It cannot be understated the devastating effect of injuries that cause paralysis. If another person paralyzes you, the compensation you would be entitled to will likely be high.
While there is no one way to determine the value of a victim’s paralysis case, the more serious the injuries are, the more compensation that can be reasonably expected. Several factors will be reviewed to determine your case’s value, including the severity of your paralysis and whether any actions on your part could be used to lower your compensation.
If you experienced paralysis, our Maryland personal injury attorneys can help you determine the compensation you are entitled to in your case. Contact Rice, Murtha & Psoras today at (443) 339-8368 for a free assessment of your case.
How Much Compensation Can I Expect to Get for Paralysis in Maryland?
Determining how much compensation you can recover for paralysis in Maryland depends on several factors. Obviously, injuries involving paralysis are serious, so if another person causes them, the compensation will likely be high. However, no two cases are the same, with each one presenting its own challenges. Our Maryland personal injury attorneys have the experience to handle your case with the care and skill it deserves.
Unfortunately, settlement negotiations do not always work out in such serious cases. While avoiding the time and costs of lengthy litigation is usually preferable, it is sometimes best to pursue compensation through the court. Sometimes, the defendant or insurance company is unwilling to pay the high damages being demanded. They might latch onto reasons for reducing pay that would not stand up in court. However, a jury might be much more sympathetic to the plight of a victim fighting to overcome the injuries caused by the defendant. This is especially true if your paralysis injuries were caused by egregious conduct.
Although there is no formula for determining how much compensation you will get for paralysis, the longer your injuries are projected to affect you, the higher the compensation you will need to cover your treatment. In the most severe cases, compensation might need to account for a lifetime of treatments. Thus, it is common for paralysis cases to be awarded damages in the six and seven figures. Our Baltimore personal injury attorneys can evaluate your claim and fight for the compensation your injuries demand.
Factors that Can Influence How Much Compensation Can You Get for Paralysis in Maryland
As mentioned, there are a number of factors that will impact the amount of compensation you get for your paralysis injuries in Maryland. These factors can greatly influence your decision to settle your case for a certain amount or proceed to trial. Our personal injury attorneys can offer guidance every step of the way so that you are informed of the best options to get the compensation you are entitled to.
The Severity of Your Injuries
The more serious your paralysis injuries, the higher the compensatory award you are likely to recover. While every injury involving paralysis is serious, some will eventually heal. That process could include weeks or years of physical therapy and surgeries, but there could be a timeline for when your injuries are likely to heal. In these situations, your compensation will typically be negotiated around your future prognosis. However, if the insurance company disagrees with the assessment or has another reason to fight your claim, you might need to file a lawsuit to recover damages.
If your paralysis is permanent or near permanent, the compensation you can get will most likely be high. It cannot be understated how many aspects of a victim’s life are impacted by permanent paralysis. They likely cannot enjoy former hobbies, work in the same capacity, or maintain social relationships. Essentially, their entire life is turned upside down. Victims often experience extreme bouts of depression and mental anguish. These damages can also be pursued along with your economic losses, which can greatly increase the amount of compensation they recover.
Contributory Negligence
Another major factor impacting your financial award is whether you contributed to your injuries. Unfortunately, Maryland practices pure comparative negligence rules, which bar plaintiffs in a lawsuit from recovering any compensation if they are found to have contributed to their accident by even 1%. This is the harshest system in use in the country. Most states allow victims to recover some damages even if they were partially to blame, albeit at a reduced amount, but Maryland still chooses to employ it.
If there is some evidence that you contributed to the accident, Maryland’s strict rule might influence your decision to settle a case rather than risk the question with a jury. However, the settlement will likely be for a significantly reduced amount. Our Aberdeen personal injury attorneys can help fight accusations that you contributed to your accident and ensure you are treated fairly by the opposing side.
What Types of Compensation Can I Get for Paralysis in Maryland?
You will be entitled to a wide range of damages for your paralysis injuries. These damages can be broken down into economic and non-economic damages. However, Maryland does cap the amount of non-economic damages you can recover.
The most common form of damages are economic losses. This includes your medical expenses, which will likely be extensive, lost wages, and other expenses associated with treating your injuries. Importantly, you can claim future medical costs as part of your economic damages, which will typically be at the heart of the compensation number you demand.
Non-economic damages, also known as “pain and suffering,” are intended to compensate victims for the emotional impact and physical pain their injuries have caused. These damages can be difficult to calculate but can be expected to be high given your paralysis injuries. Unfortunately, Maryland caps the amount of pain and suffering damages victims can recover for their injuries. As of October 2022, the cap is set at $920,000. However, this number is set to increase every October. Our Annapolis personal injury attorneys can help you determine the value of your damages to get the compensation you need for your and your family’s future.
Our Maryland Personal Injury Attorneys Can Help
If you sustained paralysis because of your injuries, our Columbia personal injury lawyers can help you assess your damages and fight for the compensation you deserve. For a free case review, call Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (443) 339-8368.