Personal Injury Law in Bangor, ME

Were you hurt due to another’s negligence in Bangor? If so, it may have far-reaching consequences such as a loss of wages or extensive medical treatment. Personal injury law allows an injured person to get damages if the responsible person acted recklessly. A personal injury attorney in Bangor, ME can make sure you receive the compensation you deserve.

What Is Personal Injury Law?

Personal injury law in Bangor means seeking compensation for an injury caused by negligent behavior. These cases involve the plaintiff wanting financial compensation for expenses and money lost. These cases involve both parties’ insurance companies and may even settle before proceeding to litigation.

Examples of Personal Injury Claims in Bangor, ME

Some personal injury claims are more common than others. However, almost any incident that ends with a physical or mental injury could qualify, depending on the circumstances.

A few of the most common personal injury claims are:

• Car Accidents
• Slip and Fall
• Dog Bites
• Medical Malpractice
• Workplace Accidents
• Burn Injuries

Most Common Injuries in Bangor 

According to News Center Maine, Maine ranks 4th in the nation for emergency room visits per capita. Because many areas of Maine are rural, more people are likely to seek out emergency care than a primary physician. 

Extreme winter weather often plays a large role in the frequency of accidents and injuries. Chest pains, breathing issues, and unintended injuries like cuts, contusions, and concussions were the most common reasons for an ER visit. According to the Penobscot County Health Needs Assessment, there were 89.8 traumatic brain injury-related ER visits per 10,000 population in Penobscot County. In addition, there are 303.3 unintentional fall-related injury ER visits per 10,000 population in Penobscot County.

Steps in a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Bangor, ME

Once you determine to proceed with a personal injury action in Maine

A lawsuit begins with filing a complaint with the court and serving the defendant. The complaint alleges your assertion as the plaintiff that the defendant’s negligent behavior resulted in damage. As the process proceeds forward, you may have to go through depositions, independent medical evaluations, and more. This discovery process is lengthy and ends in either settlement or a court appearance.

After consulting with your attorney in Bangor, you then make a demand of the party at fault and engage in negotiations. A civil lawsuit becomes filed with the Penobscot County Courts if no resolution can be reached. This begins the formal discovery process leading to the negotiation period. If a satisfactory settlement cannot happen, you can take your case to trial.

Maine Personal Injury Settlement

With most personal injury cases, insurance companies and injured parties prefer settlement negotiations rather than going to court for a trial. You may wonder how much you should seek in your settlement and factors that impact the final amount.

A Bangor personal injury claim settlement can depend on who injured you, how serious your injury is, and the total of the costs that you endure. The Maine Department of Labor lists Maine’s most costly personal injury settlements surrounding workers’ compensation. Specifically, the average lump-sum settlement was $194,497. However, the average personal injury settlement is typically anywhere between $3,000-$75,000. Medical bills and work loss compensation are two of the factors that can most influence the value of your personal injury claim.

If the other party has insurance, the insurance company likely wants to settle out of court to avoid leaving the final settlement decision to a jury. Settlements benefit injured parties as much as they do insurance companies. This is because accepting a settlement means you receive compensation sooner rather than later. Also, by going to court in ME, that means you risk not receiving any compensation at all.

Damage Awards in Maine

If your Maine personal injury lawsuit goes before a judge or jury, your legal team will be ready with a request for damages. In personal injury cases, there are three types of damage awards a court may order the defendant to compensate you for the damage he or she inflicted.

Special compensatory damages reimburse you for things like lost income, medical bills, and insurance deductibles. You submit receipts proving these losses.

General compensatory damages are subjective. If you receive special compensatory damages, you may also collect general damages. If your injury was particularly painful, you might request that the judge order the defendant to compensate you for the pain and anguish.

Punitive damages are the most rarely awarded and are up to the court. The judge or jury may determine that the defendant’s negligence was particularly heinous and the resulting injury to you was equally horrific.

Currently, Maine sets a damage cap of $500,00 on non-economic damages in wrongful death suits. For other kinds of personal injury cases, there are no caps for either economic or non-economic damages. However, if you are found to be 50% or more responsible for your injury or its cause, you cannot collect any settlement in Maine.

Statute of Limitations in Bangor, ME Personal Injury Law?

The injured party may have a set amount of time to file suit for a personal injury case. State law establishes statutes of limitation. Commonly, the plaintiff’s injury or discovery of the injury begins the statute of limitations. However, the latter factor is trickier, as the plaintiff will have to prove when the injury was first realized.

Maine’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims is six years. If you live in Bangor, this means you only have six years from the date of your injury to file a suit.

We recommend you speak with a personal injury lawyer for this matter. Don’t wait too long and miss out on receiving the compensation you deserve for your injury.

Work With an Experienced Bangor, ME Lawyer

Pursue a personal injury claim in Bangor against the responsible person if you are dealing with an injury caused by someone else. One of our experienced lawyers can help you navigate your personal injury claim. We can even help you connect with an attorney across Maine state lines.

Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!