What to Do After a Car Accident In Maryland

Car accident lawyers in Silver Spring explain what steps to take

Every second counts after a car accident in Maryland. Your health and well-being might be at risk. So could your legal rights. This is why it’s important to know how to respond to serious car crash. Otherwise, you might not get the medical care you need, and your rights might not be respected.

Our Maryland car accident attorneys Goldberg Finnegan know what’s at stake. That’s why we want to help. Our Silver Spring legal team has years of experience helping injury victims and their families after serious accidents. As a result, we thoroughly understand how the legal process works and what steps injury victims should take right away after their crash.

What to do after a car crash in Maryland

While every car accident is unique, there are often certain steps injury victims should take after their Maryland car crash. Such steps often include:

Call the police – Call 911 and tell the police dispatcher you have been involved in a car accident caused by another driver. The dispatcher will notify the appropriate law enforcement agency, which could be a local police officer or a Maryland State Police
Ask for ambulance – If you or anyone else appears seriously injured, ask the police dispatcher to send an ambulance to your car crash. That way, you and other injury victims can receive the emergency medical care you need at the crash site or the nearest emergency room hospital.
Stay at scene – Leaving the scene of an accident is against the law in Maryland, according to Maryland Code, Public Safety 13A-1039. This law applies to property damage accidents as well.
Gather personal information – Make sure you (or someone else if you are seriously injured) get the other driver’s name, address, phone number, driver’s license number and insurance information. You can give the same information to the other driver.
Don’t discuss accident – Once you have shared information with the other driver, don’t talk to them about your collision. Anything you say could later be used to deny your accident claim.
Talk to witnesses – If someone saw your accident, make sure you get their name and phone number before they leave. Statements from eyewitnesses can be strong pieces of evidence in support of your case.
Take accident photos – Using your cellphone or a camera, take photographs of your accident. Make sure to take photos of your vehicle, other vehicles involved, nearby traffic signs and other important details.
Get officer’s name – Before you leave your crash site, make sure you get the investigating police officer’s name, badge number and phone number. That way, you can contact the officer later if necessary.
See a doctor – Even if someone already examined you at the scene of the accident, make sure you make a follow-up appointment with a doctor. Many car accident injuries, including whiplash and concussions, often have delayed symptoms that take several days to develop.
Take doctor’s advice – If your doctor tells you to stay home and rest or go to physical therapy, do exactly what they tell you. If you don’t, you might not fully recover, and your car accident claim might be denied because insurance companies might question whether you’re actually injured.
Call insurance company – As soon as possible after your accident, call your insurance company and notify them about your accident. You don’t have to say too much during your first phone call. You can tell them more later.
Don’t talk to other insurance companies – If the other driver’s insurance company contacts you – and they probably will – don’t answer their questions. Even seemingly simple questions are often designed to get you to say something they can use to deny your injury claim.
Get accident report – The investigating police officer will fill out a report about your accident. This report is officially called the Maryland Motor Vehicle Accident Report. If you are not sure how to do this, our law firm can obtain a copy of your accident report for you and help you understand your Maryland car accident report.
Call a lawyer – The sooner you have a Maryland car accident attorney handling your case, the better. An experienced attorney can help you every step of the way after your car crash.

Contact our law firm. We can help

Car accident claims and lawsuits in Maryland can be extremely complicated. By having an attorney assisting you with your accident, you can make sure your case receives the attention it rightfully deserves. Discover what our dedicated Maryland car accident lawyers can do for you. Contact Goldberg Finnegan and schedule your free case evaluation at our Silver Spring law firm today. We handle cases throughout Maryland.