Havre de Grace Personal
Injury & Car Accident Lawyer

Determining liability in Maryland may involve different processes depending on the type of accident that occurred. For example, the process of determining who is liable for a car accident is different than determining liability in a defective product case. However, generally speaking, the party who was acting negligently, maliciously, or recklessly leading to the accident is often deemed to be liable for the victim’s pain and suffering. If an accident occurs on another person’s property, the legal concept of premises liability often plays a role. This form of liability states that property owners owe it to their patrons to provide a reasonable expectation of safety, thereby preventing them from being subjected to undue harm.

Maryland is unique in that it is one of four states that practices contributory negligence when it comes to personal injury law, meaning that if the victim did not exercise caution or otherwise failed to act prudently to prevent the accident, the case for compensation they may be entitled to can be hurt. If the victim is deemed to be even 1 percent liable for the accident, they may be entitled to nothing. The courts will determine whether or not the victim’s actions qualify as contributory negligence, although this does not necessarily bar them from receiving any damages. If a victim chooses to hire a Havre de Grace personal injury lawyer, they can help investigate the case and work to gather evidence that proves liability from the true circumstances surrounding the accident.

Even if an offender is deemed to be liable for the victim’s injuries, the case may be dropped if a certain amount of time has passed. Per Maryland Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 5–101, there is a three-year statute of limitations on personal injury cases in Maryland, beginning on the date the injury occurs. As a result, it is best to consider looking into your legal options as soon as your accident is over and you are safe from further harm.