Hampstead, MD Personal Injury Lawyer

No one leaves their home expecting to be injured, especially not by another person’s negligence. However, the reality is that negligent accidents happen each day in Hampstead.

When someone has wrongfully injured you, our lawyers can help you get coverage for your losses by filing a lawsuit. A lawsuit is the best way to cover all the damages you are likely to suffer from your accident. If you are unsure if you have a valid claim or are afraid of the costs, our team can allay these fears by reviewing the facts of your case free of charge. We will also determine how long you have to file your case so it is prepared in time and with the right evidence. We can use evidence you have, like pictures and videos, and get evidence from the defendant during litigation.

Call Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291 for a free case review with our Westminster, MD personal injury attorneys today.

Determining How Long Your Personal Injury Case Might Take in Hampstead, MD

Many personal injury victims in Hampstead are reluctant to start a legal claim because they fear that the effort will be all-consuming and have no idea how long it might take to conclude. However, you should never let that prevent you from speaking to our personal injury attorneys. Our goal is to get you total compensation for your damages in the quickest time possible using strategies that have been successful for years. Even for complex cases that might take some time to settle, we can handle the critical aspects so you can focus on getting your life back in order.

While many factors will often impact the time it takes to complete a case, the most important thing is to file your lawsuit before the statute of limitations passes. For personal injuries in Hampstead, Md. Code Cts. & Jud. Proc. Art. § 5-101 gives victims just three years from the accident date to file a lawsuit. Fortunately, cases can take as long as they reasonably need to come to a just resolution as long as they are filed before this deadline. After determining your deadline to file, we can turn to other factors to estimate your claim’s timeframe.

The complexity of the facts and damages involved is arguably the most controlling factor in determining how long your case will take. The more challenging the case is to prove or articulate, the longer it might take to build. Expert witnesses and other specialists are often needed when the facts are complex. This can add time since it can be difficult to schedule everyone when necessary. The case will likely settle quickly if the facts are straightforward and the injuries typical, with plenty of evidence to prove the claim.

This assumes that everyone is cooperating. Most insurance companies and defense attorneys are unwilling to risk time, money, and credibility with the court by fighting a claim that should be approved. If the evidence shows that it is more likely than not that their client acted negligently, most will want to settle the case quickly and move on to more important matters. Still, some defendants do not act reasonably and will fight a case to trial, which can increase the time but will eventually get a hard trial date from the court. If our side needs more time, we can request it from the judge.

What Evidence to Gather to Prove Your Hampstead, MD Personal Injury Claim

The only thing that separates allegations of injuries from a legitimate legal claim is evidence. The more evidence we have, the more we can reconstruct the accident, ultimately leading to a faster resolution in your case. Fortunately, much of the evidence will already be in your possession, and we will gather other pieces on your behalf.

Your Testimony and Witness Statements

Most personal injury lawsuits do not have “smoking gun” evidence. Instead, much of the evidence comes from the victims themselves and eyewitnesses who offered assistance. Obviously, the victim is in the best position to speak to what happened to them during the incident. The more facts you can remember and testify to, the more credibility you will have.

Our team can prepare you to testify when the other side questions you. If your testimony is strong during questioning, the defense attorney will know it will be strong in court, encouraging them to settle the case.

Witness testimony is important because it can bolster the statements you are making. This also gives you credibility since eyewitnesses are often strangers to the victim and, thus, have no incentive to lie or go out of their way to help the plaintiff.

Photographs and Videos

Photos and videos can also be used as evidence in your lawsuit. They can provide strong evidence of accident scenes and injuries that will have a more emotional impact than simply describing them on the stand. If the court can see your injuries as they were on the date of the accident rather than seeing you mostly healed, they will have more context for the overall nature of your accident.

Photos and videos are also helpful in fighting false or misremembered claims by the defendant. If the defendant testifies that it was raining when the accident occurred, but your photos clearly show it was a sunny day, the court will either conclude that they do not remember the incident well or are lying. Either way, it damages the defendant’s credibility while building your own.

Evidence in Other People’s Possession

Other pieces of evidence you will need to prove your case will be in other people’s possession. Some information will be with the defendant, which we can obtain during litigation. In other cases, we might collect accident reports from the police. We will also need to gather evidence of your damages in the form of medical documents and employment records.

Get Help from Our Experienced Personal Injury Lawyers in Hampstead, MD Now

Contact Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291 to get your free case assessment with our personal injury lawyers.