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If you were injured in a car accident, you are most likely facing physical pain, emotional trauma, extreme stress, and financial setbacks. In the days after the accident, a personal injury lawsuit is probably the last thing on your mind. However, to pay for the sudden medical bills and property damage from the accident, you may need to collect damages from the negligent driver who caused the accident.
At Regan Zambri Long, our car accident insurance claim lawyers know their job does not stop at efficiently settling your claim for the highest amount of compensation possible. Our compassionate attorneys will guide you through the entire claims process, making sure you understand what’s going on every step of the way. We will take care of all the paperwork and all the correspondence with the insurance companies. Your only focus will be on your recovery. Call today for a free consultation with an experienced DC car accident lawyer to get started.
Insurance policies are usually jam-packed with legal jargon and language that’s not easily understandable, so let’s break down the basics.
There are 14 states (including Washington, DC and Puerto Rico) that are no-fault insurance states. In no-fault insurance states, drivers must file claims with their own insurance company, regardless of who was liable for the accident. This makes a personal injury claim more complicated, but not impossible. If your property damage exceeds your policy limit, you can file a personal injury lawsuit against the other driver. If your medical expenses are higher than your policy limit, you may sue the other driver to make sure your bills are covered.
Both Maryland and Virginia are at-fault insurance states. At-fault insurance states are based on tort liability when someone is held accountable for wrong or negligent actions. In at-fault states, the car accident victim can sue the negligent driver’s insurance company for economic and non-economic damages. The Regan Zambri Long law firm practices throughout Washington DC, Virginia, and Maryland. We are experts in each jurisdiction’s laws and insurance policies. If you or your loved one were injured in a car accident in Maryland or Virginia, our car accident insurance claim lawyers can help secure fair compensation for your injuries.
At Regan Zambri Long, we believe that knowledge is power. When you work with one of our veteran lawyers, we will take care of everything. However, we firmly believe that you, as our client, have the right to be informed of every step of the process. Knowing the basic auto insurance policies in Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia will help you understand how your car accident attorney will negotiate on your behalf:
You are no longer required to have an attorney present if you file a car accident claim. If your accident is straightforward (for example, if you were not seriously injured or the liable party is easily identified and accepts blame), you may not need a lawyer.
However, the unfortunate reality is that insurance policies and the legal system can quickly get complicated. When dealing with physical and emotional injuries after a car accident, you may not have the time or the energy to fight for your rights. That’s where the Regan Zambri Long car accident lawyers come in. We will tirelessly fight to protect your rights and recover the maximum possible damages. We know we cannot change what happened to you or your family, but we can provide a way to cover all your medical expenses and property damage from the accident.
Your Regan Zambri Long car accident insurance claim lawyer will take care of the following:
Determine negligence: Not all car accidents are clean-cut. Negligence could have played a role in the accident months before. For example, if a driver failed to maintain their vehicle properly and caused the accident because of brake or tire failure, the fault would be the drivers. However, if a faulty part causes your accident, the responsibility may lie with the car manufacturer. While you heal from your injuries, our lawyers will look into all parties that could be liable for the accident and we will hold each one accountable.
Request damages: Depending on the severity of your injuries and property damage, your Regan Zambri Long car accident attorney will request damages from each liable party. Damages for a car accident claim may include:
File your claim: Your attorney will fill out the paperwork. Although this may not seem like an important step, it is important to know that there is a strict time limit for filing car accident claims. This time limit is known as a statute of limitations. If your claim is not filed on time and correctly, you will forfeit your rights to compensation. The statute of limitations for Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia are:
Build your case: Our car accident lawyers surround themselves with the best people in the business. We have secured millions for our clients over the years because we have the financial backing to hire expert witnesses, consult with medical experts, perform accident reconstruction, and build a team of legal experts around your claim. We deeply understand you are putting your financial future in our hands and we take that very seriously. Our car accident insurance claim lawyers, including our founding partners Patrick Regan, Salvatore Zambri, and Victor Long, are regularly featured in Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers. We will work diligently to build a case that will win you a favorable settlement.
Negotiate with the insurance companies: The first step to settling your car accident claim is the negotiation process with the insurance company. Unfortunately, insurance companies rarely hold up to their end of the bargain when it comes to paying you what you are owed. Instead, they often try to lowball car accident victims. Our lawyers have been practicing for over 30 years and know every trick in the book. We are shrewd negotiators and will not settle for less than you deserve. If a settlement cannot be reached, we will take your case to court.
Dealing with the physical, emotional, and financial repercussions of a car accident is overwhelming, scary, and lonely. Our car accident insurance claim lawyers at Regan Zambri Long want you to know that you are not alone in this. We will walk alongside you and guide you through the claims process until the very end. Your life will move forward after your accident – we will make sure of it. Call today for your free case evaluation.
