Quick answer: Yes. You should speak to your own insurance company after a Maryland car accident, and in most policies you are required to. Your policy has a cooperation clause and a prompt-notice duty, so report the crash quickly or you risk a denial of benefits. But be careful before you give a recorded statement, and never give one to the other driver’s insurer without talking to a lawyer first.
I’m David Waranch, and I’ve handled Maryland car accident and personal injury claims for years. Here is how to protect your own claim while still meeting your obligations to your insurer.
Do I Have to Talk to My Own Insurance Company?
Generally, yes. When you bought your policy you agreed to two duties that matter here. The first is prompt notice: you must report the accident as soon as reasonably possible. The second is the cooperation clause: you have to work with your insurer’s investigation of a covered claim. These are contract terms, not suggestions. The exact deadline is spelled out in your policy, and dragging your feet can give the company a reason to deny benefits you paid for.
So treat your own company as an ally, and notify it quickly. That is different from handing over a detailed recorded statement the same afternoon. You can report the basic facts, that a crash happened, when, where, and who was involved, and still ask to schedule any recorded interview for later, after you have caught your breath and, if you’re hurt, talked to a lawyer. Reporting the claim and giving a formal recorded statement are two separate steps.
What About the Other Driver’s Insurance Company?
Different rules entirely. You have no contract with the other driver’s insurer and no duty to give it a recorded statement. Its adjuster works for the other side, and a recorded statement taken early, while you are shaken or before you know how badly you are injured, is one of the most common ways a good claim gets quietly undercut. An offhand “I’m fine” or “I didn’t see it happen” can be replayed against you months later.
Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver’s company without first consulting a Maryland accident lawyer. You can read more in my post on whether you should talk to the other person’s insurance adjuster. And don’t discuss fault with the other driver at the scene either. Exchange information, then let the police handle it, one of the 6 steps you should take after a Maryland car accident.
How Does PIP (Personal Injury Protection) Work in Maryland?
PIP is one of the best reasons to call your own insurer. Under Md. Code, Insurance § 19-505, every Maryland auto policy has to include at least $2,500 in personal injury protection unless the first named insured waived it in writing. PIP is no-fault, meaning it pays your medical bills and lost wages no matter who caused the crash, and using it does not raise your rates the way an at-fault claim can.
| PIP feature | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Minimum coverage | At least $2,500 per person, unless waived in writing (§ 19-505) |
| Fault | Paid regardless of who caused the accident (no-fault) |
| Covers | Reasonable medical expenses and 85% of lost income, for costs within 3 years of the crash |
| Who is covered | You, household family members, passengers, and pedestrians you hit |
| Effect on rates | Making a PIP claim is not an at-fault claim against you |
Because PIP comes from your own policy, you have to open the claim with your own company, usually within a short window, so ask about it when you report the accident. If you’re not sure whether you kept PIP or waived it, your insurer can tell you. This is also why prompt, accurate notice to your own carrier is worth getting right.
What Should I Say, and Not Say, to My Insurer?
Stick to facts you actually know. Report the date, time, and location, the vehicles involved, and that you are making a claim. Where it gets risky is guessing. Don’t speculate about who was at fault, don’t downplay your injuries, and don’t give a firm “I feel fine” when soft-tissue pain often shows up a day or two later. If you don’t know the answer to a question, “I’m not sure” is a complete and honest answer.
- Do report the crash promptly and ask about your PIP coverage.
- Do stick to the objective facts and say when you’re unsure.
- Don’t guess about fault or apologize in a way that sounds like admitting it.
- Don’t minimize injuries before you’ve been checked by a doctor.
- Don’t agree to a recorded statement, or sign a medical release, until you understand what you’re signing.
“It’s my own company, so I can just say whatever.” Careful. Notifying your insurer is required, but a recorded statement, even to your own carrier, is a formal interview that can be used to limit what your claim is worth. If you have a bodily injury claim, get advice before you sit for that recording. Maryland’s harsh contributory negligence rule can bar your recovery entirely if the other side pins even 1% of the fault on you.
Why Talk to a Lawyer Before You Give a Recorded Statement?
Maryland is one of a handful of states that still follow contributory negligence. If the insurer can argue you were even slightly at fault, it can try to deny your injury claim outright. That single rule makes an early, unguarded recorded statement far more dangerous here than in most states. A short conversation with a lawyer before you talk usually costs you nothing and can protect the whole claim.
A lawyer can handle the recorded statement, make sure your personal injury claim is valued correctly, and coordinate PIP, health insurance, and the at-fault driver’s coverage so nothing gets left on the table. If the other driver took off, that’s a different problem, and a Maryland hit-and-run lawyer can pursue your uninsured motorist coverage. Either way, call before you sign anything or give any statement.
Should I Talk to the Police After a Maryland Car Accident?
Yes, even if the accident seems minor. Calling the police can help your case a great deal. Officers create an official report, note an opinion on who is at fault, make sure injured parties get medical attention, collect witness contacts, and confirm that you and the other driver exchange information. That report becomes a neutral record you and your insurer can rely on later.
Frequently Asked Questions
You must report the accident and cooperate with your insurer, but reporting a claim and giving a recorded statement are separate steps. You can notify your company right away and schedule any recorded interview for later, after you’ve spoken with a lawyer, especially if you were injured.
Your policy sets the deadline, and it usually requires notice as soon as reasonably possible. There is no single statewide number, so check your policy and report the crash promptly, because late notice can lead to a denial of benefits.
No. PIP is no-fault coverage under Maryland Insurance section 19-505, so it pays your medical bills and lost wages regardless of who caused the crash, and using it is not treated as an at-fault claim against you.
Law Offices of David R. Waranch — 301-563-9575 · toll-free 1-877-566-2408. Hablamos Español.
Last updated: August 2026. Statutory references: Md. Code, Insurance § 19-505 (required PIP coverage) and § 19-506 (PIP waiver). This page is general information about Maryland law and does not create an attorney-client relationship.