Dealing with the aftermath of a car crash is often more than one can bear on their own. Having your friends, family, and loved ones around you to support you after a crash helps. Still, having a lawyer at your side who can help guide you through the process of getting payment for your accident can make a concrete difference in making sure you can afford your recovery, that you get paid for missed work, and that your pain and suffering is compensated.
Our lawyers are here to help. If you suffered injuries in a car accident, we can take charge of the case, fight insurance companies, and seek to get you the damages you need. We can also guide you through the process of collecting evidence, taking depositions, making statements, and going through all of the other steps to get your case fully compensated.
Call (410) 694-7291 to speak with our car accident lawyers at Rice, Murtha & Psoras in a free case evaluation.
The Process of a Car Accident Case in Kettering, MD
When you get hurt, you can start on the process to securing your damages and winning your case right away.
At the Scene of the Crash
Immediately after the accident, your case begins with you taking note of what happened and keeping your memory of the events sharp. Your testimony will ultimately be important, so remember as much as you can about the accident, who was involved, and where it took place. Write down as much as you can to make sure you can reference it later.
Also gather as much information as you can, including the other drivers’ names, contact info, and insurance info. Take photos of the damage, injuries, and location of the vehicles if you can, too.
At the scene, you should also call 911 and report the crash. This way, police and EMTs can come to the scene. The police officers can write up a report of the crash, helping you secure evidence along the way. The EMTs can treat your injuries at the scene and, if you need it, take you to the hospital for further care.
Getting Medical Care
Get any medical care you need after the accident. It is vital that you get on a path to a full recovery and that you do not put off any care you might need. Listen to the EMTs at the scene of the accident and if you need to go to the hospital, do it. Follow up with all appointments and care, including any surgical care, physical therapy, and psychological/mental health care you might need.
Not only will this put you on the road to recovery, but it will also create records of your injuries that we can use later when claiming damages.
Calling a Lawyer
Next, you should call a lawyer before you speak with any insurance companies. We can begin guiding you through the case and start collecting any other evidence you might have been unable to obtain, such as security footage from nearby stores or homes that might have recorded the crash. We can also advise you on how to speak with the insurance companies.
Call Insurance
You should report all crashes to your own insurance company and, if the other driver was at fault, file an insurance claim with their insurance company. When you speak with the insurance companies, just give them the facts and the basic details they need; avoid editorializing, going beyond the scope of the accident, or giving them any information beyond what your lawyers advised you to tell them.
From there, we can likely expect that the insurance company will either offer you a low-ball settlement that will not cover your needs or they will deny your claim entirely. Your own insurance might provide some coverage for you that you can use in the meantime to help with some bills, but it is important to keep in touch with our lawyers and let us negotiate for a better settlement from the defendant’s insurance when possible.
Suing
If your insurance claim was not successful, we can continue negotiating for better damages while starting to pursue a personal injury lawsuit in court. When we file your case, we can put it before a judge and jury to decide instead of allowing the insurance company to decide what happened.
The process of filing a lawsuit includes a stage known as “discovery,” where both sides turn over evidence, take depositions of witnesses, and seek to get all of the facts about the case on the table. After the facts are exposed, the insurance company often has a better idea of whether they think they can win the case or not, making them more likely to settle when they see a loss on the horizon. If we cannot settle your case after this stage, we will be able to move forward to trial.
At trial, the judge decides the law, and the jury decides the facts. We present them with evidence and witness testimony – including your testimony – and try to prove that the defendant caused the crash and that your damages are worth the value we claimed. The defense tries to undermine that, but the final decision rests with the jury. If we get a good settlement offer during trial, you can still accept it and end the case early, but it is your decision as to whether you settle or go all the way through trial.
Damages for Injured Car Accident Victims in Kettering, MD
Most injury cases, including car accident claims, involve damages for three main areas of compensation: medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Our lawyers can also help you look for any other damages involved in your case – such as the cost of vehicle repairs or replacement – and any other harms you can sue for.
Call Our Car Accident Attorney in Kettering, MD Today
Call Rice, Murtha & Psoras for a free case review with our car accident lawyers at (410) 694-7291.