A 7-year-old Maryland girl is in a coma and on a ventilator after suffering severe injuries in a car accident.
The car accident involved a family of four, the girl, her older sibling and their parents. They were traveling home when a Jeep smashed into the passenger side of the family’s car.
The 7-year-old suffered a catastrophic brain injury and several broken bones. Her father indicated that the child might not survive her injuries.
The child’s mother also had to be taken from the scene of the accident by helicopter. She was in intensive care after suffering several broken ribs. She was also bleeding internally.
There was some indication that alcohol may have been a factor in this accident. However, when asked, a police spokesperson said that they were not prepared to say definitively that this was a drunk driving accident.
The investigation of the accident is continuing, and police said that they would forward their findings to prosecutors to consider criminal charges.
Options after a drunk driving accident in Maryland
Compared to the other states, it may seem like Maryland law leaves few options open to victims of drunk drivers.
While a drunk driver will no doubt face the full brunt of the criminal justice system, this does not mean that victims will receive compensation for their losses.
However, this does not mean that a family has no options. They can and should ask for reimbursement for both their medical expenses as well as for the cost of ongoing medical and other care.
In this situation, were a girl has suffered a potentially debilitating brain injury, the costs of ongoing care could run into the millions. The cost of loss income potential and non-economic losses like pain and suffering can also be compensated.