Personal Injury Law in Maryland

You may be wondering how in the world you’re going to pay for a Maryland personal injury attorney to help you. Or, you may be wondering whether you can negotiate your own settlement with the insurance company and net more money than if you hire an attorney to negotiate on your behalf.

If these thoughts have flitted through your mind, we have good news for you. Here are the highlights and our article (“How to Find a Maryland Personal Injury Attorney”) will explain more:

• How do I pay for an attorney to help me? Maryland personal injury lawyers work on a contingent fee basis. This means that they only get paid if you win your case. They front all the legal costs and expenses.

• Can I keep more money if I negotiate with the insurance company on my own? Insurance companies are experienced and skilled negotiators; they are not your friends and will offer you less than your case is worth.

  Their only goal is to make you go away for the least amount of money possible. They have a history of taping conversations and using words against injured people and using computer programs to spit out inaccurate estimates of future expenses.

  On the other hand, a PI lawyer knows what your case is worth and knows how to get you what you deserve. In all likelihood, even after paying legal fees, you will net more than you could attain on your own.

If you or a loved one has been injured in the state of Maryland, this article is meant for you. We’ll discuss:

• The kinds of cases that Maryland personal injury lawyers handle.
• What you need to prove in a personal injury case.
• Why you should call a lawyer immediately.
• How to find a Maryland personal injury attorney.

Would a Maryland Personal Injury Attorney Handle My Case?

You can find out if a Maryland personal injury lawyer would handle your case at no charge, by simply contacting the PI law firm of your choice. You can get to personal injury law firm websites and their contact information by searching our site, www.attorneys.org.

Here are example accidents, errors, and injuries that often lead to serious injury and personal injury cases.

• Often motor vehicles cause injury such as truck, car, motorcycle, pedestrian, bicycle, golf cart, RV, ATV, boat, cruise line, ferry and amusement park ride accidents.

• Sometimes defective products cause injuries. Cars, hair dryers, power tools, drugs, medicines, vacuum cleaners, machines, appliances, kitchen tools, equipment, power tools, etc. have all been found to be defective at times.

• Example injuries include death, dog bites, adverse drug reactions, burns, scars, lacerations, bruises, broken bones, nursing home abuse injuries, slip and falls injuries, food poisoning injury, medical malpractice injuries, and Mesothelioma (i.e. cancer).

Even if you’ve been injured on the job and are entitled to Workers Compensation benefits, you may need help collecting WC benefits or recovering for injuries caused by a defective, dangerous, or mislabeled product.

How Do I Prove My Maryland Personal Injury Case?

There are other theories of liability, but in Maryland, negligence is the most common. Therefore, to win your case, you must prove negligence.

• First, you need to show that the person (or company)who caused your injury had a duty to you and failed to act as a reasonable prudent person in that particular situation would act.
• Second, you need to show causation, meaning that the person’s unreasonable actions or inactions caused your injury. For example, you must show that but for the person’s unreasonable actions/inactions you would not have been injured.
• Third, you need to show that you suffered legal damages because of those injuries. Examples would be medical bills, lost wages, lost benefits, pain and suffering, and for family members, loss of consortium.

Why Should I Call a Personal Injury Lawyer Immediately?

• As soon as you make the call to a personal injury attorney, you’ll have professionals on your side to collect evidence and give you advice. There is no fee for this immediate service.
• Evidence is easily lost and is better preserved as close to the time of the accident as possible. Witness memories fade and physical evidence can disappear as weather conditions change, road signage is replaced, items are moved, and skid marks fade away.
• Insurance companies will pounce on you; and, regardless of what you have seen on TV, insurance companies are not your friends. They will pressure you, ask you questions while taping you, and later use your words against you.

• In addition, if you allow the statute of limitations to pass on your case, you will be forever barred from receiving financial compensation for your injuries.

  Here are some example Maryland statute of limitations for personal injury cases:

  • Medical Malpractice is 3 or 5 years, depending on when the injury is “discovered” (Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. Code В§ 5-109).
  • Personal Injury is 3 years (Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. Code В§ 5-101).
  • Wrongful Death is 3 years (Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. Code В§ 5-101).
  • Property Damage is5 years (Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. Code В§ 5-101).

How Do I Find a Maryland Personal Injury Attorney?

To find a Maryland personal injury lawyer, search our site, www.attorneys.org, or ask the bar association or a loved one for a referral. Your next step is to contact the PI attorney of your choice now.

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