Personal Injury Law in Maryland

Were you hurt due to another’s negligence in Maryland? 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 Maryland can help navigate the lawsuit to make sure you receive all of the compensation you deserve.

What Is Personal Injury Law?

Personal injury law in Maryland relates to the legal process of getting compensation for an injury caused by someone else’s negligent behavior. These cases involve one party, the plaintiff, trying to seek financial compensation for expenses incurred and money lost as a result of the defendant’s reckless behavior. These cases involve both parties’ insurance companies and may even settle before proceeding to litigation.

Examples of Personal Injury Claims in Maryland

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 Maryland 

According to a John Hopkins University study, 18% of Maryland emergency room visits were caused by unintended injuries, and poisonings. The most common injuries stemmed from falls, and auto accidents, which lead to serious cuts, brain injuries, and other contusions. In total, Maryland medicaid reported  866,028 visits to the ER back in 2006, when the data was last accumulated.

Steps in a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Maryland

Once you determine that you wish to proceed forward with a personal injury action in Maryland

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

A Maryland personal injury trial typically consists of multiple steps, all of which begin after the initial discovery process.  First comes the jury selection process. Second, comes the opening statements and questioning process and third, the closing statements and verdict rendering.

Maryland 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.

Maryland Courts state that the average personal injury settlement is hard to determine. There are so many variables like work loss compensation, medical bills, and severity of injury affecting settlement amounts. However, there is a median amount for personal injury settlements in Maryland, which is about $13,000. This is why consulting an attorney and assessing the value of your case is essential.

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 MD, that means you risk not receiving any compensation at all.

Damage Awards in Maryland

If your Maryland 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 pay to compensate you for the damage he or she inflicted.

Special compensatory damages reimburse you for things such as 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 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. 

In Maryland, there is no cap on economic damages like medical bills, but there is a $830,000 cap on non-economic damages like pain and suffering.

Statute of Limitations in Maryland 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.

The statute of limitations in Maryland for most civil personal injury suits is three years from the date of the accident.

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 Maryland Lawyer

Pursue a personal injury claim in Maryland 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 Maryland 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!