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Each year in Maryland, an average of 530 people are killed and 49,810 people are injured in car accidents. Although our cars have gotten progressively safer with the addition of new technology (such as lane departure warnings), careless driving continues to cause more than 115,000 car crashes each year in our state. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), driver error accounts for 94% of all collisions in the U.S.
If another driver causes a traffic accident, you may be able to recover financial compensation for any losses that you suffered. Through a personal injury claim, you may be able to get money for your property damage, medical bills, future medical care, lost wages, pain and suffering and more. A skilled Bethesda car accident lawyer can help you through the process, fighting to get you maximum compensation.
At DuBoff & Associates, our legal team is dedicated to helping people achieve justice after a motor vehicle accident. We offer free initial consultations, and handle all personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis – which means that we never charge a fee unless we recover money for you. For each client, we use our substantial knowledge of Maryland law and experience to get the best possible outcome.
Our law firm has represented accident victims in and around Bethesda, Maryland since 1981. We have significant experience helping people who have been hurt in motor vehicle accidents in the region.
These collisions can happen almost anywhere but are particularly common on some of the most dangerous roads and intersections in Bethesda, such as:
If you have been hurt in a motor vehicle accident in Bethesda, then you will need to act quickly to protect your rights. There is a strict time limit for filing personal injury claims after a car crash. You have just three years to file a lawsuit after the date of your accident.
A skilled Bethesda personal injury attorney can help make sure that your claim is filed on time, and that you get the money that you deserve for your injuries. We will take on the big insurance companies and fight to make sure that you get the compensation that you deserve for your injuries.
Remember: the goal of the insurance company isn’t to make sure that you get the most possible money for your losses. Instead, their adjusters and lawyers work to minimize the amount that they pay you – or to find ways to deny a legitimate claim. Even if the at-fault driver’s insurance company tells you that they accept responsibility, that doesn’t mean that they will pay you fair compensation.
Do not sign anything from the other driver’s insurance company or give them a statement without first talking to a lawyer. As soon as you are able to do so, schedule a free consultation with a Bethesda car accident attorney. They will protect your interests and help you achieve the best possible recovery for your losses.
In a personal injury lawsuit, you may be entitled to three types of damages: economic, non-economic, and punitive. Broadly speaking, both economic and non-economic damages are compensatory, which means that they are designed to compensate you for a loss. By contrast, punitive damages are meant to punish a wrongdoer who engaged in intentional or reckless conduct.
Economic damages compensate an accident victim for direct financial losses. They may include things such as property damage, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, medical expenses, and future medical treatment. These damages are often proven with documentation like medical bills, invoices and estimates for repair work, and pay stubs.
Non-economic damages compensate injury victims for intangible losses. A skilled Bethesda car accident attorney will utilize their knowledge of similar cases and reports from expert witnesses to prove these damages, which may include pain and suffering, emotional pain, loss of enjoyment of life, scarring, and disfigurement.
Punitive damages are not available in most personal injury claims, which are typically based on a theory of negligence instead of intentional or reckless conduct. However, in some cases, such as drunk driving accidents, punitive damages may be available.
Many states have caps, or limits, on damages in personal injury lawsuits. In Maryland, the only cap on damages is for non-economic damages, which is currently $890,000. However, in wrongful death cases where there are two or more survivors, this limit is increased to $1,335,500.
After a car accident, you will likely be contacted by an adjuster for the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier. They may tell you that they accept responsibility, and ask you to sign paperwork. You may be tempted to settle the case – but doing so would likely be a mistake.
Insurance companies are in the business of making money. To maximize their profits, insurers work to minimize or deny legitimate claims. Even if an insurance adjuster tells you that they accept liability, chances are good that the settlement that they offer you won’t be nearly enough to fully compensate you for your losses.
Consider this scenario: you are rear-ended by a driver who was texting and driving. You feel fine after the accident, and so when the insurance company offers you a settlement to fix your car, you accept it. A few days after doing so, you find that your neck is incredibly stiff and sore, and a doctor diagnoses you with whiplash. The treatment takes months and costs thousands upon thousands of dollars.
If you signed a settlement agreement with the insurance company, you will have given up your right to file a personal injury claim for these medical bills. This leaves you stuck with these medical expenses and any other losses that were not covered by the settlement agreement.
A seasoned Bethesda car accident attorney can help you avoid settling your case for less money than it is worth. DuBoff & Associates will thoroughly investigate the facts of your case, research Maryland personal injury law, and bring in all responsible parties to maximize your recovery. Throughout the process, our legal team will fight for your best interests and work to get you the maximum compensation that you are entitled to under the law.
According to a study from the Insurance Research Council, people who are represented by counsel achieve settlements that are 40% higher than the settlements negotiated by people on their own. By hiring a personal injury lawyer, you may be able to recover substantially more money than you would if you handled the case on your own.
At DuBoff & Associates, we have more than 30 years of experience handling all types of car accident claims. Whether you were hit by an uninsured driver, a motorist who was under the influence of drugs, or someone who simply wasn’t paying attention to the road, we will take on the big insurance companies for you. Our legal team is dedicated to helping our clients get the highest possible recovery.
The first step in resolving your claim is to send a demand letter to the insurance company. This letter outlines the facts of the accident, the legal reasons why their insured is responsible, and makes a demand for compensation. This typically begins settlement negotiations.
The vast majority of personal injury claims are settled outside of court. This is often the best outcome, as going to trial can be stressful for accident victims. However, when necessary to achieve fair compensation, we will use our substantial trial experience to go to court and ask a jury to find in favor of our clients.
If you are involved in a car crash, you should seek medical care immediately. This can be done by calling 911 or by asking someone to take you to the hospital. Getting medical care can help to ensure that you get a proper diagnosis and treatment and will establish a link between the accident and your injuries.
If law enforcement arrives, the officers will interview witnesses and gather information, which will then be available to you in a police report. Otherwise, take pictures and videos of the scene, and get the name and contact information for the at-fault driver and any witnesses. Finally, be sure to reach out to a Bethesda car accident lawyer as soon as possible for a free consultation.
In Maryland, the statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits is 3 years. This means that, with a few exceptions (such as for a minor child), you have 3 years from the date of the accident to file a legal claim. If you don’t act within this time limit, then your claim will likely be barred.
For this reason, it is important to reach out to an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Your lawyer will gather accident reports and other evidence, send a demand letter to the insurance company, and make sure that all deadlines are met.
If you are somewhat responsible for a Bethesda car accident, you may be blocked from recovering for your losses. Along with Alabama, Virginia, North Carolina, and Washington D.C., Maryland follows the contributory negligence rule, which holds that if you were more than 1% at fault for a crash, then you cannot recover. This rule can lead to particularly harsh outcomes when accident victims are seriously injured by reckless drivers – and then an insurance carrier tells them that they aren’t entitled to a dime because they were partially at fault.
In these types of auto accidents, it is important to work with a seasoned Bethesda car accident attorney who can analyze the facts of your case and make a strong argument for compensation. If you have been involved in a car crash, reach out today to schedule a free consultation.
If you have been hurt in a car accident in or around Bethesda, you may not know what to do next. Our law firm is here to help. Since 1981, we have represented clients who have been hurt in all types of accidents, whether it be a truck accident, a car crash, a pedestrian accident, a motorcycle accident, or even a slip and fall.
DuBoff & Associates is dedicated to helping people just like you who have been hurt by the negligent actions of another person. We will fight for your rights, and give you peace of mind in knowing that you have an experienced attorney standing by your side. To learn more or to schedule a free initial consultation, call our law offices at 301-495-3131 or fill out our online contact form.