More than 6 million car accidents happen in the United States every year. The unfortunate people involved in these accidents are often faced with injuries, property damage, mental distress, and a to-do list filled with phone calls and reports. After you’ve been injured in a car accident, the last thing on your mind should be how to pay for all the expenses that are coming your way. Your only focus should be recovering from the damage caused by the crash.
Leave everything else to an experienced auto accident lawyer like the ones at Miller Stern Lawyers. They specialize in jumping through all the hoops necessary to receive compensation at the end of this mess. If you decide to handle your case without insurance companies or a lawyer, the other party could take advantage of you and either low-ball you or never pay you a dime.
If you trust the insurance companies to take care of everything, Miller Stern says you’ve made a pivotal mistake as well. Insurance companies will handle the incident through the claims process, but their goal is to solve the case as quickly as possible while saving themselves money.
“Accident cases require an attorney to help a potential client maneuver through the insurance process. It is important to remember that all insurance companies have one interest and that is not paying you money or paying you the least amount of money possible,” Kevin Stern says.
Your request for compensation following a car accident is called a claim, which can be economic or non-economic. Economic claims include things that cost money, such as current and future medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, or funeral expenses. Non-economic claims are more subjective and include pain and suffering or emotional distress.
Even if the circumstances of the crash seem cut-and-dry, it’s a good idea to consult a lawyer if you’re unsure about anything. What if one of the crash victims has a pre-existing medical condition aggravated by the crash? How long does a victim need medical care, and how much should be covered? Who was at fault in the crash? (Remember that Maryland is a state that abides by the contributory negligence rule, which says a person is barred from any compensation if it can be proven they contributed to their own injury by at least 1%.) The answers to these questions could complicate the claims process, which makes an experienced lawyer so valuable to have on your side.
After the crash, it’s imperative that you receive any treatment you believe you need. Listen to the recommendations from emergency responders at the scene. You may not feel some of the pain because you’re in shock or running on adrenaline, and you risk losing compensation if you wait too long to file a claim for treatment you receive. In Maryland, the actual time you have to file a civil lawsuit for an auto accident is three years, but that is different from filing a claim with insurance companies, who usually require you to report your injuries and initial treatment costs within days or weeks of the incident.
Find a way to get the other person’s insurance information at the scene so that you can file a claim against them if necessary. If you can’t physically ask for it yourself, rely on law enforcement to get this information to you. Once you’ve recovered from the initial trauma, try to write down as many details as you can about the crash. You may start receiving calls from the other party involved or their insurance company, but don’t feel like you need to answer any of their questions alone. Talk to a lawyer immediately so that you have someone who will represent you during these conversations and can use the details you provide to fight for the compensation you deserve.
Miller Stern Lawyers, treats every client like family. They have helped clients receive millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements. Miller Stern is a contingency-based firm, which means they only get paid when you get paid. If you’ve been injured in a car accident and need help receiving compensation, don’t hesitate to call 410-LAW-FIRM or visit millersternlawyers.com today.