Car Accident Lawyer Baltimore, MD

If you have sustained injuries in a car crash, you may want to consult a Baltimore, MD car accident lawyer. You may be entitled to compensation for your losses. A lawyer can help you pursue a timely claim and look out for your best interests.

Five “Must Knows” After Being Injured in a Car Accident

It’s important to connect with an experienced Baltimore, MD car accident lawyer as soon as you can after sustaining harm for a host of different reasons. From the fact that the law only grants you so long to file legal action before you’ll be barred from seeking compensation to the fact that if attorney Eric T. Kirk doesn’t act quickly to preserve evidence in your case, your chances at securing a successful outcome may be severely limited are not to be underestimated.

However, one of the most overlooked reasons why it is so important to connect with a skilled Baltimore car accident lawyer right away is that accident injury victims deserve answers and the ability to make informed choices about their options. By connecting with our firm as soon as you can, you’ll benefit from our team’s extensive knowledge about the legal and financial processes that you’ll need to navigate in order to receive any and all compensation to which you may be entitled.

You can browse introductory information about a few “must knows” as you’re waiting to attend your risk-free consultation. Once we understand the ins and outs of your situation, we’ll expand upon this information as it applies to your case uniquely.

One: Work-Related Crashes Are Treated a Little Differently

If you were engaged in work-related activity at the time of your crash, you may be eligible for workers’ comp benefits. If you do qualify for these benefits as a result of your accident, you may still be able to sue third parties for their role in causing the harm you’ve suffered. But, you won’t be able to sue your employer if their negligence contributed to the cause of your harm.

Two: Insurance Companies Will Devalue Your Claim if They Can

Every for-profit enterprise that hopes to remain operational tries to safeguard its profits. Insurance companies are no exception. If possible, don’t answer communications from any insurance companies interested in your crash until you’ve spoken with attorney Eric T. Kirk. Letting him field these calls on your behalf will help to protect your rights and interests.

Three: Evidence Can Make or Break Your Case

If you have photos or videos of the accident scene, a copy of your police report, medical notes related to your injuries, contact information for witnesses, etc., bring these pieces of information to your consultation. Reviewing detailed evidence related to your case will help our firm to provide you with personalized feedback.

Four: You May Need to Replace Your Child’s Car Seat

Even if your child was not seated in their car seat at the time of the crash and even if the car seat itself was not visibly damaged, it may need to get replaced. If your airbags deployed, anyone in the car suffered injuries, or the door nearest the car seat sustained damage, the force of the crash may have compromised the seat’s integrity.

Five: Scheduling a Free Consultation Can Provide Clarity

By seeking personalized professional guidance via a free legal consultation, you’ll place yourself in a strong position to make informed decisions about your legal options. Don’t make assumptions about your case until you’ve spoken with our Baltimore car accident lawyer as these assumptions could cause you to behave in ways that could compromise the value of your case down the road.

How to Take Photos After a Car Accident

If you want to pursue an injury claim after a car accident, it is essential to have sufficient evidence. One of the most important pieces of evidence you can have are photos of the accident scene. Here are some tips for taking photos after a car accident.

• Take photos of all vehicles involved in the accident. Whether you were in an accident with one or multiple other vehicles, you should take photos of all the vehicles involved in the accident. Take photos from several angles and be sure to capture the damage that occurred, such as broken glass, dents and scratches.

• Capture shots of traffic signals. Traffic signals can provide useful information for accident reconstruction accidents. As such, remember to capture shots of stop signs, stop lights, warning signs and other traffic signals present at the accident scene. Additionally, if you see skid marks or debris on the ground, you will want to take pictures of those as well.

• Photograph visible injuries. Did you sustain visible injuries, like bruises or cuts, after a car accident? If so, your Baltimore car accident lawyer will advise you to take pictures of them immediately. After all, these injuries can improve over time and you want to capture them at their worst. If you are unable to take photos of your injuries yourself, ask a bystander for assistance.

• Do not forget about the weather conditions. Certain weather conditions, like heavy rain or snow, can contribute to car accidents. Therefore, you will want to capture shots of the current weather conditions.

• Understand that any camera will do. You do not need to use a fancy camera to capture shots of a car accident scene. Smartphone cameras have advanced in recent years and can capture great pictures. Make sure that the camera you use can time and date stamp photos.

• Surrounding businesses. If there are any businesses around the accident scene, you should take pictures of them. These businesses may have security cameras that video recorded the accident. If you take photos of the businesses, your lawyer can contact them and ask them for the video footage.

HOW TO TAKE PHOTOS AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT INFOGRAPHIC

Consulting a Car Accident Lawyer

Getting hurt in a car accident can be a traumatic experience and leave you with expensive medical bills. That’s why you should hire a skilled car accident lawyer. He or she will know the true value of your case and help you go after the compensation you deserve. Your lawyer can also handle negotiations with the at-fault party’s insurance company.

Schedule a meeting with a Baltimore car accident lawyer from Attorney Eric T. Kirk today.

Why You Need a Lawyer to Represent Your Case

If you’ve been in a car accident, then you probably know you need the help of a Baltimore, MD car accident lawyer because it can be difficult to understand what your legal rights and options are. Without the help of an experienced lawyer, you may not be able to get the compensation you deserve. Having a car accident lawyer by your side can help protect your rights and make sure that your case is handled properly and that you receive the compensation you need to cover medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages. Need help now? Contact Attorney Eric T. Kirk today!

Personal Injury Protection

If you’ve been in an automobile accident, then you may be entitled to Personal Injury Protection (PIP). PIP is a type of insurance coverage that pays for your medical expenses, lost wages, and other related costs, regardless of who was at fault for the accident. In Maryland, PIP coverage can cover up to $2,500 in medical bills and $2,000 in lost wages. An experienced attorney can help you understand the intricacies of personal injury protection and make sure you receive the full compensation you are entitled to. Your attorney will also be able to advise you on whether you should file a claim with your own insurer or pursue legal action against the other party’s insurer.

Underinsured and Uninsured Motorist Coverage

When a driver does not have the minimum required car insurance to cover the full cost of a crash, they are considered underinsured or uninsured. If you are injured in an accident where the at-fault party does not have enough coverage or no coverage at all, you can turn to your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. This type of insurance is included in many policies, and it is there to protect you from uninsured or underinsured drivers. In Maryland, there are two types of uninsured motorist coverage: bodily injury and property damage. Bodily injury coverage pays for the medical expenses incurred after the accident while property damage coverage pays for the repairs to your vehicle. This type of coverage is usually capped at the limits you have purchased, so it’s important to make sure your policy covers enough to cover potential losses.

Maryland’s Fault System

In the state of Maryland, determining who is at fault for a car accident can be complicated. The Maryland Fault System assigns responsibility for car accidents and requires that the at-fault party pays for the damages incurred. This system is based on comparative negligence, meaning that the degree to which each party was responsible for the accident will be taken into account. For instance, if one driver was speeding and the other driver ran a stop sign, each party may be found partially responsible. The court will then decide what percentage of fault is assigned to each party, as well as which party must pay for the damages incurred in the accident. Depending on the situation, the amount paid out by the at-fault party could be reduced by the percentage of responsibility assigned to the other party. A Baltimore car accident lawyer will know how to effectively argue your case and present evidence that shows that you were not at fault.

The Statute of Limitations

In the state of Maryland, car accident victims have a three-year window to file a claim for personal injury or property damage. This means that a lawsuit must be filed within three years of the date of the incident in order to be valid. If a claim is not filed within this timeframe, it will most likely be dismissed by the court and the victim will be unable to collect damages for their injuries or losses.

Speak to Attorney Eric T. Kirk who is a Baltimore car accident lawyer for help!

Frequently Asked Questions | Car Accidents

Can I file a car accident claim for a rear-end accident?

A Baltimore, MD car accident lawyer knows that even an accident that occurs at low speeds can still leave vehicle occupants seriously injured. One of the most common of these types of crashes is rear-end collision. Even low-speed rear-end accidents can leave victims with concussions, whiplash, soft tissue injuries, and more. These injuries can result in high medical bills and loss of income while the victim recovers. There are also other “damages” the victim can suffer, such as pain and suffering, and scarring. Under Maryland law, the victim is entitled to financial compensation from the at-fault driver for all losses they suffer because of their injuries. Attorney Eric T. Kirk can help.

How does a Baltimore car accident lawyer prove fault in rear-end crashes?

In order to prove who is at fault for a rear-end accident, your Baltimore car accident lawyer will fully evaluate your case. This includes going over the details of the crash with you, obtaining the police report from the accident, speaking with witnesses, obtaining any surveillance videos that may be available, and taking photos.

In most rear-end accidents, it is the driver in the rear who is usually at fault for the crash. Distracted driving has become one of the most common causes of these accidents. A driver takes their attention off the road to check their text message, take a sip of their drink, fiddle with the radio, etc. and fails to notice how close they are to the vehicle in front of them. Other common causes include speeding and tailgating – both of which leave the rear driver unable to stop or slow down in time.

What if the driver in front was at fault?

In some accidents, the driver in the front is at fault. Some of the more common causes include stopping suddenly for an invalid reason (i.e., they are missing their turn and trying to get in another lane), engaging in aggressive driving (i.e., hitting their brakes suddenly because they are mad at the vehicle driver in the rear), and driving under the influence.

What if both drivers were at fault?

There are rear-end accidents where both drivers share some liablity in the crash. For example, the driver in the front suddenly stops their vehicle for an inappropriate reason but the vehicle driver in the rear was speeding and could not stop in time.

Many states use the comparative negligence rule to determine if any compensation is owed to the victim. In these cases, whatever percentage of liablity the victim has for the crash, that percentage is deducted from the total settlement or award amount.

But Maryland follows the contributory negligence rule. Under this rule, if the victim has any percentage of fault, they cannot pursue damages against the other driver.

Can your law firm help me with my case?

Yes, we can. If you would like to schedule a free case evaluation with a dedicated Baltimore car accident lawyer, contact Attorney Eric T. Kirk.