Your Car Accident Attorneys And Dedicated Advocates
Last updated on August 13, 2026
When you’ve suffered the terrible ordeal of a car accident, you need a legal advocate who can handle all of the steps and challenges involved in getting compensation. You need a team that will put you first.
You will find that at the law firm of Wampler & Souder, LLC. Based in Frederick County, Maryland, our lawyers represent car accident victims and their families statewide. We also handle these cases in Virginia and Washington, D.C.
Our attorneys are strong litigators who can capably represent you in court. We can also protect you from the tactics of insurance companies that often seek to delay or diminish claims.
Leading Causes Of Car Crashes In Maryland
According to the Maryland Department of Transportation, distracted driving is the biggest cause of car accidents statewide. It’s also the leading cause of traffic fatalities.
Distractions can come in many forms, including:
- Texting while driving, which is illegal
- Talking on the phone while driving
- Talking to passengers
- Adjusting the map or music
- Eating behind the wheel
Other common causes of car accidents include speeding, drunk or intoxicated driving, inexperienced driving (especially among teen drivers), driver fatigue and reckless driving.
If a distracted driver, drunk driver or other negligent party contributed to your car accident, you can seek accountability and compensation through a personal injury claim.
How Long After An Accident Can You File A Claim In Maryland?
The statute of limitations (deadline) for filing a personal injury case in Maryland is generally three years after the date of the accident. You will need to make an insurance claim much sooner, however. Our lawyers can advise you on a strategic timeline for pursuing compensation.
What Kind Of Damages Can You Get For A Car Accident Case?
You can pursue damages (compensation) for all accident-related expenses, including:
- Repair or replacement of your vehicle
- Damage to other property that may have been in your vehicle
- Your medical bills and treatment expenses
- Your lost wages from work missed due to the accident
Additionally, you can pursue compensation for your pain and suffering, which may be significant.
What To Know About Your Maryland Car Accident Claim
A crash can leave you with questions about deadlines, evidence and your duties. The following answers explain key Maryland rules that may affect your next steps:
What is the statute of limitations for a car accident injury lawsuit in Maryland?
In most Maryland car accident cases, you have three years to file a personal injury lawsuit. For a typical claim, that period begins on the date of the crash.
Maryland Courts and Judicial Proceedings Code § 5-101 sets this general deadline. However, different rules can apply when the injured person is a minor. Maryland law generally pauses the filing period during minority. Once that legal disability ends, the person usually has three years to file.
A parent may have a separate claim for costs caused by the child’s injuries. That claim can follow a different deadline, so the child’s extended period does not always apply to every related claim.
How does Maryland law treat a victim’s failure to wear a seat belt and can defense attorneys use it to claim contributory negligence?
Maryland law generally prevents parties from using a person’s failure to wear a seat belt to prove negligence or contributory negligence. It also prevents that fact from reducing damages in most injury cases.
This protection matters because Maryland follows contributory negligence. A person who helps cause an accident may lose the right to recover damages.
However, Maryland Transportation Code § 22-412.3 prevents seat belt nonuse from serving as proof of fault in most civil cases. A limited exception may apply when the case concerns the seat belt’s design, manufacture, installation or repair.
What does Maryland law impose on drivers immediately following a car accident involving injury or property damage?
Maryland law requires you to stop after a crash involving injury, death or damage to attended property. You must remain at the scene while completing the duties required by law.
You must provide identifying information and vehicle registration details. You must also give reasonable help to an injured person. If someone requests medical care or clearly needs it, that duty can include arranging transportation for treatment.
Your reporting duties depend on the circumstances. If no officer is present and no person who should receive the required information can do so, Maryland law may require you to report the crash to the nearest police authority.
Take The Next Step Today
We are here to help you with all of the legal nuances of your car accident case from Frederick, Silver Spring, Upper Marlboro, and throughout Maryland. Learn more by reaching out to us online or calling 301-668-5111.