Elkton Car Accident Lawyer

Daily driving is a common act that typically does not go wrong. However, when car accidents do happen, the outcomes can be quite severe and damaging for those involved.

An Elkton personal injury lawyer from Adam Smallow Injury Lawyers can defend your legal rights after a car accident. We offer free case reviews to accident victims.

Personal injuries, damaged vehicles, and emotional trauma are common in car accidents of any kind. While these outcomes can leave you feeling helpless, you may have options for financial recovery if another party’s negligence caused your accident.

An attorney from our firm can help you pursue justice and any forms of financial compensation that you may be owed in a personal injury claim or lawsuit.

Working With Adam Smallow Injury Lawyers on Your Car Accident Case

When you partner with an Elkton car accident lawyer with Adam M. Smallow, we can work to establish a liable party by investigating the details of your collision.

Our legal team can file an insurance claim and negotiate with car insurance companies and other drivers for a fair settlement that covers all your losses. If the insurance companies deny you a fair settlement offer, we can take your case to trial.

During this legal process, our car accident attorneys in Elton can:

• Provide you with legal advice
• Design a personalized legal strategy based on the circumstances of your case
• Communicate with all liable parties and their insurers on your behalf
• Manage the legal deadlines and paperwork in your case
• Collect evidence of the extent of the responsible party’s liability
• Collect evidence about your damages’ value
• Defend your rights at every stage

Our law firm can also answer your questions and keep you updated on your case along the way. Our goal is to take the stress of a personal injury claim off your shoulders.

We want to get you back to financial stability and give you the time and peace you need to focus on recovering from your injuries.

Important Personal Injury Laws in Cecil County, Maryland

If you are planning to take legal action for your injuries, there are a few important Maryland personal injury laws for you to be familiar with:

Insurance Requirement Minimums

Maryland law requires all motorists to carry liability insurance. These insurance policies pay for any losses stemming from negligence-related collisions. According to The Maryland Department of Transportation, drivers must carry the following minimum policy amounts:

• $15,000 in property damage liability (PCL) coverage
• $30,000 in bodily injury liability (BIL) coverage for one person’s injuries
• $60,000 in BIL for more than two people’s injuries in a collision

If your losses fit into these parameters, you could resolve your case via an insurance claim. If not, however, you have options. For instance, you could turn to your own uninsured or underinsured motorist protection coverage.

Per Maryland law, you must also carry $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident in uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.

Finally, depending upon the assets the at-fault driver possesses, we could also file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver to recoup what you need.

Statute of Limitations

Per Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5–101, there is a general three-year statute of limitations on filing a personal injury case in Maryland. Cases filed after this time are legally invalid.

We advise contacting us as early as you can for us to get started on your case for a couple of reasons. For one, we will need the time to develop your case. For the other, the threat of a lawsuit provides us leverage during your settlement negotiations.

Adam Smallow Injury Lawyers will conduct your case in compliance with Maryland’s personal injury laws when we represent you.

Common Causes of Car Accidents in Elkton, MD

If another driver’s negligence caused your accident, they may be liable for your damages. Some common causes of car accidents that involve driver negligence include:

Violating a Traffic Law

Sometimes, a driver makes a mistake and violates a traffic law–– or does so deliberately, causing a car accident. This reckless behavior may include failing to yield, speeding, making illegal lane changes, and more.

If the other driver caused your accident by violating a traffic law, they can be held liable for your damages.

Drunk and Impaired Driving

According to Zero Deaths Maryland, there were 6,540 car crashes in Maryland in 2021 involving impaired drivers. Most of these crashes resulted in property damage only, but a significant percentage caused injuries, and 155 were fatal.

These figures include drivers impaired by alcohol and/or drugs. Both illegal drugs and certain types of prescription drugs will impact a driver’s ability to safely operate their vehicle.

Distracted Driving

Drivers using cell phones and other devices behind the wheel are unable to commit their full attention to the roads. Those who are focused on their radio, a meal, or their passengers often exhibit a similar lack of attention. These behaviors are dangerous and may lead to serious accidents with severe injuries.

Per Zero Deaths Maryland, over 50,000 accidents in the state in 2021 could be attributed to distracted drivers. In many situations, distracted driving is just as dangerous as drunk driving.

Drowsy Driving

Those who drive long consecutive hours may be at a greater risk of driving drowsy. Drivers who work late-night or early-morning shifts may present risks, as well. Drowsy driving may impair a driver’s decision-making, slow their reaction time, or cause them to fall asleep at the wheel.

If the drowsy driver in your case was working at the time, their employer could also be held liable for not ensuring their drivers got proper rest and break times.

If you were involved in an accident caused by another driver’s negligence, Adam M. Smallow offers a free, no-obligation consultation with a member of our legal team. Tell us what happened in your accident. Our investigative team can determine the cause and the liable party for you.

Common Injuries from Car Accidents in Elkton, Md

A wide range of injuries can occur in a car accident. These injuries may include:

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)

Brain injuries often occur when a driver or passenger hits their head during an accident. TBIs can have serious physical and mental side effects and may require years of medical intervention to resolve. In some cases, they may result in permanent disability.

Whiplash

Whiplash frequently occurs in rear-end collisions, although other types of car accidents can cause it. Whiplash is an injury of the neck and spine caused by a sudden impact that throws the head in a whip-like motion. Headaches, limited range of motion, and nausea can accompany a whiplash injury.

Fractures and Broken Bones

Fractures and broken bones are possible in high-speed collisions. While vehicles carry protective measures to prevent these injuries, sometimes, they are simply unavoidable.

If you were hurt in a car accident, make sure to see a doctor for an evaluation as soon as possible. A doctor can diagnose any injuries and begin treating them. Having this evaluation in your medical records may also support your case as proof that your injuries came from the car accident.

Our car accident attorney can collect your medical records and medical professional opinions to determine the financial impact your injuries will have on you and your family.

We can use this information during settlement negotiations to obtain fair compensation to cover all your healthcare needs, now and in the future.

Recoverable Damages from Your Car Accident in Elkton

If you sustained any type of car accident injury, including those listed above, you could qualify for two types of damages: economic and non-economic.

Non-economic damages cover the physical, emotional, and mental pain caused by the collision. You could collect:

• Pain and suffering and inconvenience
• Loss of consortium
• Impaired quality of life
• Physical disability
• Intellectual disability
• Scar tissue or disfigurement

Economic damages account for the financial consequences of the collision. They include:

• Medical bills and healthcare expenses
• Repair costs
• Loss of wages
• Loss of earning capacity
• Loss of employment or employment opportunities

Wrongful Death Damages

After losing a loved one, you can pursue compensation for:

• Funeral expenses
• Grief and bereavement
• Loss of companionship
• Loss of financial support

Our wrongful death lawyers serving Elkton can guide you through the process of resolving a wrongful death case while you spend time with your family. We want to recoup everything you need to account for the financial and non-financial harm the accident caused.

Getting Car Accident Damages Can Be Challenging

The liable party’s insurance company may try to avoid paying you fair damages by:

• Asking for a recorded statement and then interpreting its contents to deny your damages
• Offering an insufficient settlement and pressuring you to accept it
• Claiming your injuries had nothing to do with the accident, that you were not injured at all, or that the accident was your fault

To get compensation for your car accident, we must collect evidence and use it to create a compelling argument. Supporting information in your case could include the police report, witness testimony, and traffic camera footage.

Adam M. Smallow is proud to protect Elkton, Maryland, residents from insurance companies’ tactics. Our team can preserve your rights throughout your case and fight back against any attempts to deny you appropriate compensation.

Call Adam M. Smallow Today

An Elkton car accident lawyer from Adam M. Smallow can step in to pursue compensation on your behalf after a car accident. Our legal team recognizes the unique legal and financial concerns that victims face after collisions, and we are here to answer your questions and help you traverse the legal system.

For a free consultation on your case with a member of our team, call Adam M. Smallow today. We may be able to provide you with representation on a contingency-fee basis with no upfront payment required.