What Should I Do After a Car Crash?

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Contact the police.
If a police officer comes to the scene of the accident, get their name and badge number and the police report number. If the police don’t come to the scene, go to the police station to file a report. Keep a copy of the police report; this information will be useful in your case.

Straighten out the details.
Get insurance information for other parties involved. Write down names and contact information for anyone who was involved or witnessed your accident. Draw a diagram or write a detailed description of the accident.

Visit a doctor.
Even if you have minor complaints, it’s important to see your doctor. Some injuries take time to surface, so getting a doctor’s medical opinion is important.

Should I accept the insurance company’s offer?
Always consult your lawyer before speaking to an insurance adjuster. The adjuster is looking out for the best interests of the insurance company—not you. You don’t have to give the adjuster a recorded statement, and you don’t have to take the first settlement offer they give you.

Why do I need an attorney?
Filing a claim can be complicated and time consuming, especially when the insurance company refuses to pay you money you’re entitled to. A lawyer will help you navigate the process by talking to the insurance adjuster, helping you fill out paperwork and fighting for your rights to fair compensation.

How much does a lawyer cost?
ChasenBoscolo has a No Fee Guarantee, which means you won’t pay an attorney fee unless we recover money for you.

How much money is my case worth?
Each case is different, we can’t determine the worth of your claim until we’ve fully investigated the details. We need to know how your injuries occurred, who was involved and responsible for the accident, what treatment you received, whether you lost time from work and how the accident impacted your life.

How long will my case take?
The length of time it takes to finish your case is affected by a number of factors, including the time it takes to get your medical records and for you to recover from your injuries. It also depends on how long it takes to negotiate your claim with the insurance company.

Can I still recover if I was at fault or partially at fault?
Depending on the facts of your case, you may not be able recover your damages. Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. are contributory negligence states. This means that if you were even 1% at fault for an accident, you will not be able to collect damages. Determining fault can be more complex than it seems. You should never assume you don’t have a case before speaking to an experienced lawyer.

Who can file a personal injury claim?
Anyone who suffers injuries due to the negligence of another can file a claim. In cases where the injury victim dies, surviving dependents and close relatives may have the right to file a wrongful death claim. Parents or legal guardians may file personal injury claims on behalf of minors. In most cases, courts will hold settlements or jury awards until the child reaches age 18.

How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit?
A legal deadline—or statute of limitations—specifies how long you have to file a personal injury lawsuit. The statute of limitations that applies to your case depends on a variety of factors, such as the location where you were injured, your age at the time of the accident or injury, and the type of claim you intend to file.

Don’t wait until it’s too late to get experienced legal help. Contact me today for an explanation of how these time limits apply to your case.

Visit www.ChasenBoscolo.com to learn about the 6 mistakes to avoid when hiring an injury lawyer.

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Tom Teodori has been protecting the rights of individuals since 1988. He has successfully pursued a variety of case types, including catastrophic injury, construction and workplace injuries, bus and train injuries, product liability claims, wrongful death and medical product injury. His success stems from his meticulous and organized approach to building cases. He is committed to helping his clients receive just compensation for their life-changing injuries. Tom has tried over 100 jury trials and has successfully argued cases in appellate courts, resulting in several decisions from the Maryland Court of Special Appeals. Tom is married with four children. He enjoys participating in many different community initiatives and coaching his son’s ice hockey team. He can be reached directly at 240-624-2342 or [email protected].