Experienced Maryland Accident Attorneys
A car accident, truck accident, or motorcycle accident could be incredibly disruptive to your life and your health. One moment you are going about your daily routine, and the next moment you are facing medical bills, time out of work, or worse.
If you have been injured in a major accident due to another person’s negligence, you can protect your rights to full and fair compensation by hiring a major accident attorney as soon as possible. Having a knowledgeable attorney in your corner early in the process can be extremely beneficial in the long run.
The experience, skill, and resources that the major accident attorneys at D’Amore Personal Injury Law bring to your case are invaluable. We stand up for your rights to make sure you get the best legal representation and the best financial recovery possible. We welcome you to schedule a free consultation with one of our legal professionals to learn more about what D’Amore can do for you. You pay nothing unless and until you win.
What To Do After an Accident
In the unfortunate event that you are involved in a car, truck, or motorcycle accident, there are some important steps you should take to protect your health and your legal rights.
- Report the Accident. Calling 911 or local police is important so a law enforcement officer can create a report of the accident. The investigating officer on the scene can help determine who was a fault. If there are injuries, reporting the accident to law enforcement is required.
- Get Treatment. Do not delay seeking medical treatment if you are injured. That could mean calling an ambulance or visiting the nearest emergency care center. If you delay seeking treatment, that could impact an insurance company’s view of the seriousness of your injuries.
- Obtain Contact Information. Get contact information from all people involved, including names, phone numbers, addresses, and insurance information. If possible, gather then contact information of any witnesses to the accident, and inquire as to whether there is any smart-phone video footage of the accident.
- Contact an Attorney. The only people with whom you should discuss the accident are the police, your doctor, and your attorney. Providing statements to insurance representatives or signing paperwork before consulting an accident lawyer could lead to less compensation for you.
When to Contact an Attorney After an Accident
You should contact an attorney immediately after an accident. Why? Because you only have a limited amount of time to file a claim, and time is of the essence in an accident case. Valuable evidence can be lost or destroyed with the passage of time.
Moreover, your attorney will know what evidence to look for, and how to capture it – including skid marks or other relevant details. Therefore, having your lawyer help you obtain and preserve evidence will give you an advantage when presenting that proof to an insurance adjuster.
Finally, having a lawyer available to help you immediately will avoid the possibility of an insurance adjuster obtaining a statement or other admission from you at the scene. You want to be sure that your side of the story is not tainted by slanted questions from an insurance adjuster.
How Much Is Your Accident Case Worth?
It is always an important consideration to know what a case is worth. We understand that consideration because major accidents can put a serious financial burden on you.
However, because every case is different, it is difficult to estimate. The compensation you receive will depend upon how extensive your injuries are, the amount of medical expenses you have, and whether you are partially at fault for the accident.
In that regard, it is important to mention Maryland’s controversial contributory negligence law. In Maryland, if you are even partially at fault for your accident (even minimally so), you are barred from recovering anything from the negligent party. While this Maryland law differs from most of the states in the U.S., there appears to be little appetite to change it. Hence, Maryland’s contributory negligence law is another reason to avoid speaking with an insurance adjuster until after you have consulted with your attorney.
That said, assuming that there is no contributory negligence issue, you may be entitled to receive compensation for accident losses including:
- Medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages
- Loss of consortium
- Property damage
- Loss of earning capacity
Why Teens Cause More Auto Accidents
Teens do not always think clearly when driving. The crash rate for drivers ages 16 to 19 is three times higher than that of older adults, and they are far more susceptible to risky driving behaviors that lead to fatal accidents. Knowing these facts about how your teen thinks when behind the wheel is a great start to keeping them safe on the road.