Talbot County Personal Injury Lawyer
Injuries sustained in an unexpected accident can result in serious medical problems and financial hardship. Recovery may be a lengthy process and could interfere with your ability to work, which may result in financial strain. If you believe you were injured because of someone else’s negligent or careless actions, you should reach out to a Talbot County personal injury lawyer. A skilled legal professional could assess your case and advise you regarding your right to seek monetary compensation for your damages and loss.
Types of Personal Injury Accidents
The circumstances that lead to severe injuries can range widely, and the scope of a resulting lawsuit depends on the facts of the particular case. However, there are certain accidents that commonly result in personal injury claims.
For example, motor vehicle accidents occur regularly in Talbot County. These accidents often result from the careless or reckless behavior of one or more vehicle operators and result in serious injuries to the involved parties.
Personal injury cases also often arise when someone sustains an injury on another person’s property due to unsafe conditions. The lawsuits that stem from these accidents are classified as premises liability, and the owner of the property can be sued for negligence if their carelessness caused the accident. These incidents often take the form of falls and can occur in stores, restaurants, and on city streets.
Injuries from workplace accidents, defective products, medical malpractice, and harmful drugs can also be the basis for personal injury claims. A knowledgeable attorney in Talbot County could help an injured person create a compelling personal injury claim in any of these situations.
Determining Responsibility
State law allows an injured person to seek compensation from the person or entity responsible for their suffering. Unfortunately, it can be challenging to establish the at-fault party’s negligence. The state requires a plaintiff to demonstrate four elements to establish a party’s negligence:
- There was a duty of care owed by the defendant to the plaintiff
- The defendant breached that duty of care
- The breach of duty proximately caused the plaintiff’s injury
- The plaintiff suffered quantifiable harm or loss because of their injury
A Talbot County law firm that is familiar with the legal elements of negligence could review a person’s personal injury case to determine who might be at fault and if they could effectively prove negligence.
Maryland’s Contributory Negligence Rule
In many cases, the plaintiff must also effectively counter a defense that they were at least partially responsible for their accident. Under Maryland’s “contributory negligence” rule, if the plaintiff contributed to the cause of their accident in any way, they cannot recover any damages from the other party. If they are found even partially responsible for their accident, they will not be able to recover compensation even when the adverse party or parties were 99 percent at fault.
This challenging standard makes the knowledge and experience of a Talbot County personal injury attorney particularly valuable in these cases.
Damages Available in Personal Injury Lawsuits
Injuries sustained in severe accidents can lead to a variety of losses, both economic and non-economic. Damages typically include payment for medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering.
Medical expenses can include hospital bills, doctors’ appointments, surgery costs, medical tests, rehabilitation, and in-home care. Lost income may include both wages lost during the period the injured person was unable to work and possible compensation for the person’s decreased earning capacity going forward.
Contact a Talbot County Personal Injury Attorney Today
If you or a loved one has been injured because of someone else’s actions or negligence, compensation may be available. A Talbot County personal injury lawyer could offer an initial review of your case and advise you regarding your possible next steps. Call today to schedule a consultation and learn more about your options.
