If somebody crashes into your car, the first thing you’re going to feel is anger. Once you know that everyone in your car is okay, you want to approach the other driver and ask them why they hit your car. This is only natural. Most people never want to admit that they had any blame for their Baltimore car accident. 

However, an auto accident attorney in Baltimore knows that it’s very rare for one driver to be 100% at fault in a car accident. This is why you have the option of filing suit against the other driver. If you truly believe the other driver was at fault, you’re going to want them to pay. The best way to do that is to file a claim against their insurance company. As much as you want to sue them personally for damages, you have a much better chance of being compensated if you pursue their insurance carrier.

Here, we will explain what your options are after you’ve been involved in a Baltimore car accident. We will explain how to handle cases where there’s more than one defendant. We will also explain why it’s beneficial to pursue someone’s insurance company instead of them personally. When you hire a Baltimore car accident lawyer, their goal is to get you as much money as possible as quickly as possible. That can’t happen if you’re insistent on suing the other driver personally. Not to mention the fact that, legally, you have to file a claim against their insurance before you can even think about suing them personally.

You May Have to Sue More than One Party 

There are situations in which your Baltimore car accident attorney needs to sue more than one person. For example, if more than one vehicle hit your car you will have to file a claim against both their insurance companies. It’s not your job to determine which of the other two drivers were at fault. Ideally, one or both of their insurance carriers will pay your claim. If they do not, then your injury attorney in Baltimore can file suit against both drivers.

When you file your complaint, the other drivers are going to notify their insurance carrier. Their insurance company is legally required to defend them in any legal action filed related to a motor vehicle accident. In fact, you would have the same right if somebody sued you for a Baltimore car accident. One of the reasons you pay for insurance is so that you will not be held personally liable for any damages sustained in a Baltimore car accident.

The good news is that your injury attorney in Baltimore will take care of filing the complaint for you. They’ll make sure they name any potential defendant in the complaint. This is important because, according to the rules of procedure, you must name any and all defendants in the initial complaint. You may not have the option of adding a party later on. When your attorney names the other defendants, they will include their insurance carriers as defendants as well.

There are Many Benefits of Suing the Other Driver’s Insurance Company

There are many benefits to pursuing an insurance carrier in lieu of suing somebody personally for a Baltimore car accident. One of the most important reasons is that the insurance company has a lot more money than the driver. Another reason is that your insurance company is more likely to settle with you than an individual would be. Finally, when you do get a judgment against an insurance carrier, it will likely be paid quickly. Conversely, if you sue the driver personally and win, you may never see a dime.

When you get a judgment against an individual, there is only so much your Baltimore car accident attorney can do to get the judgment paid. The odds of the defendant paying the judgment voluntarily are slim to none. When your attorney dockets your judgment, it will become a lien against the other party. This means they will have to pay the lien off if they want to sell or buy property. However, the law protects individuals a lot more than they used to when it comes to getting judgments paid. It is very difficult today to get the court to approve a wage garnishment or bank levy against an individual debtor.

If the Other Driver is Uninsured, Your Baltimore Car Accident Lawyer Will Sue Them Directly

Of course, there are times when your only option is to sue the other driver involved in your Baltimore car accident. For example, if the other driver doesn’t have insurance, you will have no choice but to sue them directly. 

There are a lot of problems with this scenario. First, even if you win in court, you may never see a penny. The kind of person who drives without insurance is not the kind of person who carries a lot of assets. In fact, there is a very good chance the defendant will not even respond to your complaint. 

This means that your injury attorney in Baltimore will be able to get a default judgment rather easily. Unfortunately, this judgment may not be worth any more than the paper it is printed on.

Contact a Baltimore Car Accident Attorney Right Away

We completely understand why you would be angry at the person who smashed into your car. Not only did they destroy your vehicle, but they put your life and the lives of your passengers in jeopardy. However, you do need to remember that they call these things accidents for a reason. Nine times out of ten, the other driver made a simple mistake that caused the Baltimore car accident. They may not be a bad person – they simply made a mistake. As long as they have insurance, there is no reason to take it personally. 

Even if they’re rude to you or have a negative attitude at the accident scene, your goal should be to get compensation for your injuries. It shouldn’t matter to you where that compensation comes from-the other driver or their insurance company. Your injury attorney in Baltimore would much rather get you the money you deserve then let you have your day in court against the other driver.

This is why we recommend that you contact one of our associates as soon as possible after your Baltimore car accident. You can schedule your free, initial consultation over the phone or through our website.