When you’ve been in an accident, calling a lawyer is not normally the first thing on your mind. However, it’s imperative that you call quickly. Accident scenes contain evidence that can be used to determine fault. The sooner you call, the more we’re able to preserve. We even have accident reconstructionists that can put as many of the pieces together as possible, but time is of the essence.
Once you contact us, we’ll take over to make sure all of your rights are protected and that you’re fairly and accurately compensated for your injuries. Then, we’ll walk you through the entire process. Remember, we don’t get paid unless you win your case, so there’s absolutely no risk at all.
No one plans to be an accident, but if and when it happens, we’ll help answer your questions, like:
- Who’s at fault?
- Who’s insurance will cover what?
- Where do you go to get your car fixed?
- How will the medical bills be paid?
- If the car is totaled, what happens then?
- Do you have the right to a rental car?
- What about lost wages?
Truck Accidents
Accidents involving commercial trucks can have its own set of complications. Not only can the severity of damages, both to the persons involved and the vehicles, be much higher, but we’re normally dealing with extenuating circumstances. For example, there tend to be multiple insurance companies involved. As well, the truck operator and the employer, who can also be held responsible, might come from out of state, which could land the case in federal court versus state.
It’s imperative that you call a lawyer right away so we can preserve the evidence and walk you through the entire process. We’ll protect your rights and make sure that you are accurately and fairly compensated for your injuries and damages to your vehicle.
We don’t get paid a dime unless you win your case, so there’s absolutely no risk in calling.
No one plans to be an accident, but if and when it happens, we’ll help answer your questions, like:
- Who’s at fault?
- Who’s insurance will cover what?
- Where do you go to get your car fixed?
- How will the medical bills be paid?
- If the car is totaled, what happens then?
- Do you have the right to a rental car?
- What about lost wages?
Motorcycle Accidents
Did you know that there is usually no personal injury protection for people hurt in a motorcycle accident, despite an increase in the severity of the injury? This means that medical bills are not paid, which can obviously pose a problem for anyone wounded on a motorcycle.
Motorcycles pose another problem as well, the public perception of riders, which can have an affect in court. For this reason and more, it’s important that you contact a lawyer immediately after an accident.
We can help preserve the evidence on the scene, contact the insurance companies involved, and manage everything related to your accident. It’s our job to protect your rights and ensure that you are accurately and fairly compensated for your injuries and the damages to your motorcycle.
We don’t get paid a dime unless you win your case, so there’s absolutely no risk in calling.
No one plans to be an accident, but if and when it happens, we’ll help answer your questions, like:
- Who’s at fault?
- Who’s insurance will cover what?
- Where do you go to get your car fixed?
- How will the medical bills be paid?
- If the car is totaled, what happens then?
- Do you have the right to a rental car?
- What about lost wages?
Vehicle Property Damage Claims in Maryland
In addition to being personally injured in a vehicle accident, your vehicle is likely to be severely damaged or “totaled” (as in “total loss”) as a result of the collision. If you do not have collision coverage (also referred to as “full coverage”) it can be a very difficult and frustrating experience to get your vehicle repaired or replaced. Sometimes when the driver of the other vehicle is clearly at fault, his or her insurance company will quickly step in to have your vehicle appraised and then fixed or pay your for the fair market value of your vehicle. That insurance company will also offer to provide you with a rental vehicle. Below you will find information and issues that arise if you do not have collision coverage on your vehicle and the other driver’s insurance refuses to repair and/or replace your vehicle.
What is Collision Coverage?
Collision Coverage is governed by Maryland law under Section 19-512 of the Insurance Article. This coverage will provide you with insurance for your property damage (vehicle damage) whether or not you were at fault for the accident which caused the damage. In other words, you could mistakenly drive your car off the road and into a tree and your Collision Coverage would pay for the damage to your vehicle and/or the fair market value for the total loss of your vehicle. If you are in an accident with another driver, your Collision Coverage will pay for your vehicle damage regardless of who was at fault for the accident. If you purchase Collision Coverage in Maryland it will also cover you if you are driving a rental car for 30 days or less. So Collision Coverage can be very advantageous to have in most circumstances.
What can happen if you do not have Collision Coverage?
Usually when someone is involved in an accident and they do not have collision coverage it can be a very long process to have his or her vehicle repaired and/or replaced, even if it appears that the other driver is at fault. Even when it is clear that the other driver is at fault, there is very little an attorney can do to make the other insurance company quickly and efficiently repair and/or replace your vehicle. As your attorneys we will make every effort to make this process go as smoothly as possible (and we do not charge a fee for this portion of your case if no lawsuit is filed). If the other insurance company refuses to pay for the damage to your vehicle a lawsuit can be filed. However, this process can take months to be completed and in the meantime you are without a vehicle and may have to continue to make payments on a vehicle that can no longer be safely driven. This is why it is almost always recommended that your purchase Collision Coverage with your automobile insurance. Again as your attorneys we will be available to help you through these difficult times and make the process goes as smoothly and easy as possible for you.
Storage Charges
If your vehicle is towed from the scene of the accident it will be taken to a local storage yard. The tow company will then begin to charge fees for the storage of your vehicle. Again, if you do not have Collision Coverage, this can cause problems. If your vehicle is repairable, but your do not have Collision Coverage and the other insurance company refuses to accept responsibility for the repairs to your car, you will have to make arrangements to get your car repaired and/or out of storage in a reasonable time. This is because even if you were not at fault for the accident, Maryland law states that you must “mitigate” or “lessen” your damages. This means that you cannot simply allow the towing company to continue to charge storage fees beyond a reasonable time. You have a duty to get your car repaired or removed from the storage yard in a reasonable time. As your attorneys we will fight to get your reimbursed for any reasonable charges incurred, but again, this may take months to accomplish and can be very frustrating.
What are your rights for recovery for property damage?
Under Maryland law the “at-fault” party for the accident will be held responsible for the cost of repairing your vehicle to its pre-accident condition. The at-fault party will also be responsible for all reasonable costs for the towing and storage of your vehicle and any rental car expenses incurred during the repair of your vehicle.
If your vehicle is determined to be a total loss, the at-fault party is responsible for the fair market value of your vehicle at the time of the accident. It is important to know and understand that the law in Maryland does not require the at-fault party or their insurance company to pay the replacement value of your vehicle. The law only requires payment of the fair market value. Sometimes this can seem unfair. For instance, if you owe more for your vehicle then it is deemed worth at the time of the accident, the law creates a situation where the at-fault party and their insurance company only have to pay for the fair market value of your vehicle and you can get stuck still owing the difference between what you owe on your car and what you recover from the insurance company. This seems clearly unfair and can cause increased anguish for many people. As your attorneys we will be there to thoroughly explain this process and help you through the situations that can arise and help you make the best decision in how to proceed.