Maryland Car Accident FAQ

First, check yourself and others for injuries. Call 911 if anyone is hurt, if the vehicle cannot be safely moved, if the other driver appears impaired, if the driver leaves the scene, or if there is any immediate danger.

If it is safe, move your vehicle out of traffic, exchange information with the other driver, take photos, identify witnesses, and seek medical care. You should also notify your insurance company. Before giving a recorded statement or accepting a settlement, consider speaking with a Maryland car accident lawyer.

A police report is especially important if anyone is injured, a vehicle cannot be moved, a driver may be intoxicated or unlicensed, or the other driver leaves the scene. Even when a police report is not strictly required, having one can make it easier to document what happened.

A report may include the crash location, driver information, witness statements, insurance information, vehicle damage, and the officer’s notes. This can become useful evidence if the insurance company disputes fault or damages.

Yes. You should get medical attention after a crash, even if you think your injuries are minor. Some injuries, including whiplash, concussions, soft tissue injuries, and back injuries, may not feel serious right away.

Medical records help connect your injuries to the accident. If you wait too long to get care, the insurance company may argue that your injuries were not caused by the crash or were not serious enough to support your claim.

Payment may depend on your insurance coverage, the other driver’s insurance, personal injury protection coverage, health insurance, medical payments coverage, uninsured motorist coverage, or the final settlement.

The at-fault driver’s insurance may ultimately be responsible for damages, but that does not always mean your bills are paid immediately. A lawyer can help identify available coverage and help you avoid mistakes that may reduce the value of your claim.

If the other driver does not have insurance, you may be able to pursue an uninsured motorist claim through your own auto policy. Maryland automobile insurance policies generally include uninsured motorist coverage.

Uninsured motorist coverage may apply when the at-fault driver has no insurance or when the at-fault driver cannot be identified, such as in a hit-and-run accident. Your own insurance company may still investigate the claim, dispute fault, or challenge the value of your damages.

If you were hurt in a hit-and-run, call 911, report the crash, get medical care, and gather as much evidence as possible. Try to write down the vehicle’s make, model, color, direction of travel, and any part of the license plate.

You may still have a claim even if the driver is never found. Many hit-and-run injury claims are handled through uninsured motorist coverage. These cases can be complicated, so it is important to act quickly before camera footage, witnesses, and other evidence disappear.

You should report the accident to your insurance company, but be careful when speaking with any adjuster. Insurance adjusters may ask for a recorded statement, request medical authorization, or offer a quick settlement before you know the full extent of your injuries.

You do not have to guess, admit fault, minimize your injuries, or accept an offer right away. Before giving a detailed recorded statement or signing anything, it is wise to speak with a car accident attorney.

Not without understanding the full value of your claim. A first settlement offer may not account for future medical care, lost income, ongoing pain, permanent limitations, or the long-term effect of the accident.

Once you accept a settlement, you usually cannot go back and ask for more money later. Before signing a release, make sure the offer covers your medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, and any future losses related to the crash.

The value of a car accident case depends on the facts. Important factors include the severity of your injuries, medical bills, lost wages, vehicle damage, future treatment needs, pain and suffering, permanent impairment, available insurance coverage, and whether fault is disputed.

There is no reliable “average settlement” that applies to every case. A minor soft tissue injury claim will be valued differently from a crash involving surgery, traumatic brain injury, permanent disability, or wrongful death.

Maryland follows a strict contributory negligence rule. This means that if an injured person is found to have contributed to the accident, the insurance company may argue that the person is barred from recovering compensation.

Because of this rule, fault disputes are very important in Maryland car accident cases. You should avoid admitting fault at the scene, guessing about what happened, or making statements that could later be used against you.

Many Maryland personal injury claims must be filed within three years from the date the claim accrues. However, insurance deadlines can be much shorter. Your policy may require prompt notice, documentation, cooperation, and other steps.

You should not wait until the deadline is close. Evidence can disappear quickly. Witnesses may become harder to reach, vehicles may be repaired, and camera footage may be deleted. Speaking with a lawyer early can help protect your claim.

Depending on the case, compensation may include medical bills, hospital bills, physical therapy, medication, lost income, reduced earning ability, vehicle damage, rental car expenses, pain and suffering, emotional distress, permanent injury, disability, and future medical care.

In fatal crash cases, surviving family members may also have a wrongful death claim. The damages available depend on the facts, the injuries, the available insurance, and Maryland law.

Helpful evidence may include photos of the vehicles, photos of the crash scene, witness names and phone numbers, the police report number, insurance information, medical records, repair estimates, dashcam footage, traffic camera information, and notes about what happened.

You should also keep records of missed work, medical appointments, prescriptions, out-of-pocket expenses, and how your injuries affect daily life. These details can help support your claim.

Parker, Pallett, Slezak & Russell, LLC represents injured people across Maryland, including Baltimore County, Harford County, and Cecil County. The firm helps clients after crashes in communities such as White Marsh, Dundalk, Essex, Parkville, Perry Hall, Towson, Hunt Valley, Timonium, Cockeysville, Abingdon, Bel Air, Fallston, Edgewood, and nearby areas.

Local roads, intersections, highways, traffic patterns, and court procedures can all matter in a car accident case. A Maryland car accident lawyer can help investigate the crash and guide you through the claim process.

You should consider calling a lawyer if you were injured, the other driver denies fault, the insurance company is pressuring you, the crash involved a hit-and-run or uninsured driver, your medical bills are significant, you missed work, or you are unsure what your claim is worth.

A lawyer can investigate the crash, communicate with insurance companies, preserve evidence, calculate damages, negotiate a settlement, and file a lawsuit if necessary.