Largo, MD Personal Injury Lawyer

When people are injured in accidents, they are sometimes a little too quick to dismiss their injuries so that they can put the whole ordeal behind them. While this might be fine for some, others cannot afford the financial burden of serious injuries or other costs of a bad accident. A personal injury lawsuit might be what you need to get full and fair compensation.

You can start preparing your case almost immediately after the accident. Exchange information with others at the scene, take pictures, and call the police. Much of the information you collect may be used as evidence. If we have trouble finding supporting evidence, the police might have found some and included it in their report. While some are positive about who is to blame for their injuries, others are not so sure. Depending on the evidence, there might be one or several people you can include as defendants. Your lawyer can guide you through this process while fighting for justice and fair compensation.

Tak to our personal injury lawyers at Rice, Murtha & Psoras by calling (410) 694-7291 and ask about a free initial review of your claim to get started.

What to Do After Being Injured in an Accident in Largo, MA

If you are involved in an accident, the first step you should take after making sure you and possibly others are okay is to call for help. Call 911 and make sure an ambulance and the police are sent to your location. Even if your injuries are not extreme and you might not need an ambulance, you should still get medical treatment as soon as possible, preferably on the same day as your accident. The police can help investigate and document the scene, and helpful information might be contained in their report.

While waiting for help to arrive, you should exchange information with others at the scene and start documenting everything as best as you can. If you have a camera, take pictures of the accident scene, the surrounding area, and your injuries. If you do not have a camera, jotting down some notes can be helpful when you go over the accident with the police and our personal injury lawyers. You never know what might be important later, so recording as much as possible is best.

People sometimes forego calling the police if their injuries are not severe. The other person or people involved in the accident might even pressure you into not calling for help because they “don’t want the police involved.” While the accident might not necessarily constitute a criminal offense, you should call the police. Even if there is no crime, they can help in emergencies. You also might need an official police report about the accident.

Lastly, you should call a lawyer to discuss your legal options. Accidents and injuries might disrupt your life, making it hard to return to work, earn a living, and take care of yourself. Your attorney can advise you on legal options and help you make an informed decision about what to do next.

Using Evidence to Prove Your Claims in a Largo, MA Personal Injury Case

To successfully prove a personal injury case, the plaintiff must prove the defendant’s negligence. Negligence is made up of multiple legal elements: duty, breach, causation, and damages. If even a single element is not sufficiently proven, your whole case might fall apart.

The first element is the defendant’s duty of care, which they owe to the plaintiff. This duty may vary based on the situation and how the defendant and plaintiff know each other. For example, a homeowner who invites guests into their home owes those guests a duty to remove or repair hazards from the property and make reasonable inspections for unknown hazards. We need evidence of this relationship and duty.

The next element is the defendant’s breach of their duty. Again, this will vary between cases, and the evidence we need will depend on what the defendant did or failed to do that constitutes a breach of duty. For example, if you were in a car accident because the other driver ran a red light, we might use red light cameras and witness testimony to prove the breach. Proving the breach is sometimes the biggest challenge in a personal injury case, as what the defendant did to breach their duty may vary greatly from case to case.

The third element is causation, which is the link between the breach and your injuries. In short, we have to prove that the defendant’s breach of duty was the direct and proximate cause of the accident and your injuries. This is sometimes obvious if the plaintiff’s injuries could not have happened without the defendant’s negligence. Other cases require more evidence, especially if the defendant argues that another intervening force caused the accident.

Finally, we have to prove your damages. If you somehow make it through an accident without suffering any damages, you do not have a valid personal injury claim. You cannot sue a defendant for a near miss or close call. We might need things like medical records to prove your injuries and receipts and bills to establish how much the accident cost you.

Filing Your Personal Injury Lawsuit On Time in Largo, MD

If you are thinking about initiating a lawsuit for personal injuries, you should speak to an attorney immediately if you have not already done so. While taking some time to consider your options and recover from your injuries is reasonable, your time is limited. The statute of limitations, according to Md. Code Cts. & Jud. Proc. Art. § 5-101, is only 3 years. If you do not file your case on time, you risk losing your right to sue.

Under very specific circumstances, you may have the limitation period tolled, thereby pushing back your deadline to file. For example, according to § 5-201(a), plaintiffs who were minors or under a mental disability that hinders their ability to understand their injuries or rights may have the limitation period tolled. For minors, the limitation period would not begin until they turn 18. If you have a disability, the limitation period would not begin until the disability is lifted.

Reach Out to Our Largo, MD Personal Injury Lawyers for Support Now

Talk to our personal injury lawyers at Rice, Murtha & Psoras by calling (410) 694-7291 and ask about a free initial review of your case to get started.