Maryland Car Accident Lawyers
Get the Representation you Deserve
Have you been the victim of an auto accident in Maryland such as a rear end collision, side impact collision or a drunk driving accident? Was the accident caused by the careless, inattentive, drunken or reckless driving behaviors of another? Did the accident leave you unable to work? Are you facing growing medical expenses and having to live with physical pain and emotional suffering? Did the accident claim the life of a loved one? If you answered yes to any of these questions you should speak to our Baltimore Maryland car accident lawyers as you may be entitled to benefits and financial compensation under Maryland auto accident law. In a situation such as this you need the help of a law firm that represents people throughout Maryland. Our Waldorf, Maryland car accident lawyers, which includes female attorneys as well as African American attorneys, fight for the rights of those who have been injured in serious car, truck & motorcycle accidents caused by negligent, inattentive drivers or intoxicated. Our Baltimore auto accident attorneys will thoroughly examine your case and seek full, fair & just compensation for your pain & suffering, lost wages and medical expenses. For a free consultation with our skilled and experienced La Plata, Maryland car accident lawyers connect with them here.
Serving all of MD: Annapolis, Baltimore, Ocean City, Bethesda, Frederick, Rockville, Silver Spring, Wheaton, Upper Marlboro, Waldorf & Landover.
Experience That Makes A Difference
Our Cumberland MD auto injury lawyers have been practicing Motor Tort Law in Maryland for many years. Our legal team is made up of experienced Maryland trial attorneys and they will take your case to trial should insurance companies not offer you a fair settlement.
Over the course of their legal careers our La Plata, MD motor vehicle accident lawyers haves helped many accident victims recover damages for their injuries, lost wages, pain and suffering and medical expenses. In car accidents resulting in fatalities, also known as wrongful death, our attorneys also help the deceased persons estate to claim death benefits, funeral benefits and survival benefits.
Determining Liability In MD Auto Accidents
The most important aspect of a car, motorcycle or trucking accident case is establishing the liable party or parties. Once retained, our skilled Bennsville, Maryland female car accident lawyers will thoroughly analyze the crash, and the events leading to it, in an effort to determine exactly how the accident occurred and who was at fault. Issues pertaining to establishing fault can be:
1) What were the driving behaviors leading up to the accident?
2) Were drugs or alcohol involved in the accident?
3) Was the liable party driving carelessly or recklessly?
4) Were road conditions hazardous at time of accident?
5) What was the age of person who caused the crash?
6) What was the experience level of the person who caused the collision?
6) Are there third party liability issues?
7) Are there inadequate insurance or lack of insurance issues?
8) Are you, the victim, partly at fault?
Armed with answers to these questions, and others, our Hagerstown motor vehicle accident attorneys will do everything necessary to make those persons, or entities, accountable legally.
In addition to identifying at fault parties our accident lawyers will also extensively review medical reports to understand the extent of your injuries. They will not only consider the immediate ramifications of your injuries but also the future implications of your injuries. In many serious car, motorcycle and trucking accidents the prognosis (the ultimate outcome of your recovery) is bleak and your quality of life may not be what it was prior to the accident. In some cases there may be more than one at fault party. Sometimes that may include the victim. Our legal team is very skilled in handling comparative negligence claims. In other cases the at fault party may be uninsured or underinsured. Should that be the case our Oakland Maryland car accident lawyers know how to handle uninsured and undersinsured motorist claims. Leaving nothing to chance our Waldorf accident attorneys seek to obtain compensation from any and all liable parties for your injuries.
Possible Types of Injuries Sustained In An Auto Accident
Back and neck injuries: These can include whiplash, strains and disc injuries
Catastrophic injuries: Including brain and spinal cord injuries, amputation and paralysis
Fractures: Broken bones are common in auto accidents, even accidents that happen at a low speed
Soft Tissue Injuries: These can include bruising, cuts, lacerations, scarring and pulled muscles
Wrongful Death: Approximately 450 Maryland residents die in car accidents each year
Types of Auto Accidents
Bike accidents: These include a bicyclist being struck by a motor vehicle and inflict very serious injuries to the cyclist
Car accidents: These include 2 car colliding with one another on roads, highways, intersections, etc.
Commercial vehicle accidents: These can include tractor trailers, delivery trucks, vans, taxis and limousines
Government vehicle accidents: These can include cop cars, police vehicles (marked and unmarked), firetrucks and ambulances
Motorcycle accidents: These can include single motorcycle accidents, being struck by a car or 2 motorcycles colliding
Pedestrian accidents: Accidents involving pedestrians can occur at crosswalks, city streets, resort areas and college campuses.
Trucking accidents: These are very serious and happen commonly on major highways and interstates such as I-95, I-495, I-70 and I-695
Tractor trailer accidents: Can include logging trucks, tanker trucks, semi-trucks & 18-wheelers
Let Us Deal With The Insurance Companies
Of the many cumbersome issues that come along with being injured in an auto accident one of the more taxing can be dealing with the insurance companies and their claims adjusters. This includes your own insurance company as well as the liable parties insurance carrier. You may just want this entire ordeal behind you and to get on with your life. That is a perfectly normal and understandable response but this can also leave you vulnerable to the insurance companies self serving ways.
Accident victims throughout all parts of Maryland including Annapolis, Bel Air, Bethesda, Cumberland, Denton, Ellicott City, Glen Burnie and Ocean City, do not always know that it takes time to determine the full value of your claim. If you are approached by the liable parties insurance company and they want to offer you a fast, easy lump sum settlement you may be inclined to take it. DO NOT TAKE IT. The offer benefits them and not you, your family or your situation. Taking their offer, without an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side, can end disastrously for you.
Benefits In Maryland Auto Accidents
Per Maryland auto accident liability laws accident, injury and wrongful death victims may be entitled to several benefits and forms of financial compensation. The benefits you ultimately obtain are directly related to your accident, the injuries caused and the ramifications the injuries have on your daily life. Common benefits awarded in Maryland are current lost wage compensation, future lost wage compensation, current medical expenses, future medical expenses, pain and suffering compensation.
In the tragic event someone was killed in the accident their estate may be able to obtain death benefits, funeral benefits and survival benefits under Maryland wrongful death laws.
Maryland Statute Of Limitations
In Maryland, and other states, an injury victim only has a certain amount of time to file a lawsuit if they have been injured in an accident or a victim of medical malpractice. This time frame is called the statute of limitations. While seeking legal recourse may not be your top priority following any type of accident or injury, it absolutely should be. Failing to file your lawsuit prior to the statute of limitations can prevent you from obtaining the benefits and financial compensation you deserve. The following statutes apply to the specified types of injury claims under Maryland personal injury law:
General negligence: 3 years from the date of accident/injury
Product liability: 3 years from date of injury
Survival: 3 years from the date of death
Wrongful death: 3 years from date of death
It greatly benefits you, your family and your case if you speak with one of our skilled Elkton Maryland accident lawyers well before the statute of limitations expires.
Concerns After Being Injured In An Auto Accident
Your life will no doubt be severely altered after an auto accident of any type. As each car accident case is different each accident victim may have different concerns. Some of the more common issues we help our clients with are:
How do I know if I have a legitimate accident claim?
That is for an attorney to decide. However the 3 basic factors needed for an injury claim are injuries, lost wages and medical expenses brought on by the accident. Our Bethesda car accident lawyers will analyze your claim and tell you if you have a case as well as what benefits you may qualify for and what the value of your Maryland car accident claims is.
What if my injuries don’t seem that severe?
One of the biggest mistakes accident victims can make is not seeking medical care right after the accident as the injuries seem minor or non-existent. The single most important thing you should do after an accident is seek medical care regardless of how fine or ok you feel.
What if the person who hit me doesn’t have insurance?
While this may seem like a big issue it is not. Maryland has uninsured and underinsured motorist laws that protect accident victims in the even they are hit by an uninsured party. In these cases your own insurance policy can compensate you for damages, injuries, etc.
What role does my own insurance play?
If the liable party hit you your own insurance company does not play much of a role, if any. Your health insurance may kick in to cover the medical expenses but that money is most often recovered through the lawsuit against the liable parties insurance carrier.
Can I recover my lost wages?
You absolutely can as one of the various benefits you can obtain is lost wage compensation. Having an experienced Rockville accident attorney on your side is imperative in helping you recover current as well as future lost wages.
I was partially at fault for the accident, does that matter?
Yes but it does not mean you cannot file a claim and recover damages. Maryland has comparative negligence laws that come into play when the accident victim is also partially at fault. Again, this is a very complex situation and is best handled by an experienced Silver Spring MD car accident lawyer.
What should I look for when hiring an accident attorney?
Several things such as experience and practice focus. Both are important as you will be best served by an attorney with a lot of experience handling only accident claims vs. all different types of law such as divorce, bankruptcy, etc.
What traffic laws apply to my accident?
Having the person hit you written up or cited for a traffic violation can help your case but it does not always happen. The laws that could apply to your case are laws such as speeding, failing to signal, running a red light and driving while intoxicated.
What is the value of my case?
As mentioned in the first question there are several factors that are needed in order to have a personal injury case. Even if those are all present those amounts need to be significant and the injuries somewhat severe. Now, in many cases injuries seem minor initially but can get worse down the road. That is why you should always seek medical care. As determining the value of an auto accident claim is a complicated task it should only be handled by a skilled accident attorney. And you should never ever take the settlement offer from the insurance carries without an attorney on your side.
How will my case resolve?
An overwhelming majority of auto accident cases resolve via settlement. This settlement is negotiated between one of our Towson Maryland car accident attorneys and the liable parties insurance carrier.
Do I need a lawyer who handles only auto accident cases?
No. Is it a safe bet to go with an attorney who focuses their entire practice on accident and injury litigation? Yes it is. If for no other reason they focus their efforts on helping accident victims and will have a much better understanding of your injuries, how they will impact you life now and in the future as well as how that translates into a settlement amount.
What does it cost to hire a Columbia MD injury attorney?
Nada. Zilch. Zero. Our team of Upper Marlboro car accident lawyers charge no fees unless they recover benefits, damages and compensation on your behalf. Even the consultations is absolutely free.
Our Frederick MD car accident lawyers will answer all of these questions and more. In addition, they will keep you apprised of the statue and progress of your case from start to finish.
What To Do If Offered Settlement From Liable Parties Insurance Company
There are always issues after being injured in an auto accident in Maryland. You may have medical appointments, miss time from work, as well as being in physical pain or discomfort.
Following your accident, one thing that often happens is you may be approached by the responsible party’s insurance company regarding a quick and easy settlement. It is not advisable to accept this quick settlement for several reasons.
Mainly, the driver’s insurance company does not have your best interest in mind and the settlement ultimately benefits the insurance company and not you and your family.
Also, the insurance company will not take into consideration all possible forms of compensation including, but not limited to:
- Current medical expenses
- Future medical expenses
- Lost income due to missing work
- Pain and suffering compensation
- Funeral and or death benefits
Depending on the circumstances surrounding the accident there may also be multiple liable parties. As personal injury cases can become very complex very quickly, and there is a time frame you have in which to file a lawsuit, it is crucial to the outcome of your case that you have an experienced Towson, MD car accident lawyer on your side.
No Fees Unless We Recover On Your Behalf
Often times, people worry that pursuing a lawsuit against an insurance company, manufacturing company for a defective auto part, or seeking compensation for serious injuries is too expensive. Our Bel Air Maryland car accident lawyers handle accident claims via a contingency fee basis meaning we charge no fee unless we recover for you and your family. With us at the helm you can rest assured you will obtain all benefits and forms of compensation you are entitled to. This will offer you peace of mind and allow you to focus on regaining your health and recovering.
Contact our Cecil CountyMaryland auto accident lawyers and let them fully analyze your case for the current value as well as the future value. A seemingly minor injury may evolve into something very serious and you do not want to forfeit your rights or jeopardize the amount of compensation and benefits you can ultimately get for your pain, suffering, lost wages and medical bills.
The Waldorf, Maryland injury attorneys on our team serve those injured in car accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents and tractor trailer accidents throughout MD. This includes Annapolis, Aberdeen, Baltimore City, Bel Air, Bethesda, Bowie, Catonsville, Churchville, College Park, Columbia, Dundalk, Dunkirk, Denton, Easton, Edgewood, Eldersburg, Elkton, Ellicott City, Essex, Gaithersburg, Germantown, Glen Burnie, Hagerstown, Havre De Grace, Hyattsville, Joppatowne, Landover, Lanham, Lutherville, Ocean City, Olney, Owings Mills, Potomac, Salisbury, Silver Spring, Takoma Park, Timonium, Upper Marlboro, Bennsville, La Plata, Waldorf, Westminster and Wheaton, MD.