A car accident in Baltimore, Maryland can turn your life upside down. You might face hospital bills, lost paychecks, ongoing pain, and plenty of unanswered questions about insurance. While you’re likely entitled to compensation, the claims process can be complicated without help from a qualified attorney.
WGK Personal Injury Lawyers has over 100 years of combined experience and has recovered tens of millions of dollars for victims in the area. Contact our car accident lawyers in Baltimore today to get started with a free initial consultation at (410) 837-2144.
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How WGK Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help With Your Car Accident Claim in Baltimore, MD
Some people worry about hiring a lawyer, fearing it might be too expensive or time-consuming. However, the truth is that an experienced Baltimore car accident attorney can bring essential knowledge and skills to your car accident claim.
Our firms has been helping accident victims for nearly 50 years. Our team consists of three generations of Baltimore personal injury lawyers.
Our team can help you in the following ways:
- In-depth investigation: Our team will dig into police records, witness statements, and any camera footage to strengthen your case.
- Negotiation expertise: Insurance companies are known to offer low settlements initially. We’ll push them for a fair amount that truly reflects your losses.
- Coordination with experts: Whether you need an accident reconstruction specialist or medical professionals, we have a network of trusted experts to help prove liability and damages.
- Legal strategy and advocacy: If the other driver’s insurer disputes fault or your injuries, we can file motions, handle court documents, and represent you if a lawsuit becomes necessary.
By letting WGK Personal Injury Lawyers handle the legwork, you can focus on healing while we fight for the money you need to move forward. Contact our law offices in Baltimore, MD, today for a free case review, and read on to learn about how the claims process works.
Overview of Baltimore Car Accident Claims Process
Navigating a car accident claim in Baltimore can be overwhelming—especially when you’re dealing with injuries, medical bills, and insurance companies all at once. Understanding the step-by-step process can help you protect your rights and increase your chances of securing fair compensation. Here’s an overview of what to expect after a crash in Maryland.
Seek Medical Attention and Collect Initial Evidence
If you’ve been in a crash, the first priority should be your health. Call for medical help right away. Even if you think you’re fine, hidden injuries sometimes don’t show up until later. Seeing a doctor early also helps you document your condition for any future claim.
While waiting for help or soon afterward, if it is safe to do so, you can:
- Report the accident to the police so an official record is created
- Take photos or videos of the crash site, vehicle damage, and any skid marks
- Gather witness contact details in case their statements are needed later
Having thorough documentation now can streamline the claims process in the weeks or months ahead.
Notify Your Insurance Company
Maryland is an at-fault car insurance state, so the driver who caused the accident is usually liable for the resulting expenses. Still, you’ll need to notify your insurance provider promptly—often within a certain timeframe mandated by your policy. Give them basic facts: when and where the accident happened, any injuries you have, and contact info for other involved drivers.
Try to keep your statements short and factual, avoiding speculation about blame until you’ve spoken to an attorney. Insurers sometimes use victims’ own words to minimize or deny claims.
Understand Maryland’s Strict Contributory Negligence Rule
Maryland follows a contributory negligence system, a strict standard that says if you share any fault in the crash—even just 1%—you might be barred from recovering compensation. Because of this harsh rule, insurance companies often try to argue that you contributed somehow, hoping to void your claim entirely.
A strong lawyer can counter these allegations by gathering evidence like police reports, photographs, and expert opinions that show the other driver was at fault.
Calculate the Value of Your Case
After an accident, you may be eligible for compensatory damages to account for both economic and non-economic harm. Punitive damages might be available in especially rare cases.
- Economic damages reimburse you for medical bills, hospital stays, lost income if you can’t work, repair costs for your vehicle, and more.
- Non-economic damages compensate you for personal suffering, like pain, emotional distress, or a reduction in your quality of life.
Since Maryland doesn’t allow partial awards if you share any blame, proving total fault by the other driver is critical.
File a Lawsuit if Settlement Talks Stall
Even though many accident claims settle out of court, sometimes the insurer refuses a fair deal or disputes responsibility for the crash. In those cases, you may need to file a personal injury lawsuit in a Maryland court.
This initiates:
- The discovery process, where both sides exchange information about the accident
- Pretrial motions that can influence what evidence is admissible
- Negotiations and mediation, which might again lead to a settlement
- Trial, if no agreement is reached, culminating in a judge or jury deciding who’s at fault and how much compensation is owed
Trials can be time-consuming, but they’re sometimes necessary for fair compensation.
Collect Your Settlement or Judgment
If you reach a settlement, you typically sign a release form in exchange for a lump-sum or structured payment from the at-fault party’s insurer. This finalizes your claim, so make sure the amount covers current and future expenses. If you win at trial, the court will issue a judgment stating how much the defendant’s insurance must pay you.
Either way, once you receive the funds, you can move forward—paying medical bills, covering lost wages, and getting back on your feet.
Contact Our Baltimore Car Accident Attorneys for a Free Consultation
Navigating a car accident claim in Baltimore, Maryland involves medical care, insurance hurdles, and complex legal rules like contributory negligence. WGK Personal Injury Lawyers has over 100 years of combined experience and has recovered tens of millions for local accident victims. We understand how daunting this process can be and are here to help.
Call our Baltimore car accident attorneys today to schedule a free consultation.
