Maryland Car Accident Laws (2023) Guide

Maryland doesn’t require you to report all automobile accidents to the police. You need to report a collision within the following circumstances.

• If somebody was damage within the accident
• If any of the autos concerned can’t be moved safely
• If any of the drivers concerned within the accident seem like intoxicated
• If any of the drivers concerned within the accident didn’t have a legitimate driver’s license
• If any driver tries to depart the crash scene with out exchanging the required insurance coverage data and phone particulars
• If any public property was broken by the crash

If a collision consists of loss of life or bodily damage you may have 15 days to inform the Motor Automobile Administration in writing of the accident.

Even when you find yourself not required to name the police after a automobile accident, Maryland legislation nonetheless imposes sure necessities. Drivers should cease on the crash scene and supply:

• Their identify
• Their deal with
• The identify and deal with of the proprietor of the car if this differs from the particular person driving
• The identify of their insurance coverage firm and their insurance coverage coverage quantity
• The identify and deal with of their native insurance coverage agent if this data is offered

Maryland has a Collision Data Alternate Type that concerned events can full at a crash scene to make sure the related data is included. The federal government recommends printing a number of copies and conserving them in your glove field in case of an accident.

Fault in Maryland Automotive Accident Instances

Maryland is an at-fault state for automobile accidents. Which means if you’re concerned in a collision and one other driver was accountable for it, you may pursue a declare in opposition to the motorist liable for inflicting the crash. That is true even for extra minor accidents.

Another states, referred to as no-fault states, function underneath completely different guidelines. They require drivers to purchase Private Harm Safety (PIP) to pay for their very own losses in minor automobile accidents no matter who’s at fault. PIP pays for medical prices and partial misplaced wages.

Whereas Maryland doesn’t comply with these no-fault guidelines, Maryland does require insurers to supply PIP protection–though drivers do have some choices to waive this safety.

Maryland’s Contributory Negligence Guidelines

There’s one essential rule concerning fault you will need to concentrate on if you’re concerned in a Maryland automobile accident. Maryland follows contributory negligence guidelines, which may have an effect on your proper to get well compensation.

Below contributory negligence guidelines, for those who had been even partly liable for inflicting your personal accidents, you can not make a declare in opposition to the opposite driver who was principally accountable. That is true even for those who had been simply 1% at fault for the accidents you sustained.

There are some exceptions to the contributory negligence guidelines. For instance, Maryland applies a final clear probability rule, which may end up in a defendant being held accountable for a crash a plaintiff might have contributed to inflicting–if the defendant had the final clear alternative to stop the crash from occurring.

Maryland lawmakers have unsuccessfully tried to change contributory negligence guidelines and as a substitute undertake a doctrine of comparative negligence. Comparative negligence applies in most states and permits plaintiffs partial restoration for the portion of their damages a defendant was liable for (for instance, a defendant who was 60% liable for inflicting $100,000 in damages might be required to pay $60,000).

As a result of efforts have been made to vary the foundations, it’s useful to work with an skilled Maryland automobile accident lawyer to search out out if any modifications within the legislation have occurred previous to the time of your accident that would have an effect on your declare for compensation.