Car Accident Lawyer Rockville, MD

Common Car Accident Injuries

Whatever your injuries, you should know that a court will divide your injuries into economic damages and non-economic damages. Economic damages are your out-of-pocket expenses that are easily quantifiable. These include the cost of car repairs, the cost of the ambulance ride (if applicable), medical bills, and any lost wages that you missed from having to take sick days off from work. Your non-economic damages, however, are your emotional damages that are best left to a qualified car accident lawyer. Non-economic damages may be your pain and suffering, loss of consortium between you and your spouse, and humiliation (if, perhaps, you suffer a physical injury such as an amputation or disfigurement).

Now that we have covered the types of damages you may sue for, let’s list some common car accident injuries.

• Broken bones
• Sprained bones
• Traumatic brain injury
• Spinal cord injury
• Amputation
• Headache or migraine
• Paraplegia
• Quadriplegia
• Sore muscles 
• Burns

Maryland’s Car Accident Liability Laws

When involved in a car accident in Maryland, understanding the state’s specific liability laws is crucial, as our car accident lawyer can tell you. These regulations guide how the responsibility for an accident is determined and how compensation is awarded.

One of the most distinctive features of Maryland’s car accident liability system is the doctrine of “contributory negligence.” This rule states that if a party is found even slightly at fault for the accident, they are barred from recovering any damages. In simple terms, if you’re found to be 1% responsible for the crash and the other party is 99% at fault, you still cannot claim damages. This approach makes Maryland one of the strictest states when it comes to assigning fault in car accidents.

Like many states, our car accident lawyer knows that Maryland operates under an “at-fault” insurance system. The person found at fault for causing the car accident is responsible for compensating any injured parties. Typically, it is the insurance company of the at-fault driver that will pay out claims for medical expenses, property damage, and other losses.

Drivers in Maryland are required by law to carry minimum liability coverage. This insurance pays for damages or injuries to other people if the insured driver is at fault. The minimum coverage amounts are:

• $30,000 for bodily injury per person
• $60,000 for total bodily injury if multiple people are hurt
• $15,000 for property damage

Another aspect of Maryland’s car accident liability landscape is the protection offered against uninsured and underinsured motorists. If a driver gets into an accident with someone who doesn’t have insurance or doesn’t have enough insurance to cover the damages, their own policy can step in to cover the costs. This protection is mandatory in Maryland, ensuring that drivers have some level of coverage against those who flout insurance requirements.

To navigate Maryland’s stringent contributory negligence rule effectively, accurate documentation is crucial. It’s advised to gather as much evidence at the accident scene as possible, including photographs, witness statements, and police reports. This evidence will be vital in proving fault and ensuring the injured party can secure the compensation they deserve.

What to Do After an Accident

Knowing the right steps to take after an accident is crucial. You may be feeling disoriented right after an accident, but try to remember what you need to do so that you can protect yourself and boost your chances of having a strong claim. Some of the basic steps you should take after a serious car accident include:

• Notify police and first responders
• Seek medical treatment
• Exchange contact and insurance information
• Take photos of the accident scene
• Write down witness statements
• Obtain a copy of the police report

Taking these important steps will help you prepare the strongest case possible. If you miss any of these steps, you risk getting less compensation. Failing to receive a proper medical evaluation in time for example can weaken your claim because a medical report is a key piece of evidence. 

Insurance companies will not work in your interest so you have to do the actions necessary to protect yourself. They will use any excuse to discredit your claim or lower the compensation amount they will give you. Do not fall for their tactics, and instead have a lawyer try to negotiate with them. They understand how to secure the offer that you deserve so your full costs will be covered. 

A car accident is a harrowing experience, and the fallout afterward is no better. The costs of an accident are often dire and you may not know if your insurance will cover them. However, you don’t have to face this situation alone. Our car accident lawyer can work with you to make a claim for compensation and take legal action against the responsible driver. To ensure you get the help you need, follow these steps.

Assess the Situation

First, check yourself and your passengers for injuries and, if possible, move off the road and get to safety. Next, call 911—injuries may not be immediately apparent, and even if nobody is injured, the police will file an accident report. Turn on the hazard lights or use road flares to warn oncoming drivers, then wait for emergency services to arrive.

During this time, you should also exchange information with the other driver, including:

• Name and contact info
• Insurance company and policy number
• Driver’s license
• License plate number
• Type, color, and model of vehicle

Avoid admitting fault, accepting blame or declaring fault of other parties, as such statements could be used against you.

Document the Incident

Insurance companies try to avoid compensation, and your lawyer will need as strong a case as possible to make sure the insurer gives you what you need. This means detailed documentation. Along with the information from the other driver, you should talk to any witnesses and request a copy of the accident report from the police. Also, take pictures of both vehicles to show the damage done, as evidence during the claims process. Don’t rely on memory to relay important information later—get everything in written statements or recordings.

Take Photos and Gather Evidence

If you were injured in a car accident, it is important to gather as much evidence as possible. Photos of the actual scene are one of the most powerful pieces of evidence you can have. Here are a few tips for taking photos of a car accident scene.

• Use any camera. When it comes to taking car accident scene photos, any camera will do. You don’t need a high-tech camera to capture decent photos. You can even use your smartphone camera. These days, many smartphone cameras have a flash built-in and can take clear photos.
• Capture shots at different angles. It is better to have too many photos than too few. As such, you should try to take photos from multiple different angles.
• Don’t forget the details. The more details your photos have, the better. Take up-close photos of the damage to your vehicle, skid marks on the road, traffic signals, and other vehicles involved in the accident.
• Take photos of your injuries. Did you suffer visible injuries from the car accident, like bruises or cuts? If so, you should take photos of them promptly.
• Ask someone to take photos for you. If you are too injured to take photos of the car accident scene, don’t hesitate to ask a bystander to do it for you. Photos can dramatically increase the credibility of your personal injury case, so you shouldn’t miss out on your opportunity to do so.

Contact Insurance Companies

Call your insurance agent to start the claims process, ideally while still at the scene. Filing a claim becomes more difficult if you put it off, especially if the other driver files a claim against you. Even if they don’t take action against you, your insurer may need to contact their carrier and negotiate over repair costs. If an insurance adjuster shows up, do not sign or agree to anything, or you may inadvertently waive your right to a claim.