Car accidents can be stressful and disorienting. It is understandably difficult for victims to keep their composure. However, after suffering a car accident in Maryland, you must remember to report your injury to the appropriate parties. Failing to report your injury could cause you to miss out on compensation.
You should report any injurious car accident to the police as soon as possible. If you flee the scene of your accident without calling the police, you may be charged with a hit and run. Afterwards, you should report your car accident injury to your insurer as soon as possible. Most insurance policies require policyholders to report car accidents, regardless of fault. Lastly, you will likely have three years from the date of your accident to file a car accident lawsuit.
If you were injured because of car crash in Maryland, get help recovering the compensation available to you. Get in touch with our experienced Baltimore car accident lawyers by calling Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291 to review your case for free.
Reporting Your Car Accident Injury to the Police in Maryland
If you were involved in a harmful car accident in Maryland, you should remain at the scene and call the police. After any injurious collision, a police officer must visit the scene to draft an official accident report. Accident reports can contain a variety of information regarding the circumstances of an accident:
- Statements from drivers involved in the crash
- Statements from eyewitnesses
- Contact information for drivers involved in the crash
- A drawn crash diagram
- An officer’s notes concerning the cause of the crash
Accident reports are often the first piece of evidence analyzed by lawyers and insurers when determining which driver is at fault. Failure to report your car accident injury to the police could inhibit your ability to recover financial compensation through a car accident lawsuit. After suffering a crash, you should call our Aberdeen car accident lawyers to ensure you take the appropriate steps toward monetary damages.
Should You Report Your Car Accident Injury to Your Insurance Company in Maryland?
You should also report your car accident injury to your insurance company in Maryland as soon as possible after suffering a crash. In Maryland, at-fault drivers can be held accountable for accidents they cause. Still, even if you will be seeking compensation from another driver’s insurer, you should notify your own insurance company of your collision. Most insurance companies require their policyholders to report all accidents, regardless of who is at fault. Failure to report an accident could cause your insurance rates to rise.
When reporting your accident to your insurance company, they will likely ask for a written statement describing how the accident occurred. When offering your statement, it is important that you do not apologize or otherwise admit fault. Even when speaking with your own insurer, admissions of fault can affect your ability to recover compensation from the other driver. Our Maryland car accident lawyers can provide guidance and support when reporting your car accident injury to your insurer.
How Long Do You Have to File a Car Accident Lawsuit in Maryland?
Time limits to file particular types of lawsuits are set forth by states’ statutes of limitations. According to Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. Art., § 5-101, you usually will have three years from the date of your crash to file a car accident lawsuit in Maryland. Noncompliance with this deadline could cause you to miss out on important compensation.
Furthermore, important evidence can become hard to preserve as time passes. For example, physical evidence can become lost and crucial details surrounding your crash can be forgotten. Accordingly, you should reach out to our Maryland car accident lawyers as soon as possible after suffering a collision. The quicker you contact our attorneys, the more easily we can gather the information necessary to support your case.
Additionally, there are many other requirements you must satisfy when bringing a car accident case to court. For example, you must file in the right jurisdiction, attach supporting documents, serve defendants, pay filing fees, and avoid filing an incomplete claim. Failure to satisfy even one of these conditions could force you to re-file your case. Therefore, you should attempt to bring your car accident lawsuit to court as soon as possible, so you may afford yourself time to re-file if required.
Lastly, there are some exceptions to the three-year statute of limitations for filing car accident lawsuits. For instance, parents can bring claims on behalf of their children at any point until the day before the minors’ 18th birthday. On the day before turning 18, victims will then have three years to file their own cases stemming from crashes they suffered as a child. During your free case review, our experienced Arnold car accident lawyers can help explain how the statute of limitations will be applied to your case.
Common Types of Car Accident Injuries that Are Reported in Maryland
Victims of car accidents can incur several different types of harm. However, some injuries occur more frequently than others. The following are common types of car accident injuries that are reported in Maryland:
- Broken bones
- Soft tissue injuries
- Internal injuries
- Burns
- Spinal cord damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Lacerations
- Contusions
If you suffered any of these injuries because of another driver’s negligent behavior, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Our Towson car accident lawyers can help report such injuries to the appropriate parties.
Common Causes of Car Accidents that Should Be Reported in Maryland
Any car accident that causes an injury should be reported in Maryland. The following are common causes of harmful collisions:
- Distracted driving
- Drunk driving
- Speeding
- Improper left turns
- Improper lane changes
- Tailgating
- Reckless driving
- Running red lights
If you suffered a crash stemming from one of the aforementioned causes, you should contact our Maryland car accident lawyers for help submitting the necessary reports.
If You Suffered a Car Accident Injury in Maryland, Our Attorneys Can Help
If you were injured because of car crash in Maryland, get help from our experienced Rockville car accident lawyers by calling Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291 to review your case for free.