How Much is My Personal Injury Case Worth?

Answering the question: “How much is my personal injury case worth?” can be tricky from the onset after an accident. After most accidents, victims will have to seek medical attention and treatment to determine the extent of their injuries. Since the human body is unpredictable in the way it heals and how it will react to an injury, it is often unknown the extent of medical treatment needed.

Since medical treatment and care dictates a large portion of the value in a personal injury claim, the value of a personal injury claim is typically known at the conclusion of the medical treatment.

FIRST STEPS TO DETERMINE VALUE OF AN INJURY CLAIM

One of the first steps in determining the value of an injury claim is to establish insurance coverage. Insurance coverage means, how much insurance does the at-fault party have? If the person does not have insurance, the victim will often have to rely on their own insurance for compensation. If the person who caused the accident or injury does have insurance, there is typically a policy limit in place for car accidents. Policy limits in Maryland are typically $30,000 / $60,000. That is the standard and required minimum coverage under Maryland auto insurance laws.

This means at the maximum amount of money that can be recovered by one individual is $30,000. The $60,000 value is the maximum amount that can be collected by all injured parties as a result of the accident.

THE NEXT STEP IS DETERMINING THE VALUE OF A INJURY CLAIM

The next step in determining the value of a personal injury claim is establishing liability or fault. This means your personal injury lawyer must determine who caused the accident. Since Maryland is a contributory negligence state, the at-fault person must be 100% at fault for the accident for him/her to be held liable.

If fault is unclear in an accident, this may lead to litigation to determine who caused the accident. Depending on the extent of the damages and the amount claimed in a lawsuit, a Maryland judge or jury will determine liability.

DOES SURGERY AFFECT THE VALUE OF A PERSONAL INJURY CLAIM?

All medical treatment has a value. From an x-ray to surgery, each procedure will cost the victim money to achieve an intended result. In some cases, the victim of an accident may never fully recover. This is often referred to as permanency or a permanent injury after an accident. If an individual suffers a permanent injury, they can seek compensation for future medical expenses or the future pain that will be incurred. All of these factors play into determining how much a personal injury claim is worth.

EXAMPLE OF A CLAIM VALUE AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT IN MARYLAND

If an individual is hurt in a car accident. That person is taken to the hospital and sees a doctor or receives scans or x-rays then there is a value or cost associated with that treatment. If the injuries or pain persist, a victim may be required to attend physical therapy or receive injections for their pain. Doctors may determine that surgery is necessary after an accident. Surgeries are expensive and that will increase the claim for the accident. As an example, assume that a person is involved in a car accident and seeks medical attention to the hospital. Medical bills from the hospital total $2,000.

The victim is suffering from continued pain and seek treatment from their primary care physician and a physical therapist. The victim is treated by the physical therapist for 6 weeks and incurs medical bills of $5,000. We now have a total medical cost of $7,000 as a result of the accident. This is a good starting point to determine how much a personal injury claim is worth.

LOST WAGES AND HOW THEY AFFECT THE VALUE OF A INJURY CLAIM

However, there is more to this claim than just the medical bills. Let’s assume that the victim treated with the physical therapist at total of 20 times. During those 20 visits the victim had to leave work early and the suffered lost wages and earnings in the amount of $4,000. Now, the total loss has increased to $11,000.

PAIN AND SUFFERING IN AN INJURY CLAIM

There is also the pain and suffering factor to consider. Pain and suffering is not a hard number, it is calculated to determine the value for the time and hassle incurred because of the accident. Seeking medical treatment is not something that most people look forward to or desire. And because of that, the victim must be compensated for the hassle of dealing with the treatment.

That number must be determined by your lawyer to ensure it is factored into the claim made with the insurance company for the person that caused the accident. As you can see, it is very difficult to determine the value of a personal injury claim until the end of treatment or until the doctors have determined the treatment is no longer successful.

INJURY LAWYERS THAT CAN HELP INCREASE THE VALUE OF YOUR CLAIM

Injury claims can be complicated and overwhelming. With all the paperwork and complicated legal steps, you should seek the advice of a personal injury attorney to help maximize your compensation and ensure that you receive a fair and just settlement. Contact the Law Offices of Randolph Rice today to determine the value of your injury claim and to get help after an accident.

Dangerous Weather and Defensive Driving

Driving is inherently dangerous even in the best of conditions. Roads could be dry, the sun could be shining, and you could still end up in a serious crash. The risks of an accident do increase substantially when weather conditions are less than ideal. Rain, snow, ice, and fog can all create slippery road surfaces and visibility problems. In such conditions, it is always safest to remember to engage in defensive driving behaviors.

The following are some defensive driving techniques that can help keep you safe in adverse weather conditions:

Slow down: High speeds and slick roads do not mix. Driving too fast can cause you to spin out, skid, slide, or be unable to stop if an obstacle presents itself. By slowing down, you can maintain greater control and stopping ability.

Give other drivers space: While you may know how much control you have over your vehicle, you can have little to no idea about the capabilities of other drivers. It is always best to steer as clear as possible from other cars in case they lose control. In addition, following too closely or “cutting off” another vehicle can be especially dangerous in adverse weather.

Pull over: Even the best drivers are no match for storms with ice, sleet, severe winds, or other particularly intense conditions. You should never be too stubborn or proud to refuse to pull over if the weather becomes dangerous. Recognize when you may have trouble maintaining control and pull over to take shelter and wait out the storm.

Stay home: If tornado warnings or severe winter storm warnings are communicated, it is best to cancel plans or activities and stay home if at all possible. Local officials will sometimes warn people to stay off the roads and you should try your best to heed such warnings.

You should always practice defensive driving in dangerous weather conditions and teach any young drivers in your household to do the same. Being on the road in their first storm will be stressful for new drivers and it can be even more frightening if they have not been taught how to drive defensively and safely. Consider taking adefensive driving class that can teach you how to take proper caution on the roads. Any accident in adverse weather has the potential to result in severe injuries.

DISCUSS YOUR RIGHTS WITH A BALTIMORE CAR ACCIDENT ATTORNEY TODAY

Randolph Rice Injury Attorneys are aware that accidents and injuries happen to even the safest drivers. Even if you choose to drive defensively to protect yourself, there is no stopping other drivers on the road from driving aggressively or dangerously for conditions. Accidents themselves can be frightening but the after-effects can be painful, stressful, and even life-changing.

If you would like to discuss your legal rights and options after a car accident, please do not hesitate to contact the law firm of Randolph Rice. Our Baltimore car accident lawyers are here to help so please contact us by phoneat (410) 288-2900 or online today.

Think Twice Before Shoplifting This Holiday Season

With the holiday season rapidly approaching, many people start to think about shopping for Christmas and Channukah presents for their friends and family. Although this is the season of giving, some people have a different idea when it comes to gifts. No doubt, some people think about how many people they want to give presents to, and they consider taking a risk to get all of the items on their list—by shoplifting. If you entertain such thoughts, stop.

Shoplifting is a frequently used term generally understood to mean stealing from a retail store. Most state shoplifting laws define shoplifting, at their most basic, as taking goods from a retail store without paying for the goods and having no intention of paying for them. Shoplifting also includes switching price tags and other such tactics in an effort to buy something for less than the legitimate price.

Shoplifting is a serious problem year-round, but the problem really ramps up during the holiday season. In 2012, retailers lost nearly $35 billion to shoplifters. By 2016, shoplifting and employee theft cost U.S. retailers nearly $50 billion.

Given the magnitude of losses, retailers are serious about recovering anything they can. Shoplifters frequently face prosecution, and civil recovery also is a possibility. In civil recovery, store owners demand payment outside of the criminal system to recover more of their losses.

SHOPLIFTING PENALTIES IN MARYLAND ARE SEVERE

Maryland has some of the stiffest shoplifting laws in the nation. Penalties can add up quickly, and shoplifters can easily find themselves facing major fines, jail time, and even felony charges. Penalties are tied to the value of the goods stolen:

• For goods of less than $100, a shoplifter in Maryland can face 90 days in jail. 
• For goods valued at more than $100 but less than $1,000, the penalties can include 18 months in jail and $1,000 in fines. 
• For goods valued at $1,000 or more, felony charges apply and the penalties rise to a potential 15 years in prison and as much as $25,000 in fines. 

And that isn’t all. Like most states, Maryland allows civil recovery. Retailers can sue shoplifters for damages. Maryland law allows a retailer to recover double the retail price of the stolen item, as much as $1,000, in addition to recovering the stolen item. Obviously, the potential costs and penalties necessitate legal assistance in dealing with an arrest for shoplifting.

IF YOU WERE CHARGED WITH SHOPLIFITING IN BALTIMORE, CONTACT THE LAW OFFICES OF G. RANDOLPH RICE JR., LLC

If you were charged with shoplifting in the Baltimore area, consult with a criminal defense attorney to determine your options. You might face considerable financial losses as well as major jail time. The Law Offices of G. Randolph Rice Jr., LLC, can help. Reach us at (410) 288-2900 or through our online contact form.