Auto Accidents

Auto Accident Lawyer

- Serving Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Harford County, and surrounding regions -

The following is not advice on a particular automobile accident case and is only intended as information which generally applies to the type of case in this category.  To obtain advice and determine what you should do in a specific case, you should consult with an auto accident attorney.

For an experienced auto accident lawyer, contact the Law Offices of Taras Andrew Vizzi today or call 410-426-4504.

Most car accidents involve two or more vehicles. Drivers who are involved in an automobile accident have certain obligations under Maryland law and should do the following:

1. Stop.  The first obligation is to stop your vehicle once you have been involved in an auto accident.  In Maryland, you are obligated to stop if you have been involved in a car accident when you have reason to believe that either another person has been injured or other property has been damaged.  There is also an obligation under Maryland traffic laws to provide information at the scene with the other driver if the other driver has also stopped.
   
   

2. Call the Police. When you have been involved in an automobile accident, you should call the police. This is to insure that there is an orderly exchange of car insurance information and also offer other assistance. In the event that there are injuries at the scene of the accident, the police will make sure that medical assistance is offered, do an investigation of the accident, and issue citations only if necessary.
   
   

3. Identify Witnesses.  If a person comes up to you after you have been involved in a car accident and states that they saw all or part of the accident, then get as much information from that individual as possible including their name, address, telephone number, and a general description of what they saw. This information will be helpful to either your auto accident attorney or your auto insurance company when the claim is under investigation.
   
   

4. Do Not Argue with the Other Driver.  A discussion as to how the car accident happened is one thing, a heated argument over who was at fault is another.  Unfortunately, once people have been involved in an auto accident, individuals are often upset and on edge. An argument can quickly escalate into a violent confrontation under these circumstances.  The best person to explain your version of what happened at the scene is the police officer who is performing the investigation.  Otherwise, do not discuss the automobile accident with anybody but your insurance company or your car accident attorney.
   
   

5. Contact Your Auto Insurance Company.  Regardless of whose fault it was, you should always contact your auto insurance company after you have been involved in an accident.  Why?  While at the scene of the accident, it might appear to be very simple and straightforward as to who was at fault. However, after people have had an opportunity to settle down and “reflect” on what happened, then the stories and versions of what occurred may change.  Furthermore, it is not certain that the other individual will report the claim to their automobile insurance company. If you have full coverage under your policy, then your insurance company may act more quickly in placing you in a rental vehicle and/or having your vehicle repaired than the other car insurance company.
   
   

6. No obligation to speak to the Other Driver’s Car Insurance Company.  You are not under any obligation to speak with a car insurance company for the other driver before you have spoken either with your own insurance company or an auto accident attorney.  Oftentimes, the auto insurance company for the other driver will contact you in order to get you to give a recorded statement as to how the car accident happened and/or whether you have suffered any injuries.  Do not do it.  The claims representative contacting you has been trained to obtain admissions against you that can make it more difficult for you to pursue your claim and receive just and fair compensation.  Furthermore, once you are represented by an automobile accident attorney, the insurance company for the other driver is not supposed to contact you without your attorney’s consent. 
   
   

7. Seek Medical Treatment.   Some auto accidents involve injuries that are obvious and people are taken away in ambulances as a result of those injuries.  In other accidents, however, the personal injuries may not seem so obvious although they still require medical attention.  Often,  people are excited and nervous at the scene and it is only after they have had an opportunity to settle down, that they realize that they have pain in some part of their body.  If pain does develop after the automobile accident happens, then medical attention should be sought as soon as possible whether it be at an emergency room in a hospital, or with your own doctor if an appointment can be arranged within a short period of time.
   
   

8. Do I Need an Attorney, and if so, When?  In most cases where a person has suffered an injury as a result of an automobile accident, it is prudent to seek the advice of an auto accident lawyer. 
   
   First of all, the attorney can give you guidance on who is going to be responsible for the car accident.  This is extremely important because if you are found to have either caused or partially contributed to the accident, then you may not be able to pursue a claim against the other driver. 
   
   Secondly, an automobile accident attorney can assist you with pursuing all aspects of your claim.  Once involved in an auto accident, a person may have not only a bodily injury but they may also have damage to their vehicle which needs to be addressed and often times the attorney can work closely with the responsible auto insurance company to obtain a proper repair of the vehicle and/or a rental for your use.  In addition, the attorney can insure that your medical bills are being properly paid under your own car insurance policy (assuming you have personal injury protection) or under your personal health insurance.
   
   Thirdly, an attorney can help you in obtaining fair compensation for the various losses that go with a bodily injury, including pain and suffering, reimbursement of medical bills, inconvenience, and loss of wage.
   

For an experienced auto accident lawyer, contact the Law Offices of Taras Andrew Vizzi today or call 410-426-4504.

Taras Andrew Vizzi, P.A. is an experienced car accident lawyer whose law firm is located in Towson, Maryland. He offers legal advice for criminal cases, traffic cases, and civil cases. His law practice services residents in the Baltimore Metropolitan area including Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, and Harford County regions.