The award-winning Baltimore car accident lawyers at Rice, Murtha & Psoras have over 120 years of combined experience and knowledge in representing clients who have been injured in Maryland. We have recovered millions of dollars for our clients. Let our expertise and knowledge go to work for you. If you’ve been hurt or a loved one has died in a car crash in Baltimore, contact us today for immediate legal help.

Don’t wait, the insurance company is already working to deny your claim or provide you with a low settlement offer, that in many cases, won’t even pay for your outstanding medical bills. You’re under enough stress after an accident, let our car accident attorneys do the heavy lifting while you recover.

How Soon Should You Contact a Lawyer for a Baltimore Car Accident?

You should always contact a lawyer for a car accident if someone else was at fault for the accident and you were injured. There are numerous reasons you want to speak with a lawyer as soon after an accident as possible. By hiring Rice, Murtha & Psoras, you will:

1. Ensure more money in your pocket and get your medical bills paid back and lost wages reimbursed;
2. Get the money you deserve for your pain, suffering, time, and hassle you went through because someone else was negligent, reckless, or intentionally caused the auto accident;
3. Expedite a faster settlement or verdict, secure the money needed to move on with your life;
4. Protect you from saying ‘the wrong thing’ to the insurance company and their adjusters that could sink your case from the start; and
5. Make your life easier after the auto accident, allowing you to focus on the physical and mental recovery.

If this sounds like you and you’re ready to get started, let us take away the stress of your crash. Call or email attorney Randolph Rice today by calling (410) 694-7291. We’ll schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.

Should You Hire an Attorney for Your Car Accident Case?

Imagine getting maximum compensation (money): all of your medical bills paid, lost wages reimbursed, your vehicle repaired/replaced and cash in your pocket after an accident. It’s possible by hiring an experienced Baltimore car crash lawyer to handle your claim properly.

Keep reading to learn the process and best strategies to follow after an auto accident and how an automobile accident lawyer can get you up to 3.5 times more money in your pocket after an accident. We’ll lay out how and why you should hire a lawyer to represent you throughout your accident injury claim. We will also explain the injuries associated with a crash.

Some injury victims hesitate to hire a lawyer even though a car wreck turned their lives upside down. They attempt to deal with the insurance company themselves. If you were hurt in a serious wreck, you should always ask the question, “Should I hire a lawyer after a car accident?”

Injured drivers and passengers have many good reasons to hire a lawyer after a vehicle accident. Unfortunately, people nursing injuries don’t always think rationally after a wreck. They rush to contact the insurance companies and risk making mistakes that jeopardize their cases.

Although there is no obligation to hire a lawyer after a car accident in Baltimore, it makes sense to talk to an attorney if you sustain significant injuries due to the fault of another driver.

If you are agonizing about when to get an attorney after an accident, talk to us. Dealing with an insurance company can be daunting and the top priority of an insurance company is its bottom line. A personal injury lawyer will fight for you to get the most for your injuries.

Increasing numbers of injured drivers and passengers are turning to attorneys, Insurance Journal noted. Half of the respondents to a survey hired a lawyer. Many of the respondents said they hired an attorney to get the highest payout possible.

One important point car crash lawyers always make to potential clients is there is no guarantee they will take on the case. Some accident cases are not serious enough to warrant an injury lawyer. But you won’t know until you ask. In other scenarios, the lawyer may decide you were to blame for the crash, or the case might not be within the attorney’s area of expertise. the attorney will often refer you to another lawyer who specializes in the area you seek.

Although injury lawyers don’t take on all cases, accident victims have nothing to lose by talking to an attorney. At Rice, Murtha & Psoras, we offer free and confidential personal injury consultations. We will tell you at an early stage whether we can accept your case. Please contact us today.

Frequently Asked Questions About Filing a Car Accident Lawsuit in Baltimore:

If you were hurt in a car crash, it is essential to start the process of filing a claim as soon as you are healthy enough to do so. This ensures that your rights are protected and there is no opportunity for the insurance companies to take advantage of you. If you are thinking that you need to file a lawsuit following a car accident, here are some things to consider:

How Much Time Do You Have to File a Lawsuit After a Car Accident (the Statute of Limitations)?

Maryland has a 3-year statute of limitations to bring a claim for a personal injury. This means you must file a lawsuit within three years of the date of the accident, or you will lose the right to make a claim.

We do not recommend victims of car accidents wait until the three years have almost elapsed. Gathering evidence becomes increasingly difficult with the passage of time and witnesses forget important details about the incident.  By getting an attorney for an accident soon after the incident, the lawyer can gather evidence promptly. Your attorney will also get statements from witnesses, photographs from the scene and talk to police officers who attended.

In some accidents such as big truck wrecks or crashes involving railroads, a corporation will mobilize a powerful legal team to gather evidence and fight a potential claim from the onset. It’s vital to hire a lawyer in these cases to level the playing field.

An attorney can also help make sure correct medical attention is obtained from reputable doctors who can testify at a trial if necessary. the lawyer will be able to call on expert witnesses and have an idea of the potential value of the case and where to tap sources of insurance.

How Soon Should You Seek the Help of a Car Accident Attorney?

When to get an attorney for an accident is one of the first questions many people who have been involved in a car, truck, pedestrian, or motorcycle wreck often ask. However, your first consideration after an auto accident should be whether you are injured and if you require immediate medical attention.

If there are injuries, you may be wondering when you start the process of speaking to an attorney to explore your options. the answer is “soon as possible.” the quicker that you talk to a lawyer about your damages, the sooner you can begin to recover those damages. Trust the auto accident attorneys Baltimore residents rely on when they want to file an accident claim and receive the maximum compensation for their injuries – Rice, Murtha & Psoras.

In the hours and days after a crash, the question of whether to hire a Baltimore car accident injury lawyer becomes more pressing. You may have already spoken to your insurance company or the other side. You may even have been offered money to settle.

It’s usually a serious mistake to rush to settle a car accident with injuries. Attorneys that represent individuals injured in auto accidents have experience in dealing with insurance companies and maximizing the compensation you may receive for the injuries and claims. If you are still receiving medical treatment, the costs of the accident will not yet be apparent.

There are also often serious medical consequences of an accident that are not apparent from the outset. Some motorists who have suffered brain injuries may not be diagnosed for weeks. Often medical professionals miss the signs of brain trauma.

It’s only when you start behaving differently, or your family notices cognitive changes, that the telltale signs of a brain injury become evident. This kind of injury can impact your life and your job and may lead to a large payout from the insurance company of the at-fault driver.

A free consultation with our auto accident lawyers can help you at a difficult time in your life and provide a clearer path forward. Their counsel will also make sure you don’t miss any deadlines and they’ll refer you to a medical professional for any lingering injuries.

Once you hire an attorney for an accident claim, you may still have questions, such as, how to talk to the new personal injury lawyer. This task is easy. When you talk to any lawyer who deals with car accidents, you should be upfront and honest about what happened before, during, and after the accident. Talking to a traffic accident lawyer involves having a discussion about what your damages were and how we can help you.

How Many Days Do You Have to Go to the Doctor After a Car Accident in Baltimore, MD

There is no set rule on how long you should wait to see a doctor after a car accident, but the rule of thumb is the sooner the better. Not only should you get injuries treated right away but if you delay over a week, the other driver’s insurance company will argue your injuries were not very serious.

Most professionals advise going to the emergency room or your family doctor immediately. You should never wait longer than 72 hours after an accident.

The 72-hour figure is regarded by professionals and insurance companies as the “reasonable” amount of time to get medical documentation of your injuries. After this time, the insurance company may deny your injury claim and prevent you from receiving the compensation you need.

Delaying medical treatment may also undermine the case a personal injury lawyer will make on your behalf. it is prudent to contact an attorney as soon as you start treating your injuries.

How Soon After a Car Accident Can You File a Claim?

Although there are no restrictions on making a claim, it’s prudent to wait until the extent of your injuries is known before making a claim.  The full extent of medical bills will not be apparent until your medical treatment has stopped.

However, it makes sense to hire a top-rated personal injury lawyer that Baltimore residents count on early in the process so the attorney can take over your dealings with the insurance company and prepare the claim.

Most insurance companies require their policyholders to promptly report every car accident so they can gather basic information. Failure to provide information to your insurance company in a timely manner can lead to a loss of coverage for the accident.

However, you should avoid making statements about who was to blame for the accident and merely relate the facts of the accident as they happened. Talk to an attorney before you give any information to the other driver’s insurance company.

Should You Accept a Settlement Offer from the Insurance Company?

From our experience as personal injury lawyers, car accident claims settle 92% of the time. A settlement means that the insurance carrier or at-fault party agrees to pay an amount of money or take some action to resolve the claim by the injured person. Settlement offers can occur at any point in the claim process, but typically happen after the injured has completed treatment or reached the maximum level of recovery.

When a person accepts a settlement offer, they will waive their rights to make further claims or file a lawsuit. After most car accidents, there is property damage and personal injury claim. These are separate and settling one may or may not waive rights to the other claim. Individuals are cautioned to read the waiver forms submitted by the insurance company to make sure they aren’t giving up their rights for additional damages.

Some insurance companies will try to settle a case early in the process. This can prove to be a mistake if further costs and expenses are incurred by the injured victim. Accepting a settlement offer may waive your right to claim further medical expenses, lost wages, or additional pain and suffering. Victims of a car crash should speak with a lawyer before accepting any settlement checks from an insurance company as they may be short-changed in the long run.

How Much Does a Lawyer Charge for a Car Accident Lawsuit?

The way an attorney charges for services in a car accident case is different from most other areas of law in which an hourly rate is charged. In personal injury cases, lawyers typically charge a contingency fee. the attorney’s fee is taken out of the final settlement or verdict to the client. This is also known as ‘no win, no fee.’ If an attorney does not obtain a financial recovery for a client, the attorney does not get paid.

Most personal injury law firms, including Rice, Murtha & Psoras, give free initial personal injury consultations to prospective clients. If you have questions about car accident lawyer fees, speak with one of our experienced counselors today.

How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Lawyer for a Car Accident Case in Baltimore?

When paid on a contingency basis, a lawyer will not require any upfront fees. the amount lawyers will ask for in their contingency fee varies. Always read the small print and be clear about how much the attorney will take at the start of the case.

The contingency fee ranges across the country from 25 to 40 percent of the settlement. One-third (33%) is fairly standard. If, for example, you recover, $150,000 in a car accident, the attorney would take $50,000.

Usually, attorneys will have a clause in the contract that their contingency fee will increase if a case goes to trial. Personal injury trials are costly and time-consuming. Typically, a contingency fee will rise to about 40 percent in trials.

The contingency fee model means a personal injury attorney may be unwilling to take certain cases such as where liability for an accident is not clear-cut.

Attorney Randolph Rice offers absolutely no-cost initial consultations for victims of auto collisions. There is no fee until and unless we win your case!

Do You Have to Pay Your Lawyer if You Lose the Case?

Typically, personal injury lawyers operate on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis. This means you will not face legal costs if you lose your case.

If your personal injury lawyer operates on a contingency basis that means he or she only gets a percentage or portion of the money the plaintiff wins or recovers. the lawyer usually gets nothing if the plaintiff doesn’t win and the injured party will not have to pay the attorney. Always be clear about the payment methods with your attorney at the case sign-up.

How Much Can You Get for Pain and Suffering in a Car Accident?

It’s impossible to put a value on your injuries after a car crash because there are too many variables. Pain and suffering are likely to be the element that results in the largest chunk of your award. However, there is a major subjective element to pain and suffering when these damages are considered by a court.

Some of the big insurance companies use a formula to calculate pain and suffering. Companies like Allstate use a computer program. Typically, these programs will provide a pain and suffering figure that’s at the low end of the spectrum.

Insurance companies also typically multiply the total of medical bills by a number between 1.5 and 5 to calculate pain and suffering. This is called a multiplier. If your injury is of a serious nature, your personal injury lawyer will make a case for a higher multiplier.

Another method used by insurance companies to calculate pain and suffering is called the “per diem” or “per day” method. Under this approach, a dollar figure may be put on every day someone who was involved in a car accident has to endure the pain. Working out and justifying a daily rate is often the hard part. the rate should be “reasonable.”

One approach is to use the accident victim’s daily earnings. This would be similar to what you normally be paid in a workday over the period of time you are recovering from the accident.

How Much Will the At-Fault Driver Have to Pay for Victim Injuries?

The at-fault driver would not pay for the victim’s injuries, but the at-fault driver’s insurance company would pay for any injuries. the at-fault driver would have to pay for injuries if the damages exceed the insurance policy limits.

The amount of damages will depend on the number of medical bills and the pain and suffering incurred by the victim in a crash. If you have questions about exact damages, contact a car accident lawyer in your area to determine how much would the at-fault driver have to pay for a victim who was severely injured in the crash.

Is a Lawsuit Necessary After a Car Accident?

A lawsuit may not be required after a car accident. After the claim is filed with the insurance, the victim will have to recover from the injuries. the settlement of a car accident claim is common and your lawyer will advise if you should settle the claim or pursue a lawsuit to sue the other driver responsible for the accident. the insurance companies will take a hard look at two factors after a car accident:

1. Liability – who was at fault.
2. Damages – what are the injuries and medical treatment received after the accident

When determining liability, the parties will have to figure out who was at fault in the accident. Since Maryland is a contributory negligence State, if the plaintiff or the person saying they were not at fault was even 1% at fault, then they may not be able to recover from the other person.

Damages refer to medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Medical bills after an accident can quickly grow depending on the extent of the injuries. Most car accident victims will see their primary care physician (PCP) and follow up with a physical therapist. However, after a car accident, surgery or injections may be required to recover. it is important that all car accident victims complete all medical treatment after an accident.

How Do I Get My Car Fixed After a Car Accident?

One of the biggest concerns anyone has after an accident is repairing or replacing their damaged vehicle. In Maryland, if the damage to a vehicle exceeds 75% of the value of the vehicle, then the insurance company will deem the car a total loss and page the Kelley Blue Book or National Automobile Dealer’s Association value for the vehicle.

If the car can be repaired, then you have a couple of options. You can go through your own insurance, pay your deductible, and have the car fixed at any body shop, including the dealership. If you are found not at fault for the accident, then your insurance company will seek reimbursement from the at-fault insurance company, including your deductible. That means, that if you have to pay your deductible, then you will be reimbursed.

Another option can be to have the other driver’s insurance company pay for the damage to your vehicle. This can be a slower process as the other insurance company needs to determine fault and speak with their insured before they agree to repair your vehicle.

What Happens After a Baltimore Car Accident?

After an accident, the wheels get set in motion with a number of people and agencies. In most cases, the Baltimore City Police Department, Baltimore County Police Department, the Maryland Transportation Authority, the Maryland State Police, or another permitted law enforcement agency will respond to the scene of the accident. the police will ensure the parties to the accident exchange information.

If one of the drivers or passengers is injured, a medic or EMS will be called to treat the injured. If the injuries are substantial, the medic or ambulance will transport the injured to a local hospital. If the accident resulted in life-threatening injuries, patients will be transported to Shock Trauma or one of the other trauma centers in the city.

If the injuries at the scene are minor, patients will be treated at the scene and released. it is best practice at this point to contact your insurance company and a Baltimore car accident lawyer for advice and guidance. it is suggested that you do not speak with the other driver’s insurance company until you talk to a lawyer.

Since the other insurance company will try to obtain a recorded statement, this could prove detrimental to the claim. the other insurance company will try to lock a victim of a car accident into a story that may inconsistent with the accident itself. In addition, the insurance adjuster will try to exclude future injuries because they are not noticeable soon after the accident.

Once the insurance companies are contacted, claim numbers will be generated. This will include a personal injury claim and a property damage claim if there is damage to vehicles or other structures.

When You Don’t Need to Hire a Lawyer After a Car Crash

We’ve put together a list of situations when you don’t need to hire a lawyer after an auto wreck. They include:

• You didn’t suffer any physical injury – no pain–no need to file a claim for personal injury;
• If you were at fault for the crash, you probably won’t need a lawyer. However, you should speak with an attorney to make sure whether you were or were not at fault;
• If you have minimal medical expenses, you probably won’t need a lawyer. As a general rule of thumb, if you went to the hospital and continued treatment for over one week, you will need an attorney.

We have explained each one of the scenarios in depth below. Keep reading to find out if you don’t need to retain an accident lawyer.

No Injuries Occurred

In Baltimore, you may not need the services of a personal injury lawyer if the accident only involved property damage. People understandably become upset about the damage caused to their cars. They might want to hire an attorney to give the driver who caused their accident a hard time. However, insurance companies deal fairly quickly and efficiently with property damage cases. Car accident victims are more likely to lose out when the accident led to an injury.

Before you conclude a wreck was property damage only, be sure you weren’t injured. Many injuries are not obvious from the outset. Injuries may take days or longer to become apparent. Talk to a medical professional soon after the accident before ruling out injuries in your wreck. Be aware doctors can miss signs of conditions like a mild traumatic brain injury. An MRI often fails to show this injury.

You Were At Fault for the Accident

If you were even one percent responsible for a crash, you can’t make an injury claim under state law. Blame is not always apparent at the time of an accident. Never assume you were to blame and never tell police or insurers it was your fault. If you are not to blame, you may need an attorney. A personal injury lawyer will make a strong case that you were blameless if liability is disputed.

However, if you clearly caused the accident, the attorney is unlikely to take on your case. Don’t assume your case is impossible if a police officer has ticketed you. An attorney will fight to successfully overturn your citation in a traffic court.

Potential Recovery is Small

You may not need an injury lawyer when you suffer minor post-car accident injuries like cuts and scrapes. These victims of many car accidents are shaken up but not hurt and don’t require time off work. However, people who were involved in auto wrecks should be aware they can claim for conditions brought on by the accident such as depression, sleeplessness caused by the wreck, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

In addition, many car accidents cause minor scratches and dents to older cars. Although bodywork repairs are not cheap, people involved in fender benders do not usually need to hire a lawyer. In many other scenarios, car accident victims should hire lawyers and face losing out financially if they fail to do so.

We Are Baltimore Auto Accident Attorneys

Motor vehicle accidents can be complicated, especially with the changing insurance and injury laws in Maryland as well as battling the insurance company for the at-fault driver. If the person that struck your vehicle was negligent in the operation of their vehicle, then they should pay for your damages, medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering. Make sure you hire an experienced Baltimore car accident attorney like Randolph Rice to represent you in your injury case.

If we decide to take on your case, it will not cost you anything upfront.  We are paid after we successfully resolve your case from the insurance settlement or verdict.  The initial case review is free and our representation, while your case is ongoing, is also free.  It also means we don’t get paid unless you win. Our auto accident lawyers have been fighting for the rights of injury victims, don’t take your chance with the insurance company and let them short-change you and your settlement.

Our injury lawyers have handled hundreds of auto crash cases, achieving monetary results for our clients that get them back to where they were before the accident. the car accident lawyer Baltimore residents trust will fight for your rights and fair compensation in your case. This allows you to focus on recovering while we make the insurance company pay for the damage their client has caused to you.

The negligent driver that struck you has an insurance company that is looking to avoid all payments. the insurance company does not want to pay for the bad acts of its insured. and if they have to pay, they want to minimize the amount they have to pay for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. That’s why you need the Baltimore car accident lawyers at Rice, Murtha & Psoras fighting for you.

We know how insurance companies work and how they calculate insurance claims for the damage to your vehicle and medical care. They will try and low-ball every single person that files a claim against their insured. We won’t let them do that to you, we’ll make sure they pay you what you deserve in your accident case.

Give us a call today to speak with one of our injury lawyers and discuss your car accident claim. Call (410) 694-7291 for immediate legal help.

Our Experienced Baltimore Car Accident Lawyers Can Help

At Rice, Murtha & Psoras, we help many car accident victims every week. We have seen all of the possible scenarios and insurance company tricks, and we have strategies for dealing with them.

Although you don’t need an injury lawyer in every case, it’s prudent to seek legal advice. Often an injury lawyer will see an important aspect to your case that you may have overlooked or an important detail a police officer failed to notice when compiling the accident report.

We can evaluate the insurance company’s offer and advise you on a strategy. Aim to talk to a personal injury lawyer soon after the accident rather than years later when memories are fading and you are running out of time.

Call Today for a Free Case Review

The need for experienced legal advice begins very early in the process: police do follow-up investigations; the other driver’s insurance company sends around an adjuster; your own insurance company starts asking questions that may indicate it doesn’t believe your version of the events; a lawyer for someone else involved in the accident wants to talk to you.

No matter how informal and “friendly” these contacts (adjusters, in particular, are trained to be friendly), each one is a potential trap that can reduce your chances of recovering from all your injuries.

Baltimore car accident lawyer Randolph Rice can help you at every step of the process, making sure that your interests are protected all the way through to a fair settlement or a court verdict in your favor. For an experienced and committed legal advocate, call (410) 694-7291 or fill out our online contact form today to schedule a free appointment to discuss your case.