The answer is you do not need a Maryland car accident lawyer if you are in an accident. If you suffer no injuries, there is little point in hiring legal counsel. By simply speaking with your insurance provider, they will gladly take care of the matter for you, whether you are at fault or not. However, if you are hurt due to a car accident, you may consider hiring an injury attorney.
On average, by hiring an attorney to handle your accident case, your recovery should be roughly five times higher than without representation. By understanding how insurance companies operate, you will understand why this makes sense. Unsurprisingly, insurance companies want to pay you as little as possible and maximize their profits. Even if their insured is at fault and admits this, they still do not wish to pay you what they owe you. Generally, when they see an accident victim without an attorney, they offer the minimum amount they believe you will accept. They will likely need to recognize the extent of your injuries or the total value of your claim.
In total candor, it is possible to file a suit for your accident claim without the assistance of an attorney. A judge may even go easier on you when examining your formal documents than he would a lawyer. However, these are still not formalities that can be foregone because you are a layperson in the law. Additionally, you still must prove each element of a negligence claim. This includes establishing your damages so you can recover compensation for your injuries. While a court may cut you some slack, a courtroom is still all business and requires the appropriate etiquette. The court will not assume elements of your claim are proven because something seems obvious to you. However, it is still possible for you to go through the process of filing suit and having your day in court. Liability seems obvious when you are on the beltway, US-40, I-95, or some other major highway, and a driver cuts you off or rear-ends you. But, you still have to prove the elements of negligence in court and the other driver’s actions.
In addition to filing suit and winning in court, you may also obtain compensation by settlement from the defendant’s insurance provider. However, we have practiced personal injury law in D.C. and Maryland for nearly 70 years. In our experience, an insurance company seldom offers a plaintiff what they owe. These are the most significant things to consider when asking yourself if you need a Maryland car accident lawyer. The exception is if your damages are excessive and the insurance coverage goes nowhere near covering your injuries. In such a case, an ethical attorney will not even take your case because it would likely be unethical to take a fee, given your injuries will not be covered. Of course, this is on a case-by-case basis, and we would still examine your case during our free consultation.
But in general, insurance companies can calculate the precise amount to get the typical accident victim off their hands while still sending them away happy. Unfortunately for these victims, they do not realize their case is worth substantially more than the offer they are receiving. The insurance company knows this. And they know that you likely do not know this. As a result, while you can recover money, you are leaving the bulk of it on the negotiating table. And if you decide you do not need a Maryland car accident lawyer because you can negotiate with the insurance company, the difference between a layperson and an attorney is an attorney can and will file suit on the claim.
Meanwhile, a layperson negotiating needs to gain leverage. They can demand more money because the claim is worth more. However, the insurance company has no reason to offer more until the accident victim hires legal counsel.
Cost is significant when deciding whether you need a Maryland car accident lawyer. Our fee is typically one-third of the recovery. However, we charge the client nothing if we do not take care of your claim. Accordingly, we do not charge anything for an initial consultation. Also, if you have any questions during your case, we do not charge by the hour, encouraging questions and communication. Our attorneys can speak anytime, and our phones are available 24/7. When you call us, we will explain our retainer agreement in detail so you feel comfortable and understand it fully. Unlike many firms, we do not charge a retainer fee. If you have any questions or have a viable claim, please call us at (202) 331-7227.