What percentage do most personal Maryland personal injury lawyers take?

The percentage taken by personal injury lawyers in Maryland varies. Some require retainers, while others work on a contingency fee basis. Our firm covers expenses related to pursuing your personal injury lawsuit and only charges a previously agreed-upon percentage of your winnings if your case is successful. This percentage typically ranges from 20% to 40%, depending on the case's complexities. No payment is required if we don't win your case, ensuring minimal risk for you when seeking help from a Maryland personal injury attorney.

What is the statute of limitations for personal injury in Maryland?

Under Maryland Statute §5–109, the personal injury statute of limitations in the state allows injury victims three years from the accident to file their lawsuit. Failing to file within this time frame forfeits your right to pursue the case in Maryland civil courts. However, the statute of limitations can be different for insurance claims, which often require filing within 30 days of the accident. Complexities like minors or delayed diagnosis can impact deadlines. To avoid missing crucial deadlines, having an experienced personal injury lawyer is crucial.

What should I do after an injury?

After any personal injury incident, it's important to contact authorities for medical attention and an accident report. Collect evidence if possible and then get in touch with a personal injury lawyer to discuss the accident and explore your legal options.

How do personal injury claims work?

Personal injury claims involve various steps. Typically, the injury victim contacts a lawyer for assistance, and an investigation into the accident's cause begins. Evidence is gathered to prove liability. Depending on insurance coverage, a claim might be filed with the responsible party's insurance or the victim's own insurance. Many cases are settled out of court, but if needed, a lawsuit can be filed in Maryland civil courts. The specifics of each case determine the path it takes.

Personal Injury Lawyer Maryland

Have you recently been involved in an accident that resulted in catastrophic or life-threatening injuries? Are you struggling to cope with the financial ramifications of the trauma you have been through? If so, you are not alone. Millions of injury victims like you have trouble dealing with the physical, monetary, and emotional trauma associated with their losses. Thankfully, when someone else is responsible for causing your injuries, you can demand justice.

With help from a Maryland personal injury lawyer at Parker, Pallet, Slezak & Russell, LLC, you can take action against those responsible and recover every single loss you experience. Contact our Maryland injury lawyers for a 100% free consultation today and learn more about how the claims process works, how much you could be awarded, and what your next steps should be.

We have represented over 50,000 clients over 50 years of practice and settled over $100,000,000

More than $50,000,000 earned for our clients. Over 10,000 cases handled.

$2,000,000

Settlement in a motorcycle accident for $2,000,000

$1,350,000

Ronald Parker secured a $1.35 million payoff

$1,300,000

Ronald Parker settled a claim for $1.3 million

$1,250,000

Karmen Slezak and Perry W. Lericos, Settles Client’s Personal Injury Case for $1,250,000.00

$875,000

Perry Lericos Recovers Over $875,000 for Client in Motorcycle Crash Case

$687,500

Tara Westra Obtains $687,500 for Client in Work-Related Car Crash

$613,719.87

Tara Westra Recovers $613,719.87 for an Injured Construction Worker

$510,000

Perry Lericos Secures an Arbitration Award of $510,000 for Injured Client

$430,000

The Parker Team Earns Victim of T-Bone Auto Accident $430,000

$409,935

Tara Westra and Karmen Slezak Recover Over $409,935 for Injured Bus Driver

$315,000

Karmen M. Slezak, Partner, Obtains Another Verdict Against a Major Insurance Company

$300,000

Perry Lericos and Robert Westra Secure $300,000 for their Injured Client

We Are Accomplished Personal Injury Lawyers in Maryland

Our experienced personal injury attorneys at Parker, Pallet, Slezak & Russell, LLC have the skills, training, and knowledge needed to maximize your financial recovery. We have advocated for more than 10,000 clients and won more than $50 million in insurance settlements and trial verdicts.

Our hard work and dedication to our clients have been recognized through our numerous accolades and awards, including:

DISTINGUISHED® – Peer Rated for High Professional Achievement
Selected for inclusion by Super Lawyers
Avvo Preeminent Rating
Rated 10 Best in Attorney-Client Satisfaction by the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys™
America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators

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Learn Why Our Clients Trust Us To Win Their Personal Injury Case

Types of Personal Injury Lawsuits Our Maryland Personal Injury Attorneys Regularly Handle

Personal injury cases can take multiple forms. Essentially, anytime someone else is responsible for causing the injuries you sustained, you may have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit against them. There are some types of accidents, incidents, and events our personal injury law firm handles more often than others. Some of these include:

Slip and fall accidents

Defective product injuries

Car accidents in Maryland

Commercial truck wrecks

Bicycle and pedestrian accidents

Maryland medical malpractice cases

Nursing home neglect and abuse

Exposure to toxic substances

Construction accidents

Wrongful death

Birth injury

Work-related accidents

Hotel accidents

Severe injury and debilitating injuries

These are only a few of the different types of accidents that may warrant a personal injury lawsuit or a claim with the insurance company. If you were injured in any other type of accident where someone else is or could be responsible for your injuries, getting legal guidance and support is crucial. This may be your best opportunity to make the liable party compensate you for your damages.

When to Sue For a Personal Injury in Maryland

One of the top reasons personal injury victims in Maryland do not file lawsuits is because they have concerns they will face acquisitions of filing a frivolous claim. After the trauma you have been through, that is the last thing you should have to deal with. If you are interested in finding out whether you have the right to file a lawsuit against the liable party, consider the types of injuries you sustained, the severity of your injuries, and whether someone else is responsible for causing them.

It is common for the accident victim to have concerns regarding the severity of their injuries. For example, you might wonder if your injuries are significant enough to take legal action against the liable party. However, it is important to remember that the type of injuries you are diagnosed with will not have an impact on your right to compensation.

What matters is how significantly your injuries have affected your life. For example, you might assume a broken leg is a minor injury, but this could have a devastating impact for someone who runs marathons regularly. Examples of the types of injuries we see most often in Maryland personal injury claims include:

Lost limbs
Facial injuries
Broken bones and compound fractures
Back injuries
Whiplash
Third-degree burns
Herniated discs
Traumatic brain injuries
Paralysis
Dental injuries
Soft tissue injuries
Leg injuries
Internal bleeding
Organ failure
Sepsis and lacerations
Spinal cord injuries
Emotional injuries, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

If you have been dealing with another type of injury we did not include in the list above, do not lose hope. You may still have the right to compensation if your personal injury attorney can show someone else’s negligence contributed to the accident you were involved in.

For your personal injury claim to be successful, your Maryland personal injury lawyer must demonstrate how the elements of negligence have been met. In civil court, the burden of proof is based on a preponderance of the evidence. Your attorney must present evidence that is compelling enough that the jury and judge believe the defendant is more than likely responsible for causing your injuries.

With that in mind, the elements of negligence are as follows:

Duty of care
Breach of duty
Causation
Damages

The defendant in your case must have owed you a duty of care. This means they must have had an obligation to your safety. To breach that legal duty, they must have made a decision or failed to make a decision that another reasonable person would not have made. This breach of duty must be the direct or indirect cause of the injuries you endured. You do not necessarily need to have suffered life-threatening injuries, but your injuries must have had a significant impact on your life.

The Types of Damages Available in a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Maryland

You are entitled to total financial compensation. You have the right to be made whole, which means every expense should be accounted for as your personal injury attorney calculates the value of your claim. Examples of potentially recoverable damages include:

Lost wages
Medical expenses
Property damages
Vehicle repair costs
Credit score damage
Increased insurance premiums
Loss of enjoyment of life
Loss of consortium
Emotional trauma
Future medical treatment
Mental anguish
Physical pain and suffering
Reputational damages

You might also be awarded punitive damages under MD Cts & Jud Pro Code § 10-913. Although awarded rarely, if your personal injury lawyer can convince the jury the defendant's conduct was intentionally harmful, malicious, reprehensible, or grossly negligent, you may be awarded punitive damages. The court system will only award punitive damages when they find it necessary to punish the defendant and deter future wrongdoers from similar conduct.

Maryland Personal Injury FAQ

When you are dealing with the physical ramifications of your injuries, the financial costs and emotional trauma can make your recovery that much more difficult. When you are exploring your options to hold the liable party accountable, you need answers. You do not have time to spend surfing the web looking for law firms or trial lawyers.

For this reason, we have answered some of the most commonly asked questions about personal injury lawsuits and insurance claims below. If you have questions we do not discuss in the FAQ below, be sure to contact our team for a free consultation and get the answers you are looking for.

Every personal injury attorney charges different rates. Some Maryland personal injury lawyers may require you to put a retainer down. Others will be willing to work with you on contingency fee basis. Our firm never requires clients to cover the costs that arise as we pursue their case, nor do we require our clients to put down a retainer fee. We understand that money may be tight during this difficult time, and there is no guarantee that your case will be successful. You should not have to put your own money on the line to hold the at-fault party responsible.

For this reason, we cover all expenses related to pursuing your personal injury lawsuit. If we win your case, a previously agreed-upon percentage of your winnings will cover our attorney's fees. Depending on the complexities of your case, this amount could be anywhere from 20% to 40%. The exact amount will vary on a case-by-case basis. If we don’t win, you don’t pay. This means there is little to no risk to you when you contact a Maryland personal injury attorney for help.

The state’s personal injury statute of limitations can be found under Maryland Statute §5–109. This sets the maximum out of time you have to file your personal injury lawsuit. According to the law, injury victims have up to three years after the accident to file their case. Unfortunately, if your lawsuit is not filed before time runs out, you will no longer have the right to pursue your case in Maryland civil courts. However, it is not only the personal injury statute of limitations you need to prepare for. If you are hoping to recover a portion of your damages through an insurance claim, the amount of time you have to file your claim with the insurance company could be even less.

Many insurance companies require claims to be filed within 30 days of the accident. If you do not file your claim before this deadline, the insurance company may refuse to settle your case. Furthermore, the statute of limitations is not always cut and dry. For minors and individuals dealing with delayed diagnosis, the statute of limitation's deadline may be extended. If you hope to protect your right to pursue your case at trial, make sure you have an experienced personal injury lawyer working for you. This way, you do not need to worry about missing crucial deadlines and being denied fair compensation.

From car accident cases to medical malpractice, there are certain steps you should take regardless of the personal injury matter. Many injury victims overlook this first step, but you should contact the authorities after any accident or incident to ensure you get medical attention and an accident report. Then be sure to collect evidence at the scene if possible. This information can be invaluable to your case. Afterward, contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss the accident and discover what legal options you have.

Personal injury claims can be complex processes. Every person's case is different. However, most personal injury claims begin with the injury victim contacting a reputable lawyer for help. From there, your personal injury attorney will take over the legal details of your case. This will free up your time and energy to devote to recuperating from your injuries, spending time with your family, and beginning to rebuild your life after experiencing a traumatic event.

After hiring a lawyer, an investigation into the cause of your accident will commence. We will carefully review the details of your case and gather compelling evidence to prove that someone else is responsible for causing your accident and resulting injuries. Here is where cases can often get a little more complex. If the liable party has insurance coverage, you may be able to file a claim with their insurance provider. However, if the liable party does not have insurance coverage or the contributory negligence doctrine applies, you may need to consider filing a claim with your own insurance provider if you have no-fault coverage, or prepare to file a personal injury lawsuit in Maryland civil courts. Keep in mind that most personal injury cases are settled out of court.

Even if you can obtain an insurance settlement offer, it may not fully cover your damages. In this case, you would need to move forward with a lawsuit to recoup the entirety of your damages. You can avoid going to trial by settling with the liable party outside of court. However, going to trial is often the best way to recover every loss and ensure the liable party is held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. You can find out more about which path your personal injury case might take when your attorney reviews the specific circumstances of your case.

At Parker, Pallet, Slezak & Russell, LLC, we understand your concerns and are here to help determine the validity of your personal injury claim. A claim is considered valid if you've suffered injuries due to someone else's negligence or wrongdoing. Our team will assess the details of your case, including evidence of fault and the impact of your injuries on your life, to advise you on the best path forward.

Victims of personal injuries are often eligible for various forms of compensation to cover their losses. This includes reimbursement for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and sometimes punitive damages to punish egregious conduct. Our attorneys work tirelessly to ensure you receive the full compensation you're entitled to, addressing both current and future needs.

The duration of a personal injury lawsuit can vary significantly, depending on the complexity of the case and the willingness of parties to reach a settlement. While some cases may resolve in a matter of months, others might take years to come to a conclusion. Our goal is to efficiently move your case forward while striving for the most favorable outcome, keeping you informed at every step.

If You Were Hurt in Maryland, Our Personal Injury Attorneys Can Help

There is no reason you should wind up in financial ruin on top of dealing with the emotional trauma and physical injuries you sustained in a debilitating accident. This is particularly true if someone else is to blame for your injuries and damages. Do not let them get away with it. Advocate for your right to maximum compensation.

Contact our Maryland personal injury lawyers at Parker, Pallet, Slezak & Russell, LLC to get started on your insurance and civil claims as soon as today. Our experienced injury lawyers proudly offer no-cost, risk-free consultations to personal injury victims across Maryland. Claim yours when you fill out our online contact form or call our office.