Columbia Car Accident Lawyer

Columbia Car Accident Attorney

Serious car accident injuries can include soft tissue injury, broken bones, amputation and scarring – and sometimes they result in wrongful death. This can be personally, emotionally, and financially devastating. At the Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink, PA, our Glen Burnie & Columbia car accident lawyers are dedicated to helping our clients recover the compensation they need and deserve after an accident.

A car accident can affect your health, family, and livelihood. We know how important fair compensation is to you. Email us, or call 410-766-0113 to learn more about how we can help.

Advocacy After an Accident: Your Rights and Your Recovery

While monetary compensation may not make up for all of your losses, it can be an important step towards recovery. You may face mounting medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages. In many cases, victims and their families must address the reality of long-term personal care.

Our lawyers take a comprehensive approach that will fully evaluate your claims and your personal losses. We will review your case, deal directly with insurance carriers on your behalf and help you move forward.

Our personal injury attorneys are experienced in claims involving:

• Drunk driving accidents
• Highway rollovers
• Truck accidents
• Intersection collisions
• Cell phone driver negligence
• Rear-end collisions
• Serious injury and wrongful death

It doesn’t matter what caused your accident. If you were injured due to no fault of your own, you may be eligible to receive compensation with the help of a dedicated car accident attorney.

How Long Do Most Car Accident Cases Take in Maryland?

As is the case with any type of personal injury claim, there are a number of different variables that ultimately factor into determining just how long your car accident case can take. Because every car accident and every victim’s resulting injuries are unique based on the severity and general circumstances involved, each case is going to vary in the exact settlement amount and total length of time that it takes to reach an agreement.

One of the more obvious factors that play into the length of any car accident case is whether or not the case ends up going to trial. For claims that receive minimal resistance from the defendant’s legal representation or that of their insurance provider, a settlement can be reached surprisingly quickly, which is a much more ideal outcome for all parties involved, but this is not guaranteed.

That being said, the insurance company and defendant’s legal representation are more than likely to fight back as much as they can. Whether that’s with the goal of minimizing the total settlement amount or even attempting to claim that the plaintiff shares liability for the damages that occurred, the opposition rarely accepts defeat without pushing back.

Understanding Pure Contributory Negligence

Maryland is a pure contributory negligence state, which means you can only recover compensation for an accident if you were found to be at no fault for it. If you’re assigned even 1 percent of the fault for the crash, you’ll be barred from recovery, even if the other driver’s negligence was the primary cause.

Insurance companies often try to use this legal loophole to their advantage, arguing that accident victims were partially responsible for their accidents because they may have glanced away from the road, stopped short, or changed lanes at the wrong time. These arguments can prevent you from getting fairly compensated.

A car accident lawyer can protect your rights and help to prevent blame-shifting by the insurance companies. We do that by:

• Evaluating evidence
• Interviewing witnesses
• Checking photos of the scene
• Locating video footage
• Hiring expert witnesses

We have what it takes to protect your interests and help you get the compensation you need to heal and move on with your life.

Statute of Limitations

Before you even get started with your claim, it’s vital to understand the statute of limitations for car accident claims in Maryland. Since car accident claims are categorized as a type of personal injury claim, the statute of limitations for filing a claim is three years after the date of the accident under Maryland state law.

This is incredibly important because some other states carry a statute of limitations of two years for similar personal injury cases, and aside from a few exceptions, failing to submit your personal injury claim from a car accident within the established statute of limitations will result in your claim being denied by the state’s courts.

This is why it is crucial to the success of your case that you contact a Columbia car accident attorney and file your claim as soon as possible after the accident occurs. Don’t wait until the statute of limitations is approaching. Contact a lawyer right away while the memories of the events are still clear in your mind, and it’s still possible to track down witnesses and evidence that could be used to bolster your claim.

Get Fair Compensation After an Injury

Most car accident claims will begin with an immediate investigation by police officers and insurance carriers. Having a personal injury attorney with a deep understanding of car accident laws working on your side is important so that appropriate evidence is collected and preserved. We can collect accident reports, medical records, and police reports and work with experts to build your case.

We are also experienced with complex car accident claims against negligent manufacturers for defective tires, seat belts, air bags, and other auto parts and products. Our attorneys can identify all appropriate defendants and aggressively pursue full compensation on your behalf.

Can You File a Claim for Pain and Suffering Damages in a Maryland Car Accident Case?

In the state of Maryland, a car accident victim is legally able to file a claim for emotional distress, which includes pain and suffering, in personal injury claims. According to Maryland law, the cap for the total amount of compensation that a victim can claim for pain and suffering is $965,000 and rises each October. Maryland Senate bill SB 584 would remove that cap entirely if it becomes law.

To receive compensation for pain and suffering, as is the case for physical injuries, the plaintiff in a car accident case will be required to prove that they have or will suffer long-term emotional repercussions as a direct result of the accident, which can be extremely difficult to do. It should be noted as well that you cannot file a claim for pain and suffering in workers’ compensation claims, however.

In terms of calculated emotional distress damages, there are two methods that are typically used in personal injury cases:

• The multiplier method: This method adds up all of the accident-related financial costs (medical bills, lost wages, etc.) and then multiplies that total number by a designated multiplier that can range anywhere from 1.5x to 5x, depending on the overall severity of the injuries obtained from the accident.
• The per diem method: This particular method assigns a specific daily rate or dollar amount to every day that the accident victim experiences emotional distress (pain and suffering), then multiplies that daily rate by the number of days that the victim expects to continue suffering.

Quantifying pain and suffering is much more difficult than quantifying the extent of physical injuries, property damages, and lost wages, so it is highly recommended that you consult with a trustworthy personal injury lawyer who has prior experience handling car accident cases involving emotional distress settlements.

This will help give you the most favorable chance of securing compensation to the fullest extent that you’re entitled to, so that you can properly recover from your physical and emotional injuries with peace of mind.

Columbia/Howard County Crash Report and Records

When you get into an accident in Columbia, you need to file a police report. Filing the report isn’t just a legal requirement, though. It also gives you valuable evidence that can be used in your car accident claim, including the date, time, and location of the crash, the parties involved, a diagram, and witness information. You can retrieve the report from the responding agency, whether it’s the Howard County Police or the Maryland State Police.

To retrieve a record of a car accident from the Howard County Police, you can visit the department’s website or email [email protected].

To obtain a crash report from the Maryland State Police, you’ll have to bring a check or money order for $4 to the barracks on Washington Boulevard in Jessup at least 10 days after the date of the crash, along with a completed Request for Motor Vehicle Crash Report form. You can also submit the form and payment by mail or email it to [email protected].

Why Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?

There were 3,949 crashes in Howard County in 2025. Of those crashes, 17 were fatal, and another 879 led to injuries. If you were injured or lost a loved one in a car wreck, you can hire a car accident lawyer to help you file your claim and pursue fair compensation. Your lawyer can help you:

• File paperwork.
• Gather evidence.
• Determine fault.
• Negotiate with insurance companies.
• Represent you in court.

Working with a car accident attorney is the most effective way to improve your chances of a successful outcome for your claim.

FAQs About Columbia, MD, Car Accident Law

What Is the Average Settlement for a Car Accident in Maryland?

There is no average settlement for a car accident in Maryland because each case is different. Your settlement amount will depend on factors such as the severity of your injuries and whether they are anticipated to cause lasting disability. You’ll likely receive more compensation if you suffered serious, permanently disabling injuries than you would with only a broken bone or two.

Can You File a Claim for a Car Accident in Maryland?

Yes, you can file a claim for a car accident in Maryland. You can file a claim against any negligent party whose actions or lack thereof were the direct cause of your car accident. Maryland is a fault state, which means that accident victims are able to file a claim against the at-fault drivers, their insurance company, and any other third-party organizations liable for the accident, as long as the victim is not proven to share any partial responsibility for the incident.

Is Maryland a Fault-Based State for Car Accidents?

Yes, Maryland is a fault-based state for car accident claims. The state’s personal injury laws allow for car accident victims to file a claim against the at-fault driver, their insurance company, and any other liable third party. However, if the victim is proven to have also been partially responsible or at fault for the accident, then they would not be able to file a claim against the other negligent party for damages.

What Is the Statute of Limitations on a Car Accident in Maryland?

In Maryland, the statute of limitations for filing a car accident claim is three years from the date of the accident in most cases. For car accidents that result in a fatality, the families would have a three-year statute of limitations from the date of death to file a wrongful death claim.

Consult Our Columbia Car Accident Lawyers

If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Glen Burnie, Columbia, or the surrounding areas of Maryland, we’re here to help. We offer a free, no-obligation initial consultation at either of our locations, so you can learn more about your rights as an accident victim and about how we can advocate for you. To get started, complete our intake form or call us at 410-705-7250.