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What is your Maryland car accident case worth

On Behalf of | Dec 14, 2018 | Firm News |

If you are considering filing a lawsuit to recover damages sustained in a car crash, you likely want to know how much you can expect to receive. Although no one can ever promise you a specific amount, experienced lawyers can often make an educated estimate after reviewing the facts. Additional information can further narrow that estimate. 

In most Maryland car accident injury cases, a plaintiff can recover two types of damages: economic and pain-and-suffering.

Monetary damages

Economic damages are those that reflect strictly financial losses stemming from the accident. These commonly include the costs of repairing or replacing damaged property, medical bills and lost earnings. Those suffering from serious injuries will likely continue to spend money in the future for items such as medications, therapy, care facilities and in-home assistance.

Lost earnings are another common result of the traumatic injuries that often result from a crash. People miss days from work due to recovery and ensuing treatments. For some people, their injuries can limit the type and amount of work they can do in the future, curtailing their career progression and earning potential. Others may remain unable to work at all. Calculations for these types of damages include factoring in the plaintiff’s age, profession, stage of career development and likely trajectory had the accident not happened.  

Noneconomic damages

Injuries from a car accident often entail considerable pain. In addition to the injuries themselves, the necessary treatments can involve substantial discomfort. Psychological effects often arise, creating conditions such as anxiety. Maryland law does provide caps for non-economic recovery in injury cases that do not involve medical malpractice; the maximum amount increases slightly every year. In wrongful death cases, this cap is higher.

Punitive damages

In some cases, a plaintiff may ask for punitive damages. This category of damages is generally available when the defendant acted with malice or extreme recklessness. This standard is far more stringent than the usual negligence required in a personal injury case.

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