If someone else’s reckless or careless behavior recently caused you to suffer a serious injury, you are likely all too aware of how comprehensively this kind of incident can interfere with your current and future plans. Even if the injury you sustained will not have permanent consequences, the short-term financial and personal losses that can stem from it may fundamentally alter the course of your life.
Fortunately, by working with a seasoned attorney, you may be able to hold the person or entity that caused your injury fully accountable for its repercussions. During a confidential consultation, a Severn personal injury lawyer could discuss your unique circumstances with you and explain your legal options in the wake of your accident.
Proving Someone Else at Fault for an Injury
While there are some exceptions for injuries that occur under specific circumstances, most successful personal injury claims are built around the theory of legal negligence. Under this theory, a person who causes harm by virtue of acting irresponsibly can be held responsible for losses another person suffers because of their actions, even if there was never any intent to cause harm.
To have valid grounds for financial recovery, an injured plaintiff pursuing a personal injury case must prove that all four definitional components of legal negligence apply to their circumstances. More specifically, they must show—ideally with help from a Severn personal injury attorney—that they were owed a duty of care by the defendant(s) they named in their claim, that the defendant breached their duty by acting recklessly or carelessly, that the defendant’s unreasonable actions directly caused an accident, and that the accident directly caused the plaintiff’s compensable losses.
Additionally, it is especially important when filing suit in Maryland for a plaintiff to prove they did not bear any fault themselves for the circumstances that led to their injuries. This is because state civil courts adhere to a very strict “pure contributory negligence” system, under which no plaintiff who is at all to blame for their own damages can recover any compensation whatsoever for ensuing losses.
Damages That Could Be Recovered
Provided there are no issues with contributory negligence, an injured civil plaintiff may demand restitution for any and all losses they can connect directly to another person’s negligence, regardless of whether those losses have objective financial values. For instance, a typical claim following an auto accident might seek recovery not just for medical bills, vehicle repairs, and lost work income, but also any pain, suffering, and psychological trauma associated with the wreck and the injuries it caused.
Importantly, though, Maryland Code, Courts and Judicial Proceedings §3-2A-09 caps total recovery for all forms of personal injury damages at $890,000 as of October 1, 2020, and this cap currently increases by only $15,000 each year to account for inflation. In light of this, retaining a skilled personal injury lawyer in Severn may be absolutely essential to maximizing recovery following a serious or life-threatening injury.
Speak with a Severn Personal Injury Attorney Today
Challenging though the process of civil litigation may be, you should know that you do not have to go through it alone. In fact, seeking guidance from a knowledgeable legal professional may be the only way to effectively pursue the compensation you deserve for the damages you should not have had to sustain.
A Severn personal injury lawyer could answer your questions and discuss the best course of action for your circumstances during an initial consultation. Schedule yours by calling today.
