Personal injury claims are very common and make up a large portion of civil claims filed every year. Personal injury law is a vast field, so you should find a lawyer experienced with claims similar to yours.
You might be eligible to submit a claim for personal injuries in Maryland if you experienced bodily harm or injuries directly from someone else’s actions. While personal injury cases might involve an assortment of claims, bodily harm must be one of them. To prove your claims, our legal team can help you track down witnesses with valuable information, records about the accident and your injuries, and any existing photos or videos of the accident. Damages in personal injury claims might be substantial, with plaintiffs claiming medical bills, property damage, lost income, pain and suffering, and more.
If someone injured you, call (410) 694-7291 and speak with our personal injury lawyers at Rice Law about getting a free case evaluation.
What is a Personal Injury?
Sometimes, people are confused about what makes a personal injury “personal.” While some people misconstrue this term as referring to any injury of a personal or private nature, the real meaning is more literal. A personal injury is an injury to your body or your person caused by someone else’s negligence.
Who Can File a Personal Injury Claim in Laurel, MD?
Generally, anyone injured by someone else may file a personal injury claim. If you are considering filing a personal injury lawsuit, you should talk to an attorney about whether your case meets the criteria for this kind of claim or if you have a different kind of legal claim.
How Common Are Personal Injury Claims in Laurel, MD?
Personal injury claims are very common. Of all the civil lawsuits filed each year, many involve personal injury claims. Still, many plaintiffs are unsure what kind of case they have since personal injury claims come in many forms, from car accidents to slip and falls.
Why Can You File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Laurel, MD?
Personal injury claims are typically based on the legal concept of negligence. This involves a defendant’s duty, breach of duty, causation, and the plaintiff’s damages. The duty is whatever legal obligation of safety or care the defendant owed to the plaintiff, while the breach is how the defendant violated that duty. Causation refers to the breach being the direct cause of the accident. Finally, to file a lawsuit, your damages must be real, not mere possibilities or hypotheticals.
How Do You Prove Your Personal Injury Claims in Laurel, MD?
Once you understand how you were injured and what kind of legal claims you have, your next step should be to figure out how to prove those legal claims in court. Evidence is a crucial part of your case. Even if your case settles out of court and you never have a trial, you still need evidence in your corner.
How Can Witnesses Help Your Personal Injury Claim?
Accidents or incidents that lead to injuries often involve at least a few witnesses. Eyewitnesses are people who saw the defendant cause your injuries. For example, if you were injured in a car accident, an eyewitness might be another driver who watched the crash unfold.
Other witnesses might not have seen the accident but still have important information relevant to the case. For example, suppose you believe the driver who hit you was intoxicated during the crash. We might call the bartender who served them alcohol as a witness.
What Medical Records Do You Need for a Personal Injury Case?
Medical records related to your injuries can be introduced as evidence. Our personal injury lawyers might use your hospital records to prove the severity and extent of your injuries. This is often important when the plaintiff’s injuries have healed by a trial, and the jury cannot see them firsthand.
Can You Use Photos and Videos as Evidence in a Personal Injury Claim?
Photos and videos are excellent forms of evidence, and they might be used to show the jury important details from the accident scene or your injuries. If you can, take some photos right after you are injured. Alternatively, we can search for security cameras that might have recorded your injuries on video.
What is the Value of Your Laurel, MD Personal Injury Claim?
Another critical step in your fight for compensation is evaluating your damages so you know your case’s value. Your damages reflect the numerous injuries, losses, and even personal experiences from your accident. Some damages cost plaintiffs actual money and are easier to evaluate. Other damages are not based on money but on experiences, making them far more subjective and harder to calculate.
What Economic Damages Can a Personal Injury Lawsuit Cover?
Financial losses might include the cost of medical treatment for your injuries, the value of damaged or destroyed property, and the value of income you lost because your injuries prevented you from working. These costs can be overwhelming and add up very quickly. The defendant should pay for these costs, not you.
What Non-Economic Damages Can a Personal Injury Lawsuit Cover?
More subjective damages might include physical pain and emotional suffering, among others. These damages must be assessed differently since they might not have a price tag. The compensation appropriate for your pain and suffering may vary based on your perception and experience. The greater an impact these experiences have on your life, the more compensation you deserve.
What Are the Stages of a Personal Injury Lawsuit?
We can guide you through every stage of a personal injury lawsuit so you move through litigation as stress-free as possible.
Investigation
We can begin your personal injury case by investigating the accident. During this time, we can investigate all possible liable parties and contributing causes, gather photographic, documentary, and testimonial evidence, and confirm that you have a case.
Filing
Once your case is ready to be filed, we can submit the complaint petition to the court. The petition should name the defendant, explain your reasons for filing a lawsuit, and state the exact compensation you wish to recover for your damages.
Filing must occur before the statute of limitations expires, typically within 3 years of an injury.
Discovery
Soon after, your lawsuit will enter the discovery phase. During this period, both sides exchange information and get a better idea of the other side’s case. You may have to give a deposition during discovery, and our lawyers can thoroughly prepare you.
Settlement Negotiations
Many personal injury victims expect to settle their claims and prefer to settle rather than go to trial. You should not accept just any offer from the defense, and should only agree to a settlement that reflects your damages and covers them.
Trial
Depending on the outcome of settlement negotiations, your case may proceed to trial, where our attorneys will present our evidence and case to a jury.
What Can You Expect from a Trial for a Laurel, MD Personal Injury Case?
If your personal injury claim goes to trial, our attorneys will present our case, and the defense will have an opportunity to do the same. We can cross-examine the defense’s witnesses and undermine assertions of contributory fault with our own evidence.
Most personal injury plaintiffs can expect trials to end within a matter of days, if not less time.
How Quickly Can You Settle Your Personal Injury Claim?
How quickly you can settle and resolve your personal injury case depends entirely on the facts of your specific case and the parties involved. Some defendants are eager to settle to avoid trials and large jury awards, and might settle cases within weeks of filing. Others are far more stubborn and take many months to finally agree to a fair settlement.
How Does Contributory Negligence Affect Maryland Personal Injury Claims?
In Maryland, victims cannot recover damages if they contribute to their own injuries. Because Maryland is a pure contributory fault state, be very mindful of not accepting liability or apologizing for your involvement in an accident at any stage of your recovery.
What is the Accrual Date for the Statute of Limitations in a Personal Injury Case?
In most cases, the accrual date for the statute of limitations, or when the clock begins to run, is typically the date a victim is injured. However, the accrual date might differ if a tolling exception applies, such as for delayed discovery. In that case, the accrual date is the date the victim discovered their injuries, not when they were sustained.
What Happens if You Miss the Statute of Limitations for a Personal Injury Lawsuit?
Maryland courts strictly enforce the statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits. If you miss the deadline for your case, even by a day, you no longer have a valid claim and cannot hold a negligent party accountable.
How Long Can a Laurel, MD Personal Injury Lawsuit Last?
Personal injury lawsuits have no time limit after they are filed. Some cases end within weeks, while others take several years to resolve, whether through a settlement or trial.
We can keep you updated on your claim’s status so you always know how close you are to a financial recovery.
When Can You Get Punitive Damages in a Maryland Personal Injury Case?
Personal injury plaintiffs can only get punitive damages when a jury believes there is clear and convincing evidence that the defendant exhibited actual malice when they injured the victim.
Why Hire a Lawyer for Your Personal Injury Case in Laurel, MD?
Plaintiffs sometimes try to handle their personal injury claims on their own. While you are not required to hire a lawyer, it is smart to do so.
Better Chance of Winning at Trial
Having an experienced lawyer by your side can help you win your case and get the compensation you deserve. Without a lawyer, you might be more likely to lose or encounter setbacks you are not prepared to deal with.
Better Chance of Getting a Good Settlement
A lawyer can also help you get fair compensation from a settlement. If you do not have a lawyer, the defendant might bulldoze you during negotiations or lowball you with a small settlement offer. Your lawyer can help you build a strong case and negotiate a better settlement.
Contact Our Laurel, MD Personal Injury Lawyers for Support
If you were injured because of someone else’s negligent behavior, call our personal injury lawyers at Rice Law at (410) 694-7291 and arrange a free case review.