Car Accident Attorneys in Silver Spring, MD

In a Crash? We Can Help You Seek Compensation

The advent of the automobile has made it possible for people to travel long distances in a relatively short amount of time. Sadly, the advent of the automobile has also demonstrated how easy it is for innocent people to suffer severe injuries due to another person’s negligence. Car accident victims require financial compensation for their injuries, pain and suffering, and medical treatment – but who will provide it?

A Silver Spring car accident attorney can help you obtain compensation for your injuries if the liable party is not going to cooperate. The attorneys at Portner & Shure, P.A. have been holding negligent drivers accountable for more than 30 years. Let us know what is happening in your case and we can tell you how we can help.

For a free consultation, call us at (240) 233-2801 or contact us online.

What to Do Following a Car Accident

Following a car accident, it is imperative, if not essential for a victim to:

• Obtain medical treatment: A victim’s health and welfare are paramount especially if there have been life-threatening injuries.
• Contact the police: If a victim requires immediate medical treatment at a hospital or if one of the vehicles is not drivable, the police will prepare a Maryland State Crash Report.
• Document the scene: Photographing the vehicles and the scene of the collision will help a victim build their case.
• Identify potential witnesses: Many cases come down to word versus word. An independent witness may help tip the scales in favor of the victim, which is why it is so important to obtain the names and contact information of any potential witnesses.
• Exchange insurance information: Maryland State law requires drivers who were involved in an accident to exchange insurance information. It is also advisable to obtain the other driver’s contact information.
• Consult a Silver Spring car accident lawyer: Following an accident, insurance companies will reach out to all the drivers. You should not talk to them until you have consulted and retained a Silver Spring car accident lawyer.

Following this guidance early on in the process makes it simpler for car accident victims to build a successful case.

Common Questions Following a Car Accident

Car accidents create a lot of uncertainty. Victims often wonder how their vehicle will be repaired or how they can obtain a rental car. With regards to property damage, assuming that the other driver’s insurance company admits fault, they often repair the other driver’s car and pay for a rental car until repairs are completed.

If the other driver’s insurance company refuses to admit fault, a victim can repair their property damage and obtain a rental car through their own insurance company if they have property damage and rental car coverage on their insurance policy. Such expenses can be claimed as part of a victim’s economic damages, even if they voluntarily pay for these damages out of their own pockets.

Common Car Accident Injuries

Car accident victims often suffer a wide variety of injuries such as:

• Brain injuries
• Broken bones
• Concussions
• Muscle sprains
• Neck injuries
• Spinal cord injuries

Severe injuries usually require emergency medical treatment at a hospital. Victims with less severe injuries can obtain treatment with their primary care provider or at an urgent care facility. Regrettably, car victims often forgo medical treatment due to lacking health insurance because they are unaware that they may have Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage through their own car insurance policy. This can be used to pay for medical treatment.

Car accident victims often require additional medical care to make a full recovery, like physical therapy. Car accident victims can be referred to a physical therapist by their primary care provider or they can find one they research on their own. Personal Injury Protection insurance can be used to pay for physical therapy, too, but not all policies will include this specific type of aftercare.

Damages in a Car Accident Case

Maryland law allows a car accident victim to claim economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are meant to compensate a victim for the cost of their medical care, future medical care, lost wages, and future lost wages. With regards to lost wages, Maryland law allows a car accident victim to be compensated for the time they missed from work as a result of their injuries. To claim lost wages, sick slips or other forms of medical documentation are required from a medical professional.

A car accident victim may be able to claim certain property damage expenses such as towing and rental car expenses as part of their economic damages. Non-economic damages, on the other hand, are meant to compensate a car accident victim for the pain and suffering they endured as a result of their injuries.

Denials & Defenses in Maryland Car Accident Cases

Insurance companies often deny fault based on legal defenses available under Maryland State law. To win a car accident lawsuit, the victim must prove their case by a preponderance of the evidence, i.e., 51%. Specifically, the victim must prove that the other driver caused the collision and that they suffered injuries as a result of the accident. Insurance companies often deny claims and defend cases on the basis that a victim will be unable to prove their case.

Insurance companies often invoke the defenses of contributory negligence. Maryland is one of four states that continues to allow the defense of contributory negligence. This defense bars a victim from recovering if evidence is presented showing that the victim acted negligently and that their negligence contributed to the accident.

Our Lawyers Can Help You

A Silver Spring car accident lawyer can help you build a successful case. The attorneys at Portner & Shure, P.A. know how to properly and efficiently build a winning case by obtaining police reports, photographs, witness statements (if any), and witness statements to prepare effective demand packages. A demand package is essentially a written letter to an insurance carrier informing them of why their insured is liable, the evidence that will be used to prove fault, the victim’s injuries, and the amount needed to settle a case prior to trial.

In the last 30 years of legal practice, our team has built a reputation of excellence among our clients and peers. As experienced litigators, we are able to successfully overcome common legal defenses asserted by insurance companies and often obtain favorable results. Insurance companies know who we are. They know that we will fight for our clients. We are ready to fight for you.

All personal injury representation is performed on a contingency fee basis. Portner & Shure, P.A. receives no fee unless our client obtains a settlement or judgment in court.

Silver Spring Car Accident Resources:

• How to request an accident report
• Apply for temporary disability benefits
• Find a top-rated car mechanic near you
• Find a top-rated auto body shop near you

To schedule a free consultation regarding your Silver Spring car accident case, contact us at (240) 233-2801 or contact us online. Our staff speaks English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, and Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese).