Marlow Heights Car Accident Lawyer
Car accidents can be overwhelming in more ways than one. First, you are probably in a great deal of pain. Second, you are likely dealing with numerous costs that you might or might not be able to afford. Third, you might want justice but are unsure how to get it. An experienced car accident lawyer can help you with these problems and more.
Immediately after an accident, call for help, speak to the police, and contact an attorney about your situation. The sooner you get a good lawyer on board with you, the better. Your attorney can help you evaluate your numerous damages and losses and find the evidence needed to back up your claims for those damages. Taking legal action after an accident can be scary, but your lawyer can help you while you recover from your injuries.
Please call our car accident attorneys to get a free case assessment by calling Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291.
What You Should Do Immediately Following a Car Accident in Marlow Heights
The steps you take immediately after a car accident might make a huge difference in how your injuries recover and the outcome of potential legal actions. While this might be a scary and hectic time, it is best to remain calm and focus on getting help.
Your first priority should be to call 911. If you do not have a phone or are too injured to make the call on your own, someone at the accident scene should make the call for you. Some accident victims want to avoid the hospital out of fear of medical costs, but this is unwise, and you need a doctor as soon as possible. When calling for help, make sure the police, in addition to emergency medical responders, are dispatched to your location.
While waiting for help to arrive, you should exchange contact information with other people at the accident. This includes the other driver or drivers who hit you and others who might have seen the accident. We need the other driver’s information so we can take legal action, and having the names and phone numbers of potential witnesses can be incredibly helpful.
If you can, take photos of the accident, including the vehicles, your injuries, and the people around you. This is a common thing to do, as drivers usually want these photos for their insurance claims. However, these recordings can also be used as evidence in the courtroom if necessary. Your photos might preserve details and evidence that are lost when the authorities clear the scene.
Call our car accident lawyers to discuss legal options after you have gotten medical treatment and things have calmed down. Insurance easily covers some claims, and not much more is necessary. For others, a lawsuit might be the better option. Whatever path you take, your attorney can help you.
Damages You Might Claim in a Marlow Heights Car Crash Case
After a car accident, injured drivers often encounter all sorts of costs, losses, and pain. The recovery process is not easy, nor is it cheap. Keep track of the money you spend and any other ways you believe the accident affects your life, as these may be the basis of your damages.
Your economic damages come from the ways the accident cost you money. One of the biggest contributors to economic damages is hospital bills. Even one visit to the emergency room might be extremely expensive. For those with more severe injuries, hospital bills might be out of this world.
Other economic damages include the cost of repairing or replacing your damaged car and any lost personal belongings inside it. On top of that, you can claim the value of lost income if your injuries keep you out of work for a while after the accident.
Non-economic damages are less concrete and more subjective but may still deserve substantial compensation. Your pain, distress, trauma, loss of enjoyment, and reduced quality of life after the accident should be considered and compensated. Remember, these damages are not related to actual sums of money, and it is up to the jury how much they are worth.
How Long You May Wait Before Filing Your Car Accident Claim in Marlow Heights
If you are still unsure whether taking legal action is the right choice, you might want to speak to an attorney sooner rather than later. While taking your time to think things over is perfectly fine, you have a limited amount of time to file your claim. The statute of limitations, according to Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. Art., § 5-101, gives injured victims only 3 years to file a personal injury claims. This time limit starts the moment your accident occurs, so the clock might already be counting down.
Not everyone is able to file their case on time for reasons beyond their control. If this sounds like your situation, ask your lawyer about possibly having the statute of limitations tolled. In short, tolling allows us to pause the clock counting down on your case, but only for specific reasons.
Tolling may be possible for plaintiffs with mental conditions or disabilities that impede their ability to understand their rights. Additionally, plaintiffs who were minors when they were injured may have more time to file their claims. According to § 5-201, the limitation period would not begin until the minor plaintiff turns 18 or mental conditions are removed.
Even if you are not experiencing any sort of obstacle to filing a claim, you should still speak to a lawyer as soon as possible. This way, your time to prepare the case, develop legal strategies, collect evidence, and build the strongest case possible is maximized. Depending on your situation, you might need all the time you can get.
Call Our Marlow Heights Car Accident Attorneys to Get the Help You Need
Please call our car accident attorneys to get a free case assessment by calling Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291.