Experienced Maryland Car Accident Lawyers
Helping families move forward after a serious car accident
Whether you are driving on a highway or negotiating traffic on local roads, if you live in Maryland, there is a chance you will be involved in a car accident at some point. For more than 35 years, the Maryland car accidents attorneys of Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A. have offered honest, practical advice for injury victims throughout the state, you have been hurt in a collision, let us help you.
How our Maryland car accident lawyers can help
We routinely represent clients who have experienced all manner of health conditions because of an accident. We work with your doctors to document your injuries and the results they have had on you and your family. On occasion, we may bring in an accident reconstructionist to help juries understand how the accident happened and why. Our Maryland car accident attorneys also know what an acceptable offer of settlement looks like and can recognize when the insurance company is being unfair. Our team can assist with car rentals and towing bills, as well as coordinate between your insurance companies. If you sustain injuries in that crash, you want a legal team on your side that can protect you and obtain for you proper compensation for your lost wages, your pain and suffering, any scarring you have, as well as your medical bills.
Our car accident lawyers offer free case evaluations, which is an opportunity to determine the best legal course of action under Maryland law given the facts of your case. In most instances, Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A. is able to obtain an out of court settlement. Our 35 years of experience enables us to negotiate the maximum recovery. However, if an insurance carrier denies your claim, or you are offered an unfair or inadequate settlement, our Baltimore personal injury lawyers are prepared to pursue litigation or bring a lawsuit against the individual or corporation that caused your injury. From the onset, every case we handle is diligently prepared as if we are going to trial.
Dealing with property damage after a car accident
Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A. can also help when you sustain property damage to your vehicle. If your car or motorcycle requires repairs, we can help to get your repairs paid for by the responsible party. If your car is severely damaged and totaled, we can advise you about the value of your vehicle and can negotiate that value with the insurance company. If you need a rental car while your vehicle is in the shop, we can assist you with that, too.
Clients often ask us if they must bring their car to the insurance company’s recommended mechanic or repair shop. Under some circumstances, this may be the case – but that does not mean you cannot seek estimates from your local mechanic, or from other body shops in the area. If there is a vast discrepancy between what the insurer’s choice says about the damage to your vehicle, and what the other shops estimate the damage to be, we will fight to have you reimbursed for those additional costs.
Insurance concerns facing car accident victims in Maryland
At Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A., we believe that superior service in trial or in settlement negotiations is only part of the plan; to that end, our Maryland car accident lawyers make it a point to provide our clients with the information they need to make informed decisions about their future. We assist you with any issues concerning:
- Personal Injury Protection. Most people have personal injury protection (PIP) included in their automobile insurance policies. This is coverage that will pay up to a certain sum of money, usually $2,500 or as much as $10,000, for medical expenses and lost wages. If you have PIP coverage on your vehicle, you can use it with no risk of your insurance premiums going up. If you do not have PIP coverage, we will look for other ways to get it. We process your PIP paperwork at no charge to you.
- Defendant’s Insurance: We will track down the person who hit you, and immediately contact his or her insurance company. Oftentimes, we can solve your problems very quickly. We will deal with the insurance company so that they do not bother you, and we will keep them updated about the progress of your case as necessary.
- Your Insurance: To the extent that the defendant is uninsured, or does not have enough insurance to pay for your injuries, we will work with your insurance company to secure benefits for you under your uninsured or underinsured motorist benefits.
When you need options, we help to provide them. At Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A., we pride ourselves on really listening to our clients’ needs and goals and working together to create choices that work in your best interest.
Investigating the cause of your car accident
In this technological age, there are many ways for drivers to become distracted — cell phone calls, text messaging, and GPS operation are but a few. This is in addition to the usual methods of inattention, including falling asleep at the wheel, reading directions, and talking to passengers. We will explore every avenue to identify the cause of the collision in your case, including discussions with every possible witness, and identification of the negligent driver’s cell phone records where necessary.
Though most Maryland car accidents are caused by inattention or negligence, in some cases the culprit is a defective vehicle, whether by design or manufacture. Auto accidents may be caused by:
- Faulty brakes
- Defective ignition switches
- Faulty gas pedals or floor mats, leading to sudden acceleration
- Defective tires
- Defective airbags
- Defective seatbelts
Additionally, even if the collision is caused by negligence, your injuries may have been more severe because the car you were in lacked sufficient safety features, like rollover protection. If there is a product liability issue, our attorneys will collaborate with an accident reconstructionist, safety engineers and other experts to determine whether a faulty vehicle played a part in causing your injuries.
Investigations into a car accident are not always clear-cut. Defective roadway design may cause or contribute to an accident because of poor lane markings, inadequate or missing signs, or roadway defects. In situations like this, as experienced Maryland auto accident attorneys, we work with experts to identify the defect and hold the responsible governmental agency accountable.
7 steps to take after you have been in a car accident in Maryland
The first few seconds after a car accident can feel like a lifetime. You take in the visible damage to your car, the way the road looks, how your passengers appear, and how your body physically feels. A lot of the people we help have said they felt overwhelmed in those first few moments. That is why we have created this list of 7 steps you should take after you have been in an auto accident in Maryland. Doing so can help you later, when you make your claim for compensation.
What should I do after a car accident?
- Call 911. If you or one of your passengers is injured and requires emergency treatment, this should be the first call you make.
- Call the police. Call the police if the accident is serious; they can block off traffic so you are safe to exit, and can question witnesses about how the accident occurred. Their records may prove crucial later when you make a claim for damages.
- Exchange insurance information. While you wait for the police, exchange information with the person in the other car. Do not discuss who may or may not have been at fault, and avoid being too confrontational; simply get the information you need, and then wait by your car. Get as much information as you can from any witnesses.
- Start taking pictures. Take pictures of the inside of the car, your passengers, the outside of your car, the other vehicle and the roadway. If the other driver allows you, take a picture of his or her driver’s license. DO NOT post these pictures online. Save them on your phone and transfer them to a safe and secure file when you get home.
- Move the car. If you feel okay, and the car is safe to move, try to get your vehicle to the side of the road. In cases where it is too dangerous to move your car over to the right, turn on your hazards, and look to see if you can exit the vehicle – but only if it is safe to do so, and only if you do not have an injury that could be exacerbated by moving. Make sure to take pictures at the scene quickly to document how the injury occurred before you move the car.
- Make an appointment with your doctor. Visit your doctor as soon as you can. You may have sustained injuries that are not apparent at first, and having a record of those injuries may help you later. Even if your injuries seem minor, you should get checked out as soon as possible, because a long delay in seeking treatment will lead the insurance carrier to question your injuries. Have those injuries documented so the at-fault driver’s insurance company has no reason to question your health.
- Call an experienced auto accident attorney. There are many nuances to auto accident cases; you want a lawyer who understands these laws, and knows how to examine the documentation you have of your injuries in order to show that you deserve compensation for your medical bills, your lost wages and your pain and suffering.
The most common injuries resulting from car crashes
Indian Head Highway (or Route 210) has been referred to as the “Highway of Death.” U.S. 29 saw multiple accidents, some fatal, in 2017. Gwynn’s Falls Parkway at Reisterstown Road was named the most dangerous intersection in the state in 2015, because there were 46 crashes at that Baltimore intersection that year.
No two accidents are the same, so it makes sense that no two people will suffer the same injuries. However, certain types of injuries are more likely to occur, depending on the type and severity of the crash. Our firm regularly handles cases involving:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Closed head injuries
- Fractures
- Internal organ damage
- Neck and back injuries, such as herniated discs
- Spinal cord injuries
- Non-paralytic spinal cord injuries
- Temporary, permanent, partial and total paralysis, resulting from trauma to the spine
- Permanent disfigurement from scars or lacerations
- Loss of limb
- Permanent loss of vision or hearing
- Connective tissue injuries, including soft tissue injuries such as sprains and strains
No matter what kind of injury you have sustained, we can help you obtain the care you need and the compensation you deserve. Our Maryland car accident injury lawyers ensure that your medical bills and daily expenses are paid, that lost wages are reimbursed, that you can get a rental car while yours is in for repairs, and that those responsible for your injuries are held accountable.
What Happens While My Car is Being Repaired After an Accident?
While your car is being repaired we will be in communication with the insurance company, and try to get what is called a "direct bill rental," so that you won't even see the rental car bill. So that the rental car bill will go directly to the insurance company responsible for the accident. Again, at Plaxen Adler Muncy we do not charge for this service.
Learn more about car accidents in Maryland
What Questions Will I Be Asked in My Car Accident Deposition?
How Unsecured Property Can Cause Harm in a Crash
Does Apple's Crash Detection Technology Work?
Electric Cars Are More Dangerous Than Traditional Vehicles
The Dangers of Lane Departure Accidents
How Do Medical Bills Get Paid in a Car Accident Case?
Should Cars Come Equipped With Driver Medical Monitoring Systems
Are Rideshares Reducing Fatal Car Accidents?
Rear-end Car Accidents and Lower Back Pain
How Speed is Determined After a Car Accident in Maryland
Phantom Braking in Teslas is Causing Car Accidents
New Study Warns of Dangers of Reflective Signs
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) and Blunt Force Trauma
Maryland car accident lawyers you can trust to protect you and your loved ones
Dealing with the effects of a serious car accident is hard; choosing the right Maryland car accident lawyer to represent your interests need not be. Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A. creates options for auto accident victims in Baltimore, Columbia and throughout Maryland after a serious injury threatens to alter their lives forever. Please call at 410-730-7737 or fill out our contact form to schedule a consultation.