Laurel Car Accident Lawyer

Motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of death and injury in the United States. More than 30,000 people die in car crashes yearly, and millions are injured. If you have been injured in a car accident, it is crucial to understand your legal rights and options.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident and wants legal services, speak with an experienced car accident attorney at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. law offices as soon as possible. Our attorneys are well-versed in car accident law and can help you get financial compensation for your injuries.

Let Our Car Accident Lawyers Help You with Your Injury Claim or Insurance Negotiations

The Laurel, MD car accident lawyers with Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. have a proven track record of success helping clients obtain the maximum compensation possible for injuries they have suffered due to the negligence of others. Our firm has consistently demonstrated that we have the expertise needed to help our clients see that justice is served. We have the resources necessary to perform thorough investigations of all the circumstances contributing to a motor vehicle accident, gathering the evidence required to establish liability and negligence.

Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. has achieved more than $500 million in verdicts and settlements, and our attorneys have more than a century of combined legal experience. Two of our partners are certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Our firm has also earned the highest AV® Rating from Martindale-Hubbell®, the most respected attorney-ranking service organization in the United States. Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. attorneys work passionately on behalf of our clients to help them secure fair compensation – no case is too complex for us to litigate.

When you contact a Laurel car accident lawyer with Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C., we will:

Submit Your Insurance Claim

You must submit an insurance claim to file a personal injury claim in Maryland. Doing this will allow your insurance company to investigate the accident and determine who was at fault.

Your insurance company may also hire a car accident attorney to represent their interests in the case.

Settle Your Claim

In some cases, your insurance company may offer you a settlement. They may try to convince you that this amount of money is fair compensation for your injuries. You should not accept payment without first talking to a car accident lawyer.  

Go to Trial if Necessary

We will take your case to trial if the insurance company’s settlement offer is unfair. Going to trial involves the two sides presenting their cases before a judge or jury. Our car accident attorneys are skilled trial lawyers willing to take your case to trial to ensure you obtain fair compensation for your injuries.  

Basics of Fault for Maryland Liability Car Accidents

In Maryland, the law of negligence determines fault in car accidents. Negligence is defined as a failure to use reasonable care. You must exercise the degree of care a reasonable person would use in similar circumstances.

There are four elements to proving negligence:

• Duty: The defendant had a responsibility to use reasonable care.
• Breach: The defendant failed to meet the standard of care.
• Causation: The defendant’s breach caused the plaintiff’s injuries.
• Damages: The plaintiff suffered damages as a result of the accident.

To prove negligence, you must show that the defendant failed to meet the standard of care and that this failure caused your injuries and damages.

 Is Maryland a No-Fault Insurance State?

Because Maryland is an at-fault insurance state, drivers can sue other drivers for compensation after a crash. However, you must prove that the other driver was at fault for the accident to receive compensation for your injuries.

Filing a Personal Injury Claim Based on the Law of Strict Liability

In some cases, you can file a claim based on the law of strict liability. This law means you do not have to prove that the other driver was at fault for the accident. Instead, you will only need to show that you were injured and that the car accident caused the injury.

Filing a Claim for Negligence

If you file a claim for negligence in Maryland, you must prove that the other driver was negligent and that their negligence caused your injuries. This can be difficult, especially if the driver denies any wrongdoing.

Filing a No-Fault Insurance Claim

While Maryland is an at-fault insurance state, other no-fault insurance options are available to Maryland drivers.

Personal injury protection insurance (PIP) is no-fault insurance that benefits drivers injured in a car accident. In Maryland, insurance companies must offer PIP coverage; drivers can include it in their insurance policy.

PIP offers benefits for medical expenses, lost wages, and death benefits. However, these benefits are time-sensitive, so you should immediately talk to a car accident lawyer. If you have been injured in a car accident, you may be entitled to benefits from your PIP policy. Contact an experienced car accident attorney for more information.

What Happens If the Other Driver Doesn’t Have Insurance?

In Maryland, drivers are required to have liability insurance. This requirement means they must have insurance that covers injuries and damages they cause in an accident.

However, if the other driver doesn’t have insurance, you may be able to file a claim against your insurance policy. Your insurer will likely require you to provide proof of the other driver’s negligence before agreeing to cover your damages.

How Does the Personal Injury Claim Process Work in Maryland?

If you are injured in a car accident and want to file a personal injury claim to seek compensation for your injuries from the other driver, the following steps will be helpful to you in pursuing your case:

• Notify the police of the accident, if possible, and request a police report.
• Get medical treatment for your injuries.
• Contact the car accident attorneys with Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. to help file your claim.

What is The Statute of Limitations for Car Accidents in Maryland?

A statute of limitations is a law that sets a time limit on how long you have to file a lawsuit. In Maryland, the statute of limitations for car accidents is three years, meaning you have three years from the accident date to file a lawsuit.

Speak with a car accident lawyer as soon as possible after an accident so you can determine your best course of action.

Common Causes of Car Accidents in Laurel, MD

Several factors can contribute to a car accident. Some of the most common causes of car accidents in Laurel, MD, include:

• Distracted driving
• Speeding and reckless driving
• Drunk driving
• Texting while driving
• Failing to yield the right of way

Settlements in Personal Injury Cases

The amount of compensation awarded in personal injury cases depends on various factors, including the severity of your injuries, how long it takes you to recover, and what damages you suffered due to the accident.

Here are a few of our car accident case results:

• $6 million for a client who suffered a brain injury after being involved in a rear-end collision.
• $4.8 million for a severely injured client after another vehicle struck his motorcycle.
• $1.9 million for a client who suffered a permanent back injury due to a car accident.
• $1.5 million for a client who had to undergo multiple surgeries after a negligent motorist cut off his motorcycle.
• $1 million settlement obtained on behalf of our 19-year-old client, who was a passenger in a car in which the driver lost control, causing a collision. As a result, our client suffered extensive brain damage with cognitive impairment. He was in a coma for an extended period of time. Although he has regained consciousness, he is unable to care for himself. The law firm asked the Court to appoint him a guardian to care for him. The law firm is helping to establish a special needs trust so that the proceeds from the settlement will be protected against any medical liens.
• $1 million settlement on behalf of the client who suffered a brain injury when the driver of the car in which he was a passenger lost control of his vehicle.

Contact Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. Today

If you are looking for the highest level representation available for your car accident case, turn to Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. Our firm has helped clients recover more than $500 million in compensation, and we have more than 100 years of combined experience. Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers® recognizes all our partners, and our firm includes three past presidents of the Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C.

We work to help our clients obtain fair settlement offers to compensate them for the injuries they’ve suffered, but our attorneys are incredibly well-equipped to go to trial if needed. Call (202) 659-8600 or contact us online to get the proven legal representation you deserve.