If you were involved in a collision or other type of personal injury accident, your level of compensation depends on the damages that you can prove, as well as the degree of liability that rests with the party responsible for causing your injuries. It is common to feel helpless following a serious injury, but there are actions you can take to ensure you are compensated in the event of this type of injury. This includes keeping important documents close at hand and staying organized throughout the coming months during which your attorney will need to have access to your medical records, police reports, and more. This personal injury checklist can help!
Get Photos of the Scene and Your Injuries
Depending on your level of injury, it is always a good idea to take photos of the accident scene or injuries. If you were involved in a traffic collision, take photos of your car, the other party’s car, and the surrounding scene, including tire marks. Document your injuries with your camera as well. For slip and falls, take photos of your footwear, the conditions of the area where the accident occurred and the flooring that caused your fall. Sometimes proactive measures are taken after an accident that change the scene or conditions, so it is important to document the true conditions immediately following a crash, slip or fall.
Obtain Police Reports
Your attorney can gain access to police reports and official accident reports, as they are part of the public record. Police reports often have pertinent information about the cause of the incident and who was at fault. This is true for many types of injury cases, from traffic collisions to dog attacks.
Gather Medical Records and Expenses
The average cost of a hospital stay in Maryland is over $14,000, according to Maryland Health Care Quality Reports, though your actual long-term medical expenses could easily be much higher. The value of a personal injury claim is often tied directly, or very closely, to your medical expenses. The greater your medical expenses, the greater your compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and disability. Medical records and medical bills should be kept in files, ready to hand over to your attorney.
Other Expenses and Lost Wages
A large portion of your compensation may come from lost wages or lost earning capacity. Be sure to keep track of recent pay stubs at this time. You can also be compensated for other expenses incurred by your injuries as well. Keep your receipts for things such as car rentals, cost of transportation to and from medical appointments, and more.
Damages
You may be compensated for the following damages:
- Medical expenses;
Future medical expenses; - Lost wages;
- Lost earning capacity;
- Property damage; and
- More.
In 2020, Maryland caps non-economic damages to $875,000 for personal injury causes of action arising after 10/1/19, per Maryland Courts & Judicial Proceeding Article 11 Section 108, which is why it is important to fully maximize economic and non-economic damages in serious personal injury claims. These non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering;
- Disfigurement and scarring;
- Loss of joy of life;
- Emotional distress; and
- Other damages that do not have a pecuniary value.
Call Our Maryland Personal Injury Lawyers Today
Since it’s so important to track of your medical bills, calculate lost wages, and track down police reports, it’s important to have legal guidance as soon as possible. Your experienced personal injury attorney will also handle other legal tasks such as communicating with insurance companies, leaving you to focus on healing. Here at the offices of Frame & Frame, our Maryland personal injury attorneys will handle every aspect of your claim. Contact us to schedule a free consultation today.