Injured in a car crash, a fall or another accident in Maryland or Washington, D.C.? Ozek Law Firm, LLC, in Bethesda, helps injured people and families deal with insurers, document their losses and pursue fair compensation. Many of our clients are immigrants and international visitors, and we serve them in their own language.
Maryland and the District of Columbia are two of the very few places in the United States that still follow pure contributory negligence. If the insurance company can show you were even slightly at fault, for example 1%, it can argue that you should recover nothing at all. Maryland’s highest court kept this rule in Coleman v. Soccer Association of Columbia (2013), and D.C. applies it as well.
That is why the way an accident is reported, the statements you give to an adjuster, and the photos, witness names and medical records collected in the first weeks can decide the whole case. We step in early so the record is built correctly from the start.
Missing a notice deadline can end an otherwise strong case, so tell us right away if a bus, a police car or any government vehicle or property was involved.
Maryland drivers must carry at least $30,000 / $60,000 / $15,000 in liability coverage and, unless waived, $2,500 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP) that pays medical bills and lost wages regardless of fault. D.C. requires $25,000 / $50,000 / $10,000 in liability coverage; D.C. drivers may carry optional PIP and, if they do, face a 60-day window after the accident to choose between PIP benefits and a traditional fault claim. We review your own policy as well as the other driver’s, because uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage often matters more than people expect.
In Maryland, compensation for pain and suffering (non-economic damages) is capped by statute. The cap is $965,000 for causes of action arising between October 1, 2025 and September 30, 2026, and $980,000 for those arising on or after October 1, 2026 (Courts & Judicial Proceedings § 11-108). D.C. has no general cap in ordinary injury cases.
Many of our injury clients are new to the United States, hold a visa, have a pending green card case, or are visiting from abroad. Your right to seek compensation for an injury caused by someone else’s negligence does not depend on your immigration status. Courts in both Maryland and D.C. provide interpreters at no cost for court proceedings.
Because we also practice immigration law, we look at both sides at once: whether a settlement, a police report or time off work affects a pending visa, green card or citizenship application, and how to protect it. If you need to travel home for treatment or family reasons, we can keep the claim moving while you are abroad.
You speak directly with an attorney, not a call center. We explain the realistic range of outcomes, what the insurer is likely to argue, and our fee arrangement in writing before you hire us, so there are no surprises. Consultations are available in English, Turkish, Spanish and Swedish, in person in Bethesda or by video from anywhere in the world; we arrange interpreters for other languages, including Persian, Arabic and Russian.
Looking for broader negligence information? See our Negligence & Personal Injury practice overview.
Tolga Ozek founded Ozek Law Firm and has spent more than 13 years guiding individuals, families, investors and companies through U.S. immigration and business law, in English and Turkish. He is admitted in Washington, D.C., Maryland and New York.
Possibly not. Maryland and D.C. apply contributory negligence, so an injured person found even slightly at fault may be barred from recovery. There are exceptions, including D.C.’s protection for pedestrians and cyclists and the “last clear chance” doctrine, which is why fault should be evaluated by a lawyer before you speak with an insurer.
Generally three years from the date of the injury in both jurisdictions. Claims against the District of Columbia require notice to the Mayor within six months, and claims against Maryland local governments or the State generally require notice within one year.
Yes. Immigration status does not prevent you from seeking compensation for an injury caused by someone else’s negligence. Because we also practice immigration law, we can also check how the case interacts with any pending immigration matter.
Personal Injury Protection pays medical bills and lost wages up to your policy limit regardless of fault. In Maryland, using PIP does not prevent you from bringing a claim against the at-fault driver. In D.C., drivers with PIP must choose within 60 days whether to take PIP benefits or pursue a fault-based claim, so timing matters.
Yes. The cap is $965,000 for causes of action arising from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026, and $980,000 for those arising on or after October 1, 2026. Economic losses such as medical bills and lost wages are not subject to that cap.
Often, yes. If the accident happened in Maryland or D.C., we can work with you by video and electronic signature, collect records internationally, and coordinate any required court appearance.
Consultations are available in English, Turkish, Spanish and Swedish. We arrange qualified interpreters for other languages, including Persian (Farsi), Arabic and Russian.
We explain our fee arrangement in writing before you hire us, including how case costs are handled. Ask us at your first call.
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