Maryland is a fault accident state. Therefore, the responsible party in a Maryland accident will bear the losses of the crash. Maryland accident attorneys help crash victims recover this compensation from negligent parties. However, some auto crashes result from the actions of multiple parties. When this happens, liability may become an issue.

That’s why it’s always best to hire a Maryland auto accident lawyer after a collision. An excellent attorney will know how to proceed against the at-fault parties. In addition, they can ensure that you get the maximum compensation from these careless entities. Fortunately, you can find all the experience and skills you need for this at Pinder Plotkin LLC.

What Happens if Multiple Parties Caused My Accident?

Suppose multiple parties caused your Maryland accident, which happens a lot. Then, you’ll have a case against all these parties. Each of them will be liable for your losses from the collision. Usually, this depends on each party’s contribution to the crash. For example, suppose that Party A’s contribution to the Maryland accident is 40%. Now imagine that your losses from the crash amount to $10,000.

This means that party A will only be liable to pay $4,000. The other at-fault parties will make up the remaining 60% of your claim. This way, each party contributes the $10,000 you lost.

However, suppose party A is bankrupt or insolvent. You may then have an unenforceable judgment debt. That is, you’d be unable to recover your compensation from this impecunious party. Fortunately, Maryland law has a way out for plaintiffs in this situation. We discuss it below.

Maryland’s Joint and Several Liability Law

The Joint and Several Liability Law makes all liable parties responsible for the total compensation amount. That is, each fault party is individually liable to pay the plaintiff’s total losses from the accident. So, for example, let’s reconsider our plaintiff, who lost $10,000 in an accident.

In that instance, party A will have to pay the entire $10,000. Although party A was only responsible for 40% of the crash, this principle will apply. However, the law now allows any party that overpays to recover their money from the other liable parties. Therefore, party A can recover $6,000 from the other at-fault parties.

This party will have to file a contribution claim, though. So, this law effectively shifted the burden of recovering judgment debts to the at-fault parties. Plaintiffs can thus rest assured that they’ll get their money if they win the trial.

Who Do I Sue After a Multi-Liability Auto Accident Claim?

Indeed all liable parties are jointly and severally responsible for the plaintiff’s total losses. However, it now raises the issue of which party to sue. An excellent lawyer would tell you that you can sue all the at-fault parties at once. However, it’s not always easy to locate all liable parties in practice. Instead, you may have to sue the nearest defendant or whichever one you can find.

Furthermore, you can choose to sue the defendant with the most assets. This way, you’re confident that they can pay the judgment debt. You may wonder how you’ll know a buoyant defendant. This is another reason for hiring a Maryland auto accident lawyer. Such an attorney can investigate the at-fault parties’ financial standing. They can then advise on the best party to sue.

Examples of Multi-Liability Auto Accidents

Almost all auto collisions can involve multiple at-fault parties. For instance, a multi-vehicle crash will most likely have several responsible parties. This could include other drivers and even pedestrians. In addition, a Maryland truck accident can have many multiple liable parties.

That’s because a truck accident can be caused by the following:

  • Truck driver
  • Cargo loaders
  • Trucking company
  • Truck manufacturer
  • Other truckers and passenger vehicle drivers

Essentially, one or more of these parties can be responsible for a trucking accident. So, a Maryland truck accident lawyer can tell how to proceed against these multiple parties.

Survived a Maryland Accident Caused by Multiple Parties? Our Lawyers Can Help You!

Have you been in a Maryland accident? If you have, then you may be eligible for compensation. Are several parties to blame for your injuries? Then, this can both increase your recoverable damages and complicate the recovery process. However, this wouldn’t be the case if you had the best Maryland auto accident attorneys.

At Pinder Plotkin LLC, our lawyers have decades of experience handling different types of auto collision claims. We’ve also encountered and won cases with multiple defendants. Therefore, we can also win your claim if you hire us. All you need to do is call us today for a FREE consultation on your case.

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