According to the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA), nearly 118,000 traffic accidents occurred statewide in 2018, including 485 fatal crashes. Over 22,000 crashes (78 fatal) took place in Baltimore County.
Car accidents happen, but you should not have to pay the price if you were not at fault. You could hire a Baltimore car accident lawyer to help you recover the compensation you deserve for your injuries and losses.
Furthermore, with Maryland being a pure contributory negligence
state, you might find it beneficial to get an attorney’s help to help prove you were not in any way to blame for the crash. They can navigate through the complex laws that significantly affect the outcome of your settlement.
Contact Ben Crump Law, PLLC, today at (844) 730-0233 for a free consultation with a team member. We can help uphold your rights as we process your insurance claim and a lawsuit, relieving you of the worry. Call today if you or a loved one suffered injuries in a Charm City car accident due to another’s negligence. We do not get paid unless you win.
Understanding a Car Accident Lawsuit in Baltimore
When you file a lawsuit for a car accident, you hope to receive compensation for your losses. However, the process can prove incredibly stressful. When you deal with insurance companies not wanting to negotiate fairly, it can prove more difficult even though you were not at fault.
Maryland is an “at-fault” state, meaning the negligent driver’s insurance company must pay for damages. An insurance claim is not the same as filing a lawsuit. You might want to consult a lawyer prior to negotiating with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Insurance adjusters use whatever information they can to deduct from the amount of compensation.
Actions you can take and evidence you could gather to help prove negligence include:
- Take photos of the accident; if you cannot, try to get someone to assist you.
- Obtain a police report
- Gather witness testimony
- Keep a logbook of how you feel after the accident
- Retrieve security camera footage
Make sure you consistently follow all your doctor’s orders and follow-up care instructions. Medical records are vital evidence when calculating compensation.
Statute of Limitations to File a Car Accident Lawsuit in Baltimore
Maryland has a three-year time limit to file personal injury cases per Maryland Code § 5-101. Wrongful death cases have the same three-year deadline, but the clock starts on the day your loved one dies instead of the date of the accident. Other exceptions to the statute of limitations might apply, depending on the variables outlined in your lawsuit.
For example, if the defendant drove a government vehicle, you only have one year to file a complaint with the Maryland State Treasurer, which then has six months to accept or deny your request. You might want to discuss your case with a Baltimore car accident attorney who can guide you through the process before time runs out. Call Ben Crump Law, PLLC, today to get started.
For a free legal consultation with a car accidents lawyer serving Baltimore, call (844) 730-0233
Damages You May Receive After a Car Accident in Baltimore
You could recover economic damages for lost wages, medical costs, repair bills, and other monetary losses with no limit to how much you receive. Noneconomic damages typically involve more challenges to prove, sometimes requiring analysis by financial specialists and medical experts.
Maryland caps noneconomic damages per Maryland Code § 11-108. The cap increases by $15,000 every year, so the limit depends on when the accident happens. These damages include awards for pain and suffering, disfigurement, loss of companionship, and any other nonmonetary effects that you suffer from the accident.
Baltimore Car Accident Lawyer Near Me (844) 730-0233
How a Baltimore Car Accident Lawyer Can Help You
Car accidents are often traumatic. Sometimes, these traumatic events involve distracted, aggressive, or drunk drivers. Cases become even more complicated in a hit and run or in the unfortunate event that someone dies in the accident. Unfortunately, gathering evidence means you may have to relive the scenario repeatedly until you can explicitly prove your pain and suffering resulted from the at-fault driver’s negligence.
You might find that hiring a Baltimore car accident lawyer relieves you of this burden. They can also offer insight on how the laws work to help you achieve justice in your case. They understand how the law can work for—and against—you. They can negotiate with insurance companies to make sure they proceed fairly.
When you hire Ben Crump Law, PLLC, you get a team committed to your case, ready to advocate on your behalf, ensuring fair treatment from insurance companies and fighting for what you deserve.
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Common Causes for Car Accidents in Baltimore
No one plans a car accident. Crashes are inconvenient, traumatic, and can have fatal results. Here are some common causes of car accidents that happen in Baltimore:
- Drunk driving
- Tailgating
- Improper lane changing
- Speeding
- Running a red light or stop sign
Do not leave the scene of an accident. The law classifies this act as hit and run and might bring criminal charges, regardless of whether you were the negligent driver. If the other driver leaves the scene, do your absolute best to remember as much detail as possible. Immediately call 911 and wait for the police to arrive. Take photos of everything around you if you can.
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Contact a Baltimore Car Accident Lawyer’s Office Today
According to Allstate’s 2019 Annual Best Drivers Report, Baltimore ranked as the worst city for car accidents for the second year in a row, with a 152.5 percent higher likelihood of getting into a collision than the national average. These findings mean that you should prepare to pay extra attention when you are a driver or pedestrian in Baltimore. You cannot prevent accidents from happening, but if you are in an accident, you could help protect yourself and your loved ones from further distress by contacting a Baltimore car accident lawyer.
Call the offices of Ben Crump Law, PLLC, at (844) 730-0233 today. The sooner our team can review your case, the sooner we can get started. We can provide you with the legal tools necessary for obtaining the compensation you deserve.
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