Some examples of evidence you should gather wherever possible include:

• A detailed personal account of how the accident happened, traffic conditions at the time, and minor details like speed, lights, and anything notable
• Photos of your injuries, property damage, vehicle damage, and traffic conditions
• Video of the accident scene, including surveillance footage of all vehicles
• Notes about nearby businesses or homes with visible security cameras
• The names, badge numbers, and contact information of responding officers
• The names, contact details, license plate numbers, insurance policy numbers, and license numbers of all involved parties

If your injuries prevent you from collecting evidence, don’t worry. Your attorney will investigate and gather as much information as possible. Start your case quickly as video surveillance or other evidence may only exist for a limited time before deletion.

Many intersections in Portland, like Deering Avenue and Monument Square, see high pedestrian and bicycle activity, with some crosswalks and traffic lights monitored by city cameras. Gathering video or photographic evidence from these locations can strengthen your claim. During Maine’s winter months, document road conditions because icy spots often contribute to multi-vehicle collisions in this area.

Get Treatment for Your Car Accident Injuries

When emergency responders arrive, get immediate medical treatment. Even if you feel fine, some trauma is hidden by adrenaline or shock. Untreated invisible injuries can be life-threatening. 

Prompt medical care protects your health and creates a clear record of your injuries. In Portland, hospitals like Maine Medical Center or Mercy Hospital provide thorough evaluations. Timely care clarifies whether your injuries came from the crash, which helps your attorney connect your medical condition to your accident. Save all your medical bills and discharge notes in case you need them for an insurance claim.

Delaying medical help can hurt your claim. The other side may argue your injuries aren’t severe or claim they resulted from another event unrelated to the accident.

Contact a Portland Auto Accident Attorney for Help

After you’re safe, contact our respected and knowledgeable team. You can call us from the scene or meet us in your hospital room—whichever is easiest for you. Focus on your recovery while we handle the legal process. 

Our legal team brings decades of trial experience and knowledge of Portland’s roads, insurance practices, and courts. We stay current with local and state laws affecting your claim, such as Maine’s comparative negligence rules, to protect your rights. Tell us if your accident happened on stretches like Forest Avenue, Brighton Avenue, or near highway entry ramps since location can impact the investigation and case process.

After you have a personal injury advocate on your side, we begin investigating the cause of the accident and reviewing your damages. We review your legal options for financial relief, negotiate with insurance companies, and, if needed, prepare your case for trial.

Common Causes & Risks of Car Accidents in Portland

Many crashes in Portland involve circumstances specific to our roads and driving conditions. The city’s active downtown, dense neighborhoods, and frequent seasonal changes increase certain risks, including collisions at busy intersections and accidents due to poor visibility or icy streets. Understanding why crashes occur on Maine’s coastal roads can help you recognize risks and make informed decisions if you ever face a collision.

Some frequent causes include:

• Distracted driving: Cell phone use, navigation devices, and conversations take attention off the road.
• Speeding and aggressive driving: Higher speeds along routes like Brighton Avenue or outer Congress Street raise the risk of severe crashes.
• Adverse weather: Icy winter roads or storms coming off Casco Bay can make even routine trips dangerous.
• Intersection confusion: Multilane crossings—especially near city landmarks—see more fender benders and right-of-way disputes.

Local authorities work to improve signal timing and signage, but collisions still happen. If you have questions about how Portland’s road conditions or weather might affect your claim, our team can discuss past cases and city efforts to keep drivers safe.

How the Car Accident Claims Process Works

Many car accident victims hesitate to file a lawsuit or insurance claim. Often, they don’t know how the process works. When you are managing injuries and stress, dealing with insurance companies and court deadlines can be daunting. 

Filing a claim can seem overwhelming, especially with Maine’s specific legal requirements. If you file in Portland, you might face city or county court procedures that differ by location, including response times. Insurance adjusters often work to minimize payouts. Our team helps you avoid common obstacles so you can focus on your health. Knowing the sequence of steps helps you make informed choices at each stage.

Your attorney oversees legal tasks while you recover. Every case is different, but most car accident processes follow similar steps. 

Here is a general idea of what to expect from your Portland car accident case:

• You hire a Portland car accident attorney to represent you
• Your lawyer investigates the cause of the accident
• During the investigation, we collect evidence to prove negligence and fault
• We evaluate your damages and the ways the accident has affected your life to calculate the value of your economic and non-economic loss and determine what to pursue in your insurance claim or lawsuit
• Your attorney prepares court documents and insurance paperwork
• Next, we negotiate with the insurer to recover compensation
• If the other party lacks insurance or the policy limit is too low, your attorney can bring your car accident case to court

Choosing the Right Legal Advocate for Your Portland Car Accident

When looking for a car accident lawyer in Portland, select a team with local knowledge, proven results, and strong trial experience. At Berman & Simmons, our attorneys have handled more civil trials than any other firm in Maine and have over a century of experience standing up for injured Mainers.

We dedicate our full attention to each client and prepare every claim for court, not just quick settlement. Our history includes some of Maine’s largest verdicts and settlements, which reflects our diligence and our commitment. We use the latest trial technology, communicate clearly and directly, and work as a collaborative team so every client feels confident and informed. If you’re choosing between firms, look for strong local endorsements and ask about recent results right here in Portland.

Establishing Fault for Your Car Accident Damages

To recover compensation after a car accident, you must show that someone else’s negligence caused the crash. Often, car accidents happen because of unsafe driving—like distraction, impaired driving, fatigue, running red lights, or reckless behavior.

Some crashes, though, are not just driver error. 

When dangerous road conditions exist or vehicle parts malfunction, multiple parties may cause your accident:

• Motor vehicle parts designers
• Auto parts manufacturers and distributors
• Retailers and car dealerships
• Government agencies
• The Maine Department of Transportation
• The city of Portland and other municipalities
• Government-contracted construction workers and subcontractors
• Independent contractors
• Government safety inspectors and maintenance crews

Your Auto Accident Claim Is Worth More Than You Thought

Few car accident victims understand the true value of their damages. You know the liable party should cover your vehicle repairs, the time you had to take off of work, and your medical bills, but there are many other damages you are entitled to. 

Compensatory damages describe the losses you have the right to recover when you file a claim with the insurance company or bring your lawsuit to court. Under the law, you have the right to be made whole, so every single way you have been affected by the collision and your injuries should be considered accordingly.

Economic Damages

Economic damages include measurable losses after an accident. All out-of-pocket costs and bills related to the crash fit here. 

In Portland, damages often reflect high medical costs and lost wages. Many residents rely on specific work benefits, public transportation, or vehicles that must pass Maine’s annual inspection, which can affect the calculation for vehicle loss or repair. Keep detailed documentation to support your claim.

Some examples could include:

• Vehicle repair costs
• Loss of income
• Medical expenses and equipment
• Future medical care
• The diminished value of your car
• Loss of job benefits, including health insurance
• The cost of a new vehicle
• Rental car expenses
• Loss of household help

Non-Economic Damages 

Non-economic damages include the ways your injuries affect your life beyond financial loss. 

In Cumberland County, courts review medical records, testimony, and daily impacts when considering these claims. The effect of visible scarring, emotional harm, or disruption to your daily life all factor into what you may recover. Thoroughly describing how the accident changed your routines can strengthen this part of your claim.

Some examples of non-economic damages could include:

• Pain and suffering
• Reduced quality of life
• Loss of consortium
• Embarrassment from visible scars
• Permanent disability
• Emotional distress
• Disfigurement
• Shock and humiliation
• Fear or indignity
• Reputational harm

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages, or exemplary damages, serve to punish when the defendant’s conduct was intentional, malicious, or grossly negligent. These damages rarely apply, but in some egregious cases, they can increase a settlement. 

Maine courts strictly limit punitive damages. If your accident involved a repeat drunk driver or intentional harm, you may discuss this with your lawyer. Most cases focus instead on actual financial and quality-of-life losses.

A Maine court may grant punitive damages to send a message about misconduct or deter similar behavior in future cases.

How Car Accident Insurance Claims Work

Filing an insurance claim may not cover everything you need. The liable party’s insurance might only provide what their policy allows, and policies that meet Maine’s legal minimums under M.R.S.A Tit. 24-A, §7305 may fall short for serious injuries or major damage. 

Insurance companies in Maine often have regional or out-of-state offices, sometimes leading to delays or paperwork disputes. If your accident involves an uninsured or underinsured motorist, you may access your own policy for compensation, but these claims require careful documentation. Starting with organized, clear evidence can help reduce delays.

Insurance generally only reimburses part of your financial loss, rarely covering non-economic damages. To pursue full recovery, you may need to seek compensation in court if the insurance offer is inadequate. Insurers often attempt to minimize what they pay out.

Having a car accident attorney negotiate on your behalf can help prevent unfair blame or low settlements. Your lawyer helps ensure the insurance company treats you fairly.

Uninsured & Underinsured Motorist Claims in Maine

Not every driver carries enough insurance to cover all damages from a crash. Maine law requires policies to include uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, giving you another source of compensation if the at-fault driver’s insurance cannot cover your losses.

If you have a collision with an uninsured or underinsured driver in Portland, your own insurer reviews your claim with evidence from the scene. Insurance adjusters might dispute or undervalue your losses. Guided support can help you document your damages, respond to denials if they happen, and comply with all deadlines and requirements. Hit-and-run incidents or phantom vehicles may also trigger uninsured motorist claims under Maine law.

Statute of Limitations & Other Essential Deadlines

Maine law generally gives car accident victims up to six years from the accident date to file a lawsuit, as mandated by M.R.S.A. Tit. 14 § 752. Insurance companies may also set shorter deadlines for claims. If you miss these deadlines, you might lose the right to compensation through court or insurance.

If the crash involved a city vehicle or happened on a municipal street, Portland may impose a much shorter notice period. Missing this separate requirement means you cannot recover from the city. Keep all notices about time limits and share them promptly.

FAQs

What should I bring to my first meeting with a car accident attorney?

Bring any police reports, photos from the accident scene, medical records, contact information for witnesses, and correspondence from insurance companies. These documents will help your attorney assess your case and guide you on next steps.

How does Maine’s comparative negligence law affect my case?

Maine uses a modified comparative negligence rule. If you share some fault for the crash, your compensation decreases by your percentage of responsibility. If you are equally or more at fault than the other party, you may not recover damages.

Will I need to go to court for my car accident claim?

Many claims settle through negotiation, but your case might proceed to court if liability is disputed or the insurer’s offer is too low. Your attorney prepares your case for both settlement and trial and can guide you through every step of the process if court becomes necessary.

Meet with Our Portland Car Accident Attorneys Today

Car accident injuries can disrupt nearly every part of your life, but your circumstances don’t need to define your future. You can take control by holding the responsible party accountable and seeking fair compensation for your losses. 

At Berman & Simmons, our Portland injury attorneys know how stressful and uncertain this process can feel. When you’re ready to pursue your claim, our team will provide a free, no-obligation consultation. 

We have served the Portland community for over a century and have built a record of success by going to trial when insurance offers fall short. We answer questions about local court procedures, recommend medical resources, and explain how Cumberland County courts handle your type of case during your consultation.

Take advantage of this opportunity by filling out our quick contact form or calling our office at (207) 383-3216 to get started as soon as today.