What Maryland and D.C. Drivers Need to Know About Contributory Negligence

If you’ve been injured in a car accident anywhere in Maryland—from Prince George’s County to Baltimore City, Montgomery County, Howard County, Anne Arundel County, and beyond—or in Washington, D.C., there’s one legal rule that could completely block your right to compensation, even if the crash wasn’t mostly your fault. It’s called contributory negligence, and it’s one of the strictest personal injury laws in the country.

At Falodun Law, we represent injured drivers and passengers across Maryland and the District of Columbia. We understand how this outdated rule can threaten your case—and how to fight back.

What Is Contributory Negligence?

Contributory negligence is a legal doctrine that says:

If you’re even 1% at fault in an accident, you may be barred from receiving any compensation.

It doesn’t matter whether the other driver was speeding through Silver Spring, texting on the Beltway, or ran a red light in Upper Marlboro—if an insurance company or jury believes you share any blame, they can deny your claim outright.

Where Does This Rule Apply?

Only a handful of places in the U.S. still follow this rule, and Maryland and Washington, D.C. are two of them. This includes every Maryland jurisdiction:

• Montgomery County

• Prince George’s County

• Baltimore County and City

• Howard County

• Anne Arundel County

• Charles County

• Frederick County

• And others

  
  

No matter where your accident happened—Route 50, I-270, I-95, or a neighborhood street in Laurel, the contributory negligence rule can apply.

How It Impacts Car Accident Victims in Maryland and D.C.

Imagine you’re rear-ended in Columbia, MD or hit while exiting a parking lot in Southeast D.C.. It seems like a clear case, but if the insurance adjuster learns:

• Your brake lights weren’t working, or

• You were looking at your GPS in Rockville, or

• You slowed suddenly without signaling in Lanham

  
  

…they may argue you “contributed” to the crash and deny your claim.

How to Protect Your Rights – County by County

Wherever your crash occurred in Maryland or D.C., here are the steps to take immediately:

✅ Get a police report – Whether it’s from Prince George’s County Police, Baltimore City PD, or MPD in D.C., an official report can be key.

✅ Take photos and document everything – Especially at high-risk intersections like Georgia Avenue, Route 301, or New York Avenue.

✅ Avoid giving statements – Never admit fault to an insurance rep or officer, even casually.

✅ Call Falodun Law right away – We help clients in every Maryland county and in D.C. build strong cases and push back against unfair contributory negligence claims.

Serving Clients Throughout Maryland and the District

At Falodun Law, we’ve successfully represented injury victims across:

• Prince George’s County (Bowie, Largo, Hyattsville)

• Montgomery County (Silver Spring, Rockville, Bethesda)

• Baltimore (City and County)

• Howard County (Columbia, Ellicott City)

• Anne Arundel County (Glen Burnie, Annapolis)

• Washington, D.C.

  
  

We know how local courts and insurance adjusters operate—and how to protect your rights no matter where your accident occurred.

Contact Falodun Law Today

The contributory negligence rule can destroy a valid injury claim if you don’t act quickly and strategically. Let us help.

📞 Call now: 301-289-7737

📍 Office: 8850 Stanford Blvd, Suite 2900, Columbia, MD 21045📩 Email: wole@falodunlaw.com

Serving car accident victims throughout Maryland and Washington, D.C.