If you have suffered an injury from a car accident caused by a negligent driver, you may be experiencing stress and uncertainty. You could have doctor visits, medical expenses, and insurance adjusters to deal with, all while dealing with the pain of your injury. It would only be natural to wonder if you are making the right decisions in this situation.
When you work with a Jarrettsville car accident lawyer from the Law Offices of Adam M. Smallow, you will have the peace of mind that comes with knowing you have an advocate who is looking out for your rights. We want you to focus on healing. Let us take care of the rest. Our firm can handle all communications, negotiations, deadlines, and paperwork in your case when we represent you.
Call the Law Offices of Adam M. Smallow today at (410) 777-8960 for a free consultation on your case with a member of our team.
What to Do Following a Car Accident
After a car accident, it is important to see a physician and have any accident-related injuries diagnosed and treated. Doing this can create evidence in your medical record that your injuries came from the car accident and not some other cause.
Also, make sure to retain any documentation you have from the accident scene, including photos of the damage to your and other vehicles and the contact information from potential witnesses. Also, keep all receipts from your medical treatment and damaged property, such as car repair estimates.
Finally, be cautious when speaking with the responsible party’s insurance company, as they may be able to use statements you give them as evidence against you in your case.
A Jarrettsville car accident lawyer from the Law Offices of Adam M. Smallow can communicate with the insurance companies when we represent you. We also offer free, no-obligation case reviews to Jarrettsville accident victims to help them understand their legal options. For your free consultation on your case with a member of our team, call us at (410) 777-8960 today.
Understanding Contributory Negligence in Maryland
Unlike all but three other states and the District of Columbia, Maryland uses a “contributory negligence” standard in its personal injury cases. In states that use the more common comparative negligence standard, your compensation might be lowered in proportion to your level of fault in the accident, but it is not eliminated. With contributory negligence, however, even if you are deemed 1% at fault, you may be blocked from recovering anything. In other words, the other party’s insurance company may only need to show you were slightly responsible for an accident to prevent you from recovering compensation.
The Law Offices of Adam M. Smallow understands what it takes to establish liability under Maryland’s contributory negligence system. We can collect evidence of the full extent of the responsible party’s liability when we represent you. This may include:
Videos, photos, or police reports from the accident scene
Witness statements
Your medical records
Evidence from your damaged vehicle
Testimony from accident reconstruction experts
And more
Car Insurance in Maryland
Some states require motorists to have personal injury protection (PIP) insurance, which covers motorists’ medical bills following an accident regardless of fault. Maryland is not one of them. However, the state does require that drivers carry a minimum of $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident in bodily injury liability (BIL) coverage and $15,000 in property damage liability (PDL) coverage, as well as an equal amount of uninsured/underinsured (UIM) motorist coverage.
If your damages exceed the limits of the other person’s insurance coverage and your own UIM coverage, the Law Offices of Adam M. Smallow may be able to help you pursue additional compensation from the at-fault driver in a personal injury lawsuit. Keep in mind, however, that according to Maryland Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 5–101, a general three-year statute of limitations pertains to your right to file a personal injury lawsuit in Maryland.
Recoverable Damages in a Car Accident Case
If you are able to establish the responsible party’s liability for your car accident, you may be able to recover applicable damages such as:
Emergency medical treatment and ambulance fees
Current and future costs of medical care
Lost wages, if you had to miss time at work during your recovery
Reduced earning capability, if you can no longer work at the same capacity as before the accident
Property damages
Pain and suffering
And more
Accident victims may need to produce evidence of their damages in order to collect compensation for them. The Law Offices of Adam M. Smallow can handle this task when we represent you.
Wrongful Death Damages
Tragically, some car accidents end with fatal injuries. If your loved one lost their life in a Jarrettsville car accident caused by another party’s negligence, the Law Offices of Adam M. Smallow may be able to help you pursue compensation in a wrongful death lawsuit.
The recoverable damages in this type of case may include funeral and burial costs, pre-death medical care, and more. Call us today to learn more about wrongful death actions in Maryland.
How the Law Offices of Adam M. Smallow Can Help You
Dealing with insurance companies in the aftermath of a car accident and wondering about whether you are being treated fairly can be stressful. A Jarrettsville car accident lawyer from the Law Offices of Adam M. Smallow can negotiate with the insurance companies and defend your rights when we represent you. If we do not believe the responsible party’s insurer is making you a fair settlement offer, we can take your case to trial.
Our firm takes cases on a contingency-fee-basis, where our clients only pay us attorney fees if and when they recover compensation via a settlement offer or court award.
For your free consultation with a member of our team, call the Law Offices of Adam M. Smallow today at (410) 777-8960.
