If you have been involved in a car accident in Maryland, Virginia, or Washington D.C., you may be entitled to compensation, even if you were just a passenger. Use the following checklist to determine your eligibility for compensation:
Criteria
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Did your accident occur within the last 2 years?
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Were you not at fault for the accident?
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Were you a passenger, pedestrian, or cyclist involved in the accident?
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Was a rideshare vehicle (Uber, Lyft, etc.) involved in your accident?
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Did you sustain any injuries, even minor ones?
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Have you avoided providing a statement to insurance companies so far?
If you answered "Yes" to any of the above, you might be eligible for compensation.
A Lawyer Recovers 3.5x More
Average Insurance Payout for Car Accident Victims
A study by the Insurance Research Council showed that accident victims with legal representation receive settlements nearly 3.5 times higher than those without. The chart below shows how this impacts the average payout based on injury type.¹
| TYPE OF INJURY | AVERAGE SETTLEMENT WITHOUT A LAWYER (1999) | AVERAGE SETTLEMENT WITHOUT A LAWYER (ADJUSTED FOR INFLATION 1999–2024) | AVERAGE SETTLEMENT WITH A LAWYER (2024) | AVERAGE PAYOUT INCREASED BY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broken Bones | $19,105 | $35,951 | $125,829 | $89,878 |
| Average Injury | $3,262 | $6,138 | $21,483 | $15,345 |
| Neck Sprain | $2,480 | $4,667 | $16,335 | $11,668 |
Hiring an experienced car accident lawyer can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case. An additional survey of accident victims by Lawyers.com showed that 91% of people with an attorney received a payout, while only 51% received a payout without an attorney.² A skilled lawyer knows how to:
- Fight for Maximum Compensation: Ensure you receive full compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
- Handle Insurance Companies: Protect yourself from tactics that aim to reduce your claim's value.
- Provide Legal Guidance: Understand your rights and the legal processes involved.
Additionally, by working with Portner & Shure, P.A., there are no upfront costs. We operate on a contingency fee basis—you pay nothing unless we win your case.
By having a legal advocate on your side, you greatly increase your chances of securing the maximum compensation you deserve. Don't let insurance companies dictate the outcome of your claim. Contact Portner & Shure, P.A., today or call (410) 995-1515 for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your case.
Types of Auto Accident Cases
There are many ways in which a car accident can occur. While you may practice safe driving and follow the rules of the road, there's no guarantee that you'll be safe from a negligent driver. Whether on a highway or driving through town, the risk of an accident is unfortunately always there.
Our attorneys provide strong representation to the victims of car accidents who were hurt in:
- Head-on collisions
- Rear-end accidents
- T-bone accidents
- Rollover accidents
- Construction zone accidents
- Uber and Lyft accidents
- Hit and run accidents
- Fatal car accidents
Common Causes of Car Accidents
Just as there are many ways a car accident can occur, there are many ways in which auto accidents can be caused. In our modern world, lives are busier and distractions become more abundant. It's every driver's duty to stay focused on the road, but unfortunately, negligence behind the wheel occurs often.
Some of the most common causes of car accidents include:
- Driving while distracted
- Driving while impaired
- Driving recklessly
- Speeding
- Having a defective vehicle
What Are PIP Benefits?
In Maryland, it is mandatory for all drivers to carry car insurance by a state-recognized provider. To protect yourself and others, it is required that your policy covers a minimum of $15,000 for property damage, $30,000 for bodily injuries, and at least $60,000 for the coverage of two or more individuals. While forming an insurance plan, Maryland offers something called PIP, which stands for Personal Injury Protection. What exactly does PIP do? Personal Injury Protection covers medical bills for any injuries you may have sustained during an accident.
Coverage includes other expenses you've had to endure in the wake of your injuries and wages that have been lost. There are benefits to having PIP for such a low cost. The policy plan has also been referred to as "no-fault insurance," meaning it does not matter who caused the accident, in order to receive compensation. Additionally, PIP holders have the potential to recover twice for their damages.
In cases where the other driver is at fault, you are able to recover wages and medical expenses from both their insurance company and your own insurance carrier. Since Maryland follows a "contributory negligence" rule, you are only eligible to recover compensation if you are not at fault for the accident that led to your injuries.
What Damages Are Recoverable?
There are three main types of damages available in a personal injury claim: economic, non-economic, and punitive. Economic damages compensate for quantifiable losses such as medical bills, expenses, and missed days at work due to your injury. Non-economic damages, on the other hand, compensate for more abstract losses such as pain and suffering.
The state of Maryland caps, or limits, the amount of non-economic damages that can be recovered in any personal injury claim. Punitive damages are meant to punish the negligent party as opposed to compensating for a specific loss; as such, they are not often awarded.
Minor Car Accident Injuries
If you have been in an auto accident and you suspect, even if only slightly, that you have been injured, it is essential to seek medical attention. Many injuries from auto accidents take time to manifest, and only a doctor can determine the extent of your injuries. Doctors can help assess X-Rays and MRIs to see injuries that may not be evident to you because the injuries cannot be seen. Many injuries from auto accidents require medical attention and treatment. If your medical doctor finds that your accident has caused an injury that needs to be treated, you should not hesitate to contact an attorney.
If you are still feeling hesitant or unsure, the most experienced attorneys will be able to guide you risk-free. Clients who do not know if their injuries are sufficient to pursue a claim should call an experienced attorney for a consultation. Reputable attorneys will offer consultations for free to help clients determine if their claim is worth pursuing.
The knowledgeable attorneys at Portner & Shure, P.A. are able to help clients with a free consultation, especially those clients who do not speak English or speak English as their second language. The attorneys at Portner & Shure, P.A. are able to assist clients who speak Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese. We have experienced multilingual paralegals on our staff that speak these languages natively. This means that you will be able to freely express the extent of your auto accident injuries, concerns, and questions to a paralegal who speaks your language and works closely with the attorneys. We take pride in being able to make our clients feel comfortable and allow them to fully understand their legal claim.
Our attorneys are among the best in the area. In fact, we have been recognized by the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, The National Top 100 Trial Attorneys, and have been featured in TIME magazine's 2013 Excellence in Law. Feel confident in contacting a top-ranked firm risk-free. Our knowledgeable lawyers take pride in helping clients understand their claim and helping them determine their claim potential.
Contact Our Car Accident Attorneys Today
Car accidents can happen in the blink of an eye. In one moment, everything can change as you and your passengers may suffer serious personal injuries. Beyond injury, the damage to your vehicle and the expenses from medical and rehabilitation needs can place a tremendous financial burden on you and your family.
When the accident is caused by a negligent driver, you need the support of experienced auto accident lawyers to hold the responsible party liable and fight for the compensation that you deserve. At Portner & Shure, P.A., we focus on finding answers to the difficult questions facing our clients after a car accident.
If a negligent driver caused an accident because of any of the above reasons, we can pursue compensation for your injuries. Our car accident lawyers in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. have decades of experience fighting for the rights of our clients, and while we're able to obtain settlements in the majority of our claims, we're not afraid of going to court for you. We believe justice is the right of every person, and our support staff includes paralegals fluent in Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese, Korean, and Vietnamese.
If you or a loved one has been hurt in an auto accident, contact us online or call (410) 995-1515 for a free initial consultation with our car accident lawyers.
