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Bowie, MD Car Accident Lawyer

Every time you start your car, you don’t anticipate being in an accident, but it can happen to the most careful and experienced drivers. You could be heading to the Bowie Town Center to do a grocery pickup at Safeway when a distracted driver crashes into your vehicle from behind, leaving you with a spinal cord injury that takes months to heal.

Unfortunately, this sort of incident happens regularly in Maryland. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), driver error is responsible for 94% of all collisions in the U.S., so most of the 546 fatal crashes that occurred on state roads and highways in 2020 were caused by motorists who were distracted, driving under the influence, or otherwise failed to obey the rules of the road.

If you’ve been seriously injured by a negligent driver, you may be able to pursue financial compensation for losses like medical bills, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, and property damage, but insurance companies rarely make the recovery process easy. An experienced Bowie, MD car accident lawyer will aggressively pursue your claim and take your case to trial if the insurer refuses to make a fair settlement.

At DuBoff & Associates, our skilled personal injury attorneys handle car accident cases for people in and around Bowie. We are committed to meeting the needs of our clients by striving for the best possible outcome in their case. Initial consultations are free and we take car accident cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning that we don’t get paid unless you receive a settlement or award. Let us put our three decades of experience in Maryland personal injury law to work for you.

When You Should Call a Bowie Car Accident Lawyer

While a motor vehicle accident can happen anywhere in Bowie, there are a couple of especially dangerous intersections:

◉ Route 197 at Evergreen Parkway

◉ Route 197 at Lerner Place

If you’ve been in a car accident, seek medical care as soon as possible, even if you don’t think you’ve been injured. Traumatic brain injury, whiplash, and emotional trauma are all examples of injuries that can take a while for symptoms to appear. Go to a hospital like UM Bowie Health Center or see your doctor for a thorough examination.

As soon as you know you’ve been injured, call an auto accident attorney right away. You only have three years from the date of the incident to file a personal injury claim (some cases have an even shorter notice provision), and your attorney will need a certain amount of time to collect your medical records, the police report for the accident, witness statements, and other information that supports the value of your damages.

You will probably hear from an insurance carrier soon after you file your claim. They will probably sound concerned and ask how you are doing, but refer all questions to your personal injury lawyer. Insurance adjusters and their legal counsel are interested in protecting the company’s bottom line, which motivates them to minimize your settlement or even deny your claim entirely. Anything you say to them can be used to achieve that goal.

If you are seriously injured, or if a loved one has died in a car accident, the last thing you want to worry about is battling the insurance company over fair compensation. In some cases, it may seem easier to accept the first offer the insurance company makes, just to get it over with. Sadly, that offer is often far less than the amount of compensation needed to cover your medical expenses, ongoing health care, lost wages, and other costs.

Let the qualified Bowie car accident attorneys at DuBoff & Associates help you recover the full financial damages you deserve. We will fight for your best interests and take care of your legal needs, so you can focus on your recovery.

Damages in a Bowie Car Accident Claim

In Maryland, injury victims generally have the right to pursue compensatory damages for both economic and non-economic losses. In some cases, they may even receive punitive damages.

Economic Damages

Since these damages are based on more straightforward monetary values, they are easier to calculate. They can include:

  • Both past and future medical expenses
  • Rehabilitative treatments like physical therapy
  • Past and future lost income
  • Out-of-pocket costs such as household help and prescription medication
  • Property damage

Bills and receipts are evidence of economic damages that have already been incurred. To claim future damages, you will likely need to present expert opinions regarding the future impact of the accident, such as wage projections and medical reports detailing further treatments.

Non-Economic Damages

These damages are non-monetary losses. They may include:

  • Disability
  • Disfigurement
  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • Loss of consortium
  • Loss of enjoyment of life (reduced quality of life)

Your attorney will help calculate their value as they do not have precise dollar amounts assigned to them. Many insurance companies and defense attorneys tend to undervalue claims in this area. Having an experienced legal advocate on your side can make a big difference in reaching a fair settlement.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages do not compensate a victim for their losses. Instead, they are awarded to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar behavior in the future, so you tend to see them in cases involving egregious or reckless behavior.

In Maryland, there are no limitations (caps) on economic damages or punitive damages. In 2021, the cap on pain and suffering is $890,000, although this limit increases to $1,335,500 in wrongful death cases if there are two or more beneficiaries.

Why You Need an Experienced Lawyer for Your Bowie Car Accident Claim

By hiring an experienced attorney in Maryland to represent your interests, you can help protect your right to pursue maximum compensation from the insurance company. When you let the insurance company handle your car accident claim, they may not offer you a settlement that accounts for your damages in full. A Maryland car accident lawyer can help you file a claim, protect your rights, and negotiate on your behalf with the insurance company for a larger settlement.

DuBoff & Associates can assist you in seeking compensation after a car accident that resulted in severe injuries, property damage, or wrongful death. We will:

  • Interview you about your case
  • Take steps to identify all liable parties, such as the at-fault driver and their insurer
  • Obtain evidence to support your auto accident claim, such as medical records or police accident reports
  • Help you identify and include all of your expenses, both present and future
  • Represent you in negotiations with insurance companies
  • Represent you in court if we need to take your case to trial

At DuBoff & Associates, we have more than 30 years of experience handling all types of auto accident claims. We have handled some extremely complex claims and developed a reputation for helping car crash victims in and around Bowie, Maryland, receive the justice and compensation they deserve. If you’ve been hurt by a reckless or negligent driver, an auto accident lawyer at our firm is here to listen.

What Should I Do After a Car Accident in Bowie?

If possible, move your car away from the line of oncoming traffic but stay near the accident scene. If your car is inoperable, get out and find a safe location to call 911. The exception is if you have visible injuries that make movement inadvisable.

While you’re waiting for the police and emergency personnel to arrive, ask the driver of the other car for their insurance information and get the names and contact information of any witnesses. If your phone is undamaged, try to take videos and photos of any car damage, skid marks, damaged guardrails, and other relevant details.

If you don’t need to be transported by ambulance to the hospital, go to the emergency room, urgent care, or your primary care provider as soon as possible for a thorough evaluation. Finally, be sure to reach out to a Bowie car accident lawyer for a free initial consultation.

What If I Am Partially at Fault for an Accident?

In Maryland, a car accident victim who is in any way responsible for their injuries may be blocked from filing a personal injury lawsuit. This state follows a contributory negligence rule, which means that even if you are only 1% at fault for a collision, you cannot recover damages. Although the other driver is mostly at fault, your damages are automatically eliminated because your own negligence contributed to the accident.

Insurance companies and their counsel often seize any opportunity to show that a victim was remotely negligent, in order to avoid paying compensation. A Bowie, MD car accident lawyer at our law firm will fight to prevent this outcome and preserve your right to collect damages.

What is My Car Accident Case Worth?

Every accident, insurance claim, and personal injury lawsuit is entirely independent of one another in Maryland, so it is impossible to predict how much your settlement will be worth. To determine how much compensation you should receive, your lawyer will review every relevant detail of your accident as well as the losses you have suffered.

Potential factors that may affect your settlement value include:

  • The dollar amount of your economic losses
  • The nature of your noneconomic losses
  • The strength of your evidence for compensation

In addition to putting together a written case for maximum compensation, your lawyer may engage in negotiations with insurance companies and other attorneys, present evidence in a strategic manner, and hire experts to testify on your behalf. Our ultimate goal is to ensure you have the money you need to rebuild your life after a serious auto accident.

Advocating for Personal Injury Victims in Bowie, MD

If you have been the victim of an accident caused by another driver, don’t leave your claim in the hands of your insurance company. Contact DuBoff & Associates for a free, no-obligation evaluation of the circumstances of your case. We have been representing clients in personal injury claims since 1981, and won’t let the insurer dismiss your physical, emotional, and financial hardships. To learn more, call our law offices or fill out our online contact form.

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