Maryland Car Accident Laws - Ultimate Guide 2023: A total of 563 people will die in Maryland car crashes in 2021, according to the Maryland Department of Transportation. Thousands more were injured.
After a collision, Maryland law sets forth your options for obtaining compensation for damages. This guide explains the details of Maryland law so you'll be prepared to defend your rights after a car accident.
Maryland Minimum Insurance Requirements
The minimum insurance requirements are designed to provide fair compensation to car accident victims. Maryland law requires every driver to have a certain minimum liability coverage. Drivers must purchase at least the following types of protection:
- $15,000 in property damage liability coverage
- $30,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person
- $60,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per accident
Liability insurance pays when a covered policyholder causes harm to another motorist. If you are injured in a collision caused by someone else, liability insurance will pay for damages to the extent of the policy. It does not cover the policyholder's own losses as a result of an accident.
When should a Maryland car accident be reported to the police?
Maryland does not require that you report all car accidents to the police. You must report a collision under the following circumstances.
- If someone is hurt in the accident
- If any of the vehicles involved cannot be moved safely
- If any of the drivers involved in the accident appear to be intoxicated
- If none of the drivers involved in the accident had a valid driving license
- If a driver attempts to leave the scene of an accident without exchanging the required insurance information and contact details
- If the accident caused damage to any public property
If the collision involved death or bodily injury, you have 15 days to notify the Motor Vehicle Administration in writing about the accident.
Even when you are not required to call the police after a car accident, Maryland law imposes certain requirements. Drivers must stop at the scene of the accident and provide:
- His name
- Their address
- Name and address of the owner of the vehicle if it is different from the person driving it
- The name of their insurance company and their insurance policy number
- The name and address of their local insurance agent, if this information is available
Maryland has a collision information exchange form that involved parties can complete at the scene of an accident to include relevant information. The government recommends printing out several copies and keeping them in your glove box in case of an accident.
Fault in Maryland Car Accident Cases
Maryland is a state to blame for car accidents. This means that if you are involved in a collision and another driver is at fault, you can make a claim against the motorist responsible for the accident. This is true even for more minor injuries.
Some other states, called no-fault states, operate under different rules. They require drivers to purchase personal injury protection (PIP) to pay for their own damages in minor car accidents, regardless of who is at fault. PIP pays for medical costs and partial lost wages.
While Maryland does not enforce these no-fault rules, Maryland does require insurers to offer PIP coverage—though drivers have some options for waiving this protection.
Maryland's Contributory Negligence Rule
There is one important rule regarding fault that you should be aware of if you are involved in a Maryland car accident. Maryland follows the rules of contributory negligence, which may affect your right to recover compensation.
Under the rules of contributory negligence, if you were even partially responsible for your own injuries, you cannot make a claim against the other driver who was mostly at fault. This is true even if you are only 1% at fault for your injuries.
There are some exceptions to the contributory negligence rules. For example, Maryland applies a last clear chance rule, which could result in a defendant being held responsible for an accident a plaintiff may have contributed to—if the defendant had a last clear chance to prevent the accident from occurring. Was.
Maryland lawmakers have tried unsuccessfully to modify the contributory negligence rules and instead adopt the doctrine of comparative negligence. Comparative negligence applies in most states and allows a plaintiff a partial recovery for the portion of their loss for which a defendant was responsible (for example, a defendant who was 60% responsible for a $100,000 loss would receive $60,000). payment may be required).
Because efforts have been made to change the rules, it is helpful to work with an experienced Maryland car accident attorney to find out if there have been any changes to the law prior to the time of your accident that would affect your claim for compensation.
Statute of Limitations for Maryland Car Accident Cases
The statute of limitations applies to car accident claims in every state, including Maryland. If you do not make your claim before the time limit set by the statute of limitations, you will be unable to proceed with doing so.
Maryland's statute of limitations is three years from the time of the car accident. The time limit exists to ensure that claims are made quickly while the evidence is still extant and while witnesses and involved parties still have reliable, fresh memories about the incident.
Injured in a Car Accident? Maryland auto accident attorneys can help
Getting injured in a car accident can be very frightening. Maryland law protects you from damages if another driver caused this to happen to you—but you have to act quickly and effectively to make the law work for you.
A Maryland car accident attorney can help you understand your rights, file your claim, negotiate an out-of-court settlement or present evidence in court in hopes of a favorable verdict. You should contact a lawyer as soon as possible after the accident occurs to assist you in proving your claim so that you are fully compensated for all the damages caused by the accident.
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