If you were in a car crash, there are many things to consider. You may have damage to your vehicle that you need to be repaired, you may face expensive medical bills, and your injuries may keep you from getting back to work.
In these cases, you should consult with an attorney to get help dealing with the aftermath of your accident.
For help with your case, contact the Maryland car wreck lawyers at Rice, Murtha & Psoras. Our car wreck attorneys help fight claims in court, working on getting at-fault drivers and insurance companies to cover the costs of your accident and get you the financial compensation you need.
For a free legal consultation, call us today at (410) 694-7291.
Suing for a Car Wreck in MD
In the State of Maryland, there are thousands of car accidents each year. As one of the leading travel hubs along the East Coast and a huge beach vacation destination, many people involved in car crashes are out-of-state drivers.
Maryland residents also face injuries and serious vehicle damage in car wrecks nearly every day.
Victims of car crashes are often entitled to sue for their injuries. While your insurance might be able to pay some benefits to you if you have first-party coverage added to your policy, and a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance might cover some of your needs, filing a lawsuit often opens up more damages that you can claim.
When you file a lawsuit for a car wreck, you must prove that the other driver was at fault for the crash to get compensation. An auto accident lawsuit usually involves cases of “negligence” rather than claims that the other driver intentionally hit you or ran you off the road – but those kinds of car wrecks do happen as well.
In the case of a car accident caused by another driver’s negligence, you must prove that the other driver failed to use the proper care or skill and that those errors caused your injuries.
The errors and mistakes that drivers point to in a car wreck often come from traffic laws; if the other driver was speeding, failed to stop at a stop sign, was texting while driving, or was driving under the influence of alcohol, they clearly violated legal duties and should be held accountable.
To win your lawsuit, you must also prove that their negligence actually caused the crash; if they were negligent, but it didn’t actually impede your driving, they can’t be held liable for it. You must also prove that you suffered damages in the wreck, or else there would be nothing for the court to compensate you for.
Damages in a Car Wreck Case in Maryland
Victims of a car wreck often have substantial damages that they face. If your vehicle suffered damage, this might be the least of your concerns next to physical injuries, emotional distress, pain and suffering, and lost wages and work.
In many cases, insurance can pay for some of these damages, but to push to get full compensation, you may need to file your claim in court.
A car accident injury victim can claim damages for any harm that result from the at-fault driver’s negligence. This means that damage to your car can be claimed as well as damages for the injuries you faced.
Damages for injuries often involve three major areas of compensation: medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Some of these damages are proven through financial records and bills you can bring to court.
Still, other damages like pain and suffering – which includes emotional distress, mental anguish, and many other intangible harms – is usually proven through your testimony about how the injury affected your life.
While you might have first-party benefits on your insurance policy, and the at-fault driver might have insurance that can cover crashes they cause, an insurance claim might not be the best way to get coverage for your injuries.
When you file an insurance claim for a car wreck, you are stuck following the terms of the insurance policy. This often means getting only a proportion of the damages you suffered covered, and it means that you typically cannot claim damages for pain and suffering and other intangible harms.
When you file your case in court, you can claim any and all damages that the driver’s negligence caused you. This can include economic damages like medical expenses and lost wages as well as damages for intangible harms like pain and suffering.
If you were injured in a car wreck, it is vital to talk to an attorney before accepting any money for your injuries. Your attorney can help caution you against settlements that might be too low to cover your needs, and we can investigate your claim and calculate damages to help you get every penny you deserve.
If you accept money for your injuries, it may be construed as a settlement that would block your ability to go back and claim additional damages in court. This is the case whether the money comes from the defendant driver directly or their insurance company.
Call Our Maryland Car Wreck Attorney for a Free Case Consultation
If you were in a car wreck and need financial compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and vehicle damage, call Rice, Murtha & Psoras today.
Our Maryland car wreck lawyers represent injury victims and their families, and we fight to get you the compensation you need to pay for the damages the car accident caused you. For a free legal consultation, call us today at (410) 694-7291.