Bel Air Car Accident Lawyer

Collisions are one of the most common causes of injuries in the United States. If a car accident due to another driver’s negligent actions caused your injuries, you have the right to seek compensation. Filing a personal injury claim or lawsuit may entail gathering enough evidence to prove fault, calculating your total costs and losses, and negotiating a fair settlement or award.

When you are considering opening a car accident case, you will need to keep Maryland’s personal injury laws in mind. A Bel Air personal injury lawyer can help you manage all these factors and fight for compensation. Call Adam Smallow Injury Lawyers today and learn how our Bel Air car accident lawyers can help. We are ready to advocate for you.

Common Causes of Car Accidents in Maryland

As with any state, a variety of negligent driving behaviors cause thousands of accidents every year. Some commonly cited causes of these accidents include distracted, aggressive, and impaired driving, though many actions can fall into these categories.

For instance, examples of aggressive driving behaviors can include:

• Speeding
• Tailgating
• Weaving in and out of congested traffic
• Cutting off another driver
• Failing to signal when turning or changing lanes
• Running a red light

Distracted driving also comes in many forms, though texting and driving is a common offense. Eating, talking to other passengers, and adjusting the GPS or radio can also distract a driver. While these behaviors may seem harmless on their own, the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) reports that distracted driving causes an average of 21,000 injuries annually in Maryland alone.

Impaired driving includes behaviors such as driving while under the influence of alcohol as well as illegal drugs. Annually, the MDOT reports that these collisions cause more than 2,700 injuries a year.

These negligent behaviors can result in several types of car accidents, including: 

• Rear-end collisions 
• Head-on collisions 
• Side-impacts
• Sideswipes
• Rollovers

Our Bel Air car accident lawyers can handle these and other types of accidents on your behalf. 

Common Injuries in Maryland Car Accidents

Depending on speed, weight, and negligent action, car accidents can result in horrifying injuries for victims. Some of the severe injuries we have helped clients seek compensation for include: 

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Spinal injuries 
• Broken bones and dislocations
• Organ failure and internal bleeding
• Deep lacerations and burns
• Amputations and loss of function

Catastrophic injuries like these could take years to recover from, and the medical costs to treat these injuries could be high. We will ensure that you are receiving the best possible medical care and that your medical debt is included in our demands for compensation.

Preparing Your Bel Air Car Accident Case

You may want to take extra care when preparing your personal injury claim. This means collecting enough evidence to prove that the other driver is at fault for your injuries. Evidence that may help support your case includes the following:

• Surveillance and traffic camera footage
• Information from the police report
• Witness statements
• Medical records regarding your injuries

While it is possible to collect this evidence yourself, hiring an attorney can take these burdens off you. He or she can dedicate time to contact the witnesses and experts, examine reports, and build your case while you handle your medical and financial concerns.

Maryland Car Accident Filing Deadline

In Maryland, the statute of limitations can affect your ability to receive compensation after suffering injuries in a car accident. The time you may spend negotiating with the insurance company if you attempt to settle out of court does not extend this deadline. If you choose to hire a Bel Air car accident lawyer, part of his or her responsibility is to keep you aware of the three-year deadline.

Our Bel Air Car Accident Attorneys Want to Recover Compensation for You

Depending on the severity of your accident and injuries, you may qualify for multiple types of compensation. Your award may include both economic and non-economic damages relating to your injuries and vehicle repairs. To receive compensation, you typically need to present evidence of these damages in the form of receipts, bills, and medical records. These can serve as proof of your treatment and property damage costs.

You may also include pay stubs and letters from your job as proof of how your injuries have affected your ability to work. With all these items as evidence, an attorney can help you calculate your claim’s total value. In car accident cases, you may be able to pursue damages such as:

• Current and future lost wages
• Diminished earning capacity
• Doctor and hospital visits
• Treatment, medications, and ongoing physical therapy
• Pain and suffering
• Vehicle repair or replacement

We know the methods used by the courts and the insurance companies to determine your non-economic damages.

Why Partner With a Car Accident Lawyer in Bel Air From Our Team?

Our team can handle every aspect of your case. We’ll gather evidence, negotiate with insurers, and help put your life back together. We offer more than legal support; we offer compassionate support.

When you work with Adam Smallow, you can:

• Breathe a sigh of relief: You can rest easy knowing we’re advocating for you. A legal professional is on your case. You don’t have to worry about any of your legal matters with us on your side.
• Receive legal advice: We offer a unique 24/7 helpline to our customers. You can message us at any time with your questions or concerns.
• Take advantage of our medical network: Our firm works with a vast network of qualified doctors, the same we entrust with our loved ones. We’ll draw on this network on your behalf so you can receive quality care for your injuries.

We want to take you From Hurt to Help®.

Our Bel Air Car Accident Lawyers Will Assign Liability for Your Losses

Using supporting evidence, we can assert:

• Duty of care: The other driver’s legal duties on the road
• Breach of their duty: The moment they deviated from their responsibilities
• Causation: How their actions led to the accident and your injuries
• Measurable damages: The physical injuries or other quantifiable losses you suffered

By proving each of these elements, we can pursue compensation for your losses. We can also contest the other party’s accusations that you caused the accident.

Our Bel Air Car Accident Lawyers Will Negotiate With the Liable Insurer

Insurance companies aren’t always on your side. In many cases, insurers will prioritize their bottom line over your recovery. We’ll fight back on your behalf. We can identify low settlement offers and communicate with the involved parties for you.

Our Bel Air Car Accident Lawyers Will Take Your Case to Court if Negotiations Fail

It is always a possibility that the insurance companies will not seek a fair resolution to your claim, which is why we will proceed with a lawsuit. We will be ready for that eventuality. We will file your complaint with the Harford County Courts, take depositions, present our evidence for discovery, and file and request dismissals of any motions. 

Honest Mistakes That Could Cost You

Our Bel Air car accident lawyers want you to collect all the compensation that you deserve for the harm you have suffered. Here are a few pitfalls you will want to avoid after your Bel Air car accident.

Sharing on Social Media About the Accident or Your Injuries

Many people stay in contact with their friends and relatives by posting photos and comments on social media. In addition, sustaining injuries in a car crash qualifies as a huge event that you would share with the people you care about to keep them informed about your life. Unfortunately, no matter how you structure your privacy settings on your social media account, the insurer will likely gain access to your content.

Your social media posts could backfire and affect the compensation you might receive, such as:

• Photographs from the accident scene might give the insurer information they could use to deny your claim or blame you for the collision.
• Pictures of your injuries could be inaccurate because of the angle, photo quality, or other technical issues. In addition, the photos might make your wounds look less severe than they were or show injuries that have already partly healed.
• Ranting about the other driver, the officer who responded to the crash, or anything else might portray you in an unflattering light to a jury.
• Even innocent photos of you having fun weeks later could serve as evidence for the insurance company, arguing that your pain is not as bad as you allege in your injury claim.

Therefore, we advise our car accident clients to take a complete break from social media until their cases are resolved.

Settling Your Injury Claim Before Completing Your Prescribed Medical Procedures

At some point, you could tire of undergoing painful medical procedures like surgeries or physical therapy. As a result, you might want to take a break from your healthcare treatments. We understand how you feel, but you need to know the risks of this decision.

The at-fault party might argue that they should not have to pay the expected damages for your current physical condition. Instead, they could claim that you could have healed further if you’d completed all the treatment your doctor recommended. As a result, they’ll argue against paying for any functional impairment you might have from your injuries.

Not Realizing That You Can’t Go Back and Ask for More Money After You Settle

If you decide to settle your claim before completing your medical procedures, you might get another unpleasant surprise. Your doctor might inform you that you will not heal completely without an additional medical intervention such as another surgery. However, once you’ve settled, the insurance company will not pay those medical bills or your lost wages from the surgery.

In addition, you might eventually complete your treatment plan, only to learn you will never heal completely. Instead, the crash has left you with permanent limitations. Again, the insurer would have had to pay you for this disability, but it will not do so if you have already settled your claim. So, remember the waiver and release you sign when you receive the settlement check prevents you from filing future claims against them.

Our Clients Share Positive Feedback With Us

Many of our previous clients are happy they chose Adam Smallow. Some have shared:

• “The professionalism and service I’ve received from Adam Smallow has exceeded my expectations. He is very bright, listens well and answer all my questions.” – Joe B.
• “Mr. Adam Smallow represented me in an accident case where I was hit in the back while sitting at a light. He is a great attorney and kept me abreast of what was going on with my case.” – Connie H.

How Much Do Car Accident Lawyers Cost?

The list of expenses after a car accident can seem endless. Vehicle repairs, medical expenses, and other hidden costs are relentless. We won’t add to this list of financial worries. We prioritize financial accessibility by:

• Working on contingency: You won’t have to pay our law firm any money upfront, and our Bel Air car accident lawyers won’t get paid unless you win your case.
• Offering free case evaluations: It costs you nothing to connect with our legal team and explore your legal options. During this meeting, we can discuss your case and its possible outcomes.

What Should I Do After a Car Accident in Bel Air, MD?

Car accidents can leave victims disoriented. You may be unsure about how to move forward with your case. Following these steps can ensure a smooth claims process:

• Seek immediate medical attention
• File a police report
• Exchange contact information with the involved parties
• Leave all insurance matters to your legal team
• Maintain as much evidence as possible, such as photos of your injuries

Above all else, refuse to give a recorded statement. If the insurance company asks you to give one, tell it to talk to your injury lawyer.

Get in Touch With Adam Smallow Today

Injuries and damages from a car accident can severely impact your life and the lives of your family members, who may also feel the financial and emotional effects. If you got hurt because of someone else’s negligence, Maryland allows you to seek compensation for your medical treatments and other related expenses.

You do not have to go through a personal injury case alone. A Bel Air car accident lawyer from Adam Smallow can be there to fight for you along the way through settlement negotiations or on trial. The team at Adam Smallow can discuss your case for free in an initial consultation to determine what options are available to you. 

Contact us today to get started.