Glenmont, MD Personal Injury Lawyer
Serious injuries happen because of accidents all the time. In some cases, these injuries are truly from “freak accidents” where no one is at fault. However, all too often, people get badly injured because someone else acted negligently. When that happens, injured victims often look to the legal system to see justice served and get financial compensation for their injuries.
If you were injured around Glenmont and are looking for legal representation, we can help. Our lawyers have countless hours of experience representing clients in personal injury lawsuits, and we can put that experience to work helping you with your specific legal needs.
To get a free, obligation-free case review, call (410) 694-7291 and speak to our personal injury lawyers from Rice, Murtha & Psoras.
Accidents that Lead to Personal Injury Lawsuits in Glenmont, MD
To file a personal injury lawsuit, you, naturally, need to be injured. Most plaintiffs in personal injury lawsuits are injured by accident, but that accident is also very often the result of someone else’s negligence. In law, being negligent is essentially being careless or acting in a way that a reasonable person would not, which results in someone else getting injured.
Car Accidents
Car accidents are a frequent cause of injuries. Vehicles moving at high speeds can break bones, cause cuts and puncture wounds, leave victims with traumatic brain injuries or even result in death.
Car accidents frequently happen when a driver speeds, is not paying attention, drives drunk, or otherwise ignores the rules of the road. Doing any of those activities constitutes negligence on the part of the driver.
Bus Accidents
Bus accidents can be even more damaging than car accidents because buses are much larger than ordinary vehicles and because buses frequently have lots of passengers inside, so it is more likely that more people are going to get hurt. Bus drivers can be negligent in the same ways that drivers of other vehicles can.
Truck Accidents
Trucks are even heavier than buses and significantly more bulky than privately owned motor vehicles. Accordingly, truck accidents result in incredibly grievous injuries that are often permanent and “life-altering.” For this reason, in addition to being negligent by speeding or running red lights, truckers have rules governing some of their conduct. For example, the FMCSA has rules governing how long a truck driver is allowed to drive in one sitting before they are required to take a break. This is because tired driving is incredibly dangerous and a big problem in the trucking industry that leads to many accidents.
Slip-and-Fall Accidents
Slipping and falling down is frequently a gag in movies and television, but it is no laughing matter in reality. Depending on how you fall, what you fall on, and a multitude of other factors, a slip and fall can lead to very serious injuries.
Medical Malpractice
If you were injured because a medical professional was negligent, you can file what is called a medical malpractice lawsuit. Things like incorrectly prescribed medication, botched surgeries or other medical procedures, failure to diagnose something or misdiagnoses, and other negligent acts by doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel lead to medical malpractice lawsuits.
A quirk of medical malpractice lawsuits is that they rely heavily on expert testimony from practicing medical professionals. This is to establish the industry standard for a certain course of action so that it can be determined whether the defendant was negligent or not. There are other differences between medical malpractice lawsuits and other personal injury lawsuits as well, so speak with our lawyers about this kind of case, if applicable.
What Damages Can I Get in Glenmont, MD Personal Injury Lawsuits
If you are successful in your personal injury lawsuit, you will be awarded damages by the court. You will ask for a specific amount in damages when our personal injury lawyers file your case, but the jury ultimately decides what you will be awarded at the end of a trial.
First, you can get damages based on medical expenses in your case. Surgeries, pain management medication, hospital stays, and long-term therapy can all add up to be very expensive, so you can ask for compensation for those expenses as damages. Second, you can be awarded damages for missed pay or income you would have earned in the future depending on how seriously your injuries limited – and will continue to limit – your ability to work.
You can also get damages for less tangible things like pain and suffering – both physically and mentally. These things do not have their worth spelled out like a medical bill will, so you will need to argue their worth in court.
How Are Damages Calculated in Glenmont, MD Personal Injury Lawsuits
There is no required way to calculate damages in personal injury lawsuits. However, there are two main methods for doing so that attorneys employ.
The first is called the multiplier method. This method takes things like medical bills and lost wages and multiplies them by a given factor to get a number for things like pain and suffering. For example, you could have $100,000 in medical expenses and $300,000 in pain and suffering to get a total of $400,000 in compensatory damages.
The other method is called the “per diem” method. This differs from the multiplier method in that it calculates the worth of your pain and suffering on a daily basis and then adds up that amount for each day you have dealt with and are going to deal with your injuries.
Call Our Glenmont, MD Personal Injury Lawyers Today
Get a free case review from our personal injury lawyers when you reach out to Rice, Murtha & Psoras at the number (410) 694-7291.