(301) 495-3131
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Serving Injury & Accident Victims
in Maryland, Virginia, and DC
Serving Injury & Accident Victims
in Maryland, Virginia, and DC
"Thank you so much for all your guidance and support during this difficult period in my life.I Will Never Forget Your Compassionate Professionalism And Unparalleled Legal Expertise." -Zachary P..
"From the 1st meeting, he invested so much time & interest. He was so helpful & reassuring. We won in court." -Ina Lerner.
"They’re the best. You will never lose with them" -Ana Thomas.
"Their services were honest with integrity. I always walked out their office with a smile." -Damilola Adeyale.
"I had a tough case in the beginning but it ended wonderfully and I grossed more than I expected. I recommend each & everyone who has an accident or any other legal matters, to please call Duboff & Assoc." -Terrence Edwards.
"The service was great and very understanding and straight forward all the way to the end." -Kevin Hines.
"I had a great experience working with Duboff & Associates through my legal case. I was involved in a car accident by a tuck tractor at no fault of mine. Mr. Duboff was such pleasant person that he guided me through the process and through by medical care." -Mohamed A..
"We are most grateful to you personally as well as your entire staff at DuBoff & Associates. Had it not been for your legal expertise, our opponents would have prevailed. The series of meetings we had–especially on Sundays to accommodate our individual schedules and our witnesses–deserve special mention." -Isaac Vodi, Riteway Driving School.
"I will not hesitate to refer them to my friends and I have done it before. Again I am very pleased for the good service they provided me. I will always come back for future incident." -Read the full testimonial.
"You have been great to work with, you are a top notch attorney in my opinion. This is my first experience and hopefully my last but I appreciate your openness, patience, and honesty in guiding me through the process. You always made me feel you were working on my behalf to get the best settlement possible." -Larry McClain.
Getting a ride somewhere is more convenient than ever. With rideshare services like Uber and Lyft, you don’t have to try to flag down a taxi. Instead, you can simply input some basic information in an app, and a car will pick you up and take you to where you want to go.
Uber and Lyft may be convenient, but they aren’t without their dangers. Rideshare drivers have no special training – and may only have a minimal level of personal insurance on their automobile. If you have been hurt in an Uber or Lyft accident, there are certain steps that you can take to protect your right to full compensation for your injuries.
At DuBoff & Associates, we represent injury victims throughout Maryland in all types of accident claims – including those that involve rideshare vehicles. We offer free initial consultations, and never charge a fee unless we recover money for you. Reach out today to learn more or to talk to an experienced Silver Spring car accident lawyer.
When it comes to filing a personal injury lawsuit, all motor vehicle accidents are not the same. This is particularly true when it comes to crashes involving rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft.
Rideshare companies have very minimal qualifications to become a driver. Typically, a driver must be over a certain age, have a clean driving record, have a four-door vehicle in relatively good condition, and carry automobile insurance. Unlike many other drivers who transport passengers, Uber and Lyft drivers do not require specialized training.
In Maryland, drivers are only required to carry a minimum level of insurance coverage: $30,000 for bodily injury, $60,000 for bodily injury for 2 or more people, and $15,000 in property damage coverage. As a result, if you are in a serious accident with an Uber or Lyft driver in Maryland, you may not be able to fully recover for your losses if you have to rely on their personal automobile insurance policy.
This is what makes Uber and Lyft cases more complicated. There is a special set of rules that applies to determine which insurance policy covers an accident. Injury victims can only access Uber or Lyft’s commercial insurance policy in limited circumstances.
Specifically, if you were hurt in an Uber or Lyft accident where the rideshare driver was at fault, the level of coverage depends on what the driver was doing at the time. It breaks down as follows:
As you can see, the potential recovery for your injuries is primarily based on what the driver was doing at the time of the crash. A skilled Silver Spring car accident attorney can subpoena electronic records to determine if the driver had the app on or off when the wreck occurred.
The final complicating factor in rideshare accidents is that the drivers are typically considered independent contractors instead of employees. In most cases, if you were involved in an accident with someone who was driving as part of their job (such as an Amazon truck driver), you could file a lawsuit against their employer under the principle of respondeat superior. Because Uber and Lyft drivers are not technically employees, you are limited to filing a claim with either the driver’s personal insurance policy or the company’s commercial policy, as described above.
If you are involved in an accident with an Uber or Lyft, there are a few things that you can do to protect yourself. These steps should be taken whether you are a passenger in the rideshare vehicle, a driver or passenger in another vehicle, or a pedestrian or bicyclist who was hit by an Uber or Lyft.
The first – and most important – thing to do is to check for injuries. If anyone has been hurt, make sure that they seek prompt medical attention. Getting medical treatment right away can ensure that you get the right diagnosis. It also creates a link between the accident and your injuries.
Second, call the police to report the accident. If you called 911 to seek medical attention, then a police officer will be sent to the scene. The law enforcement officer will write an accident report that details what happens and lists witnesses, which can be incredibly helpful when pursuing your claim.
Third, if you are able to do so, gather potential evidence. Get the names and contact information of the driver and any witnesses. If you can, take pictures and videos of the scene.
Fourth, when you can, write down everything that you can remember about the accident. Over time, our memories tend to fade – particularly when you have been through a traumatic event like an accident. Writing down as much as possible right after the accident is a good way to ensure that you don’t forget small details.
Fifth, file an accident report with Uber or Lyft. These companies have portals on their websites for reporting a crash. After you file the report, an insurance adjuster or company representative may reach out to you for additional information.
In most cases, you should not talk to an Uber or Lyft representative until you have had a chance to talk to a seasoned Maryland personal injury attorney. Your lawyer can file the report on your behalf, and can even handle all communications with the company for you. By working with an attorney, you increase the likelihood of getting a full recovery for your injuries.
Most personal injury law firms offer free initial consultations, so it won’t cost you anything to learn more about your legal rights and options for pursuing a claim. Better yet, personal injury attorneys typically handle car accident cases on a contingency fee basis, which means that you won’t have to pay anything upfront to hire a lawyer. In Silver Spring and the surrounding areas, call DuBoff & Associates for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation.
Uber and Lyft are massive corporations insured by even bigger insurance companies. If you are involved in an accident with one of their drivers, you may be intimidated by the thought of getting into a legal battle with these corporate giants. Our law firm can help.
Based in Silver Spring, DuBoff & Associates advocates for injury victims throughout Maryland. With more than 3 decades of experience as a leading Maryland law firm, we have the knowledge and skills to help our clients get the best possible outcome for their claims. To learn more or to schedule a free consultation with a Silver Spring car accident lawyer, give our law office a call at 301-495-3131 or fill out our online contact form.
Related:
What to Do if Someone Sues You for a Car Accident in Maryland
What to Do Immediately After a Tractor-Trailer Accident: A Step-by-Step Guide
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue responded to a major explosion at the Friendly gardens Apartments on Lyttonsville Road, in Silver Spring, Maryland on March 3, 2022, at approximately 10:30 am. Fortunately, reports and updates so far indicate that there are no known casualties but three people are battling life-threatening injuries with at least ten more people transported to the Hospital.
The cause of the explosion currently is not known. This apartment explosion is similar to the tragic apartment building explosion our community suffered in 2016 at the Flower Branch Apartments in Silver Spring, Maryland, in which seven people died, including two children. Investigations of the 2016 explosion revealed that, “residents at Flower Branch said they reported smelling natural gas in the weeks that led up to that explosion. After an investigation, officials say a mercury service regulator that was not connected to its vent line was the source of a gas leak that led to that deadly incident.”.
Silver Spring is growing, as evidenced by all the construction and traffic detours arounds us, but we are still a small community. This apartment explosion hit close to home for our staff here. Yesterday we were all in shock as we followed the updates.
We send our heartfelt prayers to those in the hospital right now for a speedy and pain free recovery. Our firm is looking for ways to donate or help those afflicted, not just the injured but many families are displaced with the cold weather outside.
If you or a loved one were affected by this explosion and have any questions, please do not hesitate to call us for a free legal confidential conversation, or even if to just want to talk to someone person to person.
Our team of personal injury legal specialists has recently been receiving many questions about how the novel coronavirus COVID-19 may detrimentally affect personal injury lawsuits, so on this page, we are going to share some thoughts about how the virus can potentially impact the value of an individual’s case.
There is no doubt about it that we are all undergoing unprecedented times, which is why all of us at DuBoff & Associates are staying as informed as possible in terms of how the coronavirus is affecting our new and existing cases. We’ve been informing our clients in terms of their best ways to maintain the full value of their case for over 40 years, and this expertise couldn’t be more important within today’s pandemic.
We all know how frightening it is to even consider going to a hospital given the contagion risks, but we cannot urge people enough to still receive medical treatment when they’ve been involved in a car accident or any other personal injury scenario.
If you or a loved one has recently been involved in an accident and you’re concerned about the coronavirus’ effect on your ability to obtain adequate and prompt medical treatment, contact us today for a free consultation so we can go over the details of your accident and help you obtain medical treatment in a way that better coincides with your concerns.
One of the most imperative actions an accident victim must take when it comes to maximizing the overall value of a personal injury case is making sure they receive all the medical treatment they require and are prescribed by their doctor. Treatment can come in all different forms, and sometimes this even entails an accident victim getting surgery in emergency situations. Other common treatments include physical therapy, injections, prescriptions, regular checkups and surgery months after an accident.
But no matter what type of medical treatment you obtain, the biggest concern in terms of maximizing a personal injury case’s value is always in the MANDATORY reception of every treatment that’s recommended by medical experts. The big concern within today’s COVID-19 outbreak is that many people are scared to keep up with their medical appointments or even see medical professionals.
It’s crucial that accident victims fully understand that any contagion fears oriented around the coronavirus will not be a good enough reason in terms of not adequately obtaining necessary medical treatment in the days and weeks after an accident occurs. Getting your full and necessary medical treatment after an accident is always needed in terms of maximizing a case’s value because we cannot prove the overall extent of your injuries without medical records and recommended treatments!
Anyone who’s keeping up with the mainstream media will understand how local hospitals all across the country are experiencing overflows with coronavirus patients, which has led to many people literally not being capable of properly scheduling and implementing a doctor’s appointment. In this type of situation, it’s important to know that any delays in treatment and resolving your case are your best legal options. It’s never a good idea to risk your case’s maximum value, so simply waiting to obtain and complete your treatment prior to filing your lawsuit will ultimately maintain your case’s value.
However, being diligent in terms of getting your medical treatment in a prompt manner during the coronavirus outbreak is still a major concern for all accident victims looking to obtain their rightful compensation within a personal injury lawsuit.
Insurance companies will always want accident victims to be treated within a week after the accident occurs, and most insurance companies won’t change their general criteria of filing a claim WITHIN 72 HOURS! This is exactly why the DuBoff & Associates team is offering our recommended doctors that will come to see you in your home if you feel uncomfortable going to the hospital or simply can’t go.
We know how stressful it can be to need medical treatment these days as COVID-19 cases continue to grow throughout Maryland and the surrounding area, which is why we want you to know that we’re here to support you with safe home visits from experienced medical experts.
There’s a good possibility that many insurance companies will experience a decline in profits within the foreseeable future, which subsequently will lead them to fight much harder before being willing to settle within accident cases. We’ve helped countless clients over the years when it comes to fighting insurance companies, so any added pressure from insurance companies is something we’ll be prepared for.
We’ll always put a significant amount of pressure on insurance companies by being willing to take a personal injury case to trial, and this is something we’ll typically consider when insurance companies are being unreasonable in terms of your case’s value and the overall history of similar cases.
There are inevitably going to be some roadblocks during the coronavirus outbreak, including courthouse schedule/procedural changes, but the number one mistake an accident victim can make during this pandemic is simply waiting till this is over to hire an attorney.
Any delays in calling us will ultimately be the easiest way to reduce your case’s value, and these delays can even include just a few days after an accident when it comes to beginning medical treatment!
We can always handle your free consultation and the initial steps of the legal process remotely, so you don’t have to go to more public places and risk germ exposure.
So if you or a loved one has been involved in an accident and you’re concerned about how the coronavirus may implement any possible disruptions within your case, call us at 301-495-3131 or contact us today for a free consultation so we can review the details of your injuries and help you get adequate medical treatment to begin the legal process.