Our Waldorf car accident attorneys have decades of experience helping people across all of Southern Maryland after a serious auto accident.
At Andrews, Bongar, Gormley & Clagett, we have been helping accident victims in Waldorf, Lexington Park, and other areas throughout Southern Maryland for over 40 years. We regularly handle cases involving Southern Maryland car accidents. In fact, our Waldorf car accident attorney has extensive experience in all aspects of auto insurance claims and litigation.
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One of the best lawyers out there! Didn’t have to go to court for my workers comp claim and he made the entire process easy. While it was stressful to wait he answered all of my questions quickly. Talking to him was very comfortable, like talking to a friend. Never had to wait for a return phone call always got to speak with his para legal, Amanda who is also a very down to earth most caring person!
They both went above and beyond and I cannot thank them enough for what they’ve done for me.
I will be back for any other services I may need SOMD Law for.
Very affordable and professional.
I would recommend this office to any friend or person in need of a 5 star lawyer! Thank you to Office of SOMD Law!
Quon Wilson
2023-05-18
This firm is excellent! I greatly appreciate the detailed counsel provided to me by Mr. David Gormley who guided me to the best attorney to meet my unique needs. I am very happy with the outcome and I am grateful for Mr. Gormley’s counsel and recommendation.
darren berry
2023-04-05
It was a rewarding experience talking to Mr Clagett. He provided me with information that i requested which was very helpful
lpcityhotrods
2023-02-25
wow....no other words to say. My attorney, Mr. Clagett was an awesome attorney to work with, he was very patient and very understanding to my concerns and issues. Not only did Mr. Clagett gain my trust as my attorney, but he also gained a good friend. I would highly recommend this firm for any legal issues you may have. THE BEST!!!
Thanks for everything - Anthony
Missy Brooks
2023-02-23
If you need a bankruptcy attorney, look no further. Mr. Gormley, my attorney and his assistant Dana were not only professional, they also listened and understood my situation. They show empathy and understanding. Mr. Gormley and Dana made the bankruptcy process very easy. And made sure I understood everything every step of the way. They are definitely the best team to hire for all your bankruptcy needs. Thank you so much Mr. Gormley and Dana for everything. My life is so much better thanks to you both. Keep up the amazing work!!!
Whitney Staples
2023-01-13
Fantastic office and staff. Extremely kind, patient and professional from the first phone call with the receptionist, to walking in the office and every interaction thereafter. Tucker Clagett answered every question quickly and kept me informed during the entire process. I felt extremely comfortable and a tremendous weight lifted off my shoulders after the initial consultation. If you are in need of a lawyer, I highly recommend Tucker Clagett with Southern Maryland Law.
Shanetta Cole
2022-12-07
I would like to say that Sounthern Maryland Law is the Absolute Best Firm!!!! Everyone there was so kind, caring, understanding, and welcoming. Mr. Tucker Clagett is the attorney, which handled my case. He was attentive, and knowledgeable about my situation. I would definitely recommend anyone in need of council to this Firm. Thank you again Mr. Tucker Clagett for your help!!!!
Michael Forshey
2022-11-10
Fantastic people and good at what they do. Tucker and Amanda took care of all the heavy lifting on our car accident case and we are completely satisfied with the resolution. Easy to work with, easy to talk to, good about keeping you informed when each step is due to happen.
KS
2022-11-09
Tucker Clagett is an amazing Lawyer and Amanda Green is a phenomenal Paralegal. My fiancé and I are from out of state and had a car crash in Maryland. We called around and no one would help or take our case until we called Maryland Law. Amanda Green, one of the paralegal’s at this establishment, directed us to Tucker Clagett. He gave us our consultation and took our case, fighting for us throughout one of the most difficult times of our life. Amanda Green became our Paralegal on this case as well, and was very respectful, helpful and gave us both the most timely and professional responses. This was our first time taking on a lawyer for a car accident, and may I say it was all worth it in the end. We got a well deserved settlement from both Tucker and Amanda’s hard work. Maryland Law should be grateful to have such hardworking individuals. Thank you both!
Willard Mumford
2022-10-27
I needed to update my estate planning and found the folks at Andrews, Bongar and Gromley were very helpful, knowledgeable and able to answer any concerns or questions. They discussed things I hadn’t thought of which will ease the burden of my love ones in the future. I highly recommend them for your estate planning needs.
If you have suffered serious injuries, you will need help to recover your losses. Our lawyer can deal with the insurance companies on your behalf and fight for the full financial compensation you deserve.
As a result of our lawyers’ decades of experience practicing law in Southern Maryland, we have successfully represented clients in virtually all types of car accident cases. We have also handled claims against all of the major insurance companies. Our local investigators can begin collecting evidence immediately. We will rely on our local knowledge to carefully examine all the various factors that may have caused or contributed to your collision.
Free Legal Advice for Waldorf Car Accidents – Dealing with the aftermath of a car accident is stressful enough without worrying about whether you are going to get an expensive legal bill from your attorney. We won’t ever do that. We offer free legal advice, and your initial consultation is completely risk-free.
You Only Pay If We Win – At Southern Maryland Law, we collect a contingency fee only if we help you win just compensation. We do not charge any retainer fees or other out-of-pocket costs. If the insurance companies beat us, you owe us nothing.
We don’t just handle Waldorf car accidents, we live and work in Southern Maryland. We know the local roads, and we are passionate about fighting for members of our community.
What Are Your Next Steps? – At this point, your next steps are very simple: You need to seek medical treatment for your injuries (which is most important!), and you need to speak with our trusted Waldorf car accident lawyers right away.
Don’t Let Mistakes Jeopardize Your Financial Recovery– When dealing with insurance companies, minor mistakes can have major consequences. Let our attorney deal with the insurance companies for you to help you get your maximum settlement.
Maryland Car Accident Guide
A car accident is a stressful interruption at best. At worst it can turn your whole life upside down. You have questions and need answers now – in plain English – not legalese or insurance jargon. When you have answers you can make informed, intelligent decisions.
We are your Maryland personal injury legal team. We wrote this Free Legal Guide so you can quickly & easily discover the answers to your legal questions. Know your options and be informed before you make big decisions about your car accident case – like hiring a Lexington Park car accident lawyer.
You can learn a lot in just 15 minutes by reading this guide now.
When you hire our law firm for your legal case, you don’t just hire a single lawyer. You hire a team. Each practice area has at least two attorneys who handle that area of law, so you have backup when you need it. Our paralegals are highly trained and have lots of experience. Plus they are unfailingly nice & pleasant to work with. You will love working with them!
Tucker Clagett, Partner
Personal Injury Legal Practitioner
Tucker Clagett is a Partner at Andrews, Bongar, Gormley & Clagett. He has one of the largest Personal Injury and Workers’ Compensation practices in Southern Maryland. He is an experienced litigator, winning jury trials in courts around the state, and successfully litigating appeals in Maryland’s Appellate Courts.
Tucker is very active in the community and loves to serve through various community groups and non-profit agencies, some of which he created. Tucker has served on the Board of Directors of multiple agencies trying to improve conditions for those living without running water in Nanjemoy. He is also a member of the Mason Springs Conservancy, which purchased an environmentally sensitive piece of land along the Mattawoman Creek to protect it from pollution while leaving it open to a local fishermen who has been fishing there for decades.
Tucker was born & raised in Upper Marlboro. He lives with his family in La Plata.
Am I Entitled to Financial Compensation for My Car Accident?
Being involved in a car accident can have immediate and long-term consequences. This is especially true if you suffer serious injuries in the collision. Not only can a car accident leave you suffering from physical limitations, chronic pain, and emotional trauma, but it can lead to major financial losses as well.
Let’s consider a common scenario: You are driving your car in Southern Maryland, obeying the speed limit, and keeping your eyes on the road. It is a normal day with normal driving conditions. Then, out of nowhere, you get hit. All of a sudden, your life has been turned upside down, and it is all because someone else chose to make a dangerous decision behind the wheel.
No matter how safely we drive, we cannot fully protect ourselves from dangerous drivers. This is an unfortunate reality of the world in which we live. The risks of careless actions like running red lights and texting while driving are obvious and well-known. Nevertheless, drivers in Southern Maryland still make these costly mistakes every single day.
Types of Compensation for Car Accident Victims
If you have injuries from a car accident, you will be eligible for various types of compensation. Maryland law divides damages into two classes: economic and noneconomic damages. You will probably be able to recover both types of damages. However, the exact amount will vary according to the nature and extent of your injuries.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are losses that you can put a price tag on. These damages compensate you for things like:
Hospitalization and medication costs,
Physical therapy appointments,
Lost wages,
Funeral expenses, and
Property damage.
Keep in mind that economic damages cover both past and future medical expenses and lost wages.
Noneconomic Damages
Noneconomic damages compensate you for damages that are more difficult to define. Examples include pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and disfigurement. Physical impairments also fall under noneconomic damages.
It’s challenging to put a fair price tag on these kinds of damages. Rather, the size of your recovery depends on the impression your case makes on a judge or jury. A quality Waldorf car accident attorney will be able to make a stronger impression than you would. That is yet another reason why you should not go without representation.
When Can You File a Claim Against the Other Driver?
Typically, recovering your losses after a car accident in Waldorf involves filing a claim under the other driver’s auto insurance policy. However, to file a claim, you need to be able to prove that the other driver was at fault. Some of the most common grounds for seeking fault-based compensation after a car accident include:
Running a stoplight or stop sign
Merging or turning without checking for oncoming traffic
Changing lanes without checking blind spots
Attempting a dangerous pass
Speeding
Following too closely
Texting or talking on the phone behind the wheel
Navigating, changing stations, and other in-car distractions
Driving under the influence of alcohol
Driving under the influence of marijuana and other drugs
When you contact Andrews, Bongar, Gormley & Clagett about your Southern Maryland car accident, our Waldorf car accident lawyers will guide you step by step through what you need to do next. We can send an investigator to the scene. If necessary, we can subpoena the other driver’s phone or employment records. And if the accident was caught on video, we can seek a copy of the footage to prove your claim.
Post-Accident Mistakes to Avoid
Even simple choices following a car accident can seriously damage your ability to get compensation and your future. Let’s discuss a few of the most frequent mistakes people make.
Admitting Fault
At the top of our list is admitting fault. It’s human nature to want to own your mistakes. But even if you think you may have been partially responsible for the accident, keep quiet for the moment. It’s vital that you not make any statements that could be interpreted as an admission of guilt. Opposing counsel could even use something as simple as saying you are sorry to imply that you were aware of your own fault. This could potentially harm your ability to recover damages—so it is best to remain respectful and helpful at the scene but quiet.
Not Calling the Police
It’s against the law not to report your accident if someone gets injured. That said, it is crucial to call the police even if the car accident seems minor. This ensures you get thorough documentation of the incident and a comprehensive police report. Down the road, your team of Waldorf car accident lawyers can use this report as evidence in your case.
Not Seeking Medical Attention
People sometimes opt not to see a doctor, especially when they don’t seem to have any injuries. Don’t make this mistake. Always seek medical attention as soon as possible after an accident. Even if your injuries seem minor, they may worsen over time. Furthermore, some injuries are hidden. That means you may not realize their extent for weeks, months, or even years later. Seeking immediate medical attention means obtaining either a clean bill of health or timely documentation of your injuries. Both of these will be critical later on and make it easier to get compensation.
How Do You Collect Just Compensation?
In addition to proving that the other driver was at fault, there is another crucial aspect to recovering your losses after a car accident in Waldorf: You need to prove how much you are entitled to recover.
Until you know how much you are entitled to, you have no way of knowing whether a settlement offer reflects “just” compensation for your injuries. When you have an auto insurance claim, calculating your losses is your responsibility. The insurance companies will not do this for you. If you allow the insurance companies to decide what they will pay, you will end up with far less than you deserve.
At Southern Maryland Law, we will work closely with you to accurately calculateyour current and future losses. Once we know how much you are entitled to recover, then we can fight to secure a fair settlement or verdict on your behalf.
After a car accident, you only get one chance to recover your losses. You need to rely on an experienced team of Lexington Park car accident attorneys to help you every step of the way.
Why You Need a Car Accident Lawyer for Your Case
If you’ve ever been involved in a car accident before, you know they are often complicated. Even simple accidents can lead to lawsuits and aggressive behavior from insurance providers. Having a car accident lawyer provides several benefits. First, they can help you understand your rights and provide you with your legal options. This way, you know the path forward and have a good idea of what you can expect. Second, they can handle the paperwork and documentation for your case. This guarantees you meet all relevant deadlines and judicial requirements.
Another benefit of an attorney is that they can gather evidence to develop your case. This means interviewing witnesses, obtaining police reports, and consulting with medical experts to determine the extent of your injuries. Finally, a qualified attorney can negotiate with various other parties. In many cases, this will lead to a generous settlement that provides the compensation you need.
What to Look for in a Car Accident Lawyer in Waldorf, MD
When choosing a car accident lawyer, it is important you search for someone with experience and expertise in handling car accident cases. Below are some other factors to consider when selecting a lawyer.
Communication Skills
Great communication skills are a necessary characteristic of any good attorney. Your lawyer must be able to communicate effectively with opposing counsel and the judge. But they must also communicate well with you and keep you informed about the progress of your case. They should also be able to explain complex legal concepts in a way that you can understand.
Track Record of Success
Your lawyer should have a track record of success in cases, particularly car accidents. They should be able to provide you with specific references and examples of cases they have won. If they don’t, you should ask them. And if they struggle to answer or provide only vague answers, politely continue your search.
Availability
Your lawyer should be available to answer your questions and provide you with updates on your case. They should also be able to meet with you in person or over the phone when necessary. Attorneys that don’t respond to your messages or meet their commitments aren’t worth your time.
What do I do next?
You’ve been injured in a car accident in Southern Maryland. What now? The short answer: (A) Get medical care (B) Read our Free Legal Guide to Car Accidents (C) Contact us now for a consultation with a Waldorf car accident lawyer.
If you have not done so already, you should see a doctor right away. You should do this even if you do not have significant concerns about the severity of your injuries. It will be important for you to receive a comprehensive diagnosis. Your medical records will be key evidence in support of your claim for damages.
In addition to seeing a doctor, you need to speak with a car accident attorney in Waldorf, MD—and you should do this before talking to the insurance companies. If you have not yet contacted the insurance companies, our lawyers will do this for you. Additionally, we will walk you through everything else you need to know about your claim for just compensation. We will assess your case, explain the law as it applies to you, and answer all of your questions.
Too often, car accident victims make the mistake of trying to deal with the insurance companies directly. Many also incorrectly assume that they should contact a Lexington Park car accident lawyer only if their insurance claim is denied. If you have suffered an injury in a car accident, you need legal representation. We strongly encourage you to schedule a consultation at Southern Maryland Law right away.
Do not let the insurance companies take advantage of you, and do not let mistakes derail your claim for just compensation. Contact us now to speak with our experienced Waldorf car accident attorneys about your claim today.
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Over 2000+ Satisfied Clients
Client Testimonial
I was involved in a motorcycle collision in 2013, it required a year of physical therapy, and 38 days in the hospital. Tucker Clagett worked with my wife and I while managing all legal affairs for us. I had to only focus on my recover while he and his staff handled all other aspects of the claim process. Professional and fair in all aspects.
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Michael G.Google
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This law firm was absolutely the best! All the stuff was so friendly and the lawyer that took care of my case was amazing. Tucker Clagett and his paralegals were great. This is a really caring law firm and I would recommend anyone who has to deal with workers comp to this lawyer or anyone to this law firm.
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Jenny C.Facebook
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If you are looking for the best legal representation possible, I would highly recommend David Gormley. I can assure you that you will receive competent legal advice that includes a sensitive ear and a willingness
to accommodate a client’s special needs. You can be confident that having received over 7 years of legal advice from Mr. Gormley my comments are given without reservation.
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Bernardine L.
Over 2000+ Satisfied Clients
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My consultation with D'Erra Jackson was excellent and very professional. I felt that she was very patient with me and answered all of my questions. She prepared me for what to expect and did not sugar coat the truth without being crass or offensive. She also took the time to give me options on what I should try to make sure I received a fair deal. With her preparation, we were able to work out an agreement that works for my situation. Thank you!
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Jovial M.
Over 2000+ Satisfied Clients
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From the first time that when I met with Attorney Gormley he was attentive and showed concerned about my situation. He was very strategic about his approach to my situation. The staff is very professional and proficient. I would recommend him and use him on my future legal matters. Thank you for being genuine and sincere and caring about your clients and their best interests.
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Delphine B.Google
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This firm is excellent! I greatly appreciate the detailed counsel provided to me by Mr. David Gormley who guided me to the best attorney to meet my unique needs. I am very happy with the outcome and I am grateful for Mr. Gormley’s counsel and recommendation.
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Quon W.Google
Over 2000+ Satisfied Clients
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I want to extend my deepest gratitude to each of you for all your efforts on my behalf which resulted in a resounding victory today in Court. I appreciated your pleasant, patient demeanor, which helped me to know I handed over my car accident case to the right Firm. Thank you for your evident hard-work ethic, your thoroughness, and your high level of professionalism. I will highly recommend your Firm to friends and family should they be in a similar situation such as mine.
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Serahnese J.
Over 2000+ Satisfied Clients
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Several years ago, I used this law firm to help me write a will after my divorce. This year, I went to them again, this time with a renter dispute. I was very surprised when I found out that the consultation was free because I was a former client. Plus, I still received the same excellent service and legal help that I needed. I will definitely continue to use Southern Maryland Law for all of my legal needs.
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Diane S.
Over 2000+ Satisfied Clients
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Thank you for all the great information you have easily available on your website. This resource has been a great help.
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Marilyn J.
Over 2000+ Satisfied Clients
Client Testimonial
I HIGHLY recommend Tucker Clagett, as an attorney. He is very knowledgeable, dedicated, sympathetic, honest, and has excellent communication skills. I was in a traumatic car accident. From the moment I first spoke with Tucker, I knew he was a one of kind. He is very down to earth and he makes you feel like you are his ONE and ONLY client. My case ended HIGHLY in my favor, thanks to Tucker and his firm.
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Lindsay G.
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Thank you for the information! I will look into how a small claims case would work and whether it’d do any good for my situation. Your website will continue being a fantastic resource!
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Jacob F.
Over 2000+ Satisfied Clients
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Hi Tucker! My stress factor has gone down tremendously! Thanks so much for you and your staff making that possible. I never thought that I would be saying this, but I miss you guys.
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Why Choose Southern Maryland Law?
We are your community law firm
We have been a vibrant part of Waldorf for over 60 years. Waldorf has been very good to us, and we try to repay that kindness with community service. We believe giving back to our Waldorf community is part of our job.
The senior law firm in Waldorf
We are the oldest law firm in Waldorf, and the 2nd oldest in all of Southern Maryland! We have stayed busy because we get results and treat our clients right. We would never have lasted this long if we did not.
Large enough, yet small enough
We are large enough to provide full service, but small enough to focus on you. The large firms that have satellite offices in Waldorf have dozens of attorneys who don’t live here. They use case managers to handle their clients. At Southern Maryland Law, you will be a name – not a number.
Not your grandfather’s law firm
While our firm has been around a long time, we are not what you think lawyers are like. We pride ourselves on being a little more approachable, a little more casual, and a little more likeable than the average lawyer. We are real people with real solutions to your real problems.
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