A car accident can turn your life upside-down, whether you have suffered a personal injury or lost a loved one. You may be eligible for compensation to help you put your life back together, and a Brandywine car accident lawyer can help fight for this compensation on your behalf. To get started, call the Law Offices of Adam M. Smallow at (410) 777-8960 for a free consultation.
If driver error caused your crash, you can file a lawsuit against that driver.
Other common accident causes include issues with the environment (e.g., bad weather, glare from headlights) or the vehicle itself (e.g., malfunctioning brakes, a tire blowout). In these cases, you may be able to sue an auto part manufacturer, a maintenance contractor, or someone else.
No matter who you sue, you will be seeking compensation not from the liable party themselves but their insurance company. With that, one of the main goals of your lawsuit is to persuade an insurance company that you qualify for compensation.
Identifying and Quantifying Damages
If you were injured in a car accident, you have three years to file your lawsuit, according to Maryland Courts and Judicial Proceedings §5–101. This statute of limitations may seem like plenty of time if your accident just happened. However, it is better to begin sooner rather than later when it comes to something as important as a lawsuit. If you do not file within the three-year time frame, there is a chance that you will not be able to collect any financial awards.
To receive compensation, you must first identify what kinds of damages you qualify for. These may include either noneconomic damages or economic damages, or a combination of the two.
Noneconomic damages include physical and/or mental trauma caused by the accident, your injuries, or their aftereffects. These can include—but are not limited to—things like:
Disfigurement, if you have scars from your accident injuries
Disability, if you have lost the use of any part of your body (e.g., a digit, limb, organ, or sense)
Pain and suffering, if you experienced any sort of physical or mental anguish or distress because of your injuries
Reduced quality of life, if you need help with basic tasks (e.g., cooking or getting dressed) or can no longer participate in activities you once loved
Loss of companionship, if your loved one passed away in the crash and you are struggling to learn to live without them
Economic damages include financial harm, such as:
Medical costs, if you had to get medical help to treat your injuries
Loss of wages, if you had to take time off from work
Loss of financial support, if you relied on your deceased loved one’s salary
Once you have identified which damages you qualify for, you can start thinking about how much money each is worth to you. In other words, these losses are how you express your physical and mental struggles in terms of money. Calculating your damages is a complex but vital part of any lawsuit.
To learn more about damages and how to sue for them, contact the Law Offices of Adam M. Smallow at (410) 777-8960. In addition to offering free case reviews, we work on a contingency fee basis, meaning we do not bill you for our services unless you get compensation.
How a Brandywine Car Accident Lawyer Can Help You
Every lawsuit is different, but as a general rule, they are usually neither quick nor easy. Before you start one, it is important to know what you are getting into. The Law Offices of Adam M. Smallow can help you make an informed decision and reduce your legal burden in the following ways.
Evaluating and Investigating Your Case
The first thing we can do for you is tell you whether or not your case is viable. Determining if it qualifies can save you a lot of time and effort and enable you to move to the next steps in your lawsuit.
If your case qualifies, you can then decide whether you want to fight your lawsuit alone or get help from our firm. A lawyer may be able to assist you with all legal matters, starting with a thorough investigation into the causes and effects of your accident. They can gather evidence from various sources, such as medical records and witness statements, to show that you were injured in the crash and deserve compensatory damages from the party you are suing.
Fighting for Compensation
The insurance company does not want to have to pay you any more than they have to. Their lawyers will do everything possible to diminish your claim—and your payment. You may feel more at peace, knowing that you have a lawyer of your own to stand up to the insurance company and defend your interests.
A lawyer may be able to convince the insurance company to pay a fair settlement. However, if the insurance company proves especially stubborn, do not give up hope: your lawyer can go to court on your behalf.
Serving as an Advisor
Along the way, you may find that you have questions about the legal process or that you are unsure about the best way to pursue your case. Part of our job is to make sure you have the information and support you need to make those decisions with confidence.
Everyone deserves access to legal representation. The Law Offices of Adam M. Smallow can make sure you get that representation by assessing your case at no charge and providing you with a Brandywine car accident lawyer. Call us at (410) 777-8960 today to further discuss your case.
