Hyattsville, MD Personal Injury Lawyer

Personal injury lawsuits serve to compensate victims who were injured as the result of other parties’ negligent behavior. There are many sources of personal injury that you can sue for. For example, you may have a potential case if you were injured because of medical malpractice, a slip and fall, or a car accident.

However, defendants in personal injury lawsuits are usually backed by insurance companies. These insurers will hire expensive legal teams that seek to dispute key aspects of plaintiffs’ claims.

If you wish to file a personal injury claim in Hyattsville, MD, get help from our experienced personal injury attorneys by calling Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291 for a free case evaluation.

Do You Need to Go to the Hospital After Suffering a Personal Injury in Hyattsville, MD?

After particularly severe accidents, injured parties may be taken directly to the hospital by ambulance. However, even if you do not think your injuries are bad enough to warrant a hospital visit, you should still seek medical attention as soon as you can.

Medical documentation of your injuries is necessary in order to recover damages in a personal injury claim. If you wait for your injuries to heal on their own, you may miss out on the opportunity to recover the documentation you need.

Further, if you do not seek prompt medical care for the harm you sustained, the defendant and their insurance company may argue that you were not badly hurt. Accordingly, it is important to seek medical attention quickly after incurring a personal injury. You should also attend any necessary follow-up medical appointments and stay up to date with your prescribed medications.

Common Types of Personal Injuries You Can Sue for in Hyattsville, MD

There are many types of personal injuries you could face. While some might leave you out of work for a limited time, others could completely change your life, resulting in lost earnings, expensive medical bills, and substantial pain and suffering damages.

Fractured Bones

Fractured bones are a common type of injury caused by car accidents and slip and falls. These injuries are often debilitating and highly painful. Further, in severe cases, those with fractured or broken bones may need to undergo surgical treatment.

Spinal Cord Damage

Spinal cord damage is also a common type of injury sustained by personal injury plaintiffs. These injuries can come in many forms and often produce highly detrimental impacts on victims’ abilities to perform work and enjoy their lives. Accordingly, there may be a wide range of monetary damages available to victims with spinal cord damage.

Soft Tissue Injuries

Furthermore, many personal injury plaintiffs in Hyattsville sustain soft tissue injuries. These injuries usually occur in the form of tears, sprains, and strains. Plaintiffs with soft tissue injuries can also suffer severe economic and non-economic losses. Additionally, they may be restricted from returning to work until they are fully recovered.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Finally, some personal injury plaintiffs suffer traumatic brain injuries. Like spinal cord injuries, this type of harm can produce a multitude of harmful symptoms that produce negative impacts on victims’ quality of life. For example, someone with a traumatic brain injury may be prevented from taking part in their favorite activities and hobbies after their accident.

Can You Recover Compensation if You Share Fault for Your Personal Injury in Hyattsville, MD?

Courts in Maryland will abide by rules of “contributory negligence” when awarding damages in personal injury lawsuits. This means that if you share any degree of blame for the accident that caused your injury, you will be unable to recover any financial compensation whatsoever.

This rule is tough on plaintiffs, and defendants’ insurers often try to shift blame onto victims to avoid paying them the damages they deserve. Still, you should not let these rules deter you from seeking payment for your injuries. There are several forms of evidence that may be used to show that the defendant is responsible your accident.

Evidence Used to Prove Fault for a Personal Injury in Hyattsville, MD

For your personal injury claim to succeed, you must gather and present evidence that proves the defendant is at fault. The following are common types of evidence used to establish fault for in a personal injury claim:

Witness Testimony

Witness testimony is a highly valuable form of evidence that is often used to prove fault in personal injury cases. Witnesses can provide written and spoken statements that explain how or why your accident happened. For instance, if you were hurt as the result of a car crash, an eyewitness may assert that they saw the defendant make an improper left turn before causing the accident. Furthermore, after a slip and fall caused by a slippery floor, a witness can offer testimony explaining why you fell. Therefore, you should always try to obtain contact information for potential eyewitnesses to your accident.

Information from Accident Reports

Information from accident reports can help plaintiffs determine who to sue and uncover valuable evidence. Typically, after any motor vehicle accident that causes an injury, a police officer will visit the scene to draft an accident report. However, these reports can be created after other accidents too. For instance, after slip and fall at a grocery store or a harmful accident on construction site, workers near the scene may have to fill out accident reports that explain what they saw. These reports are often among the first items reviewed by lawyers and insurers when assessing fault.

Photos from the Accident’s Scene

Photos from your accident’s scene may also be helpful when proving fault. For instance, photos showing ice accumulation at an apartment building’s entranceway may be used to establish fault for a slip and fall.

However, photos from accidents’ scenes can also help disprove defendants’ arguments. As an example, a negligent driver may state that a car accident was caused by poor weather conditions, as opposed to their careless actions. In that case, photos from the scene depicting clear weather could help discredit the defendant’s assertion.

If You Need to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Hyattsville, MD, Call Our Law Firm for Help

Seek guidance from our experienced personal injury lawyers by calling Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291 for a free review of your potential claim.