Prince George’s County Car Accident Lawyer

After a car crash in Prince George’s County, securing a dedicated and experienced local car accident lawyer is crucial. At Gelb & Gelb, P.C., we excel in navigating the complexities of Prince George’s County auto accident claims, offering top legal advice and personalized support to maximize your compensation.

A car crash can negatively impact your physical and emotional health. It can also take a toll on your finances by burdening you with unexpected expenses and depriving your household of needed income. If somebody else was responsible for the car crash that hurt you, a Prince George’s County car accident lawyer could help restore some of your finances.

The skilled legal team at Gelb & Gelb, P.C., will work diligently on your behalf to advise you and support you throughout every step of the complicated process of a personal injury lawsuit. We aim to obtain car accident compensation in Prince George’s County to meet your needs and help you pay for necessary treatment.

Common Types of Car Wrecks in Prince George’s County

Some car accidents result in just minor damage to the vehicles, while others cause serious injuries or even fatalities. The following types of car crashes may result in severe injuries and deaths:

• Front-end collisions
• Rear-end collisions
• Side-impact or T-bone collisions
• Rollover accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Crashes into fixed objects, such as telephone poles or fences

Prince George’s County car wreck attorneys have experience successfully litigating claims with crashes, including those involving multiple vehicles.

Where PG County Car Accidents Occur

PG County car accidents occur on any road in the county. They also frequently appear in parking lots, parking garages, and neighborhood streets. We have expertise in high-traffic areas. Our Prince George’s County car accident lawyers have a proven track record of success in cases involving busy intersections and high-traffic areas. Listed below are the most common places where PG County car accidents occur.

• I-495 (the beltway). The Beltway is home to some of the worst traffic in the country. Consequently, it sees auto collisions on I-495 in PG County every day.
• College Park
• Edmonston
• Kenilworth Avenue
• East-West Highway
• Queens Chapel Road
• Greenbelt Road

Causes of Car Crashes in Prince George’s County

Often, car crashes happen when a driver is reckless or negligent. This is true whether the tortfeasor violates Prince George’s County traffic laws or not. When a driver exhibits any of the following careless behaviors or makes any of the mistakes listed below, devastating injuries may occur:

• Distracted driving
• Drunk driving
• Aggressive driving, such as tailgating
• Speeding
• Running red lights or stop signs
• Improper turns, such as when a driver fails to use a turn signal before turning at an intersection
• Road rage

Skilled local attorneys would visit the crash scene and take pictures to reconstruct what happened. They would also look through the police reports and traffic camera footage and interview eyewitnesses to find out what they saw. Once a dedicated attorney has determined what caused the accident, they would try to determine who is legally responsible. If an accident survivor decides to pursue a legal claim against the at-fault driver, a local Prince George’s County accident attorney could help them demonstrate why the driver is liable for the injuries.

Deadline to File a Claim in PG County

Accident survivors do not have unlimited time to file a lawsuit. Maryland state law generally gives people three years from the date of an accident to file suit. You may recover for property damages or personal injuries, as outlined in Maryland Courts and Judicial Proceedings Section 5-101. It is essential to contact a skilled local lawyer as soon as possible after a car wreck to ensure compliance with the Maryland statute of limitations. In addition, early investigation after an accident is crucial. Working with an attorney immediately following an accident is imperative. It will ensure that all of the evidence remains available and that the memories of everyone involved in the accident remain fresh. Ready for Justice? Schedule Your Free Consultation with a Prince George’s County Car Accident Lawyer Today.

Understanding Car Accident Law in Prince George’s County

While no Maryland statutes explicitly describe car accident law in Prince George’s County, there is caselaw that tells us how courts should treat your case. No matter how your car accident unfolds, odds are we have handled hundreds just like it, as we have handled over 10,000 personal injury cases since our founding in 1954. Car accident law generally falls under negligence law. To successfully pursue a negligence claim, we must be able to establish four elements. They are as follows.

1. Duty. First, we must prove that the defendant owed you a duty at the time of the injury. On the road, a driver owes a duty to all reasonably foreseeable plaintiffs. Whether a plaintiff is foreseeable is technically a jury question, but you must ask yourself what a reasonable person would think in such circumstances.
2. Breach. Now that we have established a duty owed, we must prove that the duty was breached. For example, a driver must come to maintain control of their vehicle. To fail to do so is a breach of duty.
3. Causation. The fact that there is a breach of duty does not warrant a cause of action for a plaintiff. Instead, the breach of duty must be causally related to your injury. Causation is a complex element to prove, and we do not need to go into detail here. Just know that the breach of duty must have been reasonably foreseeable for there to be legal causation.
4. Damages. The damage element might be where your eye went first. To recover any compensation, we must prove that you suffered some harm. The damage might be economic, like a medical expense. Or, the damage might be the inability to participate in your favorite hobbies because of the car accident.

Our Expertise: Navigating Car Accident Claims

Every Prince George’s County car accident case is different. But many of them do follow the same general timeline.

1. Injury. This is stage one. At this level, you will do a few things. First, ensure your safety. This can mean many different things, but ensure you get out of harm’s way. That means getting to the side of the road, at the least. Then, collect evidence. Obtain insurance information from the adverse driver, name, address, tag number, and photographs of the scene and the cars involved in the accident.
2. Consultation With a Prince George’s County Car Accident Lawyer. You contact an experienced and trusted attorney for a case evaluation. Here, we assess your case, determine liability, and begin our investigation. Our investigation can take a few weeks, but we will ensure you receive proper medical care. Sometimes, our instinct is to “tough it out” when hurt. But after a severe car accident, your neck or spine may have incurred serious injury. If you are injured, we encourage you to seek proper medical care. If we can prove liability by the tortfeasor, you will receive just compensation for these medical expenses.
3. Receive Medical Treatment. This stage is vital because it dictates the value of your case. If you merely testify at trial that you were in pain, but you do not have a treating physician who has been treating you and knows your injuries to testify on your behalf, a jury will not believe your testimony. We need to build your case with medical records. Furthermore, your case increases in value as your medical expenses increase. Of course, we advise clients to seek as much treatment as they feel they need and what their medical providers recommend.
4. Demand Letter. Once you finish your treatment, we request all the bills and records from your various medical providers. Then, we put together a letter to the adverse driver’s insurer to settle your case. This letter outlines the extent of your injuries, a task we can only do once you have completed treatment, and underscores the compensation you deserve.
5. Negotiation. Approximately four to six weeks after receipt of our demand letter, the adverse insurer should be ready to initiate settlement negotiations. The actual settlement negotiation does not typically get completed in one conversation. Instead, these negotiations take place over the phone and can take days or weeks. But that is ok; it is not a process we wish to rush. While we advise you of each settlement offer we receive, we will recommend against accepting it if we believe it does not reflect the actual value of your case. If the negotiation fails, which only happens about 3% of the time, we will take the defendant to trial.
6. Resolution. Upon a successful settlement, you sign a release of liability, and we receive your settlement check. We then place the check in our escrow account to be disbursed to the various entities, including the client.

Compensation You Can Expect

As seen in the graphic above, a lot goes into the damages aspect of a car accident case. Fortunately, your Prince George’s County car accident lawyer is happy to walk you through this process. You are needed because your attorney will interview you, asking how this jury has affected your life. Particularly for the noneconomic damages portion, namely emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life, this can include hobbies, loss of family time, inability to participate in sporting events with kids, etc.

FAQs About Hiring a Prince George’s County Car Accident Lawyer

What is the average settlement for a car accident in Maryland?

The average (mean) settlement amount for a car accident in Maryland is skewed substantially due to the rare, severe injury and death accidents. But the average (mode) settlement amount may fall between $10,000 and $20,000. However, your Prince George’s County car accident case may be worth far more.

Work with a Prince George’s County Car Accident Attorney Today

Investigating, negotiating with defense attorneys and insurance companies, and litigating a car accident claim can be time-consuming and complicated. Often, there are multiple parties involved. A Prince George’s County car accident lawyer has the experience to help you recover damages against the people responsible for your injuries. Our Prince George’s County car accident lawyers will stand up for your rights and fight on your behalf. Call Gelb & Gelb, P.C., today to schedule a consultation.