Smith, Graham & Crump, LLC
WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE INVOLVED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT
Every ten seconds, someone is involved in a motor vehicle accident[1]. Unfortunately, one day, that someone may be you or a loved one. It is important to be informed about what you need to do in order to protect the well being of anyone involved in such an accident.
If you are involved in an accident, the first thing you must direct your attention to is your health and safety, the safety of your passengers, and the welfare of anyone else involved whether they were in another vehicle or not. Make sure that your vehicle is out of harm's way in order to prevent further damage. Assess the condition of the other people involved, determining if anyone needs medical attention. If so, call an ambulance immediately. Unless you are properly trained, do not attempt to move anyone who has been seriously injured as you may make their injuries worse.
Once everyone is safe, your next task should be to call the police. They will be able to investigate the accident and file a report. This information can be useful later.
Meanwhile, you should document as much about the accident as you can. If you happen to have a camera with you, take pictures of your vehicle and all other vehicles involved. Take photos from several angles. You should also take photos of the accident scene, including any damaged property, the road in both directions and any structures that may have contributed to the accident.
Write down the names and contact information of everyone involved, including any witnesses. These people may be gone by the time the police arrive.
If your motor vehicle accident occurred in Maryland or the District of Columbia, we recommend that you contact us at Smith Graham & Crump, LLC as soon as possible after the accident. Our investigators, medical experts and liability experts will carefully research your case and review all evidence from the accident. We will be able to determine if any of the drivers involved were negligent and therefore obligated to pay for damages. We can also discover other contributing factors such as a defect in a vehicle, poorly maintained roads or street signs, or malfunctioning traffic lights.
Were you riding a motorcycle at the time? If so, then there are unique factors which must be considered when putting your case together. Many times such accidents are not the fault of the motorcycle rider. Instead, it is the driver of the other vehicle who has been negligent in their understanding of sharing the road with motorcycles.
If your vehicle was hit by a large truck, such as a tractor-trailer, there are special considerations as well. The drivers of such trucks are bound by numerous rules intended to ensure the safety of other drivers. It is possible that the truck driver's negligence of these rules contributed to the accident. Our team of attorneys will discover if this is the case.
We here at Smith Graham & Crump, LLC are experienced accident attorneys in Maryland who are committed to protecting your legal rights regarding compensation from a serious motor vehicle, motorcycle or truck accident. There are many issues involved in making a claim, including knowledge of traffic laws, vehicle regulations, and medical and liability issues. These issues must be handled with care and expertise. The team at Smith Graham & Crump, LLC will present the best possible case on your behalf in order to maximize the compensation due to you.
[1] According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Please Call : 301-925-2001
Please Call : 301-925-2001
Largo MD Personal Injury Lawyer