What if I Don’t Want to Sue the Other Driver After an Accident?

You might have legitimate concerns that make you decide you don’t want to sue the other driver after an accident. Our Maryland car accident lawyers want you to know that suing the other driver does not have to be as painful and stressful a process as you might think.

You should be able to pursue legal action without sacrificing your recovery or taking time away from your loved ones. We can manage the entire legal process, so you do not have to.

Why Might an Accident Victim Not Want to Sue?

There are several reasons why someone might not want to sue the other driver after a crash, even if they know they were wronged and deserve compensation. These reasons include:

• Not wanting to go through a potentially lengthy litigation
• Not wanting to financially ruin the at-fault driver
• Preferring to file a claim with their own insurance company
• Worrying that they are partially responsible for the accident

While these concerns are reasonable, they are often based on untrue assumptions about how the legal process works:

• It is true that litigation can take a long time, but our attorneys can handle the entire process, up to and including going to court for your auto accident if necessary. We will keep you updated all throughout your case.
• The at-fault party will not pay your damages out of pocket. Their auto insurance, which every Maryland driver is required to purchase, covers your losses.
• Maryland is a Fault state, so personal injury protection (PIP) is not required. If you do have such a policy, you can certainly file a claim under it. However, filing a claim with just one insurer may not be enough if your injuries are catastrophic. You might need money from the at-fault party to cover all of your expenses.
• Do not assume you were at fault. There is every possibility that the liable party behaved negligently in ways that you did not notice or recognize. The attorneys at our firm can carefully investigate your crash and assign fault where it belongs.

If you are still hesitant to sue the other driver for your accident, you can always reach out to our motor vehicle accident lawyers to learn more. We can make sure you have all of the information you need to make the right legal decisions for you and your family.

Do I Have to Sue the Other Driver to Get Compensation?

You do not necessarily have to sue to get compensation. In fact, most cases settle out of court, with our firm and the liable party’s insurance company agreeing to a pretrial settlement.

Many accident injury cases start by filing a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance. The insurance company will then investigate the claim and, if they feel it is valid, offer a settlement. This initial offer is not likely to be a fair reflection of your losses, so it is important to:

• Collect evidence that proves who caused your collision and the extent of your related losses
• Discuss all settlement offers with your car accident lawyer to find out if they are fair
• Give us time to negotiate with the insurance company until they agree to pay an amount that will cover all of your family’s losses

Only if all of these steps do not yield the desired results, or if there is some other reason why we do not feel that an insurance claim will work, do we consider filing a lawsuit.

What Is the Process for Suing the Driver Who Caused Your Collision?

If you do end up filing a lawsuit, our law firm can take care of all of the details, including:

• Filing your lawsuit with the court that has jurisdiction over your case
• Informing the at-fault driver and their insurer of your intent to sue
• Scheduling court dates
• Selecting jury members
• Submitting trial exhibits into evidence
• Selecting and preparing witnesses to testify
• Questioning friendly and opposing witnesses on the standing
• Delivering opening and closing arguments
• Ensuring the defendant’s team respects your rights and courtroom rules, and filing complaints if they do not

At this point, it is still not too late to restart negotiations with the insurance company. Some insurers, upon realizing how serious you are about recovering a just settlement, will agree to offer a fair amount after litigation has begun in the hopes of ending the case faster.

If the insurer still refuses to offer appropriate compensation, our car crash lawyers are prepared to represent you throughout the trial.

What if No One Was at Fault for Your Accident?

This is not a very likely scenario: most car accident cases involve a negligent party. Even if the drivers involved are not negligent, there is always the possibility that a car manufacturer, a government agency, or another party failed to follow the law. For example, the city might have failed to fill in a pothole, which contributed to the crash.

By investigating your motor vehicle collision, our legal team can identify all of the parties who are responsible for your current suffering. You have the right to sue multiple parties as necessary, and we can manage all of your legal actions while you focus on healing.

Discover Your Options for Getting Compensation After an Accident

Adam Smallow Injury Lawyers is committed to standing by injured Marylanders From Hurt to Help®. We can work with you to figure out the best way to get the money you need, so call now for a free consultation.

Even if you don’t want to sue the other driver after an accident, we can work with you to alleviate your concerns and fight for your family’s future.