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What Happens if I Show Up Late to My Personal Injury Court Date?

Posted on January 14, 2026 in Personal Injury

Upper Marlboro, MD personal injury lawyer Imagine the following scenario: You have worked hard to build your personal injury case. You gave your lawyer medical records, attended depositions, and waited months for your court date. But what happens if you show up late?

Everybody is occasionally late to something, but being late to a court date can seriously damage your case or cause you to lose it completely. Maryland courts take punctuality seriously, and judges can dismiss cases when plaintiffs fail to appear on time.

If you have been in a serious accident in 2026, your right to recover compensation shouldn’t be lost because you aren’t ready to come to court. An excellent Upper Marlboro, MD personal injury attorney should prepare you for court. That means helping you understand:

Where to go
When to arrive
What to wear
How to behave

With help from Whitlock Law, you can rest assured that you will not only get aggressive representation and negotiation on your behalf, but that you will know everything you need to know to get ready for court.

What Time Should I Show Up for My Personal Injury Court Date Appointment?

You should arrive at the courthouse at least 30 minutes before your scheduled court time. This gives you enough time to get through security screening, find the correct courtroom, and check in with your attorney.

Maryland courthouses have metal detectors and security screening. Parking lots fill up quickly, especially in the morning. Your attorney will want to meet with you before the hearing to give you last minute instructions or discuss settlement offers.

These factors can increase the time it takes to get where you need to go. Make sure you give yourself enough time for all of these, plus any unexpected situations.

What Happens if You Come to Court Late for a Personal Injury Case?

Judges have broad discretion to act in personal injury cases. If you are the plaintiff and miss your court date, the judge may dismiss your case. This means your lawsuit ends immediately. You lose your chance to recover compensation for your injuries, medical bills, and lost wages. Your attorney might be able to ask the judge to reinstate the case, but this is not guaranteed.

If you arrive at your court date but you are late, the judge may have already called your case. Under Maryland Rules of Civil Procedure, judges have authority to proceed when one party is not present.

Can Being Late to Court Hurt My Personal Injury Case?

Yes. Even if the judge does not dismiss your case, arriving late hurts your credibility. Judges notice when people show up late, and it suggests you do not take the legal process seriously.

The defense attorney may use your lateness to argue that you are not responsible. They might suggest to the jury that if you cannot follow simple instructions about when to appear, maybe you are not being truthful about how the accident happened.

Being late generally can create doubt and weaken your case. There’s just no good reason to allow this to happen. Show up on time, whatever it takes – even if it means you may get there early. Use a map app on your phone to find out how much time it will take you to get to the court from your house.

How Should I Behave at a Personal Injury Court Date?

Maryland courts expect respectful behavior. This means:

Dress appropriately and respectfully – no one wants to see your undies or your mid-section.
Don’t wear shirts that say anything on them or have large offensive graphics.
It is always a good idea to take a shower, brush your hair and try to make your appearance tidy.
Do not wear hats in the courtroom.
Do not come to Court reeking of alcohol or marijuana – everyone can smell it.
Turn off your cell phone before entering the courtroom.
Do not make noises when witnesses are testifying – even if you disagree with their statements.
Do not insult the opposing attorney who is asking you questions on cross examination.
When speaking to the judge, address them as "Your Honor" or "Yes sir; Yes Ma’am".

Call Your Lawyer Right Away if You're Going to Be Late for Court

If you will be late for your court date, call your attorney immediately. Do not wait until you arrive. Call as soon as you know there is a problem.

Your attorney may be able to contact the court and explain the situation. In some cases, the judge may hear other cases first. However, the judge has no obligation to accommodate you. The best strategy is always to arrive early.

Contact a Lanham, MD Personal Injury Lawyer Today

Preparing for your court date is a very important part of winning a personal injury case. Our Upper Marlboro, MD personal injury attorney has recovered over $50 million for injured clients and will guide you through every step of preparing for court. We have many years of experience and are not afraid of taking a case to court when necessary.

Contact Whitlock Law today at 301-565-1655 for a free consultation. We will help you build the strongest possible case and prepare you for success on your court date.

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We serve personal injury clients throughout Maryland, including Rockville, Potomac, Olney, Aspen Hills, Damascus, Hagerstown, Middletown, Bethesda, Germantown, Kensington, Gaithersburg, Chevy Chase, Frederick, Urbana, Clarksburg, Greenbelt, Upper Marlboro, College Park, Beltsville, Largo, Laurel, Columbia, Ellicott City, Pikesville, Owings Mills, Towson, Reisterstown, Essex, Parkville, Randallstown, Linthicum Heights, Baltimore, Annapolis, Crofton, Severna Park, Glen Burnie, Westminster, Sykesville, Silver Spring, Langley Park, Riverdale Park, Wheaton, Glenmont, Highlandtown, Hyattsville, and Bowie.

We serve personal injury and criminal defense clients throughout Virginia, including Arlington, Chesapeake, Newport News, McLean, Herndon, Leesburg, Ashburn, Sterling, Reston, Richmond, Suffolk, Roanoke, Lynchburg, Centreville, Charlottesville, Annandale, Harrisonburg, Waynesboro, Vienna, Front Royal, Falls Church, Purcellville, Hampton, Portsmouth, Woodbridge, Gainesville, Fredericksburg, Glen Allen, Fairfax, Manassas, Alexandria, Norfolk.

Results listed are not a guarantee or indication of future case results.

Cases Tried In:

Free Consultations
Maryland 301-565-1655 | Virginia 703-576-5005

What Happens if I Show Up Late to My Personal Injury Court Date?

What Time Should I Show Up for My Personal Injury Court Date Appointment?

What Happens if You Come to Court Late for a Personal Injury Case?

Can Being Late to Court Hurt My Personal Injury Case?

How Should I Behave at a Personal Injury Court Date?

Call Your Lawyer Right Away if You're Going to Be Late for Court

Contact a Lanham, MD Personal Injury Lawyer Today

Recent Blog Posts

Categories

Archive

Request a Case Evaluation

Silver Spring Office

Bowie Office

Frederick Office

Chesapeake Office

Manassas Office

Glen Allen Office

Leesburg Office

Cases Tried In:

Free Consultations Maryland 301-565-1655 | Virginia 703-576-5005

What Happens if I Show Up Late to My Personal Injury Court Date?

What Time Should I Show Up for My Personal Injury Court Date Appointment?

What Happens if You Come to Court Late for a Personal Injury Case?

Can Being Late to Court Hurt My Personal Injury Case?

How Should I Behave at a Personal Injury Court Date?

Call Your Lawyer Right Away if You're Going to Be Late for Court

Contact a Lanham, MD Personal Injury Lawyer Today

Recent Blog Posts

Categories

Archive

Request a Case Evaluation

Silver Spring Office

Bowie Office

Frederick Office

Chesapeake Office

Manassas Office

Glen Allen Office

Leesburg Office

Free Consultations
Maryland 301-565-1655 | Virginia 703-576-5005