Elkton Maryland Auto Accident Attorney

Being involved in an automobile accident can have a lasting impact on your life and leave you with a variety of injuries and damages. Sadly, it is common for Elkton accident victims to suffer extensive injuries or wounds requiring ongoing medical care. Furthermore, any medical bills generated might not be fully covered by insurance.

The Bowers Law firm is fully versed in Maryland law and can assess the circumstances surrounding your auto accident and determine if you have a case. If you do, we will start legal proceedings and stand with you every step of the way, working to help you get the compensation you need using our vast experience in practicing law. To request a free consultation from our personal injury lawyers, contact our law office at (410) 885-6200. You can call or text our law office at any time.

What Do You Do if You Are in a Car Accident?

If you are in an Elkton car accident, it is important to take fast action. The following are immediate steps you should take.

Move Your Vehicle

If possible, move the vehicle out of traffic to avoid additional injuries or accidents. In situations where the car is inoperable, get everyone to safety if no injuries, or if minor injuries, permit.

Call 911 

Call 911 for help in treating anyone suffering from car crash-related injuries and to initiate an official police report to be written. The report provided by law enforcement will prove important in the months after a car accident has occurred.

Gather Evidence

Any evidence you can gather in the aftermath of a car crash is crucial. If you are unable to do it yourself, see if there is someone who can do it for you. It is critical to gather any available evidence that can demonstrate fault. Photos of the vehicles, road conditions, skid marks, road signs, traffic lights, and any other pertinent information are extremely helpful. Collect the names and contact information of any eyewitnesses who can share details about what they saw.

File an Insurance Claim

After an accident, many people immediately file an insurance claim. Before doing so, it is best to speak with an experienced Maryland car accident attorney. Unfortunately, insurance companies do not act in the best interest of victims in accident cases and often offer lowball payouts.

What many victims do not realize is there are more options than just an insurance payout. You may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit and get full compensation needed to cover all your losses, which insurance is not likely to completely cover.

How Long After a Car Accident Do You Have to File a Claim in Elkton?

Maryland state law code §5–101 indicates car accident victims have a statute of limitations equal to three years from the date of the incident to file a personal injury claim in civil court. The clock starts “ticking” on the date the accident occurred. If a wrongful death occurs as a result of injuries suffered in an accident, the deadline is three years, but the eligibility to file commences on the date of the victim’s death.

While three years sounds like plenty of time, it is important to speak to an Elkton personal injury attorney as soon as possible after the accident occurs. It takes time to gather evidence and put together a strong legal case upon which the claim will be based. Furthermore, many serious injuries, such as traumatic brain injury, are not apparent in the immediate aftermath of a crash. However, a personal injury attorney can assist with getting you compensation for later onset injuries.

It is important to understand that car insurance claims work differently. A skilled attorney who is fully versed in Maryland law can also assist with car insurance issues that undoubtedly will emerge.

What Is the Difference Between Liability and Negligence in Elkton, Maryland?

Maryland is an “at-fault” state. This means you are ineligible to pursue recovery in a personal injury lawsuit if it is deemed you have any percentage of liability. Personal injury cases are typically built on claims of negligence and that negligence is the act of a person(s) being careless and/or reckless. In Maryland, this can get complicated.

Liability is when the at-fault party is responsible for any harm caused by their decision-making or failure to perform in a responsible manner. Negligence is more complicated but generally means an individual did not take reasonable care to avoid injury to someone else. It can be difficult to prove negligence, and this is one important way a car accident attorney can help.

It is important to never admit fault in accident claims because certain circumstances that you are unaware of, such as DUI/DWI, reckless, or distracted driving may have been the true cause of your motor vehicle or truck accident. Do not ever speak to the other driver’s insurance company; instead, allow a skilled attorney to evaluate the situation, determine what happened, and identify potential legal issues.

What Benefits Can I Get After a Car Accident in Elkton, Maryland?

If you have suffered losses, you may be able to recoup some of the money you have lost. Potential benefits you may be entitled to include:

Lost Wages

If injuries caused you to lose time from work or if they prevent you from earning future wages, you may be entitled to compensation.

Medical Compensation

The medical bills associated with even minor injuries can be expensive. Benefits you may be eligible for include money to cover past and future medical expenses.

Pain and Suffering

Pain and suffering is more difficult to calculate as this encompasses your overall loss of happiness, comfort, and opportunity due to the accident. Maryland law does permit compensation for pain and suffering.

Death Benefits

Losing a loved one in a car, truck, or motorcycle accident is unimaginable. In Maryland, surviving family members have the legal right to pursue compensation from the at-fault party through either a wrongful death claim or a survival action claim.

Can You File a Workers’ Comp Claim If the Car Accident Was on the Way to Work in Maryland?

In many instances, you cannot file a workers’ compensation claim for a car accident in Maryland, but it depends on the situation. If you were on company business or in a company vehicle you might qualify; however, if you were commuting to or from work, it is unlikely that you qualify. Your legal representation can determine if you are eligible for workers’ comp.

How Is Compensation For Car Accidents Awarded in Maryland? 

In car accident situations, there are typically two types of negligence in car accident claims, contributory negligence and comparative negligence. Maryland operates under the contributory negligence rule which means the at-fault party must be 100% to blame; there is no splitting of fault. If you are found even 5% at fault, you cannot pursue a personal injury lawsuit. A small percentage of blame can also impact how much insurance will offer. An attorney can fight to help you get the amount you need.

Why Should You Contact an Attorney for a Maryland Motor Vehicle Accident? 

Working with an attorney can be helpful when fighting for fair compensation after a car accident in obtaining money to help pay for the medical care, property damages, and any other losses suffered in a Maryland auto accident. They can also help you deal with insurance companies that do not have your best interests at heart.

If You Were Injured in a Car Accident, Call Bowers Law Today

If you are the victim of an automobile accident in Elkton, even if you think you may be partially at fault for the auto accident, please contact our Cecil County, MD car accident lawyers immediately for no-cost guidance. The caring and compassionate attorneys at the Bowers Law office are here to help and provide sound legal advice. Our lawyers are highly experienced in all aspects of personal injury laws.

To request a free consultation or ask questions about any of our practice areas, including medical malpractice and criminal law, call or text (410) 885-6200 to speak with a member of our legal team. Or, if you prefer, complete our online contact form and someone from our law firm will get back to you right away.