The mistake that sends people to Google is this: after a summer crash on Baltimore Avenue/Route 1 in College Park or merging onto I-495, the ER says the baby looks okay after a few hours of monitoring, and you assume there is "nothing to claim."

That is usually the wrong approach in Maryland.

A crash claim can still be worth pursuing even if your main immediate treatment was fetal monitoring. In pregnancy cases, the medical bill is not just "observation." It can include labor and delivery triage, fetal heart monitoring, ultrasound, OB follow-up, extra prenatal visits, ambulance charges, and missed work. Maryland claims also allow pain, fear, and disruption from the crash itself, not just broken bones or surgery.

One Maryland-specific quirk that trips people up is PIP. Maryland insurers must offer Personal Injury Protection, usually at least $2,500, unless you waived it in writing on your policy. If you did not waive it, PIP can help pay medical bills and lost wages quickly through your own auto insurer, regardless of fault. For many pregnant drivers or passengers, that alone can make the hassle worth it.

Then look at the liability claim against the other driver.

Maryland also uses contributory negligence, which is much harsher than comparative-fault states. If the insurer can pin even 1% of the crash on you, it can try to block recovery entirely. That means the smart move is to preserve proof early: the Prince George's County Police report, ER records showing why fetal monitoring was ordered, OB records, photos, witness names, and any notes about contractions, bleeding, or decreased fetal movement.

The main deadline for most injury lawsuits in Maryland is 3 years from the crash. But don't wait on PIP paperwork; ask your insurer for the application right away and check whether your policy shows a waiver.