If you are hurt in a car accident while traveling in Maryland, you may be entitled to various forms of compensation. Depending on the facts of the case, a financial award may be provided by the defendant or an insurance company, and you may collect from both sources. Whether you need outside assistance handling your case depends on several factors.
You may shoulder some liability
Outside counsel may be needed if the other party claims that you were the one who caused the crash. The same may be true if you told your insurance company that you did something to contribute to the motor vehicle accident taking place. This is because you may struggle to obtain evidence or not think to obtain information that could counter these claims and help you obtain a favorable outcome in your case.
You aren’t sure how to evaluate a settlement offer
There is a chance that you’ll receive a settlement offer from the other driver or a party affiliated with that person. Unless you have a background in personal injury law, it may be difficult to determine if you have received a fair offer. Remember, you may have long-term medical or other needs that may or may not be covered as part of an initial settlement.
The other side is uncooperative
If the other driver is being difficult about negotiating a settlement, it may be necessary to seek help in obtaining a good-faith settlement. The same is generally true if the other driver’s insurance company won’t negotiate in good faith or is insisting that you take a lowball offer to resolve the matter.
In a personal injury case, you may be entitled to a financial award to cover all current and future medical bills related to a defendant’s actions. You may also be entitled to compensation for lost wages, lost future earnings or other costs that are related to injuries or property damage caused by another party’s reckless behavior.