Auto Accident Cases While On Vacation

We’ve had a spate of referrals from out-of-state lawyers lately that involve Maryland auto accidents, usually Maryland defendants, but out-of-town plaintiffs. The scenario is that an out-of-towner is traveling in Maryland, perhaps even on vacation, and is hit by a negligent driver here in Maryland. Some of these are Ocean City auto accidents, others are for less traveled destinations in our state. Those people may treat here in Maryland while they are here, usually an emergency room visit or two, and then they finish out their medical treatment in whatever state they come from. They contact a lawyer in their home state, and that referring attorney may attempt to settle the case on his own; if that doesn’t work, he needs a Maryland lawyer to file and litigate the lawsuit here in a Maryland court.

There are a couple of other of permutations–Maryland drivers visiting a vacation spot in Maryland, and hit by a negligent out-of-town driver. Out-of-town driver visiting Maryland hit by another out-of-town driver in Maryland. In each case, the lawyer should consider the best place for the lawsuit if it doesn’t settle.

In Maryland, the rules about where lawsuits can be filed are usually clear. Maryland Rule § 6-201 provides that lawsuits can typically be brought in a county where the defendant lives (if a person), or where a defendant has its principal place of business (if a corporation). Rule § 6-202 provides that a lawsuit can also be filed in the county where the accident occurred.

Particularly where accidents happen for a person on vacation, there may be multiple options on where to file a lawsuit. The police report will typically show the address where the defendant lives; if that is different from where the accident happened, the lawyer should compare the potential judges/juries, and make a decision about where the case will likely have the most success. Another consideration is the convenience of the plaintiff–if the victim is from another state, he or she may have to travel back to Maryland for a trial if an auto accident settlement is not possible. However, it may be more convenient for a local accident victim to choose one permissible venue over another. The lawyer’s client should be included in the decision making process.