors diagnose traumatic brain injuries by evaluating the symptoms a patient is experiencing.

The effects of a traumatic brain injury can be permanent or long-term. The treatment for traumatic brain injuries may include medications, speech therapy, occupational therapy, psychological therapy and, in severe cases, surgery.

If you believe you or a loved one are suffering from a traumatic brain injury, you should:

Seek Medical Treatment:  A doctor may order MRIs and CT scans to determine if there are skull fractures, bruising, or swelling around the brain. A doctor will also review your symptoms to determine whether a traumatic brain injury is likely.

Document Symptoms: Keep track of your symptoms so that you can tell your doctor about headaches, memory problems, emotional problems, nausea, difficulty speaking, dizziness, or any other symptoms you are experiencing.

The Yost Legal Group is here to help auto accident victims diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries. If you or a loved one is seriously injured in a car accident that was not your fault, call The Yost Legal Group at 1-800-YOST-LAW (967-8529). When you call, you will speak with an experienced, compassionate Maryland Car Accident lawyer absolutely FREE.

We will investigate every detail of your accident and fight hard to ensure that your rights are protected. At The Yost Legal Group, you will never pay an attorney’s free up front and we don’t get paid until you do.

 

Holiday Season Linked to High Rates of Drunk Driving

Posted on by YostLaw

With Thanksgiving only a week away and the Holiday season just around the corner, millions of Americans will be traveling by car to visit friends and family across the country. The US Department of Transportation considers the week before Thanksgiving to be the busiest long distance travel period of the year, with long-distance driving trips increasing by 54%.

Taking a road trip to visit friends and family we don’t get to see often is one of the most enjoyable parts of this time of year. However, between the holiday festivities and the extra volume of cars on the road, drivers must be especially wary of drunk or impaired drivers.

In 2013, an estimated 436 drivers were involved in vehicle-related fatalities on Thanksgiving Day. And over 46,000 people were injured in car wrecks, many due to drunk drivers and distracted drivers.

Drunk driving plays a major role in the spike of accidents around Thanksgiving, but the increase in drunk driving accidents becomes even more severe towards the end of December. The US Department of Transportation estimates that drunk driving accidents cause an average of 27 deaths every day in December, and that drunk drivers play a role in 40% of all traffic deaths on Christmas and New Year’s Eve. That rate is 12% higher than at any other point in December.

If you are planning to travel this Holiday Season, The Yost Legal Group wants to remind you to be aware and be prepared. Here are a few thoughts to keep in mind while behind the wheel:

  • Always buckle up: Whether you’re driving across the state or just around the corner, never leave without first securing the seatbelts of everyone in the vehicle.
  • Play it safe: We all have plans that we need to keep during the holidays, but always try to leave yourself extra time to arrive at your destination. Don’t rush, obey the posted speed limit and remember that arriving safe is always the number one priority.
  • Drive defensively: You cannot control the actions of other drivers, but you can control your own conduct on the road. Defensive driving techniques like maintaining a safe 3-4 second following distance, using proper turn signals, avoiding distractions like your phone, and paying attention to other drivers on the road will help you avoid a dangerous situation.
  • Be aware: Holiday parties mean that Law Enforcement in your area will be stepping up their efforts to prevent crashes and get impaired drivers off the road. Expect sobriety check points and an increased Law Enforcement presence on the road, and NEVER GET BEHIND THE WHEEL IF YOU’VE BEEN DRINKING.

At The Yost Legal Group, we wish you and your family a safe and healthy holiday season. However, if you or a loved one are injured by a drunk driver or in a car wreck that was not your fault, call the experienced Drunk Driving and Car Accident Attorneys at The Yost Legal Group right away at 1-800-YOST-LAW (967-8529). Our experienced Baltimore injury attorneys will investigate your case thoroughly, and we will work hard to recover the maximum compensation for you.

Our experienced car accident lawyers know how to handle the big insurance companies and will make sure that your rights are protected. Let us help you receive the full compensation to which you are entitled under Maryland Law.

The Yost Legal Group, Experienced Lawyers Dedicated to Protecting your Rights.

Head Injuries From Athletics is a Serious Matter

Posted on by YostLaw

The Fall is here, which means so is football season. Recently, the Baltimore Ravens played the Pittsburgh Steelers. Unfortunately, the Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown left the game briefly during the first quarter due to a head injury he sustained when tackled by Ravens player Darian Stewart.

While Brown was able to return to the game after passing concussion protocol, it is important to note that he is one of the lucky ones. Sometimes, head injuries are life threatening, and often times, severe symptoms do not progress until a lot of time has passed after the injury occurred.

The experienced traumatic brain injury attorneys at The Yost Legal Group have represented too many people affected by similar injuries at no fault of their own.

The leading cause of traumatic brain injuries are falls; however, they can be caused by a multitude of factors, including car accidents, sports injuries, defective products and medical malpractice.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an acquired injury occurring when a sudden trauma causes damage to the brain. TBI can be the outcome when the head suddenly and violently hits an object, or when an object pierces the scull and enters brain tissue.

Symptoms of TBI can be mild, moderate or severe, depending on the extent of the damage to the brain.

Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury can include but are not limited to the following:

–          Headache
–          Confusion
–          Dizziness
–          Blurred vision
–          Ringing in ears
–          Bad taste in mouth
–          Fatigue
–          Memory loss
–          Nausea
–          Convulsions
–          Slurred speech
–          Loss of coordination
–          Confusion

Little can be done to reverse the initial brain damage caused by a trauma. Medical personnel will try to stabilize TBI victims and focus on preventing further injury. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, approximately half of traumatic brain injury victims will need surgery to repair hematomas (ruptured blood vessels) or contusions (bruised brain tissue). Often times this will leave patients and their families ill-equipped to cope with the medical, financial and legal issues stemming from such serious injuries.

The dedicated traumatic brain injury lawyers at The Yost Legal Group work closely with victims to help them get a proper diagnosis and pursue the full amount of compensation for their financial needs. If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury, The Yost Legal Group can help.

Have you or a family member suffered a traumatic brain injury? TBI victims and their families may be entitled to pursue a claim to recover out-of-pocket medical expenses, loss of earnings, pain and suffering, punitive damages and long-term care.

The Yost Legal Group is experienced in helping individuals and families who are victims of traumatic brain injury and medical malpractice. The Yost Legal Group has the experience to investigate your case, determine what negligence was involved and fight to protect your right to full and fair compensation.

If you or a family member has suffered a traumatic brain injury in an accident, contact the experienced, caring attorneys at The Yost Legal Group. The experienced Baltimore Maryland traumatic brain injury lawyers, will work hard to investigate the facts surrounding your situation, get to the truth and see that justice is served.

We are here solely to help you and your family seek the justice and the compensation you need to help care for the needs of your family member with a traumatic brain injury.

Contact The Yost Legal Group at 1-800-Yost-Law (1-800-967-8529) to speak with an experienced Traumatic Brain Injury attorney for free. One of our experienced lawyers will work hard to protect your rights and handle all of the details surrounding your case. If someone was at fault, we will fight to get you the compensation and the justice you deserve.

To find out more about your rights, please contact the experienced and knowledgeable traumatic brain injury attorneys at The Yost Legal Group.

The Yost Legal Group, Experienced Lawyers Dedicated to Protecting your Rights.

Be Safe This Labor Day Weekend

Posted on by YostLaw

Labor Day weekend is one of the busiest holidays for driving on America’s roadways. Be sure to follow these safe-driving tips to have a safe and accident free holiday weekend.

–  Prepare your car for traveling long distances. Make sure to service your car’s cooling system and radiator. Check fluids and wiper blades. Taking time to perform simple maintenance on your vehicle can eliminate many problems that strand motorists.

–  Plan ahead. It is helpful to map your travel route, being careful to mark road signs and exit ramps. Research construction areas that may be on your way in order to avoid lengthy delays. Sometimes drivers cut across traffic in order to make their exit ramp, so be aware of the cars driving next to you.

–  Leave early to avoid the majority of traffic. There will most likely be delays wherever you are traveling to this Labor Day weekend. Know your limitations and do not drive if you are tired, distracted, or ill.

–  Be aware of tractor-trailers. They are heavier then passenger vehicles and take a longer time to come to a complete stop, so do not drive too closely behind them. And be careful when passing a big rig on your right or left.  Never travel in a big rigs blind spot.  If you can’t see its side mirrors, the driver of the truck cannot see you.

–  Always wear a seatbelt. The National Safety Council estimates hundreds of injuries can be prevented this Labor Day weekend if everyone is buckled up. The Council also states that the best defense against a drunk driver is to wear a seatbelt.

–  Limit distractions while driving. Avoid playing with the radio or turning around to speak with a backseat passenger. Never fidget with your phone, iPod or GPS system while driving.  Distracted drivers kill and injure thousands of innocent people each year.

–  Don’t drink and drive! The 2014 national drunk driving enforcement crackdown “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” is in effect August 13 to September 1, 2014.

If you or a loved one is ever injured in a tractor-trailer accident, a car accident or any other type of accident call The Yost Legal Group for help. We’ll speak with you for free to discuss your situation and help you to understand your rights.

If we take your case we will do so on a no win/no fee or expense basis only. That means you do not pay a fee or expense unless you recover.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, call 1-800-YOST-LAW (1-800-967-8529) to speak to one of our attorneys today.

The Yost Legal Group, Experienced Lawyers Dedicated to Protecting your Rights.

Use Child Safety Seats, Protect Your Children

Posted on by YostLaw

According to statistics provided by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, injuries resulting from motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death among children in the United States.

Often, these injuries are avoidable, specifically if child safety seat laws are followed. The Yost Legal Group promotes child safety initiatives across the state of Maryland.

Maryland’s Child Passenger Safety Laws

  • Maryland’s current law required children under age 8 to ride in an appropriate child restraint, unless the child is 4’9” or taller.
  • Child restraints include car seats and booster seats. Be sure to use federally approved child restraints.
  • The laws applies to in-state and out-of-state vehicles.
  • It is the driver’s responsibility for making sure all children are correctly buckled up.
  • Children under the age of 16 are not allowed to ride in the bed of an unenclosed pick-up truck. Some counties outlaw the act for all passengers.
  • It is illegal to place a rear-facing child seat on the front seat if there is an active air bag.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration makes the following suggestions when it comes to child safety seats:

  • Check the seats labels to make sure it is appropriate for your child’s age, height and weight.
  • Keep your child in a rear-facing seat for as long as possible, usually until the age of 2.
  • Harness straps should be at or below your child’s shoulders when rear-facing. When facing forward, the straps should be above the child’s shoulders.
  • Make sure the child safety seat is tightly installed. You should not be able to move the seat base more than 1 inch on either side.
  • Booster seats should be used with shoulder belts, not lap belts.

The Yost Legal Group is experienced in helping individuals and their families who are victims of car accidents. The Yost Legal Group has the experience to investigate your accident, determine what negligence was involved and fight to protect your right to full and fair compensation.

If you or a family member is ever injured in an accident that was not your fault, you need an experienced personal injury lawyer. Do not try to handle your claim on your own.

Contact The Yost Legal Group at 1-800-Yost-Law  (1-800-967-8529) to speak with an experienced Baltimore car accident lawyer for free. One of our experienced Maryland Accident lawyers will work hard to protect your rights and handle of the details surrounding your case. If someone was at fault, we will fight to get you the compensation and the justice you deserve.

To find out more about your rights, please contact the experienced and knowledgeable car accident attorneys at The Yost Legal Group.

Call 1-800-YOST-LAW (1-800-967-8529) to speak with one of our experienced car accident attorneys today.

The Yost Legal Group will help you find answers. If you have questions, call to speak with an experienced Baltimore personal injury lawyer for help.

The Yost Legal Group, Experienced Lawyers Dedicated to Protecting your Rights.

 

Distracted Driving Accidents Are Avoidable

Posted on by YostLaw

Crash! A motor vehicle accident can occur in an instant. One minute you are driving down the road, minutes from your final destination, and then out of nowhere, you are sideswiped by another car. As it turns out, the other driver was checking her hair in the mirror and took her eyes off the road in order to do so.

Distracted driving accidents are all too common in Maryland, and the personal injury lawyers at The Yost Legal Group have represented many victims of these types of accidents.

Most distracted driving accidents are avoidable if drivers would obey the rules of the road and follow the necessary safety precautions while driving.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that in the United States, 9 people are killed and 1,060 people are injured every day in crashes that involve a distracted driver.

There are three main types of distractions while driving.  These include:

–          Visual: taking your eyes off the road
–          Manual: taking your hands off the wheel
–          Cognitive: taking your mind off the task of driving

While talking and texting on cell phones are common sources of distracted driving, there are many other instances, such as; changing the radio station, eating, conversing with passengers, grooming oneself, and small children or pets who disrupt your attention while driving.

Distracted driving statistics in Maryland are astounding. The Maryland Department of Transportation and Motor Vehicle Administration reports the following:

–          In 2011 a total of 231 people were killed and 29,050 others were injured in distracted driving                accidents.
–          In 2011, 30% of the total distracted driver-involved crashes were rear-end collisions.
–          11% of all drivers under the age of 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at                 the time of the crash. This age group has the largest proportion of drivers who were distracted.

The Yost Legal Group is experienced in helping individuals and their families who are victims of distracted driving accidents. The Yost Legal Group has the experience to investigate your situation and find out if negligence was involved.

Contact The Yost Legal Group at 1-800-Yost-Law  (1-800-967-8529) for a free, confidential consultation. If someone was at fault, we will fight to get you the compensation and the justice you deserve.

To find out more about your rights, please contact the experienced and knowledgeable distracted driving attorneys at The Yost Legal Group.

Call 1-800-YOST-LAW (1-800-967-8529) to speak with one of our experienced car accident attorneys today.

The Yost Legal Group Distracted Driving attorneys will help you find answers. If you have questions, call to speak with an experienced Baltimore distracted driving lawyer for help.

The Yost Legal Group, Experienced Lawyers Dedicated to Protecting your Rights.

 

Road Rage Incidents Can Lead to Deadly Results

Posted on by YostLaw

Most car, truck and motorcycle accidents are just that, accidents. However, sometimes it is the deliberate actions of irresponsible drivers that cause such collisions. Drivers on Baltimore highways and bypasses should be familiar with the term “road rage,” as it is to blame for many unnecessary and avoidable crashes.

There are multiple signs of road rage, including; tailgating another driver, the deliberate acceleration or deceleration too close to another vehicle, the cutting-off of another vehicle, slamming on brakes in front of another car, unsafe lane changes, constant honking of horn, and displaying inappropriate hand signals or yelling at another driver.

Road rage and aggressive driving contribute to hundreds of accidents every year. This week, in Annapolis, a murder trial begins against a New Jersey police officer who is accused of shooting a Lansdowne man on the side of the Route 3 ramp to I-97.

Joseph Walker shot and killed Joseph Harvey, Jr. after the two pulled their cars off to the side of the road after an angry exchange on the highway. The two were swerving and yelling at each other after their cars almost collided. Both men got out of their vehicles, exchanged words, resulting with Walker shooting Harvey three times. Harvey was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

Walker’s legal team is arguing self-defense in the deadly shooting of Harvey, however, where the blame lies is not nearly as important as the fact that this altercation involving road rage was highly avoidable.

When caught in the midst of a road rage incident, the best decision to make is to allow the other driver as much space as possible in order to avoid an unnecessary collision. If possible, get out of the way of aggressive drivers in order to preserve the safety of yourself and your passengers.

Not all victims of road rage can avoid an accident and these collisions can lead to serious personal injury and even death. The Yost Legal Group accident & injury law firm has helped thousands of people fight back against the negligent conduct of others.

Aggressive driving is a traffic offense, however, road rage can at times be considered a criminal offence. If you or a loved one has suffered as a result of another aggressive driver’s actions, contact The Yost Legal Group lawyers representing people in Maryland, Northern Virginia and Pennsylvania. An experienced attorney will review the details of your case and help determine the best course of action.

Call 1-800-YOST-LAW (1-800-967-8529) to speak with one of our experienced attorneys today.

The Yost Legal Group, Experienced Lawyers Dedicated to Protecting your Rights.

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