It is an unfortunate reality that accidents can happen to anyone at any time. Sometimes, they may be caused due to a person’s own carelessness. Other times, they can be the result of the negligence of another party. In these situations, the injured person may wish to pursue legal action to hold the negligent party liable for their behavior. This is attainable through a personal injury lawsuit.
Sometimes, there are cases in which a person may hesitate to pursue a lawsuit for an extended period of time after a personal injury accident occurs. This may be out of fear of not wanting to cause further trouble or anticipating legal fees. However, many people do not realize that victims of personal injuries do not pay their attorneys out of pocket. Instead, personal injury attorneys are paid on a contingency basis. This means that they only receive a payment if they recover an award for the individual, and the payment is usually taken out of this award.
Maryland’s Statute of Limitations
It is important that a victim of a personal injury accident does not wait too long if they wish to file a claim against a negligent party. This is because there is a statute of limitations on doing so. A statute of limitations is essentially a deadline that requires an injured party to file a claim for a lawsuit within a designated period of time. If they fail to do so, they may relinquish their chance to hold the negligent party responsible for their actions. In the state of Maryland, there is a three-year statute of limitations for regular personal injury cases. This includes slip and fall accidents, car accidents, truck accidents, and more.
Notice of Claim Requirements
There are many personal injury accidents that are caused due to the negligence of another individual. However, this is not always the case. There are some cases in which personal injury accidents can be the result of a government’s negligence. This may happen due to unsafe government properties, a transit administration accident, and more. In these situations, it is important to know that there is a different process when filing a claim against a government for negligence.
In the state of Maryland, if an individual wants to hold a government liable for negligence, they are required to file a Notice of Claim. This lets the government know that there is a lawsuit being brought against them. The statute of limitations to file a Notice of Claim is within six months to a year from the date of the accident, depending on whether it is state or local government.
Contact our Firm
The Law Offices of Debra A. Saltz has decades of experience representing clients in Howard County, Maryland who have been charged with a crime. If you are facing criminal charges, let our firm explore all possible defenses and fight to protect your future. We also represent individuals who have been injured by the negligence of another party. Contact the Law Offices of Debra A. Saltz today to discuss your case.
