Hyattsville Personal Injury Attorney
Recovering Damages in Silver Spring, Washington, D.C., and All of Maryland
Even the most seemingly minor injuries can produce long-term ramifications. When you are injured, you may need to miss work and receive expensive medical care. Depending on the nature and severity of the injury, you may suffer permanent reductions in earning capacity or quality of life.
When your injuries are the result of someone else's negligence, you are entitled to compensation. Our Hyattsville personal injury lawyer can help you pursue legal action and recover damages. Our team at The Law Offices of Brian C. Williams has over 20 years of legal experience and understands how personal injury claims are adjudicated in Maryland and Washington, D.C. We are prepared to aggressively advocate for your interests and will fight to secure the favorable outcome you deserve. If you have been injured as a result of another party's negligence, do not hesitate to contact us online or call (301) 891-8485 to start exploring your legal options. Same-day appointments are available.
Types of Personal Injury Cases
Considering legal action may seem like a tall order in the immediate aftermath of an accident, but you deserve to recover damages when someone else's negligence has resulted in injuries. We are familiar with many types of personal injury claims and can help you pursue the maximum compensation available to you. Our Hyattsville personal injury lawyer can assist you with claims involving:
- Vehicular Accidents. Collisions involving automobiles, motorcycles, bicycles, trucks, and pedestrians can be especially catastrophic and result in serious injuries and substantial property damage. These cases can also get overwhelmingly complex once insurance adjusters get involved. We can help you cut through the noise and work to recover what you are entitled to when another motorist's negligence results in a devastating crash.
- Dog Attacks. Maryland law stipulates that dog owners are legally responsible for any harm caused by their dog, even if they took steps to prevent the animal from causing injuries or had no idea the animal was capable of harming others. In other words, so long as you were lawfully present on the property where the incident occurred and were not provoking or teasing the dog, the owner can be held liable for any injuries the animal caused.
- Premises Liability Incidents. Commercial and residential property owners have a legal responsibility - a "duty of care" - to provide reasonably safe conditions to customers and guests. When an owner fails to address or resolve potentially dangerous conditions, they can be held accountable for any injuries or property damage that result from that failure. Slip and fall incidents and injuries resulting from inadequate maintenance fall under premises liability.
- Wrongful Death. Losing a loved one before their time under any circumstance is an unthinkable tragedy. When another party's negligence results in death, the deceased's surviving relatives can pursue legal action and recover compensation.
What To Do Immediately After Being Injured
Prevailing in a personal injury claim requires proving that another party's negligence directly led to your injuries. Collecting and preserving evidence directly after an incident can help protect your ability to recover compensation.
- After any type of accident where you suffer injuries or property damage, you should:
- Make sure everyone is okay. Check to ensure everyone involved in the incident is safe. Summon emergency medical personnel if necessary.
- Contact the appropriate authorities. Depending on the nature of the incident, you may need to call the police or highway patrol. If you are involved in a vehicular accident in which someone is injured, you are legally required to contact law enforcement. The responding officer will produce an official incident report that can help establish what happened later on.
- Document the incident site. Take pictures and videos of the incident site, including any visible injuries you incurred, any property damage, and any dangerous conditions that may have contributed to the accident. If security camera footage is available, request a copy of the tapes before leaving the site.
- Collect contact information. You should obtain the names, phone numbers, and addresses of everyone involved in the incident, including any witnesses. If the incident occurred on commercial property, ask to speak to the owner, or, if they are not present, the on-site manager. Request that an official incident report be created and procure a copy for your records.
- Seek medical attention. Promptly visit a doctor and have them check for injuries. Keep in mind that many injuries will not be visible or readily apparent, and it is important to establish an indisputable link between the incident and any injuries you sustained.
- Avoid speaking to the defendant's legal or Insurance representatives. In the days or weeks following an incident, the negligent party's lawyers or insurance company may reach out and request a statement. Decline to provide any statement until you have retained legal counsel, as these parties are not acting in your best interest and may attempt to use your words against you.
- Hire legal representation. Our Hyattsville personal injury attorney can discuss your legal options for recovering damages and provide you with the personalized representation you need.
What is the Statute of Limitations on Personal Injury Claims in Maryland?
In most cases, you will have three years from the date of the Injury-causing Incident to file a personal Injury claim In Maryland. If you are filing a wrongful death claim, you will have three years from the date of the deceased's passing. You must not miss this deadline, as the court will almost certainly dismiss your claim if you file past the statute of limitations.
Compensation for Personal Injury Lawsuits
Maryland operates under "shared fault" rules, meaning you will be unable to recover damages If the court finds you partially contributed to the accident. The judge and jury will evaluate whether you share any blame for causing the incident. Even if your contribution is minimal - say, 5% - you still will be prevented from recovering compensation from the predominantly negligent party. Avoiding this outcome requires strong legal representation and careful strategy.
If you do prove the negligent party was entirely at fault, you will be eligible to recover damages. Maryland does maintain caps for non-economic damages that grow with inflation.
We can potentially help you recover damages for:
Property damage
Medical expenses, including ongoing or rehabilitative care
Lost or missed wages, including reduced earning capacity
Loss of quality of life
Pain and suffering (both physical and emotional)
Our Hyattsville personal injury lawyer will always work to secure the maximum compensation available to you. When you first meet with our team at The Law Offices of Brian C. Williams, we will carefully evaluate the facts of your situation and advise whether you have a strong case. We can walk you through how the process works and help you understand what to expect, including what types of damages we may be able to help you recover. Our firm is compassionate to the challenges you are facing in the wake of an injury-causing incident and is ready to deliver the results you need to move forward. Contact us online or call (301) 891-8485 to schedule an initial consultation.