If you were recently injured in a car accident, you are probably asking: do I need a car accident lawyer?. It is a fair question. The answer depends on several factors: the severity of your injuries, the complexity of your claim, how the insurance company is treating you, and what you stand to recover. This guide covers each of those factors in detail so you can make an informed decision.
At Gelb & Gelb, P.C., we have been representing injured accident victims in Washington, D.C. and Maryland for nearly 70 years. We offer free consultations and never charge a fee unless we recover compensation for you. This article aims to give you honest information, not pressure you into anything. Whether or not you hire us, you deserve to know your rights.
When You Probably Do Not Need a Car Accident Lawyer
Many law firm websites skip this part. Let us start with the honest answer: if you are asking do I need a car accident lawyer, there are situations where the answer may be no.
Were you in a minor fender-bender with no injuries? You likely do not need legal representation. Property damage claims are often straightforward. When fault is clear and damage is modest, you can usually handle the matter directly through the insurance companies. The process works well for exactly that kind of situation.
What if you had very minor soft tissue discomfort? If it resolved within a day or two, required no medical treatment, and did not affect your work or daily activities, the potential value of a claim may not justify the cost of hiring counsel. A lawyer on contingency takes a percentage of your recovery. If the total value is small, you may net more by handling it yourself and accepting a modest settlement.
That said, even in apparently simple cases, the question of whether you need a car accident lawyer is worth raising with an attorney before deciding. Many people underestimate their injuries in the first days after a crash. Symptoms of whiplash, concussions, and soft tissue injuries often take days or weeks to fully appear. A free consultation costs you nothing and ensures you are not leaving something important on the table.
When You Almost Certainly Do Need a Car Accident Lawyer
There is a much longer list of circumstances where the answer to do I need a car accident lawyer is a firm yes—where having an attorney is not just helpful but essential. If any of the following apply to your situation, reach out to legal counsel as soon as possible.
You Suffered Serious Injuries: A Key Reason to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer
Serious injuries raise the stakes of your claim dramatically. These include broken bones, herniated discs, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, internal organ injuries, burns, and any injury requiring surgery, hospitalization, or extended physical therapy. They generate large medical bills, long recovery periods, and lasting effects on your ability to work and enjoy life.
Insurance companies know the potential value of these claims. They work hard to minimize what they pay. Adjusters are trained professionals whose job is to protect their employer’s bottom line. They are not on your side. An experienced car accident lawyer knows how to counter their tactics, document the full scope of your damages, and fight for what your case is actually worth.
According to the Insurance Information Institute, the average bodily injury liability claim exceeds $20,000. But averages mask wide individual variation. A victim with a serious spinal injury may have a case worth several hundred thousand dollars or more. A settlement offer made in the early days after an accident will rarely reflect that true value.
Fault Is Disputed: Another Reason You May Need a Car Accident Lawyer
Not every accident has a clean, unambiguous assignment of blame. The other driver’s insurance company may argue that you bear partial or full responsibility. This matters enormously in both Maryland and D.C. Both jurisdictions follow the doctrine of contributory negligence, one of the strictest liability standards in the country.
Under contributory negligence rules, even a small degree of fault on your part can bar you entirely from recovering compensation. That makes the question of fault potentially case-dispositive. An attorney can investigate the accident, gather evidence, work with accident reconstruction experts, and build a compelling case that places responsibility where it belongs.
Without legal representation, you navigate this complex legal standard alone, against an insurance company that employs lawyers and adjusters who handle these issues every day.
The Insurance Company Is Giving You Trouble: Time to Call a Car Accident Lawyer
Insurance companies sometimes handle claims fairly. More often, injured claimants encounter delays, lowball offers, and requests for recorded statements. These tactics aim to reduce or eliminate the payout. If the adjuster tells you that your injuries are not as serious as your doctor says, or that the offer they present is the best they can do, treat those statements with skepticism and consult an attorney.
A recorded statement given without legal guidance can seriously damage your claim. Adjusters frame questions in ways that elicit answers usable against you. You have no obligation to give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company. Doing so without speaking to a lawyer first is almost never in your best interest.
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners provides consumer resources on understanding your rights in the claims process. But navigating an insurance dispute is a situation where professional legal help makes a meaningful difference.
You Have Lost Income or Cannot Work: Your Car Accident Lawyer Can Help
If your injuries caused you to miss work, you are entitled to claim lost wages as part of your damages. If your injuries are severe enough to affect your long-term earning capacity, those future losses are also compensable. Calculating these losses requires careful analysis that goes well beyond adding up pay stubs.
An attorney can work with vocational experts and economists to properly quantify these losses. Without that expertise, you risk accepting a settlement that does not cover what you have actually lost and what you are likely to lose going forward.
A Government Vehicle Was Involved
Did a government vehicle hit you? A city bus, police car, mail truck, or any other government-owned vehicle? Your claim is subject to special rules. Claims against government entities often require a formal notice of claim within a very short time window. That window is sometimes as short as 180 days from the date of the accident. Miss it and you lose your right to sue entirely.
These procedural requirements are strict. Missing a deadline can permanently bar your claim regardless of how strong it is on the merits. If a government entity was involved in your accident, consult an attorney as soon as possible.
Multiple Vehicles or Parties Were Involved
Multi-vehicle collisions introduce significant legal complexity. When three or more vehicles are involved, determining fault and identifying the right defendants becomes complicated quickly. Multiple insurance companies may appear. Each has its own adjusters pointing fingers in different directions.
The at-fault driver may also lack enough insurance to fully compensate you. In that situation, your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may come into play. Pursuing those claims requires a working knowledge of insurance law. An attorney can sort through the layers of coverage, identify all available sources of compensation, and coordinate the pursuit of each.
You Were a Pedestrian, Cyclist, or Motorcyclist
When a car strikes a person on foot, on a bicycle, or on a motorcycle, the resulting injuries are almost always more severe than in a car-to-car collision. These victims also face more bias in the claims process. Insurance adjusters may try to blame the pedestrian or cyclist for being in the wrong place, even when the driver was clearly at fault.
A lawyer who handles these specific types of cases can make a substantial difference. At Gelb & Gelb, P.C., we handle Maryland pedestrian accident cases, D.C. pedestrian accident cases, Maryland bicycle accident cases, and D.C. bicycle accident cases.
How Insurance Companies Approach Your Car Accident Lawyer’s Claim
To decide whether you need a car accident lawyer, it helps to understand how insurance companies think. This is not speculation. It reflects the documented practices of the insurance industry and decades of handling claims.
The Adjuster Role and Why You Need a Car Accident Lawyer
When you are injured in an accident, the at-fault driver’s insurance company opens a claim file. They assign an adjuster to evaluate your claim. That adjuster’s performance measures, at least in part, how economically claims get resolved. Their training includes techniques for gathering information that can reduce the insurer’s exposure, identifying weaknesses in claims, and making offers that claimants will accept before understanding the value of what they have lost.
The early days and weeks after an accident are particularly dangerous. You may still be in pain, dealing with medical appointments, and worried about your job. You are not in the best position to make major financial decisions. Insurance companies know this. Early settlement offers sometimes arrive precisely because you have not yet had time to understand the full extent of your injuries or the true value of your claim.
Why Settling Too Early Is Risky Without a Car Accident Lawyer
Once you accept a settlement and sign a release, that is almost always the end of the matter. You cannot go back for more money even if your injuries later prove more serious than you realized. This is one of the most important reasons to consult an attorney before accepting any offer. The finality of a settlement release is something many accident victims do not fully appreciate until it is too late.
Insurance companies benefit from fast resolutions. A claimant who settles early and cheaply saves the insurer money. An attorney who represents you helps prevent that from happening. Your lawyer reviews any offer critically, considers what future medical treatment you may need, and advises you on whether the number reflects the true value of your claim.
Can You File a Lawsuit Without a Lawyer?
Yes. You can file a personal injury lawsuit without a car accident lawyer. Courts call this proceeding pro se, which is Latin for representing yourself. Courts allow it, and judges understand that some litigants are not trained in the law.
That said, many people who initially consider proceeding without a car accident lawyer find that proceeding pro se carries substantial risks. The rules of civil procedure and evidence are complex. Even experienced lawyers find them challenging. A pro se litigant must comply with the same procedural rules as a licensed attorney. This includes filing deadlines, discovery obligations, motion practice, and the formal requirements for introducing evidence at trial. Judges may give some leeway on minor procedural errors. But they will not assume elements of your case are proven. You must still meet every legal burden.
Beyond procedure, winning a personal injury case requires proving each element of negligence. You must show the defendant owed you a duty of care, that they breached that duty, that the breach caused your injuries, and that you suffered actual damages. Each element requires evidence. Presenting that evidence effectively takes years of skill to develop.
Most personal injury attorneys, including our attorneys at Gelb & Gelb, P.C., work on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Given that structure, the financial barrier to retaining legal counsel is much lower than many people assume. You can get experienced legal representation without paying anything out of pocket while your case is pending.
What Is a Contingency Fee and How Does It Work?
A contingency fee arrangement means your attorney’s fee depends on recovering compensation for you. If there is no recovery, there is no fee. The fee is a percentage of the total amount recovered, whether through settlement or a court judgment.
In personal injury cases, contingency fees commonly range from one-third to 40 percent of the recovery. The percentage depends on the complexity of the case and whether it settles before or after filing a lawsuit. At Gelb & Gelb, P.C., our fee is typically one-third of the recovery. We do not charge for initial consultations. We do not bill by the hour during your case. You can call us with questions at any time without worrying about the meter running.
Costs such as court filing fees, expert witness fees, and costs of obtaining medical records are separate from the contingency fee. These costs are typically deducted from the gross recovery before the fee calculation. Your attorney should explain this clearly in the retainer agreement before you sign anything. We walk every client through the retainer agreement in detail so there are no surprises.
The contingency fee structure aligns your attorney’s incentives with yours. Your lawyer only gets paid if you get paid, and gets paid more if you recover more. This is a fundamentally different dynamic than hourly billing, where a lawyer gets paid regardless of outcome.
How Much Is a Car Accident Case Worth?
This is one of the most common questions we receive from people who ask do I need a car accident lawyer. The honest answer is that there is no universal formula. The value of a car accident claim depends on factors specific to your individual circumstances.
Economic and Non-Economic Damages
The primary categories of damages include medical expenses (past and future), lost wages and lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and property damage. In cases involving particularly egregious conduct by the at-fault driver, such as drunk driving, punitive damages may also be available. These are the exception rather than the rule.
Medical expenses are usually the most straightforward to calculate. Bills and records document them clearly. Future medical expenses require expert testimony from physicians or independent medical experts. Lost wages come from pay stubs, tax returns, and employer records. Future lost earning capacity typically requires analysis by a vocational rehabilitation specialist and an economist.
Pain and suffering damages are a key reason why having a car accident lawyer matters. They are less tangible but no less real. They compensate you for the physical pain, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and other non-economic harms your injuries cause. No fixed formula exists for calculating these damages. Certain methods are common in negotiations and at trial. An experienced attorney can help you understand what your non-economic damages might reasonably be worth based on comparable cases and verdicts in your jurisdiction.
What Research Shows About Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer
Research consistently shows that accident victims who hire attorneys recover significantly more, on average, than those without representation. A study by the Insurance Research Council found that claimants who had attorneys received settlements that were, on average, three to four times higher than those without representation, even after accounting for attorney fees.
This finding is not surprising. Attorneys understand how to value claims, how to gather supporting evidence, and how to negotiate from a position of knowledge. An unrepresented claimant faces an inherent disadvantage when dealing with an insurance company whose adjusters and lawyers handle hundreds of claims per year.
The Statute of Limitations: Why Timing Matters for Your Car Accident Claim
One thing every car accident lawyer will tell you is that the statute of limitations — the legal deadline by which you must file a lawsuit — is critical. Miss it and you permanently lose your right to pursue compensation through the courts.
In Maryland, the general statute of limitations for personal injury cases is three years from the date of the accident. This comes from Maryland Code, Courts and Judicial Proceedings Section 5-101. In the District of Columbia, the limitations period is also three years under D.C. Code Section 12-301. However, there are important exceptions and nuances that can shorten or extend these deadlines.
Claims against government entities often have shorter deadlines for filing administrative notices. Claims on behalf of minors may have extended deadlines in some circumstances. Cases involving wrongful death have their own limitations periods. Under the discovery rule, the clock may not start until the injured person knew or reasonably should have known about the injury and its connection to the accident. This rule applies in a narrow range of circumstances.
The practical takeaway for anyone still asking do I need a car accident lawyer is simple: do not wait. The sooner you consult an attorney, the more time your legal team has to investigate the accident, preserve evidence, and interview witnesses while their memories are fresh. Evidence degrades over time. Witnesses become harder to locate. Surveillance footage gets overwritten. Acting promptly gives you significant advantages.
What to Do Immediately After a Car Accident (Before Calling a Lawyer)
Whether or not you ultimately hire a car accident lawyer, the steps you take immediately after an accident can significantly affect the strength of any future claim. Here is what matters most.
Seek Medical Attention Without Delay
If you are injured, your health comes first. Call for emergency medical assistance at the scene if needed. See a doctor as soon as possible, even if you feel relatively okay. Many serious injuries, including traumatic brain injuries and internal injuries, do not produce immediately obvious symptoms. A medical professional can identify issues you might not notice on your own. The medical records from that visit will be important evidence in your claim.
Delaying medical treatment is one of the most damaging things you can do to a personal injury claim. Insurance companies routinely argue that a gap in treatment means the claimant was not seriously injured. Do not give them that ammunition.
Document the Scene
If it is safe to do so, take photographs and video at the scene. Capture the positions of the vehicles, the damage to each car, road conditions, traffic signals and signs, skid marks, and any visible injuries. This visual evidence can be invaluable when reconstructing what happened and establishing fault.
Get the other driver’s name, contact information, driver’s license number, license plate number, and insurance information. If there are witnesses, get their names and phone numbers. A police report, if one is filed, will also become an important piece of evidence. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration maintains resources on crash reporting requirements that vary by state.
Be Careful About What You Say
At the scene, avoid making statements that could be interpreted as an admission of fault. Even informal ones, like saying you are sorry or that you did not see the other driver, can come back to haunt you. Stick to exchanging information, cooperating with police, and attending to medical needs.
After the accident, be cautious about social media. Insurance companies and defense attorneys routinely review claimants’ social media profiles. They look for evidence that contradicts injury claims. A photograph at a social event or a comment about feeling better can be taken out of context and used to undermine your case.
Report the Accident to Your Own Insurance Company
Your insurance policy typically requires you to report accidents promptly. Failing to do so can create complications down the road. However, reporting the accident does not mean giving a detailed recorded statement or accepting any responsibility. Notify your insurer, but exercise caution in what you say. Consider consulting an attorney before providing extensive details to anyone other than your own insurer.
Keep Records of Everything
From the moment of the accident forward, keep detailed records of everything related to your injuries and recovery. This means all medical bills, records, and prescriptions. Keep a journal documenting your pain levels, physical limitations, and emotional state on a day-to-day basis. Record any missed work and the income you lost. Track any out-of-pocket expenses related to your injury, such as transportation to medical appointments or costs of hiring help for tasks you can no longer perform.
This documentation forms the evidentiary foundation of your damages claim. The more thorough and consistent your records, the stronger your case will be.
Choosing the Right Car Accident Lawyer
If you have decided to hire a car accident lawyer, the next question is how to choose the right one. Not all personal injury attorneys are the same, and the quality of your representation matters. Here are the factors worth considering.
Experience: What to Look for in a Car Accident Lawyer
Personal injury law is a specialized field. You want a car accident lawyer whose practice focuses on personal injury and who has extensive experience with car accident cases specifically. Ask how long the firm has been handling these cases. Ask how many car accident cases they have resolved and what kinds of results they have achieved. General practitioners may not have the specialized knowledge needed to maximize the value of your claim.
Trial Experience
The vast majority of personal injury cases settle before trial. But the willingness and ability to try a case is what gives an attorney leverage in settlement negotiations. Insurance companies track which law firms actually litigate cases. If they know your attorney will file suit and fight in court when necessary, they have much more incentive to make a fair offer beforehand.
Ask any attorney you are considering whether they personally try cases or whether they always settle. An attorney with genuine trial experience is almost always a stronger advocate in the negotiation room as well.
Communication and Accessibility
Injury cases can take months or years to resolve. You deserve updates throughout the process. Ask prospective attorneys how they communicate with clients, how quickly they return calls and emails, and who on the team handles your case day to day. At Gelb & Gelb, P.C., our attorneys are accessible to clients. Our phones are available 24 hours a day and seven days a week. We do not charge for time spent answering questions during your case.
Reputation and Reviews
Look for reviews from former clients and check the attorney’s standing with state bar associations. The Maryland State Bar Association and the D.C. Bar both maintain resources for finding attorneys in good standing. Check rating services and review platforms. Keep in mind that no attorney wins every case. Reviews should be read with some context.
A Clear Fee Agreement
Before retaining any attorney, make sure you fully understand the fee arrangement. This includes the percentage of recovery that constitutes the fee, how costs are handled, and under what circumstances the fee might change. A reputable attorney explains all of this clearly and in writing before you sign anything, and welcomes your questions. Be cautious of any attorney who is vague about fees or who pressures you to sign quickly.
Ethical Obligations and What They Mean for You
Every car accident lawyer in Maryland and D.C. is subject to rules of professional conduct. These rules impose strict ethical obligations on how they handle client matters and communicate with potential clients. They exist to protect you.
Under the Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct and the D.C. Rules of Professional Conduct, attorneys cannot make false or misleading communications about themselves or their services. They cannot guarantee outcomes or promise specific results. Any attorney who tells you with certainty what your case will be worth before a thorough investigation is not giving you an honest assessment.
These rules also require attorneys to communicate fully and honestly with clients, to keep client information confidential, to avoid conflicts of interest, and to act always in the client’s best interest. Understanding that these obligations exist can help you evaluate whether the attorney you are considering is living up to them.
From a practical standpoint, any evaluation we give you during a consultation reflects our honest assessment of your case based on the information available to us at that time. We will never promise you a specific dollar amount. We cannot ethically do so, and the value of a case depends on factors that develop over time. What we can promise is that we will work diligently to pursue the maximum compensation the facts and law support.
Special Situations That Affect Car Accident Claims
Certain circumstances add layers of complexity and make the need for a car accident lawyer even more important in these situations. Here are some of the most common.
Rideshare Accidents: When You Need a Car Accident Lawyer
Were you injured while riding in an Uber or Lyft vehicle? Were you hit by a rideshare driver? Your claim may involve multiple layers of insurance coverage. Rideshare companies maintain commercial insurance policies, but the coverage that applies depends on the driver’s status at the time. Was the driver actively transporting a passenger? Waiting for a ride request? Or just using the app without being engaged? Navigating the interaction between the driver’s personal policy and the rideshare company’s commercial policy requires careful analysis. Our firm handles Maryland Uber accident cases and D.C. Uber accident cases and can help you understand which coverage applies to your situation.
Drunk Driving Accidents
Were you injured by a drunk driver? Your case may have additional dimensions beyond the standard personal injury claim. A driver who operates a vehicle under the influence faces both criminal prosecution and civil liability. The existence of a DUI charge or conviction can strengthen your civil claim. It establishes that the driver acted with reckless disregard for the safety of others. In some jurisdictions, punitive damages may be available against drunk drivers. This can significantly increase the total compensation available to you. Our firm handles Maryland drunk driving accident cases and D.C. drunk driving accident cases.
Commercial Truck Accidents and Your Car Accident Lawyer
Collisions involving large commercial trucks, tractor-trailers, or delivery vehicles are frequently more complex than standard car accident cases. These cases may involve multiple potentially liable parties. This can include the truck driver, the trucking company, the owner of the cargo, and potentially the vehicle or parts manufacturer. Federal regulations governing commercial motor vehicles add another layer of legal analysis. Hours of service rules and vehicle maintenance requirements come from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Our firm handles Maryland truck accident cases and D.C. truck accident cases.
Hit and Run Accidents
Did the at-fault driver flee the scene without identification? Your claim will likely proceed through your own uninsured motorist coverage rather than the other driver’s liability policy. This requires careful attention to the terms of your own policy and, in some cases, compliance with specific procedural requirements. Do not assume that because the at-fault driver cannot be found, there is nothing to be done. More options may be available to you than you realize. An attorney can help you explore them. Our firm handles Maryland hit and run accident cases and can help you understand your options.
Wrongful Death Claims
Did a car accident take the life of someone you love? The family may have a wrongful death claim against the responsible party. These claims come from surviving family members. Specific statutory rules govern who can sue and what damages are recoverable. Wrongful death cases carry enormous emotional weight. The legal process is also genuinely complex. If you have lost a family member in a car accident, please do not try to navigate this alone. Our firm handles Maryland wrongful death cases and D.C. wrongful death cases and can guide you through the process with the care and attention it deserves.
The Claims Process: A General Overview
Understanding how a typical car accident claim proceeds is essential for anyone asking do I need a car accident lawyer. It can help you know what to expect. It also shows how an attorney adds value at each stage.
How Your Car Accident Lawyer Handles Investigation and Evidence Gathering
The process of working with a car accident lawyer begins with an investigation phase. Your attorney gathers the police report, medical records, witness statements, photographs, and any other evidence relevant to establishing fault and documenting your damages. This phase may also involve consulting with accident reconstruction experts, medical experts, or other specialists, depending on the complexity of your case.
Strong evidence forms the foundation of a strong claim. Attorneys know what evidence matters and how to obtain it. They can send preservation letters to compel third parties to retain relevant materials, such as surveillance footage or electronic data from commercial vehicles. These steps are difficult to take without legal experience.
The Demand Package and Negotiations
Once your medical treatment is complete, or once you reach what is known as maximum medical improvement, your attorney typically sends a demand package to the insurance company. This package lays out the facts of the accident, the extent of your injuries and treatment, your total damages, and the amount you seek to resolve the claim. The demand package initiates the negotiation process.
Negotiations may proceed for weeks or months. In many cases, the parties reach a settlement during this period. In others, negotiations break down and a lawsuit must be filed. Filing a lawsuit does not mean the case will go to trial. The majority of filed cases still settle at some point during litigation, often after both sides have conducted discovery and assessed the evidence more thoroughly.
Trial and Appeal
If the case does proceed to trial, your attorney presents your case to a judge or jury. They introduce evidence, examine and cross-examine witnesses, and argue on your behalf. The jury, or judge in a bench trial, then deliberates and returns a verdict. Either party may appeal an adverse verdict, though appeals add significant time and cost and are not always the right strategic choice.
Throughout all of these stages, your attorney is your advocate, advisor, and voice. Having experienced legal counsel by your side does not just improve your likely financial outcome. It also reduces the burden on you personally during what is already a stressful and difficult time.
Understanding Maryland and D.C. Car Accident Law
The rules that apply when you hire a car accident lawyer depend heavily on where the accident occurred. Maryland and D.C. share some legal features but differ in others. Understanding these differences matters when you evaluate your options.
Contributory Negligence in Maryland and D.C.
As noted earlier, both Maryland and D.C. use the contributory negligence standard. Most states have moved to comparative fault systems, which allow an injured person to recover even if they bear some responsibility, with their damages reduced in proportion to their fault. Maryland and D.C. have not made that shift. Under contributory negligence, any fault on your part, even if minor, can bar your recovery entirely.
This makes the question of your own conduct in the accident critically important. It also makes having an experienced attorney even more valuable. Your attorney can evaluate whether contributory negligence is likely to arise as a defense and can take steps to address it proactively.
Personal Injury Protection and Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Maryland law requires drivers to carry minimum levels of liability insurance, personal injury protection, and uninsured motorist coverage. Personal injury protection, sometimes called PIP, pays for your own medical expenses and lost wages regardless of fault. It is your own coverage, not a claim against the other driver. Knowing what coverage you have and how it interacts with your bodily injury claim can significantly affect your overall recovery.
If you are injured in an accident in D.C., similar considerations apply. D.C. drivers must maintain minimum coverage levels, and uninsured motorist coverage can be a critical safety net when the at-fault driver lacks adequate insurance. Our firm handles all types of Maryland car accident cases and D.C. car accident cases and can walk you through exactly what coverage applies to your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer
How long do I have to decide whether to hire a lawyer?
You do not need to decide on the spot whether to hire a car accident lawyer during a consultation. Take the time you need to feel comfortable. That said, given the statute of limitations and the importance of early evidence preservation, it is better to consult an attorney sooner rather than later. Even if you ultimately decide to handle the claim yourself, getting an informed perspective costs you nothing.
What if I cannot afford to pay for a consultation?
Most personal injury attorneys, including Gelb & Gelb, P.C., offer free initial consultations. There is no charge to speak with us about your situation and get an honest assessment of whether you have a viable claim and what it might be worth. You can reach us at (202) 331-7227 at any time.
What if the accident was partly my fault?
This is a significant question in Maryland and D.C., both of which apply the contributory negligence rule. If you contributed to the accident in any way, the other side will argue that you are barred from recovery. However, fault determinations are often contested. They are rarely as clear-cut as the insurance company would have you believe. Even if you think you may have played some role, it is worth discussing your situation with an attorney before concluding that you have no claim.
How long will my case take?
There is no universal answer. Simple cases involving clear fault and limited injuries can sometimes resolve within a few months. Cases involving serious injuries, disputed liability, or litigation can take a year or more. Your attorney can give you a realistic sense of the timeline based on the specifics of your situation after reviewing the facts.
Do I have to go to court?
Most car accident cases resolve through settlement without ever going to trial. However, if the insurance company refuses to make a fair offer, filing a lawsuit and potentially going to trial may be necessary to get you the compensation you deserve. Your attorney will advise you on whether settlement or litigation is the better path at each stage of the process.
Can I still recover compensation if the other driver had no insurance?
Possibly. Your own insurance policy may include uninsured motorist coverage. This coverage addresses exactly the situation where the at-fault driver has no insurance or insufficient insurance. Whether and how much you can recover depends on the terms of your policy and the applicable law. An attorney can review your coverage and help you understand all available avenues for compensation.
What should I do if the insurance company contacts me right after the accident?
You should be cautious. The other driver’s insurance company may call you within days, sometimes within hours, of the accident. They may seem friendly and helpful. Their goal, however, is to gather information that benefits their insured, not you. You have no obligation to speak with them or give a recorded statement. Tell them you will be in touch, and contact an attorney first. Your own insurer is different: you generally have a contractual obligation to cooperate with them, but you can still consult a lawyer before providing detailed statements.
Reaching Out to Gelb & Gelb, P.C.
Gelb & Gelb, P.C. has represented injured accident victims in Washington, D.C. and across Maryland for nearly 70 years. We handle Maryland car accident cases, D.C. car accident cases, and a full range of personal injury matters. We work on a contingency fee basis, charge nothing for initial consultations, and are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
If you or a member of your family were injured in a car accident and you are wondering whether you have a claim worth pursuing, we encourage you to call us at (202) 331-7227 or reach out through our contact page. We will give you an honest, thorough assessment of your situation. We will answer any questions you have without any pressure or obligation. The consultation is free, and so is the conversation.
You deserve to know your rights. We are here to help you understand them.
