With driving speeds of 70mph and hundreds of cars on the road, the chances of a collision is increased significantly on highways like I-95. If you were injured in a crash on the highway, an I-95 car accident lawyer in Edgewood, MD may be able help you obtain financial compensation.
The Law Offices of Adam M. Smallow provides a free case review to assess your legal options and answer any questions you may have.
Personal Attention and Consistent Updates on Your Car Accident Case
We offer 24/7 accessibility to clients in Edgewood and around Maryland so your car accident case can get the attention it deserves. Our passionate legal team will handle the entire process of your personal injury claim, from obtaining police reports to defending you against the at-fault party in court, if necessary.
If you happen to be in the middle of the insurance claims process with another firm, we’ll pick up where they left off. The Edgewood car accident lawyers at our law firm handle all the details of your case while keeping you informed. We will:
- Handle phone calls and emails with the negligent party and their insurance company
- Investigate the cause of your car accident
- Discover evidence of wrong-doing
- Obtain medical records
- Compile receipts and important documentation
- Interview witnesses
- Represent your interests in negotiations
- Fight for you in court
- Keep you updated every step of the way.
For legal consultation with a i-95 car accident attorney in Edgewood, call (410)777-8960
Pursue Maximum Compensation with Our Firm
Maximum compensation for your suffering is our constant goal. Our accident lawyers will perform a detailed evaluation of your injuries to assess the damages you may be entitled to. Economic damages
We gather receipts, bills, invoices, professional fees, and other key documentation related to your car accident to calculate how much your case is worth. These items indicate the economic damages you can recover. Costs that are recoverable in Maryland under Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. Code §11-109 include amongst other things:
- Medical treatments (pending and future)
- Rehabilitative care
- Medical supplies and equipment
- Lost income for present and future
- Reduced ability to earn
- Vehicle repair or replacement
Non-Economic Damages Can Also Be Recovered
The value of your case is also based on the non-economic damages that you incur. Evaluating your non-economic losses is more challenging because they do not automatically correlate to a dollar amount. Whereas we can easily see that a surgery costs you $27,000, there is no inherent monetary value in the amount of the pain you suffer due to a back injury or the loss of full range of motion in your shoulder.
What is the monetary value of the loss of your spouse from a car crash? No one can answer that question with certainty because it’s not tied to money. Some losses, like the death of a loved one, are quite literally impossible to calculate.
The Court Will Decide How Much Your Pain and Suffering Is Worth
For these injuries, the court decides based on what it costs you personally. They consider the impact on your life, the severity of the injury or disorder, the time it may take you to return to a normal life, expert testimony, and other factors.
Potential non-economic damages you can recover are:
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of care or service
- Diminished quality of life
- Loss of enjoyment
- PTSD or other psychological issues
- Emotional distress
- Chronic pain
- Disfigurement
- Broken bones or lost limbs
- Paralysis or other disability
Punitive Damages
In very rare cases, you may also be able to collect punitive damages. Punitive damages are awarded to a victim in order to punish the defendant for wrongdoing. In Maryland, punitive damages are only awarded when the defendant has acted with actual malice. The court in Darcars Motors of Silver Spring, Inc. v. Borzym (Md. 2004) defines actual malice as “consciousness of wrongdoing, evil motive, intent to injure, ill will, or fraud.” When it does occur, the judgment awarded to victims is usually an exceedingly high amount, well over the compensatory damages you receive.
Edgewood I-95 Car Accident Attorney (410)777-8960
Options for Receiving Compensation
Victims of car accidents on I-95 in Edgewood have multiple options for collecting compensation in Maryland. Insurance is the primary way you will be paid, but filing a personal injury lawsuit is also an option as well as recovering some of your losses from a state fund.
Personal Injury Protection
Maryland is not a “no-fault” state. The state does not require drivers to carry personal injury protection (PIP), but it does require insurance companies to offer it. If you have PIP, it will pay your medical bills and lost wages up to your policy limits. In addition, you can also collect compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance under the Maryland collateral source rule.
Third-Party Liability Insurance
Drivers are mandated to maintain liability coverage under Maryland law. Drivers must have $30,000 in death or bodily injury coverage, $60,000 per incident for two or more people, and $15,000 for property damage. If the other driver was negligent, you will likely be paid from their insurance. Additional compensation that exceeds their policy limits would have to come from the sources discussed below.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Protection
Drivers in the Maryland are also required to have uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM). In the event that the at-fault party does not have insurance, this coverage will kick in and cover both your economic and non-economic damages like pain and suffering. By law your UM/UIM must at least equal the minimum limits for liability insurance, per MD Ins Code § 19-509 (2017).
Maryland Auto Insurance
The Maryland Auto Insurance Fund (MAIF) or simply Maryland Auto provides compensation if you were hit by an uninsured driver or were involved in a hit-and-run crash.
Victims of car accidents on I-95 in Edgewood and surrounding areas can file a claim, but there are strict instructions to follow, and the organization is notorious for denying claims. Your car accident attorney can explain in detail how the process works but this is typically a last resort.
Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit
While filing an insurance claim is your first option for compensation, it is not the only one. Our I-95 car accident lawyers will make every attempt to negotiate a just settlement for your injuries, but if the settlement is not in your best interest, we can file a personal injury lawsuit.
You may sue the insurance company, the at-fault driver, or both based on liability. When your insurance company does not pay out your UM/UIM or your PIP I-95 car accident claim as they should, you could file a breach of contract lawsuit against them.
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Don’t Delay, or You Could Miss the Deadline to File a Lawsuit
The Maryland statute of limitations is three years from the date of the accident, according to Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. Code § 5-101. Waiting until the last minute to file your insurance claim is a big risk. If negotiations with the insurance company drag out and a lawsuit needs to be filed, you’ll want to have ample time to build a proper case.
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Recover Without Worry By Calling the Law Offices of Adam M. Smallow
Let the Law Offices of Adam M. Smallow take charge of your auto accident case. An I-95 car accident lawyer at our firm can help you collect the compensation you need to recover without worry. Call (410) 777-8960 for legal help today.
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