The title of this article is certainly not a claim any state wants to make. Unfortunately, Maryland now owns this dubious distinction as it recorded more auto accidents than any other state in the country. And as residents of the Metro DC area, this is something to keep in mind whenever you get behind the wheel.
The Grim Statistics
Data provided by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) for accidents that occurred in 2017 revealed that the state with the most car accidents is none other than Maryland, with 16.67% of drivers reporting a prior at-fault accident. In 2017, there were 511 fatal crashes reported in the state. Additionally, 9.1% of deaths per 100,000 people in Maryland were car accident-related. Perhaps not coincidentally, Maryland’s average commute times are the second-longest in the United States.
In 2021, Insurify reported that 13.22% of drivers have a prior at-fault accident on record, while 8.10% of drivers have a previous no-fault accident on record (fourth-highest in the country). With Maryland drivers reporting at-fault accidents 30% more often than the national average, Maryland came in at #4 on the list of states with the most car accidents in 2021. The one silver lining? Many of these crashes do not lead to fatalities, as the number of fatal crashes per 100 million vehicle miles traveled is 22% below the country’s average.
Maryland Car Accidents and Personal Injury Claims
While not all of these accidents will necessarily lead to a personal injury claim, they certainly contribute to the rash of accidents that causes Maryland to rank at the top of the country when it comes to car accidents. And, unfortunately, the more often car accidents occur, the more often there will be personal injury lawsuits to emerge from the wreckage.
Now, when it comes to personal injury claims such as those that we handle here at The Lapidus Law Firm, the injuries sustained in a car accident must result from someone else’s negligence. And if you or a loved one find yourself in that situation, there are a few things you should do.
What to Do If You’re Injured in a Car Accident
- Gather any evidence you can, if you’re able, such as pictures of the crash scene with your phone; if not, see if someone else can. If you believe another vehicle was at fault, try to get an eyewitness statement and make sure the police are involved so they can record an official report of the accident.
- Get medical attention as soon as possible, even if you think the injury is minor. Sometimes injuries don’t surface until hours or even days later. Getting checked out at the scene by an ambulance is ideal, especially if there’s a serious injury–if you’re not transported by ambulance, get yourself to an ER or your physician as soon as possible, and be sure to keep your diagnosis and medical records.
- Call the experienced car accident attorneys at The Lapidus Law Firm, where we have decades of experience with every type of car accident there is.
We’ve handled personal injury claims and wrongful death lawsuits and know how to navigate them. In the event of an accident, call us at (202) 785-5111 or (301) 852-7500 for a free, no-obligation consultation.
Written by Larry Lapidus