Car Accident Lawyer Rockville, MD

An accident leaves many people injured on the road each day, as a car accident lawyer in Rockville, MD knows too well. You should not have to deal with the financial burden after an accident alone. A trusted lawyer who knows how to help accident victims will be there for you at every step of the way. When you need help, you can contact us 24/7 to discuss your case. The skilled and talented legal team at Azari Law, LLC can help you with your case if you have been injured and are thinking of taking legal action against the responsible driver. 

When you work with our team, you can always expect to receive personalized legal help specific to your unique circumstances. They will be there for you to give you the legal advice you need to navigate your situation and obtain the best outcome. With their years of experience, they have assisted numerous clients obtain the settlement that they deserve and nothing less. Contact us today for a risk-free consultation so that we can get started on your case.

Common Causes of Car Accidents

Car accidents are a leading cause of injury and death worldwide, with a vast array of factors contributing to their occurrence. Understanding these factors is crucial for prevention and for knowing when to seek legal assistance. We have witnessed firsthand the impact of car accidents on individuals and families. Through our experience as car accident lawyers, we aim to shed light on the common causes of these tragic events and encourage those affected to reach out for the support they deserve.

Distracted Driving

One of the most prevalent causes of car accidents today is distracted driving. This occurs when a driver’s attention is diverted from the road, often due to using a cell phone, eating, or interacting with passengers. Such distractions can delay reaction times significantly, making it difficult to respond to sudden changes in traffic conditions or hazards on the road. 

Speeding

Exceeding speed limits is another leading cause of accidents. Speeding reduces the driver’s ability to steer safely around curves or objects in the roadway, extends the distance necessary to stop a vehicle, and increases the severity of an accident should one occur. Our team has extensive experience handling cases where speeding was a factor, and we urge individuals affected by such recklessness to consult with us to explore their legal options.

Drunk Driving

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a dangerous and often deadly decision that impairs a driver’s judgment, coordination, and reaction times. Despite widespread awareness campaigns and strict laws, drunk driving remains a significant problem. If you or a loved one have been involved in an accident caused by an impaired driver, we encourage you to reach out to us. 

Weather Conditions

Adverse weather conditions, such as rain, snow, ice, fog, and wind, play a significant role in car accidents. These conditions can make roads slippery, reduce visibility, and make it challenging to control a vehicle. Drivers are advised to exercise caution and adjust their driving according to the weather. If you have been in an accident where weather played a role, our team can help determine if negligence was involved and what legal recourse may be available.

Running Red Lights and Stop Signs

Ignoring traffic signals and signs is a common cause of accidents, often resulting in side-impact collisions or rollovers. These accidents can be particularly severe, leading to significant injuries or fatalities. We have the expertise to assist victims of such accidents in understanding their rights and pursuing justice.

Reckless Driving

Reckless driving, including aggressive driving behaviors such as tailgating, changing lanes without signaling, and overtaking in dangerous circumstances, contributes to many accidents. Such actions not only endanger the driver but all road users. Our firm advocates for those impacted by reckless driving, helping them to secure fair compensation for their injuries and losses.

At Azari Law, LLC, we understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll that car accidents can take on victims and their families. Our dedicated team of car accident lawyers in Rockville, MD, is here to provide comprehensive legal support to those affected. If you find yourself or a loved one in need of assistance following a car accident, we encourage you to reach out to us. Together, we can navigate the legal process, seeking the justice and compensation you deserve. Remember, being informed and prepared can make all the difference in ensuring safety on the roads and obtaining the right support in the aftermath of an accident.

Car Accident Infographic

Navigating 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.

Contributory Negligence In Focus

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.

The Role Of Insurance Companies

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

Uninsured And Underinsured Motorist Protection

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.

The Power Of Thorough Documentation

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.

Exploring Legal Avenues

Given the complexity of Maryland’s car accident liability laws, it’s not uncommon for disputes to arise regarding who was at fault. In such situations, legal action may become necessary. The court will then review the evidence, hear arguments from both sides, and determine who was at fault and to what extent.

Secure Your Rights With Expert Guidance

If you find yourself entangled in the aftermath of a car accident in Maryland, it’s essential to understand your rights and responsibilities under the state’s liability laws. Given the stringent nature of Maryland’s contributory negligence doctrine, having skilled legal representation can make a world of difference in securing the compensation you deserve. Our team is well-versed in Maryland’s car accident liability laws and is here to guide and support you every step of the way. 

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.

How to Take Photos of a Car Accident Scene

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.

Contact a Qualified Car Accident Lawyer

Legal procedures at this point are often complex, so a firm like Azari Law, LLC gives you the expertise needed to navigate the claims process, build your case, and take or defend against legal action.

We understand that obtaining legal help after an accident can be a stressful decision to make. You are likely focused on moving past your accident and focusing on your recovery so that you can get back to normal life. However, you want to first explore your legal options before dismissing legal help. If you’re struggling with bills for medical expenses and other costs, then seeing a car accident lawyer is valuable. They can explore ways you can obtain the highest compensation that you can. Contact a car accident lawyer that Rockville, MD trusts today for legal assistance.

Work-Related Car Crashes

If your auto accident occurred while you were engaged in work-related activities, you may be in a position to pursue more than one kind of compensation. Almost all auto accident injury victims—who are not solely responsible for the cause(s) of their collisions—are entitled to seek insurance settlements from relevant providers and are entitled to file personal injury lawsuits to hold those responsible for the harm in question legally and financially accountable for their conduct. However, car accident victims who are engaged in work-related activities at the time of their collisions are often eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits as well or instead of personal injury compensation.

If anyone other than your employer may be held legally and financially responsible for the harm that you have suffered, you may choose to file a personal injury lawsuit against that party (or parties) in addition to collecting your workers’ compensation benefits. The workers’ compensation system only insulates employers from legal liability in personal injury cases.

If you are unsure of whether you are in a strong position to pursue a workers’ compensation claim and/or personal injury claim, that is okay. We are here to clarify your options and offer you any legal support that you may require at this time.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases

If another individual involved in your car accident has been charged with criminal wrongdoing related to your crash, know that this criminal law process is separate from any civil suit that you may choose to file against them. Meaning, that regardless of whether the charges stick or are dropped, the individual is convicted or not, etc., your right to hold that individual accountable for the harm that they caused you is in no way affected in a civil context.

The burden of proof in civil cases is much lower than it is in criminal cases. This means that it is easier to secure a verdict against the defendant in a civil case than it is in a criminal case. Therefore, if you are hesitating to explore your legal options due to the other party’s criminal case, please contact our firm today to discuss your situation—their criminal situation should have no bearing on your decision to file a civil case or not.

Tricks Car Insurance Companies May Use To Get Out of Your Claim

If you drive a car then you most likely have insurance, especially true because a lot of states require insurance to drive. You purchase this insurance so that if you are in an accident your expenses will be covered but this is not how it works in reality it might be very difficult to obtain the settlement needed because insurance companies have the goal of profit, which means they need to pay out nothing — because paying out large sums of money is not cohesive to the plan.

Insurance companies always can put themselves first and they will try to deny your claim. Let’s talk about some of the most common ways that the insurance company may try to deny your claim so that you can recognize it.

Acting Like They Care

When you are feeling vulnerable after a car accident, and likely if you are filing a claim and have a lawyer on your team when you are injured and are filing for compensation for that injury. While, the insurance company recognizes vulnerability in the emotional time that you are going to try to heal and get treatment, and they are going to act like they care. If they act like they care, they’re going to try to earn your trust, and by doing so they are trying to get you to say things to them that may damage your claim.

Use your own words against you

The insurance company is not going to have any issue with using your own words against you, handing me even asking for records or details of what happened. You should not speak to an insurance adjuster, no matter how nice they seem, because they will twist your words. You are not obligated to speak to an insurance adjuster without your lawyer present and you do not have to agree to be recorded.

They try to talk you out of hiring a lawyer

After your adjuster is going to have your trust they may try to convince you that you should not hire a lawyer, and there are often cites that you have to share your settlement with the lawyer in question. They do not explain that your settlement will often be larger with the help of a personal injury lawyer because these lawyers have experience negotiating with insurance companies. The insurance company wants to minimize your compensation return, which means if you do not hire a lawyer then you do not know that they are lowballing you.

They request all of your medical records

You may think it’s reasonable for an insurance company to request all of your medical records because they need to understand her injury, therefore they need to know your medical history for you to recover compensation. Right? Wrong. Insurance companies often request all of your medical records to look for a pre-existing condition that they can claim you had before the accident which worsened your current injury. Once this is done they can then minimize your financial recovery to the insurance company because they’re claiming you had a pre-existing condition before the accident.

Things You Should Not Do When Speaking With Insurance Claims Adjusters

You have the right to delay your response to insurance company calls and to protect your personal information. Before you pick up the phone, learn about seven things you should not do when talking to claims adjusters.

Forget To Ask the Caller for Their Identifying Information

When you reach the adjuster handling your injury claim, you should get their full name and their contact information. Make sure the person states the name of the insurance company they represent. Keep records of all your phone calls and share the adjuster’s phone number with your car accident attorney. 

Provide Personal Information

Insurance claims adjusters hope to gain as much information as they can from an investigative call. Proceed with caution and do not provide any personal information other than your full name, address, and phone number.

Discuss the Details of the Accident

You might be eager to share your side of the story, but it’s best not to disclose any information about the accident. Even if the insurance company asks a few yes or no questions, you shouldn’t try to clarify any details for them. You could also use a script when you speak to the claims investigator.

Disclose Your Injuries or Medical Treatments

The insurance company will try to minimize the severity of your injuries. If you tell them your arm is better or you were discharged from occupational therapy, adjusters will use this information to justify an insufficient settlement offer.

Apologize or Admit Fault

Even if you were partly to blame for causing the accident, don’t admit to any wrongdoing with the insurance adjusters. You should also avoid apologizing, even though you might feel compassion for the other party involved in the accident.

Lose Your Temper

We remind clients to keep their composure when speaking to insurance company representatives. It will not help your case if you argue or lash out at the claims adjuster. Plus, you may forget important details if you are too upset during the call.

Call the Adjusters Before You Meet With a Lawyer

Don’t try to handle the insurance claims process on your own before speaking with a car accident lawyer in Rockville, MD. Call us so we can help you get the compensation you need for your injuries.

Questions to Ask a Car Accident Lawyer

Following a car accident, it is important to speak to a qualified car accident lawyer as soon as possible. During your initial consultation, it is a good idea to ask your lawyer many questions to make sure he or she is the right person to represent you. Here are several questions you may want to ask.

• What percentage of your practice is dedicated to car accident cases?
• How long have you been practicing law?
• What are the strengths and weaknesses in my case?
• What’s your contingency fee?
• How long do you think my case will take to resolve?
• What types of damages am I entitled to receive?
• Do you have trial experience?
• What steps should I take to protect my car accident case?
• Will you be the only lawyer working on my case?

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

Car Accident Law Statistics

According to the Maryland Department of Transportation, there were 563 total fatalities in Maryland in motor vehicle crashes. This includes drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and those involved on bicycles. As difficult as it is to discuss and think about, car accidents can be gravely serious. After your car accident, you may require physical therapy. You may struggle walking or making use of certain limbs. This predicament can negatively impact your work capacity, as well. For example, let’s suppose that you work for a construction company. Such a job requires lots of heavy lifting. If you can no longer make full use of your limbs or if your injuries are such that it will take months or years of therapy to improve, you’ve now lost your earning capacity because you will have to take a different, usually lower-paying job, such as a desk job.

Rockville Car Accident Frequently Asked Questions

What are my legal rights if I’m injured in a car accident?

When you are involved in a car accident, it is critical to understand that you have legal rights, especially if you sustain injuries. Firstly, you have the right to seek medical treatment for any injuries sustained during the accident. It is important to document these injuries for potential compensation. Secondly, you have the right to consult with an attorney. This ensures that your interests are represented and maximizes the likelihood of securing the compensation you deserve. 

How do I file a personal injury claim after a car accident?

Filing a personal injury claim after a car accident involves several steps. First and foremost, it is essential to seek immediate medical attention, even if you think you have not sustained any serious injuries. Medical documentation serves as crucial evidence when pursuing your claim. Next, report the accident to the police and ensure they create a report. This document provides an unbiased third-party account of the incident. Then, gather as much information as you can from the accident scene including witness information, photographs, and the other driver’s details. 

What evidence do I need to prove that the other driver was at fault?

To prove that the other driver was at fault, you need to gather compelling evidence. This may include photographs from the accident scene showing the position and condition of the vehicles, skid marks, and any visible injuries. A police report is another vital piece of evidence that can help determine fault. Additionally, eyewitness testimonies can be instrumental in corroborating your account of the incident. 

How long will it take to resolve my car accident case?

The time frame to resolve a car accident case can be influenced by many factors, making it difficult to provide a definitive timeline. The complexity of the case, the severity of the injuries involved, and the willingness of the insurance company to settle all play a part. While some cases can settle in a matter of months, others may take a year or longer, particularly if a lawsuit is filed. It’s important to consult with a personal injury attorney to get a more precise estimate based on the specifics of your case. 

Azari Law, LLC Rockville Car Accident Lawyer

Schedule Your Consultation with Our Firm Today

As part of the dedicated team at Azari Law, LLC in Rockville, MD, we have established ourselves as a reliable resource for those affected by car accidents. Our expertise in navigating the complexities of car accident claims ensures that our clients receive the support and legal representation they deserve. We prioritize understanding our clients’ unique situations, working tirelessly to advocate for their rights and secure the best possible outcomes. We have multiple locations, including Rockville, Ellicott City, Takoma Park, and more. Speak with our  trusted car accident lawyer in Rockville, MD.