Statutes of limitations establish time windows for filing various types of lawsuits. If you file too late, the court can dismiss your case entirely.
Generally, you will have three years after your crash to file a lawsuit seeking financial compensation in Maryland. However, there are special rules for particular situations that give a different window than the usual three-year window. During our assessment of your claim, we can explain how the statute of limitations applies to your case.
In the aftermath of a harmful car crash, get in touch with our experienced Baltimore car accident attorneys as soon as possible. Our team at Rice, Murtha & Psoras can help navigate each step of the legal process. Call us today at (410) 694-7291.
Statute of Limitations for Car Accident Lawsuits in Maryland
Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. Art., § 5-101 dictates the time rules for when to submit a car accident lawsuit in Maryland. Therefore, you will generally have three years from when your accident happened to file your case to court. If these rules are not followed, you may be prevented from obtaining compensation for your car accident injuries. Thankfully, our Maryland car accident lawyers can help bring your case to court in a quick and effective manner.
There are some exceptions to these rules. For instance, parents can file claims for their injured child before the child reaches one day short of 18 years old. From that point forward, the child will have three years to file a claim stemming from the accident they suffered as a minor.
If you have questions about how the statute of limitations will affect your claim, then you should call our law firm right away. Our team of experienced attorneys can help you understand the timing rules for your lawsuit.
When to File a Car Accident Lawsuit in Maryland
Even though you may have three years from the date of your crash to file your case, you should contact our Maryland car accident attorneys as soon as possible after suffering your collision. To obtain payment from another driver, you must be able to present evidence that supports your assertions. There are multiple different types of evidence that may be utilized when establishing damages and proving who is at fault for your crash. For example, any of the following types of evidence may be used by our Aspen Hill car accident lawyers:
- Crash reports
- Eyewitness testimony
- Expert witness testimony
- Physical evidence
- Surveillance camera footage
- Photo evidence
- Personal recollections
Unfortunately, as time goes on, it can become more difficult to collect and preserve the information required to support your lawsuit. For instance, a witness may forget an important detail pertaining to your accident, and physical evidence may begin to deteriorate. Therefore, you should contact us quickly so we may begin building your claim right away. The longer you wait to begin gathering evidence, the more difficult it can be to prove your case.
Additionally, there are additional requirements that plaintiffs in car accident lawsuits must comply with. When brining your car accident case to court, you must be sure to file your case in the right court, pay required filing fees, serve all of the defendants, attach supporting information, and include all relevant information. If one of these conditions is not satisfied, then you might need to file your lawsuit again. Therefore, you should attempt to file as soon as possible, so that you might have the time to re-file if it is required.
Who Can File a Car Accident Lawsuit in Maryland?
In Maryland, at-fault parties can be sued for collisions they cause. Accordingly, anyone who incurs an injury because of an accident may be able to file a lawsuit against the at-fault motorist. The following are all examples of negligent conduct exhibited by at-fault drivers:
- Speeding
- Improper left turns
- Disobeying traffic signals
- Drunk driving
- Tailgating
- Distracted driving
- Illegal lane changes
If the victim of a car accident is a child, then their parents may file a claim on their behalf. After reaching the day before their 18th birthday, the potential plaintiff will then have three years to file a lawsuit related to the crash they suffered as a minor. If you experienced a harmful collision, then you should contact our Arnold car accident attorneys for help bringing your case to court in an efficient manner.
How Long Do You Have to File a Car Accident Lawsuit Against the State of Maryland?
In some cases, plaintiffs will file car accident lawsuits against the state of Maryland. For example, if your crash was caused by hazards such as poor road conditions or inoperable traffic lights, then you may be able to recover compensation from the responsible government entities.
If you are filing a car accident claim against a government entity in Maryland, then you will have to provide sufficient notice to the defendant within 180 days of your accident. Failure to provide proper and timely notice could bar you from pursuing your claim. Even when government entities are not burdened by the failure to provide proper notice, the error can still be used to dismiss your case. However, you may be able to argue that you have good cause for missing the notice deadline. The assistance of our experienced Annapolis car accident lawyers can be very helpful when forming such an argument.
Furthermore, when providing notice to a government entity, you must ensure you notify the correct people and provide particular information regarding your claim. Our lawyers can help you comply with the requirements for suing a government entity in Maryland.
Call Our Car Accident Attorneys for Help in Maryland
Those who sustain injuries because of car crashes should contact our team at Rice, Murtha & Psoras for help recovering monetary damages. Speak with our experienced Towson car accident lawyers today by calling (410) 694-7291 for a free evaluation of your claim.