The horrific collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge has captured the attention of the public for the sheer enormity of the disaster. When the shipping vessel hit a support pillar, a bridge that seemed so solid and stable simply fell to pieces as if it had been assembled from a child’s set of building blocks. Our hearts go out to the victims and the families of those who lost their lives and suffered injuries in the disaster.
While the eyes of the world are focused on this exceptional tragedy now, the situation is unfortunately not as unique as it might seem. All too often, someone’s mistake—or a combination of mistakes—leads to an accident that causes innocent people to suffer severe harm. Even if no one intentionally sets out to hurt others, when they acted negligently in some way, and their failure to act with the responsibility owed toward others causes harm, those hurt by the negligent actions deserve to be compensated.
Who is Responsible?
An accident such as the shipping collision that caused the Key Bridge to collapse can be caused by a wide variety of factors. Because this particular accident destroyed a major highway artery and closed busy shipping lanes, federal investigators will be gathering and combing through evidence in the public eye. This type of investigation effort is also needed for accidents that don’t capture media attention, such as car accidents, motorcycle crashes, slip and fall incidents, truck collisions, and pedestrian accidents.
It is important to start investigating right away while evidence is fresh. For ordinary people who don’t have a team of federal investigators at their disposal, it is best to work with an experienced and dedicated personal injury lawyer who knows how to quickly and effectively gather the best evidence to show what happened and who was responsible. At Johnnie Bond Law, we start right away with investigative tactics such as examining the accident scene, interviewing witnesses, and collecting footage from security cameras so that we can preserve evidence to build a solid case for liability. We leverage evidence into legal arguments to demonstrate why victims and their families are entitled to compensation for direct losses such as medical bills as well as intangible losses that can have a devastating impact on life, such as the emotional anguish at the loss of the companionship and guidance of a loved one.
Legal Assistance Can Be Helpful Right from the Start
Many people think they need to wait to talk to an attorney until after they have recovered from their injuries, whether physical or emotional. However, a dedicated and skilled personal injury lawyer can help in a variety of ways right from the start, so it is a good idea to talk to an attorney sooner rather than later.
At Johnnie Bond Law, for instance, we help accident victims and their families by taking actions such as:
- Helping find the right medical care
- Managing communications with insurance companies
- Answering questions from investigators
- Negotiating to get extensions on payments for bills and debts
- Gathering evidence to build the best case for legal compensation
- Justifying a demand for maximum damages from insurance companies
- Evaluating settlement offers based on legal precedent
- Proving liability in court when necessary to achieve fair compensation
After a tragic accident causes injuries, insurance companies often offer a settlement and pressure victims and their families to accept it quickly, before the offer can be reviewed by an experienced attorney. They also try to trick victims into saying something that can prevent them from recovering or reduce the value of their claim. If you allow an attorney to speak to insurance companies on your behalf, you can avoid these potential problems and give yourself more time to focus on your own needs during this difficult time.
Johnnie Bond is Ready to Assist
At Johnnie Bond Law, we are ready to help the victims of the Key Bridge tragedy or anyone else suffering injuries caused by the negligence of others. We don’t just see you as a legal case—we know you have a wide variety of needs and we work with you to meet those needs throughout the process.
Call us now to get the maximum assistance as we work toward the maximum recovery.