Easton, MD Car Accident Lawyer

Car crashes and collisions are scary experiences. A lot of things happen very quickly, and people often get badly injured. Victims of motor vehicle collisions can rack up enormous medical bills treating their injuries, and the overall experience can be very distressing and upsetting.

If you are having a difficult time after a car accident, we can help you. Our lawyers know how to handle car accident claims, and we have the determination, experience, and professionalism to deal with your case effectively. The clock is ticking for how long you have to get justice for your injuries, so it is important to get legal counsel as soon as you can.

To have our car accident lawyers take a look at your claim, call Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291.

How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Claim in Easton, MD?

You have a limited amount of time to file a car accident lawsuit in Maryland. Each state has a series of laws called statutes of limitations that put time limits on how long you have to file a claim for a given thing. In Maryland, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases – which includes car crashes and collisions – is three years per Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. Art., § 5-101. After that time, courts will not hear your case, and you will not be able to get damages.

There are some exceptions for the general three-year period. If you are a minor when you get injured, the statutory period is “tolled,” or put on hold, until you turn 18. Additionally, if you find out about a malady related to medical care after your car crash later down the line, the statutory period does not start until you find out about your medical issue.

Common Car Accident Causes in Easton, MD?

Car crashes occur for varied reasons. No two car crashes will be exactly alike. Moreover, it is crucial to your claim to identify the potential causes of the crash because doing so determines who you are going to sue.

Driver Errors

Many car collisions are the result of a driver making a mistake. Speeding, running red lights, tailgating, and aggressive driving are all negligent acts that can easily result in car crashes. Drivers make mistakes for lots of different reasons. Inexperience, intoxication, or pressure to get somewhere quickly can all lead to drivers doing things they should not and causing accidents.

Vehicle Issues

Some accidents happen because there are problems with the cars involved. These issues are known as “defects,” which can be further broken down into manufacturing or design defects. Manufacturing defects are mistakes made when the car is put together, repaired, or otherwise worked on. Design defects, by contrast, are from an issue with the overall design of the vehicle, so even when a car is made to specifications, it will still have the problem.

If your collision stems from a defect, you need to sue the car manufacturer or designer in addition to the driver and other potential parties.

Bad Road Conditions

Bad road conditions are another cause of car accidents in Maryland. Hazards such as potholes, defective guardrails, and road debris on the road can cause responsible drivers to crash.

Most of the time, the responsibility for cleaning up Maryland’s roads falls on a government entity. Under Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. Art., § 5-304(b), you must file your claim against a government entity within one year of getting injured. In the world of filing court cases, this is an extremely short amount of time, so you need to act quickly.

Deciding Fault in Easton, MD Car Collision Cases

Maryland is an “at-fault” state. This means that people injured in car accidents are able to directly sue other drivers who injure them. This is in contrast to “no-fault” states, where a predetermined process is in place that has to be followed before a party can sue someone.

When car accidents happen in Maryland, insurance companies will investigate in order to determine who they believe is at fault. Naturally, these companies have an interest in determining that their client was not the one responsible so they do not have to provide coverage. This can lead to nasty legal battles and altercations. Our car accident lawyers can make sure that you are treated fairly by insurance companies and that any investigations conducted are done in an impartial manner.

If you have to speak with an insurance company, it is best to have legal counsel present during that conversation. Avoid saying anything at all that could be remotely interpreted as admitting fault. Even something as innocent as “I could have done better” or “my bad” can be used to establish partial fault, which could hurt your case.

Contributory Negligence in Easton, MD Car Accident Cases

Maryland uses what they call “contributory negligence” to determine how fault affects a case. Generally, “contributory negligence” means that if the victim is in any way responsible for the accident, they cannot recover damages. However, despite being called “contributory negligence,” Maryland’s system does not work that way.

Maryland’s contributory negligence system is a form of comparative fault. Essentially, a plaintiff’s damages are allowed to be reduced if they are partially responsible for their accident. If a jury determines, say, that a plaintiff is 20% responsible for the accident, they may reduce the damages the plaintiff is awarded. Additionally, if a plaintiff is more than 50% responsible for an accident, they will not be able to recover damages in court.

Speak to Our Easton, MD Car Accident Attorneys Now

To have our car accident lawyers go over your case for free, call Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291.