Should I hire a Baltimore car crash attorney for my accident?
If you suffered injuries in a car crash that wasn’t your fault, it is worth having an experienced Maryland car accident lawyer on your side. Since 1973, Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. has been helping clients get more money in their pockets from their Maryland car accident settlement than they would get trying to handle the case on their own.
The insurance company has adjusters, investigators, and lawyers working to pay you and your family as little money as possible for your car accident injury claim. The less money they pay you, the more profits the insurance company gets to keep.
Our Baltimore car accident lawyers have decades of experience dealing with adjusters and insurance attorneys. We will help you through the claim process, and make sure you are paid all of the insurance settlement benefits you are entitled to receive.
After an auto accident injury, speak with one of our personal injury attorneys for a free consultation and claim evaluation. There is no obligation to hire our Maryland car accident law firm, but if you do decide to put our lawyers to work on your case there are NO FEES OR EXPENSES UNLESS YOU WIN!
When should I contact a Maryland auto accident law firm?
It is important to take immediate steps to make sure you and your family are protected after an automobile accident caused by another car or truck in Maryland.
You need to act quickly to preserve certain evidence and make sure the insurance company does not take advantage of you. This may include hiring someone to perform an independent accident reconstruction in order to establish liability and making sure witness statements are preserved.
Insurance companies like MAIF (Maryland Auto Insurance Fund), GEICO, State Farm, Allstate, Nationwide, Liberty Mutual and other have full time employees on call 24 hours a day to investigate claims. These insurance adjusters are trained to capture evidence in a way that will benefit the negligent driver and reduce the amount of compensation they will have to pay to settle your accident claim.
Hiring Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. will put an experienced Maryland accident law firm on your side, with the resources and knowledge to fight the insurance company and hold the other careless driver accountable for the damages and injury they caused. The car accident lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. will level the playing field, and provide the skilled and accomplished representation you need.
More Maryland Car Accident Lawyer FAQs On This Page
What happens during a free consultation with Saiontz & Kirk, P.A.?
What insurance benefits am I eligible for?
How much money will I get for my Maryland car accident settlement?
What are “pain and suffering” damages?
How are car accident pain and suffering settlements calculated?
What factors are considered when negotiating auto accident settlements?
Why choose the Baltimore accident lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk?
What Happens During a Free Maryland Car Accident Consultation?
After contacting Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. for a free and confidential consultation, one of our experienced Maryland auto accident attorneys will speak with you and review the circumstances surrounding your claim. We will provide free advice and recommendations for dealing with the insurance company, and answer any questions you may have before deciding whether to hire a car accident lawyer.
During your Free Maryland Car Accident Consultation we will:
Discuss all of the insurance benefits you may be entitled to as a result of your injury, and answer any questions you may have about filing a Maryland car accident insurance claim.
Explain how our Baltimore car accident law firm deals with insurance companies, and how we work to maximize the amount of settlement money you receive in your pocket.
Review how our contingency attorney fees work, and make sure you understand that there are never any fees or expenses paid until we win your case and you receive a settlement.
Talk to our Baltimore, Maryland Accident Lawyers for a
FREE CONSULTATION AND CASE EVALUATION
If you decide to hire our Baltimore car accident lawyers to represent you, one of our attorneys and a paralegal will be assigned to work directly with you during the entire Maryland insurance claim process. Throughout the case, if you have any questions or concerns, we will be there to help!
Every Maryland car accident injury case does have a statute of limitations and other deadlines, so it is important to make sure that you have an experienced personal injury law firm on your side as soon as possible to make sure your legal rights are protected.
What car accident insurance benefits am eligible for?
To obtain the full amount of money and compensation you are entitled to receive, it is important to fully understand all of the Maryland car accident insurance benefits that are available.
In addition to getting your car repaired after a Maryland accident, the insurance company for the at-fault driver should provide a rental car while your vehicle is fixed and certain first party insurance benefits (Maryland PIP or Med Pay insurance) may be available to provide money for lost wages and medical bills. You should also make sure that health insurance and accident insurance coverage is coordinated to maximize your recovery and increase the amount of money you receive.
As part of a Maryland car accident settlement with the insurance company for the at-fault driver, you should receive full coverage for past and future medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering. Under the “Maryland collateral source rule”, the insurance company does not get to discount the amount of your settlement just because you had other sources of coverage for your medical bills or lost wages.
Our Baltimore car crash lawyers have been handling accident insurance claims for decades, and know how to maximize your recovery and make sure you receive all of the benefits available.
- Property Damage: Your car should be repaired properly or you should be paid the appropriate replacement cost
- Rental Car: While your car is being repaired, you may be entitled to a rental car
- PIP or MedPay: Medical Pay coverage or “Personal Injury Protection” (PIP) is often available after an accident to provide immediate money for lost income and medical bills. Certain deadlines and notice requirements may apply, so it is important to take steps to preserve your right to receive this money.
- Medical Care: You have the right to choose your own doctor and to obtain all of the medical treatment that you need, now and in the future
- Accident Injury Settlement: If the car accident is not your fault, you are entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering caused by the accident.
How much money will I get for my Maryland car accident settlement?
A car accident settlement in Maryland should provide full reimbursement for lost wages, medical bills, property damage and the physical pain and suffering that resulted from the automobile crash.
There is no clear cut formula that can be used to determine the exact amount an individual is entitled to for pain and suffering following an accident or personal injury, so your Maryland auto accident settlement must be negotiated with the insurance company or decided by a jury.
The car crash attorneys at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. have decades of experience negotiating with insurance adjusters and litigating Maryland accident lawsuits in court to force MAIF (Maryland Auto Insurance Fund), GEICO, State Farm, Allstate, Nationwide, Liberty Mutual and other insurance carriers to pay fair compensation for injuries caused by negligent drivers.
What are pain and suffering damages from a car accident?
When injuries are caused by another driver’s negligence, the insurance company is required to pay money for “pain and suffering” resulting from the crash. Therefore, a car accident pain and suffering settlement should include fair compensation for:
- Physical pain and discomfort experienced as a result of the car accident injuries;
- Inconvenience and disruption to your enjoyment of life;
- Inability to take part in activities and events that you normally could have done, were it not for the car crash.
Under Maryland accident law, pain and suffering is included in the amount of money paid for “non-economic” damages. This encompasses everything that is not an actual financial loss caused by the accident. For example, lost wages, property damage and medical bills are all “economic losses” from a car accident, which can easily be calculated and determined. Pain and suffering includes everything else.
How are car accident pain and suffering damages calculated?
There is no defined formula for calculating Maryland car accident pain and suffering damages. Rather, it is part of the insurance settlement negotiations.
In addition to providing documentation to support the amount of your medical bills, lost wages and property damage, it is important during car accident settlement negotiations to provide the insurance adjuster with evidence to support the car accident pain and suffering calculation.
This may include an “impact statement” and other evidence that would be presented to the jury at trial to establish the full effect the Maryland car crash had on you and your family.
What factors are considered when negotiating auto accident settlements?
A wide variety of factors are considered by our Baltimore accident lawyers when calculating car crash settlement demands. Ultimately, the amount sought will be based on how much a judge or jury is likely to award at trial if a settlement is not reached. Therefore, Saiontz & Kirk’s experience litigating Maryland accident cases puts our lawyers at an advantage over the insurance adjuster when negotiating the largest auto accident settlement possible.
During settlement negotiations, it is important to provide clear and convincing documentation to support each of the factors a Maryland jury would consider when calculating damages from an auto accident, including:
- the extent of the injury
- the length of time that it took to recover
- the degree of residual or permanent injury
- the level of disruption the injury causes
- the emotional trauma suffered
- the impact the physical injuries had on the overall well being
Every injury is different, and before negotiating with the insurance company you should make sure an experienced Maryland car crash attorney is on your side. The lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. provide free consultations and case evaluations, and there is no obligation to hire our law firm to pursue your case. However, you should contact Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. before you start negotiating with the insurance company.
Why choose the Baltimore auto accident lawyers at Saiontz and Kirk?
For the past five decades, Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. has been one of the most recognized car accident law firms in Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, Pennsylvania and the entire mid-Atlantic.
When dealing with our auto collision attorneys, insurance company adjusters know that our Baltimore auto accident attorneys have the resources and experience to hold the at-fault driver accountable.
Our lawyers handle all cases under a contingency fee agreement, which means that there are never any out-of-pocket costs to hire our law firm and we receive no fee or expenses unless a settlement or financial recovery is obtained for your car accident injury. We are “No Win, No Fee” car accident lawyers!
If you, a friend or family member have suffered a car accident injury, contact our lawyers by completing the form on our website or call Saiontz & Kirk’s 24 hour toll free accident hotline at 1-800-522-0102. You will have the opportunity to review any questions or concerns you may have, and get one of our Maryland car accident attorneys working on your side.
Contact Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. For A
FREE CONSULTATION AND CASE EVALUATION
Frequently Asked Questions About Car Accident Settlements
Below are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions around car accidents that our personal injury attorneys get asked.
Paying for a car crash attorney
Is it worth getting a lawyer for a car accident?
Yes. It is always worth hiring a personal injury attorney to represent your interests and help guide you through the complex car accident claim process. Getting a lawyer for a car accident will make sure you are not taken advantage of by the insurance company, and maximize your settlementThe insurance company for the at-fault driver has experienced lawyers and adjusters on their side, who are trained in tactics that take advantage of individuals without an attorney guiding them through the process.
Unless it is established that you are in a position to force the insurance company to make a fair settlement offer by filing a lawsuit and pursuing your car accident claim through the court system, the insurance company knows that you have no alternative but to accept what they offer.
One of the main reasons people are hesitant to hire an attorney for their car accident is the perceived cost, believing they will end up with more money by attempting to settle the claim without an attorney. However, our experienced Baltimore personal injury law firm has been handling car accident claims for over 50 years, and we would not still be in business if we were not successful helping clients walk away with substantially more money in their pockets, even after paying attorney fees.
Hiring an auto accident attorney to be on your side while negotiating with the adjuster gives you a substantial advantage over the insurance company.
Should I try to handle my car accident claim on my own?
While it is possible to handle a simple automobile accident claim without the help of an attorney, we always recommend speaking with an experienced lawyer for a free consultation before deciding whether to try to handle a car accident claim on your own.Handling car accident claims and negotiating the settlements can be complex, and sometimes even adversarial. It is not in the adjuster’s best interest to give you a fair deal, as the less they pay to settle your case, the more profits the insurance company keeps. Therefore, insurance companies spend substantial time and effort training adjusters on how to take advantage of individuals handling a car accident on their own. If you are not familiar with the insurance company tactics, strategies and potential pitfalls inherent to handling auto accident negotiations, you may be doing yourself a tremendous disservice and receive a much smaller settlement than you deserve.
Speaking with an experienced auto accident attorney early in your case will help you better understand whether you should try to handle the claim on your own or hire a lawyer to represent you. If you suffered injuries that required medical treatment, you deserve to be fairly compensated for your pain, suffering and the overall disruption the auto accident brought to your life. There are substantial benefits to hiring an attorney to work for you, who knows how to navigate the difficulties inherent to handling an accident claim and negotiating the most favorable settlement possible.
Who pays for the attorney in a car accident?
All fees and expenses associated with hiring our car accident attorneys are paid directly out of the settlement money obtained from the at-fault driver’s insurance company. There are NEVER any out-of-pocket costs paid by our clients upfront, and we receive nothing until you get paid!Through this contingency fee arrangement, you are able to hire a lawyer without paying hourly attorney fees throughout the handling of your case. You also do not have to incur the substantial expenses that are necessary to properly document and pursue your case, including fees for investigators, accident reconstruction experts, independent medical examinations, record retrieval, and other costs.
Under our Maryland car accident attorney fee agreement, Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. pays the expenses associated with the handling of the claim, and we are only reimbursed if we win your case. If we are not successful in your recovery, you will never be responsible for any fees incurred.
This helps level the playing field when facing a large insurance company and ensures you have access to the highest quality representation and resources without paying any money out of your pocket for an attorney to handle your car accident claim.
What is the average fee for a car crash attorney?
Our Baltimore car accident attorneys charge a contingency fee, so the amount paid for a lawyer to represent you is directly tied to the amount of the final settlement or recovery you receive. The average fee varies widely, depending on the nature and complexity of the case.If a car accident settlement is reached without the need for a lawsuit to be filed, the attorney fee received by our law firm will be 33.33% of the recovery. If we are unable to negotiate an out of court settlement that sufficiently compensates you for the injuries suffered and you elect to move forward with a lawsuit, a higher contingency fee of 40% may apply.
Before any fees are paid, every client reviews and signs a detailed disbursement sheet outlining exactly how all settlement funds and fees are distributed
How long after a car accident settlement do I get my money?
While the amount of time it takes to settle a car crash claim will vary, depending on several circumstances in the case, our Maryland car accident law firm devotes substantial resources to make sure claims are processed as quickly as possible. You will have a dedicated case manager and attorney assigned to your case throughout the process, as well as an entire settlement and disbursement team that will work to negotiate and process any settlement obtained on your behalf.
In most Maryland accident claims, a settlement can be reached within 3 to 6 months. However, if your injuries are more severe and require longer treatment, or there are other complexities involved in the investigation and documenting of your claim, it can take longer. If an out-of-court car accident settlement is not reached and a lawsuit is filed, this will also substantially extend the amount of time it takes to get paid for your claim.
Once a final settlement is reached, most clients are able to receive their money within 7 to 30 days. However, this is largely impacted by how long it takes for the insurance company check to be sent and the amount of any liens or medical expenses that may be negotiated to increase the amount of money in your pocket.
How a Maryland car accident claim is investigated
How is it determined who is at fault in an automobile accident?
Following a Maryland car crash, determining fault requires that clear and convincing evidence be provided to the insurance company to establish how the crash occurred. This will be the primary focus of our auto accident lawyers immediately after we start working on your case.While we are often able to convince the adjuster to accept liability for the automobile accident quickly, sometimes it is necessary to obtain signed witness statements, police reports, traffic light data, camera footage or other evidence that may be available to support your claim.
Ultimately, if the insurance company refuses to accept fault for the automobile accident voluntarily, a lawsuit must be filed so that a judge or jury decides who is responsible for the car crash.
What information do I need to make a car accident claim?
When making a car accident claim, it is helpful to have as many details about the crash as possible. However, even if you only have limited information about the crash, our Maryland auto accident lawyers can help investigate the claim and get started on your case right away.Some of the helpful information you should try to obtain after a car accident may include:
- The location of the accident (Street names, City and State)
- The names of all parties involved
- The Year, Make, Model and tag numbers of all cars involved
- Pictures of the vehicles and scene of the accident, if available
- A brief, clear description of the events that led to the accident
- A description of any injuries you and any passengers in your car may have suffered
- A list of all medical treatment you may have received for accident related injuries
- The names of the insurance companies for all parties involved as well as policy numbers
- Any information given to you by police officers who may have arrived on the scene
In many cases, all of these details will not be available and it is important not to delay contacting our Baltimore car accident lawyers. We can help get any missing information about the automobile accident that you may not already have.
Do I need to report a claim to my insurance company following an accident that isn’t my fault?
You should always report a car accident to your insurance company, regardless of who is at fault for the crash. You may have a contractual duty to report any accidents to your insurance company, even if you are not at fault. In addition, there are often important benefits available through your insurance coverage, including:
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
- Medical Payment Benefits
- Lost Wage Coverage
- Collision Coverage
- Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist Coverage
- Other protections only available under your policy if you report the claim to your insurance company, even after an accident that isn’t your fault
Reporting an accident that was not your fault should not raise your insurance rates according to Maryland Insurance Regulations, and you may lose important benefits if you do not notify your insurance carrier about the crash.
How do I find out the other car’s insurance information?
Even if the other party is unwilling to voluntarily give you their car insurance information, our Baltimore accident lawyers can usually obtain that coverage if you have the tag number or police report available. Maryland car accident insurance information can usually be obtained by our law firm through a tag search with the department of motor vehicles. We also have a team of investigators that can help track down the insurance coverage for the at-fault driver.
In the event the other car did not have insurance, we will document your claim for potential coverage through uninsured motorist coverage that may be available through your own policy. In certain circumstances, you may also qualify for benefits through MAIF UCJ (Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund Unsatisfied Claim and Judgment). However, there are critical deadlines to document and present your claim for this insurance coverage that is available for innocent victims of Maryland accidents caused by uninsured drivers.
What do I do if the other car in an accident doesn’t have insurance?
Even if you were injured in a hit-and-run accident or a car crash caused by an uninsured driver, our Maryland lawyers can help determine whether other sources of insurance coverage are available to pursue your claim.
This may include:
- Uninsured Motorist coverage through your insurance policy
- Household insurance coverage through policies of any family members
- Maryland UCJ benefits through the Maryland Auto Insurance Fund (MAIF)
Maryland UM Insurance Coverage
Under Maryland law, all insurance policies are required to provide Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage. This includes limited or liability only policies obtained, even if you do not have collision coverage.
If you or a family member acted responsibly and purchased at least the minimum required insurance coverage, you are protected with UM benefits. Your insurance company will step in and act as though they cover the uninsured driver, and then they may seek recovery of any money paid directly from that negligent individual.
MAIF UCJ Accident Coverage
In the event that neither you or any family members residing in your household have an automobile, you may also be able to file a MAIF UCJ claim. Known as the Unsatisfied Claim and Judgment (UCJ) claim for compensation against the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund (MAIF), this state-run fund provides protections for innocent victims injured by uninsured drivers in the state.
In order to qualify for a UCJ claim, you must not only be a victim of a car crash, but all other avenues of insurance coverage available must be explored and exhausted before filing a UCJ claim. However, a limited time is available to provide MAIF notice of your UCJ claim. Therefore, it is important to take immediate steps after an accident to document that the other vehicle is uninsured and present your claims. Our MAIF UCJ lawyers have decades of experience securing coverage for our clients.