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Serving Injury & Accident Victims
in Maryland, Virginia, and DC
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"I had a tough case in the beginning but it ended wonderfully and I grossed more than I expected. I recommend each & everyone who has an accident or any other legal matters, to please call Duboff & Assoc." -Terrence Edwards.
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In the aftermath of a car accident, determining who is at fault is a priority, as the answer dictates which party (or parties) may receive compensation. This question is even more critical in states like Maryland, Virginia, and DC, which follow the contributory negligence standard. In these states, a car accident victim is barred from collecting damages even if their share of fault is only 1%, so there’s a lot hanging in the balance.
Fault also dictates which insurer pays compensation. In Maryland and Virginia, the insurance company for the at-fault party pays for any resulting personal injuries or vehicle damage. Washington, DC, follows the no-fault rule, which means that injured drivers will file a claim with their own auto insurers, regardless of who was at fault. At the same time, injured passengers typically seek compensation from the no-fault policy of the driver they were traveling with.
While victim and eyewitness statements can help pinpoint liability, vehicle damage tells its own story. At DuBoff & Associates, Chartered, we have used crushed fenders, buckled passenger doors, and other types of impact damage to support client claims and help them win the compensation they need and deserve. This blog explains how damage to a vehicle can help determine fault as well as affect the value of your claim.
When a crash occurs, investigators often use multiple forms of evidence to determine fault. Depending on the circumstances of the accident, this evidence may include the following:
The vehicles themselves can provide the most compelling clues to liability. The location and extent of the damage can tell a lot about what each driver was doing just before the crash occurred as well as the context of the accident.
When you look at the damage to a vehicle after a car accident, you can sometimes reconstruct what happened. For example:
In addition:
When it comes to documenting what happened after a car accident, the old saying “a picture is worth a thousand words” holds especially true. If you’re able to move and your phone hasn’t been damaged, try to get pictures and video of the following:
Taking photos of the accident scene is crucial not only for remembering what happened but also for proving your case against the other party. You can ask someone else to take pictures for you if you are hurt or unable to do so yourself. Tell them precisely what crash scene photos you need, and make sure they get clear images.
In most accidents, the insurance company initially determines who was at fault for the crash. Investigations are usually conducted by claims adjusters who will:
An accident investigation will typically begin with whatever the claims adjuster can accomplish from their office. If necessary, they will conduct some fieldwork to complete the investigation. This may include:
Getting compensation from the insurance company should be straightforward when you have expensive medical bills, vehicle damage, and maybe even a temporary loss of income. However, this isn’t always the case, even in a no-fault state like Washington, DC.
The reality is that insurance companies aren’t interested in helping you get the money you deserve. You can expect them to do whatever they can to prevent or limit your payout. Even when your vehicle damage claim is legitimate, many will deny it for reasons like the following:
In the absence of a car accident claim lawyer, insurance companies will not hesitate to take advantage of you. They may unnecessarily delay your claim processing or make it difficult to contact the adjuster handling your case. By using these strategies, they intend to make you cave in under financial pressure and be eager to accept any lowball offer they may present. Hiring an attorney will protect your legal rights and ensure that your vehicle damage claim gets the attention it deserves.
When you file a vehicle damage claim against the at-fault driver’s auto insurance company (Maryland and Virginia) or with your own insurer (Washington, DC), you can include the value of the damage to your vehicle. In Maryland, the mandated minimum coverage for property damage is $15,000, while in Virginia it’s $20,000, and Washington, DC requires a minimum of $10,000. Adding repair costs and other expenses associated with restoring your damaged vehicle can increase the overall value of your car accident claim.
Every state has its own statute of limitations for property damage claims arising from a car accident. In Maryland and Washington, DC, the deadline is three years after the accident while Virginia requires claims to be brought within five years maximum. However, most car accident claims are brought and settled long before these timelines run out.
There is no guaranteed timeline for settling a car accident claim. Some cases are resolved within a few weeks. Others take longer. Factors like the following tend to have the greatest impact on how long it takes to settle:
However, the following factors tend to have the greatest impact in most cases:
In most situations, faster is not always better-especially if the insurance company is refusing to pay you a reasonable amount for your claim. With our legal knowledge and investigative resources, DuBoff & Associates, Chartered is ready to help you get maximum compensation as quickly as possible.
Gathering evidence is the first step in proving fault after an accident, and vehicle damage can provide compelling support for your side of the story. However, insurance companies are rarely eager to make a fair initial settlement offer and if they can assign any degree of blame to you, you can be barred from receiving compensation.
For this reason, you should consult an experienced car accident claim lawyer who can help you build a strong case and pursue a fair outcome. At DuBoff & Associates, Chartered, we have been protecting the rights of injured clients for over three decades and will fight for the financial recovery you need to rebuild your life after a serious accident. To schedule a free consultation, call us today at 866.210.6720.
Related:
What to Do Immediately After a Tractor-Trailer Accident: A Step-by-Step Guide
Being in a car accident can be incredibly traumatic – and may result in steep bills for property damage, medical treatment, and more. In many cases, your losses will be paid for by the at-fault driver’s insurance company. If the other driver doesn’t have insurance or doesn’t have enough insurance to cover your own losses, then you can file a claim for uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage through your own insurance company.
Uninsured motorist coverage is required in Maryland. Drivers also have the option to select enhanced underinsured motorist (EUIM) coverage when purchasing or renewing a policy. EUIM policies provide additional protection because you can access the full limits of your policy in addition to recovering financial compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance policy. In this way, you can maximize your compensation for your injuries.
DuBoff & Associates represents injury victims throughout Maryland in all types of motor vehicle accidents. We offer free initial consultations, and never charge a fee unless we recover money for you. If you have been injured in any type of car, truck, or motorcycle accident, give us a call to talk to a member of our legal team.
In Maryland, all private passenger vehicle insurance policies must either have uninsured motorist (UM) or enhanced underinsured motorist coverage (EUIM). These policies are intended to protect motorists who are involved in an accident with a driver who is either uninsured or who lacks sufficient insurance to cover their losses.
UM policies ensure that drivers who are in an accident with a driver who either doesn’t have insurance or who only has minimal insurance can still recover financial compensation for their losses. This type of coverage is important because Maryland has relatively low minimum car insurance requirements:
For anything other than a relatively minor motor vehicle accident, it is incredibly easy to meet these limits. For example, consider a situation where you are involved in a crash with a driver who only has the minimum insurance. You suffer a broken bone and a head injury, and your car has $20,000 in damage. Your medical bills are $35,000 – and rising.
Without UM coverage, you would be limited to the 30/60/15 policy limits. This means that you would be on the hook for any losses that exceed the policy limits. With UM coverage, you can seek compensation for your losses from your own insurance company.
EUIM is a special type of automobile insurance that insurance companies are required to offer. EUIM coverage is not automatic. Instead, you will need to choose EUIM coverage when you get a new policy or renew an existing car insurance policy.
EUIM differs from traditional UM coverage because it does not take any contribution from the at-fault driver’s insurance company into account. In other words, your insurance company won’t take what the other driver’s insurance company paid you into account when handling your claim. This has the effect of making sure that you get paid as much as possible for your injuries.
Here is how this works in practice. Imagine that you were in a serious car accident that caused severe injuries, substantial medical bills, and property damage, plus intangible losses like emotional distress and pain and suffering. The at-fault driver only has minimum insurance coverage, and your expenses far exceed their policy limits.
With UM insurance, your insurance company would only pay for the difference between the at-fault driver’s insurance coverage and your own UM coverage. If the at-fault driver had a $30,000 policy for bodily injury and your UM policy had a $100,000 limit, then the most that you could recover for bodily injury would be $100,000. With EUIM coverage, however, you can “stack” your UM coverage onto the other driver’s insurance limits for a total of $130,000 in potential coverage.
Remember: insurance companies (even your own insurer) are in business to make money. Their goal is always to pay out as little as possible on a claim, whether by denying the claim outright or minimizing the amount that they have to pay on the claim. When you choose EUIM coverage, you are giving yourself the best possible chance of having your losses fully covered between the at-fault driver’s insurance policy and your own coverage.
When a careless driver causes an accident, there is no guarantee that they will have sufficient auto insurance coverage to pay for your losses. While it is against the law, it is possible that they may not have any car insurance at all. This can leave you holding the metaphorical bag for paying for your losses – property damage, medical bills, lost wages, future medical treatment, and more.
For this reason, Maryland drivers are required to either have UM or EUIM coverage as part of their insurance policy. Having UM coverage can help you avoid this situation – and EUIM coverage provides even broader protection.
Unfortunately, too many accident victims have substantial losses that go far beyond the limits of the at-fault driver’s insurance policy. In some cases, they are in an accident with a hit-and-run driver and cannot file a claim against that at-fault motorist. In these situations, having UM coverage is good – but having EUIM coverage is even better.
The bottom line is that EUIM is often the only way to get full compensation for your injuries. While EUIM costs more than UM coverage, it is worth it in the event that you are hurt in any type of motor vehicle accident. An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer would advise anyone to purchase EUIM coverage if they can afford to do so.
When you get a new auto insurance policy in Maryland – or renew your existing policy – you will have three options for UM/EUIM coverage. Insurance companies must offer you UM and EUIM coverage as part of the process.
While your UM or EUIM coverage must meet the policy minimums (30/60/15), you can choose:
Standard UM coverage protects drivers from situations where they are involved in an accident with a driver without auto insurance or without enough insurance sufficient to cover your losses. Standard UM coverage must equal your auto insurance policy limits unless you specifically choose otherwise. For example, if your insurance policy covers $100,000 in bodily injury, $300,000 in bodily injury for 2 or more people, and $50,000 in property damage, then a standard UM policy would also have 100/300/50 limits.
It is possible to purchase UM coverage for less than your policy limits. However, you cannot choose a lower amount than the minimum required insurance coverage of 30/60/15.
Finally, you can choose EUIM coverage. It provides the same benefits as UM coverage, but the policy limits will not be offset by any payments from the at-fault driver’s insurer. EUIM coverage must equal your policy limits.
Remember: you are required to choose either UM or EUIM coverage. The best way to protect yourself in the event of an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver is to get as much coverage as you can afford – ideally with an EUIM policy.
After a motor vehicle accident, you may be dealing with lost wages, property damage, medical bills, and the anxiety and stress that often accompanies such a traumatic event. You may also be getting calls from the other driver’s insurance company as well as from your own insurer. Our law firm can help you get the compensation that you deserve for your injuries.
With offices in Silver Spring and Baltimore, DuBoff & Associates represents accident victims throughout Maryland. We have substantial experience handling all types of accident claims – including those that involve uninsured and underinsured motorists. To learn more about how we can help or to schedule a free initial consultation with a Maryland car accident lawyer, give our law office a call at 301-495-3131 or fill out our online contact form.
You’ve probably seen the commercials with the cute little gecko talking about insurance. These ads might have even given you the impression that dealing with the Government Employees Insurance Company (GEICO) will be pretty easy. Unfortunately, GEICO insurance claims are rarely straightforward.
Like other insurers, GEICO is a major corporation – a subsidiary of billionaire Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway. Part of how GEICO makes money is by underpaying or denying legitimate accident claims. If you have been hurt in a motor vehicle collision with a driver insured by GEICO, you will need a tough Silver Spring, Maryland car accident lawyer to fight for your right to full compensation.
At DuBoff & Associates, we work hard to help our clients get the most money possible for their injuries. Every day, we take on the biggest insurance companies – and win. Our law firm offers free initial consultations, and we never charge a fee unless we recover money for you.
If you are in an automobile accident with a driver insured by GEICO, then the at-fault driver should file a claim with their insurance company. However, if they don’t file a claim, then you will need to file a claim with GEICO.
In theory, this should be an easy process: the adjuster will gather information, take statements, and then make you an offer for your losses. This settlement offer should cover your property damage, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, medical bills, future medical treatment, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and more. Too often, however, an initial settlement made by GEICO won’t be anywhere near enough to make you whole again.
Instead of working to get you the money that you deserve for your injuries, GEICO will begin the process by trying to undermine your claim. They will request an accident report from the police, interview witnesses, and dig into your medical history. Using this information, they will find ways to reduce the amount of money that they have to pay you.
Keep this in mind as you start the GEICO claims process. Don’t give a statement to a claims adjuster, or sign any paperwork until after you have had the opportunity to talk to a Silver Spring car accident lawyer. Remember that whatever you say to GEICO can and will be used against you.
Your attorney will start by listening to your story during a free initial consultation. They will offer you legal advice on your options for moving forward with a lawsuit. If you choose to hire a personal injury law firm, they will take over all communications with GEICO on your behalf.
Your lawyer will then begin an investigation of the crash – gathering police reports, medical records, witness statements, and photos and videos of the accident scene. At the same time, they will research case law to put together the strongest possible GEICO accident claim. Using this information, your attorney will draft a demand letter to GEICO that sets out the facts of the case and why their insured is responsible and makes a demand for compensation.
This begins the negotiation process, where your lawyer and GEICO’s team of adjusters and attorneys go back and forth until a settlement can be achieved. If GEICO refuses to give you a fair settlement, then your attorney may advise you to file a lawsuit against the insurer.
Most personal injury claims are handled on a contingency fee basis, which means that you pay nothing upfront to hire a lawyer. Instead, you will pay a percentage of your total recovery (settlement or verdict at trial). This means that there is no risk to you in hiring an attorney – and you don’t need to have a ton of extra cash on hand to talk to a Silver Spring car accident lawyer about your GEICO accident claim.
Make no mistake about it: GEICO’s insurance adjuster is not on your side. Even if the claims adjuster is friendly and tells you that they accept full responsibility for the accident, don’t be fooled. Their job is to make sure that you get as little money as possible for your losses.
Most claims adjusters will start by making you an incredibly low settlement offer. They know that accident victims are in a vulnerable position – in a lot of pain, traumatized after an accident, unsure of their rights, and dealing with a lot of financial stress from being out of work and having medical bills. They play on this vulnerability, hoping that you will accept their lowball offer.
If you decline the offer, the claims adjuster might make you a slightly higher settlement offer – or they might stick with their initial settlement number. They may then start engaging in a strategy that is designed to wear you down and get you to accept a settlement for far less money than your claim is worth.
The GEICO adjuster might delay your claim by constantly referring you to another employee, or by asking you to submit paperwork repeatedly. They might also look for ways to reduce the amount of money that you are owed. For example, they might go far back into your medical records to find an old medical condition, and then argue that your current injury can be chalked up to that – instead of the accident.
They may also try to use Maryland law in their favor. Maryland is one of the few states in the country that follows the principle of contributory negligence – which means that if you were even slightly (1%) at fault for an accident, you can’t recover anything. The GEICO claims adjuster may try to get you to admit some level of fault so that contributory negligence applies to your case. Many accident victims don’t realize that this is happening until it’s too late.
The best way to protect yourself is by hiring an aggressive, experienced Silver Spring car accident lawyer. Your attorney won’t let GEICO go on a fishing expedition into your medical records – and will make sure that you don’t give GEICO any information that could be used to undercut your claim.
Studies show that people who hire car accident attorneys recover 40% more in settlement money from insurance companies like GEICO compared to people who represent themselves. The best way to get maximum compensation for your injuries is by hiring a personal injury lawyer who can take on GEICO for you.
GEICO does not have a set formula for determining settlement amounts. Instead, the value of your settlement will depend on factors such as the nature and severity of your injury and the at-fault driver’s policy limits. It is also based in part on whether you have legal representation.
If you don’t have a lawyer, GEICO’s initial settlement offer will almost certainly be incredibly low – and may even be considered a bad faith offer. When you are represented by counsel, GEICO is more likely to make a fair settlement offer, knowing that there is a real possibility that you will file a lawsuit and take them to court to get the money that you deserve.
It can take time to negotiate a favorable settlement from GEICO. Remember: GEICO is in business to make money. They will always try to get away with a lowball settlement.
Your attorney will gather evidence to prove that GEICO is fully responsible for all of your losses, along with documentation of your injuries. Your losses may include:
In rare cases, such as drunk driving accidents, you may also be entitled to punitive damages. During a free initial consultation, your car accident lawyer will advise you of the value of your GEICO accident claim, including the possibility of seeking punitive damages.
Remember: the best way to get the money that you deserve for your injuries is by working with a highly skilled auto accident lawyer. They will fight for your rights and help you get maximum compensation for your losses after an accident involving a GEICO driver.
In some cases, GEICO insurance claims cannot be resolved by settlement. It may then be necessary to file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver.
In Maryland, the statute of limitations for most personal injury cases is 3 years. With a few exceptions, this means that you have 3 years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit against GEICO. If you don’t file a legal claim within this time frame, then it will be barred.
Filing a lawsuit against GEICO does not mean that you will go to court. In fact, the majority of personal injury cases are settled without going to trial. Your attorney will keep you updated throughout the process to let you know the status of your case.
Once the lawsuit has been filed, then each side will exchange information during the discovery phase. In many cases, discovery will push the case towards settlement as the parties learn more about the strengths and weaknesses of their cases.
If the case does go to trial, your lawyer will make arguments, present evidence, and question witnesses. Attorneys for GEICO will have the opportunity to do the same. When the case concludes, a jury will reach a verdict.
Insurance companies like GEICO don’t like to gamble on a jury. That is why having a car accident lawyer with trial experience – such as the attorneys of DuBoff & Associates – can help you get a fair settlement without having to go to trial. When GEICO knows that your attorney can and will take your case to court, they are more likely to give you the compensation that you deserve for your injuries.
No. Like other insurers, GEICO takes a hardline stance when it comes to resolving insurance claims. Their goal is to always settle an accident case for as little money as possible.
If you have been hurt in a Maryland car crash with a driver insured by GEICO, hiring a lawyer is the best way to get full compensation for your injuries. While you may be able to resolve the case on your own, it will likely be for far less than your claim is worth. Reach out to DuBoff & Associates today to learn more about how we can help you.
Once you sue GEICO, they will likely increase their settlement offer. The reason for this is simple: GEICO knows that it will probably cost them a lot more money to litigate the case than it will to settle it. They also know that a jury could return a much bigger verdict than what they would pay in a settlement. Most often, it simply makes more financial sense for GEICO to offer a bigger settlement.
Of course, if GEICO doesn’t think that your lawyers will actually go to court – or if you’re not represented by counsel – then they may not increase their settlement offer. To get the money that you deserve for your losses, contact DuBoff & Associates today for a free consultation.
Yes. In most cases, it will benefit you to be represented by counsel when dealing with GEICO – you will get a bigger settlement and reduce the likelihood of your claim being delayed or denied. However, if your claim is small and only involves minor property damage and/or very minor injuries, it may make more sense to represent yourself.
Remember that even in minor car accident claims, GEICO will probably try to undervalue your claim. Because initial consultations are always free with our law firm, it’s often a good idea to reach out and get a better idea of the value of your case and your legal options. Call our law firm at 301-495-3131 to schedule a free consultation.
After a car accident, the last thing that anyone wants to do is deal with an insurance company. Our law firm will take on GEICO for you, allowing you to focus on what really matters: your health and well-being.
With offices in Silver Spring, DuBoff & Associates is well-positioned to represent injury victims throughout Maryland. We aggressively advocate for each of our clients, and never charge a fee unless we recover money for you. To learn more or to schedule a free consultation with a Maryland car accident lawyer, give us a call at 301-495-3131 or fill out our online contact form.
USAA, or the United States Services Automobile Association, is a major insurance company that provides insurance to members of the military and their families throughout the United States. While its association with the military may fool many into believing that USAA is a nonprofit organization, it is definitely not. In fact, in 2020 alone, USAA saw net profits of almost $4 billion.
As a major corporation, USAA Insurance’s goal is to make money. One of the ways that they do this is by paying out as little as possible on accident claims. If you have been injured in a motor vehicle collision with a driver insured by USAA, a skilled Silver Spring car accident lawyer can fight for your right to full compensation.
At DuBoff & Associates, we advocate for injury victims throughout Maryland in USAA accident claims. In each case, our goal is to ensure that our clients get the money that they need to move forward with their lives. We offer free initial consultations, and never charge a fee unless we recover money for you.
Like all insurance companies, USAA has a specific process that must be followed after a motor vehicle accident. Generally, if you are involved in an accident with a driver who has USAA insurance, they should file a claim with their insurer. However, if they fail to do so, then you may be required to file a claim with USAA.
Although filing a claim may seem straightforward, it does involve some risks. Specifically, filing a claim with USAA Insurance after an accident may lead to you getting less money than you deserve for your injuries. USAA is in business to make money – and they’ll use the things that you say and do to their advantage.
If you have been involved in a crash with a USAA driver, don’t reach out to the insurance company without first consulting with a skilled Maryland car accident lawyer. An attorney can advise you of your legal rights and protect your interests. They can also help you with the required paperwork to move the process along in an efficient manner.
Many big insurance companies – like GEICO or Allstate – are known to be unfair and to engage in shady practices. With USAA Insurance, an accident victim’s experience may vary widely based on the adjuster assigned to their claim.
An insurance adjuster’s role in the claims process is to perform an investigation and then use a combination of their own experience and software analysis to make a settlement offer. As employees of USAA, claims adjusters are not going to overvalue anyone’s case. Instead, they typically work to pay as little as possible on a USAA accident claim – or to deny it entirely.
They use a number of tactics to do this. An adjuster will almost certainly contact you, either at the accident site, by phone, by mail, or in person, to ask you to give a statement. Anything that you say to the adjuster will be used to undermine your claim. This is particularly true in Maryland, where the legal principle of contributory negligence means that your claim can be completely denied if you were found to be even slightly at fault for the collision.
An adjuster may also ask you to sign documents – which may seem like an innocent request unless you understand why they’re asking. In short, signing any documents from a USAA adjuster without having a lawyer look at them first may tank your accident claim. For example, if you sign something that gives USAA Insurance access to your medical records, then they could search through these documents to find an old medical condition – and then blame your current injuries on that.
Some USAA Insurance adjusters may be incredibly friendly, and may even tell you that they take full responsibility for the accident. This can make you think that they’re on your side – which couldn’t be further from the truth. In reality, any settlement that USAA offers you is likely to be far less than what your case is actually worth.
The best way to deal with a USAA claims adjuster is to have a skilled car accident attorney communicate with them on your behalf. Studies show that injury victims recover 3.5 times as much money when they have legal representation, compared to people who represent themselves. Your lawyer will advocate for your right to full compensation – and will make sure that the adjuster doesn’t pull any tricks to undermine your rights.
Like most insurance companies, USAA uses a software program (Colossus) to value accident claims for settlement. Colossus analyzes information such as an accident victim’s medical records and medical bills to determine a “fair value” for medical treatment, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. Unsurprisingly, this number is often much fairer to USAA than to the person who was hurt in the crash.
A settlement for an automobile accident typically includes compensation for losses such as:
In rare cases, such as a drunk driving accident, punitive damages may also be available.
Of course, there is often a huge difference between what an accident victim believes is a fair settlement and what the insurance company thinks is justified. A seasoned car accident lawyer can help to close that gap.
After a free initial consultation, your attorney will begin by conducting an investigation of their own into the crash – interviewing witnesses, requesting police reports, reviewing photos and videos of the accident scene, and performing legal research. From there, they will draft a document known as a demand letter. In this letter, they will explain the facts of the case, why their insured is responsible, and make a demand for damages (money).
USAA Insurance will typically respond to this letter with a counteroffer. If your lawyer made a demand for $300,000, for example, they might come back with an offer of $100,000. Negotiations will continue until a settlement can be reached.
In most cases, car accident claims are settled without going to trial. However, it may be necessary to file a lawsuit if USAA refuses to offer you a settlement that fairly compensates you for all of your losses.
In Maryland, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is 3 years. This means that you have 3 years from the date of your car accident to file a lawsuit against USAA Insurance.
Filing a lawsuit does not mean that your case will go to trial. In fact, in our experience, insurance companies like USAA are much more likely to settle a claim once a lawsuit has been filed. They know that you are serious and that they probably can’t get away with a low ball settlement.
This is particularly true when you hire a personal injury law firm that has significant trial experience and a track record of success. USAA Insurance knows that their chances of winning when you have a top firm involved – like DuBoff & Associates – is much lower. They also understand that it will likely cost them far more to defend a case in court than it would be to settle it.
For these reasons, a USAA claims adjuster will likely become much more willing to negotiate a fair settlement once a lawsuit has been filed. Before this point, they may have made offers that don’t come close to the full scope of your damages. After they are served with a lawsuit, however, they know that you mean business.
That is why most USAA accident claims are settled before anyone sets foot in a courtroom. However, it may still be possible that your case will go to trial. In this situation, your attorney will present evidence, question witnesses, and make arguments before asking a jury to return a verdict in your favor.
In most cases, you should hire an attorney to represent you in a USAA accident claim. People who have a lawyer tend to recover far more money than those who represent themselves. In some situations, such as collisions involving only property damage or very minor injuries, it may be possible to represent yourself – but it is still a good idea to talk to a lawyer before making that decision.
Most personal injury firms offer free consultations, so there is no risk to you. It allows you to make an informed decision about how to move forward with your case. Call DuBoff & Associates today to schedule an appointment with a member of our legal team.
The answer depends on the potential value of your case. This is determined by factors such as the extent of your injuries, whether you will be permanently disabled, and the policy limits of the at-fault driver. An experienced car accident lawyer can review the facts of your case and give you a ballpark estimate of its value, which will help you understand whether the settlement offer you got from USAA is fair.
DuBoff & Associates works hard to help our clients get maximum compensation for their injuries. Reach out today to schedule a free initial consultation with a Maryland auto accident attorney.
You may be able to settle a USAA Insurance claim within a matter of weeks or months. However, if USAA doesn’t offer you a fair settlement or contests liability, then it may be necessary to file a lawsuit. In this situation, it could take a year or longer to resolve your claim.
The lawyers of DuBoff & Associates have the trial experience and legal acumen necessary to settle cases for our clients quickly and for top dollar. We know how difficult it can be to manage finances after a car accident, which is why we work so hard to help our clients get the money that they need as soon as possible. Call our office today at 301-495-3131 for a free consultation.
After a car accident, you may not know where to turn for help. You may even be tempted to accept the first offer that USAA makes just so you can move forward with your life. Our law firm is here for you.
With offices in Silver Spring and Baltimore, DuBoff & Associates represents individuals who have been hurt in all types of accidents. We are aggressive advocates who fight to ensure that our clients get top dollar for their claims. If you have questions about your USAA accident claim, schedule a consultation with a Maryland car accident lawyer by calling 301-495-3131 or by filling out our online contact form.
In March 2020, life changed dramatically for residents of Montgomery County – and for all Americans. In Maryland, Governor Larry Hogan issued a stay-at-home order on March 30, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of this order, schools shut down, businesses temporarily closed, and many workplaces allowed employees to work remotely.
Without a doubt, 2020 was a difficult year for Americans – filled with loss, worry, and fear. Yet the pandemic also brought some positive changes, particularly here in Montgomery County. With so many Marylanders at home for most of the year, traffic decreased substantially in the region – and the number of motor vehicle accidents dropped dramatically, too.
If you have been hurt in a car crash, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. At DuBoff & Associates, we work hard to help injury victims get the money that they deserve after a car accident. Below, we break down 2020 Montgomery County car accident data to discover exactly how and where the drop in traffic accidents occurred.
In an average year in Maryland, there are 115,555 motor vehicle accidents. Of those accidents, 33,391 caused injuries – and an additional 492 wrecks led to fatalities. In Montgomery County, there were 11,662 crashes in 2019 alone.
In 2020, this number decreased sharply. In Montgomery County, there were 8,039 accidents in 2020 – a drop of 31%. Similarly, the number of accidents that caused injuries decreased, from 4,029 in 2019 to 2,643 in 2020.
At the same time, the number of fatal accidents actually rose between 2019 and 2020. In 2019, there were 33 fatal car crashes in Montgomery County, representing 0.28% of all accidents for that year. In 2020, there were 40 fatal car accidents – or 0.49% of all crashes.
These numbers may seem counterintuitive, but they echo trends seen across the United States. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were fewer accidents in 2020, as compared to 2019. However, there were a greater number of fatal accidents during this time, likely due to riskier behaviors such as not wearing seat belts and driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol and/or drugs.
Without a doubt, fewer cars on the road due to the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to a massive decrease in the number of accidents in Montgomery County. This is particularly true for the collisions that typically occurred during morning and evening commutes when traffic is often at its worst in the region. If more people are able to work remotely in 2021 and beyond, these trends of fewer traffic accidents may continue.
The crash data available for Montgomery County does not always specify a city or municipality where the accident occurred. When it does, however, it is clear that accidents happen most often in and around the cities with higher populations and closer proximity to the major highways and interstates for commuting to Washington, D.C. – such as I-270 and I-495.
Many of these cities saw a significant decrease in the number of accidents between 2019 and 2020, including:
One city actually saw an increase in the number of crashes in 2020. Friendship Heights had just 8 reported accidents in 2019, compared to 19 in 2020.
Overall, these cities and towns experienced the same sharp decline in traffic accidents as Montgomery County did as a whole. If the trend of fewer commuters, fewer tourists, and fewer overall vehicles on the road remains the same, residents can expect these lower numbers to become our new normal.
If you have been hurt in any type of accident, you may be facing mounting medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and other expenses. The thought of pursuing legal action might be overwhelming in this situation. Our law firm is here to help.
With offices in Silver Spring and Baltimore, DuBoff & Associates is dedicated to helping injury victims throughout Maryland get the compensation that they deserve for their injuries. We offer free initial consultations, and never charge a fee unless we recover money for you. To learn more or to schedule an appointment with a Montgomery County car accident attorney, call our law office at 301-495-3131 or fill out our online contact form.