If you are a constant road user, you already know how prevalent car accidents are. Most motorists already understand that sustaining one or more injuries in automobile crashes are inevitable. Most of these injuries can be fatal, while others are not. Vehicle collisions will always occur as there are as many reckless drivers as there are careful ones. But how much could a car accident lawyer get for you in a settlement?
How Often Do Car Accidents Occur?
Vehicle accidents occur more often than you may know or think. Statistics show that in 2016, 37,461 people were killed in about 34,436 car accidents. About 102 persons per day are involved in a car accident on average. Between 1899 and 2013, there were 3,613,732 automobile accidents in America.
These statistics exclude accidents that occur in parking lots, private roads, and driveways. According to the Maryland Vehicle Administration, an average of 100,000 car crashes occur every year. Of these 100,000 car accidents, 580 were fatal. About 66,000 involve property damage, and 36,000 are injury crashes.
Maryland has a lower car accident rate in comparison to the whole of the U.S. It also has lower fatalities rates than neighboring states like West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, etc.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in Maryland
Maryland has about six million people, making it the 19th most populous state in America. According to Statista, there are about 1.95 million automobiles in the state, including taxi-cabs and private and commercial cars.
With such a high number of vehicles in a state with a large population, car accidents often occur. Here are the common causes of traffic collisions in Maryland:
- Running stop signs
- Running red lights
- Driving at night
- Driving under the rain
- Driving when it is snowing heavily
- Improper turns
- Tailgating
- Fatigued driving
- Driving when intoxicated
- Distracted driving
Kinds of Accidents
No two car accidents are alike. The kind of car crash you’re involved in could be fatal or non-fatal, depending on certain factors. You must know the type of accident you were in before suing. An experienced car accident attorney will need the evidence provided based on the type of collision you were involved in to prove your case.
The following are the different kinds of car crashes:
- Rear-end collision
- Head-on collision
- Sideswipe collision
- T-bone collision
- Multi-car collision
Car Accident Settlement in Maryland
A knowledgeable and experienced automobile accident lawyer can recover your money when you sue for a car accident settlement. Several factors influence the amount you can sue for. Factors like car type, injuries sustained or not, the extent of your injuries, age, accident details, pre-injury lifestyle, employment circumstances, who was at fault in the occurrence, etc.
These factors determine what you get when you sue. Most times, if the other party is at fault, they offer to pay a certain amount to offset your medical bills and the cost of vehicle damages. You mustn’t accept or agree to any settlement offer without a Maryland car-accident lawyer present.
How Much Can I Sue for Car Accidents in Maryland
It is impossible to give a particular amount you can sue for a car accident. Every car crash is different and treated as such in Maryland. There is no average offer as simple as the type of cars involved in an automobile accident affects the offer you get.
Most insurance companies go for the lowest possible amount when making offers in a car crash suit. They often do not consider the cost of future medical expenses. It would be best to have an attorney go through the requests you receive to ensure you are not getting low balled.
Also, there are legal damages to put into consideration when suing for car accidents. Standard legal compensation includes:
- Payment for cost of repairing or replacing the vehicle
- Income lost from an accident due to recovery time that you take off work.
- Lost earning potential
- Payment for personal injuries and pain
- Payment to your family for the losses
It would help if you considered the statute of limitation when suing for car accidents. The limitation law states that you have a maximum of two years from the accident’s date to file any charges when you or your loved one dies or gets injured in the crash. Failure to do so renders your claim null.
Get in Touch With a Maryland Accident Attorney Today!
The processes involved in suing or getting a settlement for traffic collisions can be lengthy. You have to contact a Maryland car accident lawyer if you or your loved one is involved in a crash. An attorney will take the burden of navigating the law off your shoulders. Schedule a free consultation with us today!
