We use our hands for almost everything. When a person’s hand is seriously injured, it can interfere with almost all aspects of their daily life. As such, hand injury victims should demand large settlements to make up for their grievous losses.
A good settlement will depend on the overall extent of the hand injury. Injured fingers can be painful and make daily tasks difficult. A whole-hand injury is even more severe. If your hand is so badly hurt that it must be amputated, your entire life may change overnight. Your settlement should reflect your medical costs, lost income from being unable to work, and the extreme pain and suffering you endure because of a painful hand injury.
Ask our Maryland personal injury attorneys for a free, confidential case assessment by calling Rice Law at (410) 694-7291.
What is a Good Settlement for a Hand Injury Worth?
A good settlement for a hand injury largely depends on the exact nature of the injury. How much of the hand is affected? Will the injury fully recover? Are serious complications likely or expected?
Injured Fingers
We use our fingers for everything, but they are more fragile than we think. You might break one or several fingers in an accident, leaving your hand unusable until the injuries heal. While broken fingers can be very inconvenient and painful, they often recover, and injured victims usually regain full use of their hand and fingers. In such cases, a settlement may cover medical bills and lost wages, but damages for long-term complications may be minimal.
Whole-Hand Injury
If your entire hand is affected by the injury, a potential settlement should be greater. A whole-hand injury will likely take longer to heal and be more complicated to treat. The hand is packed with a network of small bones, nerves, tendons, and blood vessels. A whole-hand injury may be highly complex, require extensive medical treatment, and lead to long-term medical complications.
Hand Amputation
If your hand injury is so severe that the hand cannot be saved, it might need to be amputated. In that case, your settlement should not only represent the considerable medical expenses of this procedure, but also the effect on your professional life, personal life, and mental health.
Losing a hand is highly traumatic, and it may take time to physically and mentally adjust. These kinds of cases often warrant very large settlements.
When Should You Begin Your Case for a Hand Injury in Maryland?
In Maryland, injured victims filing personal injury lawsuits must do so within 3 years of being injured. This is crucial for those seeking settlements. Settlements are often possible because the injured victim can take the defendant to court if a settlement is not reached. If the statute of limitations closes and you can no longer file a lawsuit, you lose most of your leverage for a settlement.
Accounting for Lost Quality of Life After a Hand Injury?
A serious hand injury can change the way you live your life. Not only will it be harder to continue working, but you might have to give up beloved hobbies. For example, if you are a musician, it may be difficult or even impossible to continue playing music with only one hand. Playing sports may be difficult. Even driving will be different if you only have one hand. These painful changes to your life should be reflected in your settlement.
Can You Obtain a Hand Injury Settlement if You Are Somewhat Responsible for the Injury?
No. Maryland is one of a few states that adheres to a pure contributory negligence law. If a victim is the slightest bit responsible for their injuries, they may be barred from recovery.
This is likely going to be something the defendant focuses on. If they can prove you are even 1% responsible for your hand injury, you may recover nothing, and there will likely be no settlement.
How to Prove the Defendant is Responsible for Your Hand Injury
Settlement negotiations do not involve a judge or jury, but we still need evidence to support your claims.
Witnesses
Our Maryland personal injury lawyers should enter negotiations with a list of witnesses who are prepared to testify if the case goes to trial. Having multiple, reliable witnesses who can support your claims is a major boost to your case. It may be very difficult for a defendant to undermine multiple witnesses, and they may be more inclined to settle to avoid a trial.
Photos and Videos from the Accident Scene
We should also try to obtain photos and video footage from the accident. Many injured victims take photos of their injuries as proof of the accident. Even with a serious hand injury, you may have used your uninjured hand to snap some photos using your cell phone camera.
We should also quickly obtain copies of security camera footage or any other videos of the accident. These videos may show exactly how the accident happened and can be difficult for defendants to dispute in court.
Faulty Tools, Equipment, or Machinery
A common cause of hand injuries at work is defective tools, equipment, or machinery. Even household tools can malfunction and cause hand injuries at home.
Workers may severely injure their hands if they get them caught in a faulty machine or if a power tool they are using malfunctions. We need to obtain whatever tools or equipment malfunctioned and have them inspected by experts who can determine if they were faulty.
Accident Reconstruction Evidence
Depending on how you were injured, we can hire accident reconstruction experts to review the facts and evidence and scientifically recreate how the accident occurred. This is common in cases involving hand injuries from auto accidents, but we may be able to reconstruct other kinds of accidents, too.
Should You Accept a Hand Injury Settlement or Pursue a Full Trial in Court?
If the defendant is willing to offer a settlement that adequately covers your costs and accounts for your non-economic damages, you should consider accepting it. However, if it appears that the defendant is unwilling to offer a fair settlement or is stalling, it may be time to cease negotiations and proceed to trial. Your attorney should be able to advise you on when it is time to move on.
Ask Our Maryland Personal Injury Lawyers About Your Hand Injury Claims
Ask our Baltimore, MD personal injury attorneys for a free, confidential case assessment by calling Rice Law at (410) 694-7291.