What Is The Next Step To Take After A Car Accident [Or Other Personal Injury Causing Event?]
As a Baltimore injury lawyer, I would say. most likely the most frequently asked question is something like: “Do I have a case?” or, “How much is my case worth?” These are great questions, but perhaps not the most important to an injury victim in Baltimore. What Is The Next Step To Take After A Car Accident [Or Other Personal Injury Causing Event?] This is may well be the most important question that I get, at least with respect to those asked by new, as opposed to established, personal injury clients. In any given year, we litigate evaluate and resolve hundreds of personal injury cases. If you believe that you have sustained personal injury, property damage, or other loss as the result of an accident, or through an event that is caused by the negligence of another person, I Attorney Eric T. Kirk have absolutely no objection to, and recommend calling a lawyer, getting some advice, and getting a handle on your legal rights and responsibilities in a given situation. Now, I might suggest that there might be a preferred order to your efforts. For example, if you’ve been injured, your first inquiry should be to a medical provider to have that injury evaluated. If you’ve been involved in a situation in which insurance could potentially be involved, e.g. a car accident, you should notify the involved insurance companies of the event.
You should also take steps to safeguard or minimize any potential future or ongoing loss from the event. The legal jargon for this concept, that one has a duty to minimize loss, is called ‘Mitigation of Damages” By way of example only, if your car was damaged and a window was broken out, it’s probably a good idea to garage that vehicle. You have some options in terms of priority of action, and there are no set rules. My general suggestion is that you take steps, quickly and promptly, so as not to give an insurance company the option to later argue the delay meant:
- there was no claim
- that you were not seriously injured, or
- there was no injury-causing event altogether.
Although there are options in terms of what you should do, and the order, immediately after the event, my standing recommendation to anyone who asks is that. If you think you have been injured, there really is no argument against you obtaining medical attention, first, and if you haven’t sustained a personal injury, then reporting the claim to applicable insurance and acting to protect property.
Things [Never] to Do After a Car Accident in Baltimore.
Car accidents are chaotic, stressful, and often traumatic. MVAs in major urban areas like Baltimore are no different. Moreover, the aftermath can be just as critical as the accident itself. Your actions — or inactions — in those first few moments, hours, and days can significantly impact your ability to seek compensation and protect your legal rights. As a 30 year Baltimore injury lawyer, I routinely suggest to clients, potential clients, and those consulting, generally. If you’ve been in a crash in Baltimore, here are essential things you should never do:
- Never Leave the Scene Prematurely
Under Maryland law, leaving the scene of an accident — especially one involving injuries or property damage — can result in criminal penalties. What Is The Next Step To Take After A Car Accident [Or Other Personal Injury Causing Event?] Stay. Remain at the scene until law enforcement arrives and you’ve exchanged all necessary information with the other driver.
- Never Fail to Call Police
Even if the crash seems minor, always call 911. It’s Baltimore. The police won’t come, or it will take forever. Do it anyway. A police report can be a critical piece of evidence in any personal injury or insurance claim. Without it, you may struggle to prove fault or damages later on. In Baltimore, police often respond quickly, particularly if injuries are reported.
- Never Admit Fault
Avoid making statements like “I’m sorry,” “It was my fault,” or “I didn’t see you.” Even if you believe you were partially responsible, do not admit fault. Actually, other thank making sure other drivers are physically ok, and getting and obtaining information- don’t have a conversation with another participant in a Baltimore Car Accident. Let investigators and your attorney determine liability. Seemingly innocent comments can later be used against you by insurance companies.
- Never Skip Medical Treatment
Delaying or refusing medical treatment after a crash is a major mistake. Even if you feel fine, many injuries at the scene (such as whiplash, concussions, or internal trauma) might not show symptoms right away. In Baltimore personal injury cases, early documentation of injuries can be the difference between a fair settlement and a denied claim. If you are hurt- get checked out.
- Never Post About the Accident on Social Media
Don’t assume that an enterprising lawyer from a top tier law school, employed by a Fortune 500 company to defend it in court- and deny your case-is somehow not going to think to look at your Facebook page to see what you do. What you say online can and will be used against you. Legal claims are serious matters. Avoid posting photos, updates, or opinions about the accident or your recovery on Facebook, Instagram, or other platforms. Insurance investigators actively monitor social media to dispute claims. Seems like common sense. You would be suprised.
- Never Assume You Don’t Have a Case
Always have a qualified attorney assess your situation. After a car accident in Baltimore, it’s not just what you do — it’s what you avoid doing that can protect your rights and financial future. Stay calm, seek medical help, document everything, and consult an experienced personal injury lawyer like Eric T. Kirk before making any decisions. What Is The Next Step To Take After A Car Accident [Or Other Personal Injury Causing Event?] Get opinions. Lawyer see things differently. I’ve won cases other lawyers said could not be won. [I’ve been on the other side of that, too]. These critical steps can safeguard your claim and ensure you’re treated fairly by insurers and the courts.
Getting a handle on your legal rights and obligations should be undertaken next. It surprises some to learn that the victim of accident or injury as the case may be might have legal obligations arising from that event in addition to rights remedies. For example, every insurance policy has a duty to cooperate provision. I think it’s just good practice for an insured person to notify their insurance company of an event. Certainly, a personal injury attorney will provide additional detail and information regarding the case and the claim. So, for example, if you intend to pursue a personal injury protection claim, or a claim for uninsured motorist benefits, your insurance company is entitled to insist on your cooperation in assessing and processing the claim. Insurance companies sometimes deny claims, taking the position that an insured person has failed to cooperate and therefore has breached the insurance contract, and it is simply not entitled to benefits. There might be other scenarios. Consider a situation in which your initial assessment of fault for an accident turns out to be incorrect, and the other participant in the accident claims that they were injured through your negligence. Obviously, you are going to want to make sure that your insurance company has been involved from the inception. I routinely handle automobile accidents and other personal injury causing occurrences and events. Some of these cases resolve through settlement, but many of these cases involve litigation, the filing of a lawsuit, and a not insubstantial portion of the cases ultimately go to trial.
Before any of those things happen I’m happy to discuss with you your event, your accident, as your rights and responsibilities under the applicable law. Please call me today to arrange a meeting.
- Baltimore Personal Injury Trial Lawyer Eric T. Kirk
- Legal Analysis & Case Studies
- Baltimore Insurance Claims Denial Lawyer
For over three decades, I have battled against the nation’s largest insurance companies, always endeavoring to ensure my clients receive the compensation they deserve. As lead counsel in thousands of cases across Maryland, New York, and Florida, I have recovered millions for clients whose claims were wrongfully denied and delayed. Whether denying fair compensation for a personal injury victim or denying benefits to a homeowner, Insurance companies employ policy exclusions, technicalities, and lowball offers to deny and defeat claims. They also hire very good lawyers to fight you in court. So should you. When an insurance company unfairly rejects a claim, I stop them.
