Rockville Maryland Car Accident Attorneys

More than 150 years of combined experience helping people earn the compensation they need after a serious accident injury

No one ever gets in a car intending to become involved in an auto accident. For most of us, respect for the safety of other drivers, pedestrians and cyclists is second nature. As a result, many drivers are unaware of the steps they should take after an accident in order to protect their rights and preserve their ability to seek compensation for any resulting damages or injuries.

At the law offices of Karp, Norwind, Gold & Karp, P.A., our skilled car accident attorneys are dedicated to protecting the rights of victims in the wake of accidents caused by another person’s carelessness. We have a proven track record of effectively holding responsible parties accountable for their negligence and obtaining the compensation our clients deserve. With five area offices, we help car accident victims in Maryland, Northern Virginia and Washington D.C.

What are some of the unsafe driving behaviors for which a driver can be held accountable?

The legal basis for determining whether a driver is to blame for a particular accident begins the duty of all drivers to operate their vehicle in a manner consistent with that of a “reasonably prudent” driver. Each driver has a duty to not needlessly endanger other drivers in his or her immediate vicinity by engaging in unsafe driving behaviors. When a driver fails to drive according to the “reasonably prudent” standard, this duty owed to other drivers is breached, and when this behavior negligently causes an accident which injures another person, that injured person is entitled to seek damages for their injury from the negligent driver.

Some of the most common negligent driving behaviors include:

• Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Falling asleep at the wheel
• Texting, eating, using a GPS, or becoming otherwise distracted while driving
• Reckless, careless, or aggressive driving, such as speeding or tailgating

Car accidents can also be caused by factors such as defective auto parts or dangerous roadways. As with driver negligence, auto part manufacturers have a duty to prevent an unsafe vehicle from needlessly endangering motorists, and city, county and state governments have a duty to preserve safety on public roads. In either case, such responsible parties can be found negligent and liable as well.

What should I do if I get into an auto accident?

There are several important steps that a driver should take immediately following an auto accident, even if you did not cause the crash:

• Call the police; in addition, be sure to obtain a copy of their accident report.
• If possible, obtain the names and contact information of witnesses; take notes of weather and road conditions, and gather or photograph physical evidence.
• Even if you do not think that you are injured, seek medical attention as soon as possible after an accident. Certain serious injuries are sometimes not immediately apparent.
• Do not talk to any insurance adjuster at the accident scene. In particular, do not tell anybody that you hit them, that you are OK, that you are unsure about what happened, or that you accept any settlement.
• Be sure to contact your own insurer, but do not reach a settlement with them without first consulting an attorney.

Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia all place a limit on the amount of time that you have to file a claim after an accident. Because of this, taking these steps as soon as possible after an accident not only provides our car accident attorneys more time to prepare your claim, but allows us to gather critical evidence that may become more difficult, or impossible, to obtain with the passage of time.

If you have been injured in an auto accident, contact an experienced Maryland car accident attorney today

At the law firm of Karp, Norwind, Gold & Karp, P.A., we have more than 150 years of combined experience pursuing negligent drivers and holding them accountable for the accidents and injuries that they cause. We have the skills and the resources to gather and analyze physical and scientific evidence, and our dedication to fighting for justice for our injured clients is reflected by our established track record of success. For a free initial consultation, we urge you to contact us today at (800) 229-7026, or online. There is no fee until you win, and we can travel to you if you are unable to travel to one of our five metropolitan Washington D.C. offices.