Dorchester County, MD Personal Injury Lawyer

A severe injury could result in years of medical expenses and rehabilitation. Additionally, it could cost you a substantial amount of money if you are unable to work. When someone else’s behavior caused your injury, you should not have to bear the financial burden. Through a personal injury lawsuit, you could seek compensation for your physical and emotional pain.

If you or a loved one was injured because of another’s actions, you must contact our Dorchester County personal injury lawyer. the attorneys and staff at Rice, Murtha & Psoras have helped people fight for their rights and just compensation for decades. Call (410) 694-7291 to schedule a free consultation.

Types of Personal Injury Cases in Dorchester County, Maryland

Personal injury law covers a wide range of cases. In basic terms, a personal injury claim arises when a plaintiff is injured because of a defendant’s negligent conduct. Injuries and cases can come from just about anywhere. Many injured individuals might not realize they have the basis of a civil lawsuit. Our experienced Dorchester County personal injury lawyers handle a variety of types of cases.

Car Accidents

One of the most common types of accidents that give rise to a personal injury claim are crashes involving cars, motorcycles, trucks, or any other vehicle. When a motorist is driving drunk or is excessively speeding, they put themselves and others in danger. When a driver is careless or reckless, they could be held responsible for any injuries and damages they cause.

Medical Malpractice

We place a significant amount of trust in our healthcare professionals to accurately diagnose and treat our medical conditions. When they are careless or make an inexcusable mistake, the consequences could be devastating or even deadly. Medical professionals who fail to live up to an appropriate standard should be held accountable if their actions result in harm to their patients.

Slip and Fall Accidents

A slip and fall case might be the classic personal injury claim. However, many people are unaware of how extensive a property owner or manager’s duty is. If you fall because of a wet floor in a supermarket, you might realize you have a personal injury claim. However, if you fall and hurt yourself anywhere, you might have a strong personal injury case. Falls are caused by nearly an endless number of reasons, including cracked sidewalks, icy pavements, uneven steps, debris on the floor, among countless other hazards.

Premises Liability Cases

While premise liability cases are close to slip and fall claims, they include a greater scope of accidents and typically target the property owner. For example, if you live in an apartment complex with an unlit stairwell, you could potentially hold the building owner liable if the poor lighting causes you to lose your balance.

The above is just a small sampling of the types of cases our office handles. Other types of incidents that result in injuries include animal bites, boating accidents, amusement park accidents, construction accidents, or defective products.

If you have been injured in any way, contact our experienced Dorchester County attorney to help determine if you have a personal injury claim against another person or entity.

What is Your Dorchester County Personal Injury Claim Worth?

A common question an injured person has is, “how much is my case worth?” Because every case is unique and every injury is different, it is impossible to give an answer that will cover every personal injury claim. However, our Dorchester County and Maryland personal injury lawyers will look at the factors surrounding your case to provide you with a good faith estimate. By thoroughly examining the severity of your injuries, your medical expenses, your lost income, and a number of other considerations, our office will evaluate your claim.

Understanding the value of your claim is essential in pursuing a personal injury lawsuit. First, it gives you a figure to compare with any insurance settlement that is offered. Without an estimated value, it is impossible to tell if a settlement offer is fair. Next, if there is no settlement offer or if the offer is substantially lower than it should be, knowing the value of your claim helps in deciding to take your case to court.

Proving Liability in a Dorchester County Personal Injury Case

The most important part of a personal injury lawsuit is proving that the defendant is liable for your injuries. In Maryland, our attorney will have to demonstrate four elements.

First, we will have to prove that the defendant owed you a duty of care. For example, in a car accident case, a motorist has a duty to operate their vehicle safely. Establishing a duty of care will depend on the facts of your case and your relationship with the defendant.

After establishing that a duty of care exists, our office will need to show that the defendant breached that duty. Breaching means the defendant’s conduct violated the duty of care. For instance, if a person was driving while intoxicated, they violated their duty to safely operate their vehicle.

Your injury must be the result of the defendant’s breach of duty. Our attorney will have to demonstrate that the defendant’s conduct was the direct cause of your injury. When a drunk driver smashes into your car, it is relatively easy to connect the breach with any resulting injuries. However, in cases with multiple parties and more than one potential cause, proving causation is challenging.

Finally, you must have suffered actual damages arising from the incident. If you received any medical treatment, then you suffered real damages. As stated above, the value of your claim is the potential amount of damages you could seek through a personal injury lawsuit.

Call Our Dorchester County, MD Personal Injury Lawyer for a Free Consultation

If you are injured due to another person’s actions, you should be compensated for any financial losses you suffered. Our Dorchester County personal injury lawyers are dedicated to helping individuals receive the compensation they deserve. Call Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291 to schedule a free consultation.