Maryland Personal Injury Lawyer

Maryland Personal Injury Attorney

If you are currently recovering from any injury caused by another party, you need to consult a Maryland personal injury lawyer as quickly as possible to determine your optimal path to recovery. The right attorney can help you prove liability for the injury you experienced and assist you in recovering compensation for your damages. You have a limited time to do this, so it’s vital to connect with a trustworthy attorney as soon as you can.

Whitlock Law, LLC, can provide the compassionate and responsive legal representation you will need to approach your impending personal injury case with confidence and peace of mind. Every client has unique needs and concerns when it comes to recovering from their personal injury, and our goal is to provide the tailored representation you will need in your impending case.

Benefits of Hiring a Maryland Personal Injury Lawyer

While it is technically possible for the victim of a personal injury to pursue recovery on their own, they have a significantly higher chance of success with their endeavor if they have the legal representation they can trust. Their legal team can handle procedural requirements for their case, allowing them to rest, recover, and manage their personal obligations with peace of mind. Their attorney keeps them updated as their case progresses.

When you have an experienced Maryland personal injury lawyer handling your case, they will inform you of the specific legal issues you must address in seeking compensation for your damages. They will also advise you concerning the various forms of compensation you may be able to claim, some of which you may not have realized were available to you at first. Ultimately, you’re more likely to succeed and more likely to maximize your recovery with their help.

Whitlock Law, LLC, can immediately begin gathering the evidence you need to support your claim as soon as you secure our firm’s representation. We can potentially secure evidence you may not have known was available to you and help you understand the legal mechanisms you must address to succeed with the claim. We will do everything we can to maximize your compensation as quickly as possible.

Kinds of Personal Injury Claims We Handle in Maryland

When you need an experienced attorney to help you with an impending case, it is crucial that you find an attorney with proven experience handling cases similar to yours. Personal injury is a broad area of civil law that includes many types of cases.

At Whitlock Law, LLC, our firm regularly assists clients with an extensive range of personal injury cases, including:

• Car Accident Claims: Car accidents in Maryland are a leading cause of personal injuries in Maryland each year, and recovery from a car accident generally begins with an auto insurance claim against an at-fault driver’s insurance policy. However, if their insurance does not fully cover the damages the victim suffered, the victim has the right to pursue a personal injury claim to seek compensation for any remaining losses insurance won’t cover.
• Commercial Truck Accident Claims: Truck accidents in Maryland are especially difficult to resolve compared to most other vehicle accident cases. This is not only due to the fact that these accidents tend to result in severe damages but also the complexity of the liability-related issues these cases often generate. You need an attorney who understands trucking industry regulations to help with this type of case.
• Motorcycle Accident Claims: Motorcycles are inherently dangerous because they offer no physical protection in a crash. Any motorcycle accident has a higher chance of resulting in catastrophic injury or death than most other types of vehicle accidents. We can provide comprehensive legal support for all the recovery efforts you make following a motorcycle accident in Maryland.
• Pedestrian Accidents: When pedestrians suffer injuries from motor vehicles, the risk of severe injury is very high. Many victims of these accidents experience life-changing harm that leaves them permanently disabled. A Maryland personal injury lawyer can help the victim determine the full range of damages they can seek from the driver who injured them and recover their losses as swiftly as possible.
• Premises Liability Claims. If you visit someone else’s property and sustain an injury because they failed to address a known safety issue or failed to warn you about it, you likely have grounds for a civil suit under Maryland’s premises liability laws. A property owner must keep their property in safe working order, and failure to do so could lead to liability for any resulting injury to a lawful guest or visitor.
• Dog Bite Claims: Under Maryland’s dog bite statute, a dog owner can be liable for damages their pet causes once they become aware that their dog could potentially harm someone. After a dog has bitten anyone, the owner then faces strict liability for any damages resulting from future attacks.
• Catastrophic Injury Claims: While a great number of victims of personal injuries eventually recover, some are not so fortunate. A catastrophic personal injury is any personal injury that results in permanent harm to the victim. They could face permanent disability and/or disfigurement because of the defendant’s actions. Traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and amputation injuries are some of the most common catastrophic injuries.
• Wrongful Death Suits. A Maryland wrongful death suit is a type of personal injury claim filed in response to a fatal injury. The family of the victim has the right to pursue compensation for their loss from the party responsible for fatally injuring the victim. This type of case is beholden to special rules, including eligibility requirements for filing a wrongful death suit and the type of damages available.

Whatever type of personal injury claim you need to file, it is crucial that you choose an experienced Maryland personal injury lawyer to handle your case. The right attorney can not only improve your chance of success with the claim but also help you maximize the total compensation you win from the defendant if you succeed. The sooner you arrange legal counsel, the more time your attorney can have to work on your case.

Proving Fault in a Maryland Personal Injury Case

Most personal injury claims filed in Maryland arise from acts of “negligence,” a legal term used to define any failure to act with reasonable care in a given situation. Negligence may also apply to a failure to meet a specific duty of care. For example, every driver has a duty of care to operate their vehicle attentively. Distracted driving of any kind is a breach of this duty and would, therefore, be an example of negligence.

To succeed with a personal injury claim, the plaintiff will need to prove that the defendant named in their claim was negligent in a manner that directly caused their claimed damages. This means proving the defendant held a duty of care and then proving how they breached or failed to meet this duty of care in the situation. Next, the plaintiff will need to prove the full extent of the resulting damages and prove the defendant directly caused those damages.

If a personal injury happens because of some type of illegal misconduct, the plaintiff may assume that it will be easier for them to prove liability for their damages because the defendant broke the law. The defendant could face arrest and criminal prosecution for their actions, and while this may make some aspects of the plaintiff’s recovery efforts easier, it can also generate unexpected challenges or delays in their proceedings.

Your Maryland personal injury lawyer can help you determine the root cause of your personal injury, identify the party or parties responsible for causing it, and help you understand the legal process you must complete to hold them accountable. Proving fault in a personal injury case is likely to require forms of evidence that will vary based on the case being filed. For example, a car accident claim requires evidence different from that required by a slip and fall claim.

Claiming Compensation for Your Personal Injury in Maryland

The goal of your personal injury claim is to hold a defendant accountable for the harm they inflicted with their negligence or illegal misconduct. The average person pursuing a personal injury claim may have some idea of the types of damages they may be able to recover, but many people in this situation initially undervalue their claims, not realizing the extent of compensation available to them.

A personal injury claim seeks to make the plaintiff whole again by compensating the losses the defendant caused. The plaintiff will need to show proof of the extent of their losses, and they will also need to establish causation between those losses and the defendant’s actions. This means proving the defendant directly caused their damages and that they did not result from any other cause.

The plaintiff in a personal injury case has the right to claim full repayment of any economic damages the defendant inflicted. These economic damages can include various financial losses arising solely from the defendant’s actions, including projected future losses.

The economic damages you might be able to recover from a successful personal injury claim could include:

• Property Damage: If the defendant damaged your home, vehicle, or other personal property, they are liable for all associated repair or replacement costs. Your attorney can help you accurately calculate the total property damage compensation you could potentially recover from your claim.
• Medical Expenses: If you require medical attention because of the harm the defendant caused, the defendant is not only responsible for immediate healthcare expenses you incur following the incident but also the cost of any future medical care you will need to recover from a serious injury. This can include in-home care and other ongoing medical expenses.
• Lost Wages: Many people who experience personal injuries are unable to work during recovery. If this applies to your case, the defendant is liable for the income you cannot earn during this time. A good attorney could help their client accurately assess lost future earning potential as well if their client suffered an injury serious enough to prevent them from returning to work in the future.

You may understand the immediate damages you suffered, but accurate calculation of claimable future economic damages will be challenging without an attorney’s help. When you hire Whitlock Law, LLC, to represent you in your personal injury claim, you can rest assured that we have the experience necessary to uncover all the various channels of compensation that might be available to you in your case.

Beyond your economic damages, you also have the right to seek pain and suffering compensation that reflects the physical pain and psychological distress you experienced because of the defendant’s actions. While state law limits this aspect of your case award, it could still amount to a sizeable portion of the total compensation you win from the defendant. Additionally, other forms of compensation may come into play based on the nature of your injury.

If a defendant caused your personal injury through some form of illegal misconduct, they face criminal prosecution from the state alongside your civil claim for damages. While the state’s case aims to punish wrongdoing rather than compensate a victim, it is possible for the victim of a crime to receive restitution as an element of the defendant’s sentence. In a personal injury case, a judge may award punitive damages to reflect the illegal nature of a defendant’s actions.

Ultimately, many variables could potentially influence the outcome of your personal injury case. With an experienced Maryland personal injury lawyer representing you, you can approach the situation with clarity and confidence and have the greatest chance of success with your recovery efforts. Your attorney can also help you resolve your case as efficiently as possible, reducing the time it will take for you to recover compensation for your damages.

Resolving Your Personal Injury Claim in Maryland

Many personal injury cases filed in Maryland do not require extensive trials to resolve. Many of these cases are settled privately through negotiation between the parties involved. While this solution is not possible in every case, your attorney is likely to seek a settlement for you if at all possible, as this will reduce the time it takes for you to receive compensation for your losses. However, all parties involved must be willing to enter into negotiations.

During settlement, you and your attorney can meet with the defendant and their attorney to discuss mutually acceptable terms for resolving the case. As long as the defendant admits fault for the injury and agrees to negotiate, it is possible for the parties to resolve their claim in a fraction of the time that litigation usually requires. However, a settlement may not prove fruitful, or a defendant may refuse to settle.

Your personal injury claim may need to be resolved by a judge and/or jury. Each party presents their evidence, witness testimony, and arguments in court to reach a ruling. This process is more complex than settlement and requires much more time. While you might be able to settle your personal injury claim in a matter of weeks, litigation could take several months, and the final result will be in the hands of the judge and/or jury.

What to Expect From Your Maryland Personal Injury Lawyer

Every injured plaintiff is likely to have various difficult legal questions they will not be able to resolve on their own, and they are also likely to face uncertain challenges that will require the attention of a seasoned legal professional. A Maryland personal injury lawyer leverages their professional resources, skills, and experience to help their client navigate their proceedings more efficiently and with greater results than the client could hope to achieve on their own.

When you hire Whitlock Law, LLC, to represent your case, you are investing in years of professional legal experience that will be leveraged to your benefit and a dedicated advocate you trust to guide you through the difficult proceedings ahead of you. Our goal for every personal injury case we accept in Maryland is maximum compensation for our client in the shortest possible timeframe.

Our team will assist you in gathering the evidence needed to prove liability for your damages and help you uncover the extent of your claimable damages. Many of our personal injury clients initially undervalue their claims and are pleasantly surprised by the results we are often able to secure for them. We excel at resolving complex cases, so trust our team with your recovery efforts no matter what your case entails.

You have a limited time to file a personal injury suit after another party has injured you, and gathering the foundational elements of your case could take longer than you might expect. If you were injured in a vehicle accident, you may need to navigate the insurance claim filing process before filing your personal injury suit. Whatever your case requires, an experienced Maryland personal injury lawyer can be an invaluable asset to have on your side.

Maryland Personal Injury Law FAQs

Q: What Is the Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Claims in Maryland?

A: The statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Maryland is typically three years from the date an injury occurred. If the plaintiff does not file their claim with the court within this time limit, they will lose their chance to claim compensation for their damages from the defendant. It could take longer than they expect to compile the necessary elements of their case, and it is always advisable to start gathering evidence as quickly as possible after any personal injury.

Q: What Happens if I’m Partially Liable for My Personal Injury in Maryland?

A: If you are found partially liable for your personal injury in Maryland, you will lose your ability to claim compensation from any other liable party due to the state’s contributory negligence law. Under this law, a plaintiff loses their right to claim compensation from another liable party if the plaintiff is found even slightly at fault. Your Maryland personal injury lawyer can help you address any allegations of contributory fault made against you.

Q: How Much Compensation Can I Claim for a Personal Injury in Maryland?

A: The amount of compensation you could claim for a personal injury in Maryland hinges on the severity of your damages. As long as you are able to prove that another party is entirely responsible for your damages, they are liable for repaying you. Your economic damages are likely to include property losses, medical expenses, and lost income, and your non-economic damages will generally include pain and suffering.

Q: How Are Pain and Suffering Calculated in a Maryland Personal Injury Case?

A: In a Maryland personal injury case, pain and suffering compensation is limited by state law, and the cap on pain and suffering compensation for most personal injury claims is $935,000. The limit was set at $500,000 in 1994, with a $15,000 increase per year. Your Maryland personal injury lawyer can advise you as to how much pain and suffering compensation you could reasonably expect to obtain from a defendant if you succeed with your case.

Q: How Much Will It Cost to Hire a Maryland Personal Injury Lawyer?

A: The cost to hire a Maryland personal injury lawyer will be a percentage of your case award if you choose Whitlock Law, LLC, to represent your case. Our firm accepts personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning our fee is a percentage of our client’s total case award. Additionally, we only collect this fee if we win our client’s case, and there are no upfront costs for our representation.

The right Maryland personal injury lawyer can be an invaluable asset for the difficult proceedings that are ahead of you if you have experienced a personal injury due to another party’s actions. We can help you understand the various legal mechanisms likely to come into play as your case unfolds and guide you toward a positive result. Contact us today to schedule your free initial consultation with a Maryland personal injury lawyer.