Belcamp Personal Injury Lawyer
Working with a personal injury lawyer will make the legal process much easier for you. Good personal injury lawyers walk you through the process step by step, answer any questions you may have, and are up front about any potential issues you may face.
Working with a Personal Injury Lawyer in Belcamp
Personal injury lawyers will also communicate with the insurance companies and any opposing parties. They will advise you on what evidence should be submitted and counsel you on what to do next.
Typically, a personal injury lawyer will work with you from the beginning of your case until the end. Cases could end by going to trial or being settled outside the courtroom.
Either way, a successful personal injury lawyer will be your biggest advocate. They see it as their duty to seek justice for you and your loved ones through the justice system.
Maryland Contributory Negligence
Maryland is one of the few states that still has contributory negligence law. This law is often seen as unfair and a hindrance to personal injury victims.
Contributory negligence is when the victim contributed to the accident in some way based on their negligent behavior. A common example of this is a victim disobeying a traffic law.
Ultimately, it is up to the jury to decide if the victim contributed to the accident in any way. If the jury finds that the victim was contributorily negligent, then the victim is barred from receiving any damages.
Back to the example of the victim disobeying a traffic law – if the victim of a traffic accident was speeding and it was raining, then the victim failed to exercise reasonable care and therefore contributed to the accident. That victim will not be allowed to receive any damages for their injuries.
There are some cases where contributory negligence does not apply. For example the failure to use a seatbelt or a car seat for a child. Since this law is extremely complex it is best to talk to an attorney about whether contributory negligence will be an issue in your personal injury claim.
Calculating Your Personal Injury Claim
Damages sought in a personal injury case are used as a way to make the plaintiff “whole” again, or put them in a similar situation as they would have been before the accident.
Typically, damages are awarded for things such as past and future medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress, wrongful death, and punitive damages.
Punitive damages are awarded solely as a punishment to the defendant. Unfortunately, often time’s damages are hard to put a dollar amount on, as there is no price that will make the pain and suffering go away or bring back a loved one.
The idea is that the plaintiff will be compensated for the injuries and the recovery process will be a little bit smoother. Of course the damages a plaintiff is actually awarded can vary depending on the circumstances of the accident and the type of injuries the plaintiff sustained.
There is no “formula” for calculating your personal injury claim since it varies based on the circumstances.
There are a few steps you can take to seek the highest amount of damages possible for your personal injury claim.
- Keep all documentation of the injuries that you sustained from the accident
- Be clear with your doctor about the level of pain you are experiencing and where the pain is
- Maintain a record of other tangible losses that you incurred as a result of the accident (such as bills, lost wages, etc.)
- Ask your personal injury attorney for advice about calculating pain and suffering and emotional distress
Let Our Belcamp Personal Injury Lawyer Help
Working with a good personal injury lawyer is the key to a successful personal injury lawsuit. At Rice, Murtha & Psoras we have a decade of experience with all kinds of personal injury claims.
We are able to handle complex cases with ease and are dedicated to getting you the most out of your claim. After all, we don’t win unless you do. Call Rice, Murtha & Psoras in Belcamp, Maryland today for a free consultation.
