If you’re thinking about a separation or divorce, have been charged with a crime, or have been injured in an accident, you need to know your rights. The experienced lawyers at the Law Offices of Mike Mastracci are ready to help you with your case. Here are some frequently asked questions about DUIs, personal injuries, and divorce laws in Ocean City, MD.
If you have any questions or need legal assistance, don’t hesitate to contact our office today!
What Should I Do After A DUI Arrest In Ocean City, Maryland?
If you refuse to take a test to determine your blood alcohol or drug concentration, or take a test and fail it, the police officer will confiscate your driver’s license, issue a paper temporary license, and prepare a case for the Maryland MVA file.
You generally have 10 days from the date of arrest to request an MVA hearing or apply for a modification, such as an ignition interlock. Missing this deadline can result in an automatic suspension—even before your court date.
This is why it is critical to contact an Ocean City, MD DUI lawyer as soon as possible: the deadline is approaching quickly, and you might dig yourself a deeper hole by ignoring the consequences. This step is essential for non-Maryland drivers, as Maryland can still impose penalties that impact your driving privileges.
Before your court appearance, your attorney will discuss the various defense strategies, gather evidence, and best prepare you for the legal process in Ocean City. It is critical to understand that penalties for a DUI conviction could include fines, jail time, probation, alcohol education programs, and additional license restrictions. Penalties increase if aggravating factors are present, such as a high BAC, prior convictions, or an accident.
Can I Sue For Injuries Caused By A Drunk Driver In Ocean City, Maryland?
If you’ve been injured in an Ocean City, MD DUI accident, you can file a personal injury lawsuit to seek compensation for your losses. A lawsuit allows you to gain compensation beyond what insurance may cover, especially if you’ve experienced pain and suffering or lost future earning capacity due to your injuries.
An Ocean City, MD, personal injury lawyer can investigate the accident, obtain surveillance or dash-cam footage, locate witnesses, consult with experts, and build a detailed timeline of events. An attorney can also handle communications with insurance companies and defense lawyers, helping protect clients from pressure to accept a low offer or make statements that could be used against them.
To recover compensation, the injured party must show that the drunk driver’s negligence caused the collision and resulting injuries. Common evidence in a civil case includes police reports, blood alcohol or breath test results, photographs from the scene, eyewitness statements, and medical records documenting injuries.
Can A DUI Conviction Affect Child Custody Or Visitation Rights In Maryland?
In Maryland, a DUI conviction can impact child custody arrangements significantly. The court’s primary concern is the well-being of the child. Courts consider the potential risks associated with impaired driving. A DUI conviction raises concerns about a parent’s ability to provide a safe and stable environment for their child.
If the court convicts a parent of a DUI, the judge may choose to modify existing custody arrangements. This may reduce the amount of time the impaired parent spends with the child. Or, a judge may order supervised visitation. Supervised visitation involves a third-party who ensures the child’s safety during visits.
When Should I Contact A Personal Injury Attorney After An Auto Accident In Ocean City, Maryland?
Once you get medical attention for your injuries, it is never too early to enlist the help of a personal injury lawyer, no matter how severe your injuries may be. You likely only have three years to file your claim, and you can benefit from early legal advice when dealing with the other side’s insurance company.
When selecting a personal injury attorney in Ocean City, Maryland, you want a lawyer who takes cases to court. Cases settle throughout the process for many different reasons, but beware of the lawyer who settles everything. Often, verdicts are better than settlement offers. And usually, settlement offers improve significantly the deeper you get into litigation.
No matter what we do for our clients, we build our cases from a solid record of success, demanding fair results from wrongdoers who have damaged our clients’ property or injured their health or well-being. The Law Offices of Mike Mastracci are committed to giving our clients the representation they deserve!
What Does A Maryland Personal Injury Lawyer Do During An Auto Accident Case?
A knowledgeable Maryland personal injury lawyer will know how to put a fair value on your accident claim after evaluating the facts. A personal injury attorney will represent your best interests in your case from start to finish. This includes:
- Reviewing your case: The first thing that a personal injury lawyer can do for you is to provide you with a free consultation. During this time, the attorney will review the facts of your case and determine whether you have a valid compensation claim.
- Explaining your rights and options: It’s also the attorney’s job to describe all possible legal avenues regarding your case. For example, your attorney may tell you that you have the option of filing an injury claim with your own insurer, filing a claim against the at-fault party’s insurer, or filing a lawsuit directly against the at-fault party.
- Investigating your claim: One of the most important things that an attorney will do is examine your case. An investigation will enable a lawyer to understand your case better and turn up critical evidence to support your compensation claim.
- Recruiting experts: To prove the extent of your injuries, a personal injury attorney may call upon experts to support your case. Professionals that are often used in personal injury claims include accident reconstruction analysts, medical experts, forensic accountants, and life care planners.
- Gathering evidence: Types of evidence that your Maryland personal injury lawyer may acquire include eyewitnesses’ statements, photographs, vehicle “black box” data, and more. This evidence could be critical in achieving the outcome you’re hoping for.
- Handling paperwork: There will be a lot of paperwork and documentation associated with your personal injury claim, such as insurance claim documents, medical bills, proof of lost income, and more. A personal injury attorney can collect and organize this paperwork so that you can focus on healing.
- Representing you out of court: Most personal injury claims are settled out of court. An experienced personal injury attorney can represent you during settlement negotiations with the at-fault party’s insurance company.
- Filing a lawsuit: If your case cannot be resolved satisfactorily in a settlement, you may have the option of going to trial. A skilled personal injury attorney can discuss the pros and cons of taking the case to court so that you can make the best decision for you and your family.
Do I Need A Divorce Attorney In Ocean City, MD, For An Amicable Divorce Under Maryland Law?
In Ocean City, MD, you may be able to get an amicable, or “uncontested divorce,” meaning that you and your spouse reach a settlement agreement on all of the issues that must be addressed to end your marriage, such as dividing your property and caring for your children.
While a divorce lawyer is not necessarily required for an amicable divorce, having a skilled attorney on your side is still very beneficial. An Ocean City, MD divorce attorney can ensure your settlement agreement is legally sound, protects your interests (assets, alimony, child custody/support), avoids costly errors, and complies with complex laws like equitable distribution, even if you’re representing yourselves or using a mediator.
If you and your spouse both agree on the divorce and there are no other issues, consider seeking the help of the Amicable Divorce Network. The Amicable Divorce Network is a team of licensed, experienced divorce professionals – including attorneys, mental health clinicians, financial experts, and other specialists.
Our lawyers guide divorcing couples through a modern approach to divorce called the Amicable Divorce Process, a civilized, transparent, and cost-effective alternative to adversarial divorce litigation. Network members are trained in the Amicable Divorce Process and vetted to ensure they are leading, solution-oriented experts dedicated to helping reasonable people navigate divorce and other sensitive family issues.
Your selection of an Amicable Divorce lawyer provides you with expert advice and guidance without traditional, destructive, and costly litigation. The Amicable Divorce structured approach empowers reasonable people to reach an informed settlement while preserving privacy, sanity, money, and hard-earned assets.
How Does Child Access And Visitation Work For Parents In Ocean City, Maryland?
Ocean City, Maryland, courts award legal and physical custody of minor children to one or both parties, in accordance with the children’s best interests. If physical custody is awarded to one party, the other party will generally be granted visitation rights. Decision-making power regarding the child may be awarded to either party separately or to the parties jointly.
Visitation rights are the legal arrangement allowing non-custodial parents to visit their children regularly. Visitation is a standard part of any divorce or custody agreement and becomes part of the official parenting plan. The plan specifies the frequency, duration, and location of visits. A visitation agreement typically depends on:
- The child’s age
- The relationship between parent and child
- The non-custodial parent’s proximity to the child
- Any concerns related to the safety or welfare of the child
Courts can order supervised visitation when they believe a parent is unfit. In these scenarios, a social worker must be present during the visits. Defining visitation rights is a necessary process requiring careful consideration and negotiation. Child visitation is court-ordered, and it cannot be ignored. If one parent fails to follow through on visits, they may face legal consequences. That is why parents in custody battles need to have an experienced child custody attorney on their side.
Here at the Law Offices of Michael Mastracci, we work with you and your partner to first attempt to settle all matters out of court, to reach an amiable agreement that both sides can live with and that is in the best interest of the child(ren). Contact us today to get help on your case!
LAW OFFICE OF MICHAEL A. MASTRACCI, LLC
Hiring a lawyer should be the first thing you do when encountering any legal matter, not a last resort. Whether you’re thinking about a separation or divorce, or have been charged with a crime, been injured in an accident, or your civil rights have been violated, you need to first know your rights. Consulting a lawyer first can actually save you both time and money in the long run. We also have a comprehensive referral network to suit your individual and family needs.
Whether you’re facing divorce, custody issues, or child support disputes, our shared goal is simple: to guide you through the process with clarity, compassion, and confidence. Two firms. One focus — protecting you and your family. Call us today at 410-869-3400 or visit our law office at 30107 Tammy Court, Selbyville, DE 19975