n pursuit of justice following an injury in Prince George’s County? Our seasoned personal injury attorneys provide unmatched expertise and commitment, championing your rights across Maryland, from Bowie to College Park. Excelling in auto accidents, medical malpractice, and comprehensive personal injury representation, we’re your advocates in PG County. Whether you need an auto accident lawyer in Prince George’s County or a skilled attorney for medical malpractice in Maryland, our Prince George’s County personal injury lawyers are here to help.
If you believe somebody else was responsible for the accident, you might be entitled to recover compensation for your injuries. Working with an experienced Prince George’s County personal injury lawyer could help you get the justice and the fair compensation you are entitled to. Our lawyers at Gelb & Gelb, P.C., understand the emotional toll of an accident. We would minimize the additional stress by answering your questions and working hard to help you get the compensation you need to move forward.
Anytime the negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct of another causes one to sustain serious injuries, that person could file a personal injury suit to seek compensation for damages. In Prince George’s County, personal injury lawsuits often involve:
Our local Prince George’s County personal injury lawyers use vast experience with all types of personal injury cases to investigate the accident and determine causation. After selecting the cause of the accident, our lawyers will see if anyone involved is liable or legally responsible for causing it. Experienced attorneys use the evidence and their knowledge of Maryland personal injury law to obtain injury compensation in PG County.
You’ll need to prove the elements of the claim you want to pursue. In many cases, the cause of action you will pursue is negligence. To prove negligence, you must prove each of the four elements. First, you must prove that the defendant owed you a duty at the time of your injury. There are many sub-rules to consider when we prove duty. But in most cases, knowing that you must behave reasonably is sufficient for learning. Of course, what is reasonable in one scenario might be unreasonable in the following scenario.
The next element we must prove in negligence is a breach of duty. We can prove breach by showing that some act or omission causes the defendant not to fulfill a legal duty. Third, we must prove that the breach of duty, either by act or omission, is the legal and actual cause of your injuries. Fourth, we must prove each injury you suffer. This may be a physical injury that you have to endure, or it can be a financial injury. For either damage, you have a right to collect monetary compensation.
Under the law in Prince George’s County, if you are even 1% at fault, then you are susceptible to a contributory negligence defense by the defendant. This acts as a total bar in Maryland, prohibiting you from making any legal recovery for your injuries. This is true even if the defendant is 99% at fault. Of course, this is ultimately a jury question. However, the bar for the defendant to show that you were 1% responsible for your injuries can be insurmountable in some instances. Getting a Prince George’s County case is the best personal injury lawyer to evaluate. Our lawyers are happy to apply the caselaw and statutes to the facts in your case and help you decide your liability.
Furthermore, some legal doctrines, such as the “last clear chance” doctrine, may allow you to prevail despite being at least 1% at fault.
Seeking legal representation for accident victims in Maryland? Serving all of Prince George’s County, from Bowie to College Park, our personal injury lawyers are dedicated to representing clients across all 27 municipalities. This represents the highest number of cities in one county throughout Maryland. Prince George’s County is a prime county to file suit in as a plaintiff. Juries tend to award higher amounts, and the insurance companies know this when it comes time to settle. Laurel and Upper Marlboro became a part of Prince George’s County in 1870, while New Carrolton is the newest city to the county, being added in 1953.
Our experienced lawyers have represented clients in front of the Prince George’s County Circuit Court, showcasing our deep understanding of local legal challenges.
Have you suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in an accident? Our Prince George’s County personal injury lawyers are here with specialized expertise in TBI cases, offering tailored support to secure the compensation you need for recovery. Reach out for a free case consultation to better understand the PG County personal injury claim process.
It is impossible to say who the best personal injury lawyer is in Prince George’s County or anywhere else. Moreover, it would be unethical to claim such a thing. Attorneys who claim “we win” or “we are the best injury lawyers in the area” are susceptible to discipline from their respective state bars. The truth is our legal system works differently. Every case is different. The best in one case looks very different from the best in another. But, of course, it is understandable why a potential plaintiff might seek out the best injury lawyer he or she can find. So, while we cannot claim to be the best for ethical reasons, we can advise what to look for in a personal injury attorney that would constitute an excellent lawyer.
The first thing to look out for is experience. Experience in any field is a good sign that the person or organization has a solid grasp of what they are doing. If not, they likely would not have been able to survive as long as they did. The second thing is reputation. In 2023, evaluating a law firm’s reputation is easier now than ever. Platforms such as Google, Facebook, and other more niche companies in the legal field all host ratings and reviews of law firms. This is far from an exhaustive list, but it is a start when looking for the best law firm in PG County.
As leading injury attorneys in PG County, our Gelb & Gelb, P.C. team is dedicated to securing the compensation you deserve.
Founded in 1954, Gelb & Gelb has 70 years of experience practicing injury law. This experience lends itself to us having a thorough understanding of all aspects of personal injury law. This includes tort law, civil procedure, evidence, contracts, and every other minute area of law that lends itself to personal injury. Furthermore, our experience gives us a deeper understanding of what you, as the client, are going through. This is critical for several reasons. First, in addition to providing legal representation, compassion goes a long way in such a complex process. Many of our clients report fear of driving again in a car accident or fear of returning to a bar or nightclub after an assault. While our job does not necessarily involve providing medical treatment for PTSD, knowing how to navigate these tricky issues is an essential skill that we build through experience.
Of course, experience is essential for more obvious reasons, too. For example, having hundreds of hours of courtroom experience lends itself to doing better the next time we are on trial. Every lawyer makes mistakes. But having the opportunity to learn from those mistakes through experience is invaluable. Moreover, thousands of hours of negotiating settlement amounts with adverse insurance companies tell us precisely what these insurers are looking for and how to work with them to get the best settlement for our clients.
For decades before the advent of the internet, reputation was by word of mouth. Accordingly, while well over 40 years of our practice is not reflected through internet ratings and reviews, our reputation has been stellar since our founding 70 years ago. Our reputation has earned us placements and recognition in the Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post Magazine, The National Law Journal, and the Legal Times. Further, we have over 100 5-star reviews on Google. Washingtonian Magazine has called Managing Partner Roger Gelb “one of Washington’s best – most honest and effective – lawyers who sue.”
We will only charge you if we succeed in your case. That is because we operate on a contingent fee basis. This means our fee is contingent on us winning your case, either by alternate dispute resolution or at trial. If we can settle your case via some alternate dispute resolution, our fee is one-third of the recovery. To be clear, an alternate dispute resolution is a broad term. It most commonly includes arbitration, mediation, or simple negotiation with the adverse insurer over the phone or in person.
Once they have established who is responsible for causing the accident, our team of skilled Prince George’s County personal injury lawyers will fight hard for total and fair compensation from every potentially liable party.
There are three types of damages that a claimant could pursue in Maryland. First, a claimant could seek economic damages to recover their actual losses directly resulting from the injuries sustained in the accident. Generally, a claimant could prove their economic losses by showing medical bills, receipts, and employment records. Economic losses could include medical and rehabilitation costs, prescription drug costs, costs to modify a home to make it more handicapped accessible, lost wages, and lost earning capacity.
A claimant could also pursue recovery of non-economic damages, which can be harder to quantify and usually involve one’s quality of life. Some examples of non-economic losses are physical and emotional pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, disfiguration, and disability.
In rare instances, Maryland courts also award punitive damages intended to punish the offender, but only when the offender’s actions were outrageous. Evil motives, intent to injure, ill will, or fraud should exist. Punitive damages may be available if any of these descriptions can characterize the defendant’s conduct. State courts limit the amount of non-economic damages that a claimant can pursue, so it is essential to work with a local lawyer who can explain those damages caps and work to obtain the most favorable outcome.
Punitive damages are in addition to the compensatory damages you should receive. Moreover, it is an amount relative to the compensatory damages you collect. For example, if you have $100,000 in compensatory damages, the amount you get in punitive damages will be based on that. Punitive damages act as a multiplier. Generally, the law recognizes that you should get between one and nine times the compensatory damages in punitive damages. Of course, the law does not guarantee you will get any punitive damages. Instead, this is just a guideline.
If somebody else’s bad decisions caused you or your loved one to sustain a severe injury, you might be entitled to recover damages to restore some of your financial losses. Ready for a consultation with a top PG County injury attorney? Reach out now for top-rated legal advice. Our team at Gelb & Gelb, P.C., could stand up to big insurance companies and fight hard for your rights.
Ready to Claim Your Justice? Connect with Our Leading Prince George’s County Personal Injury Lawyers Now.
Gelb & Gelb, P.C.
N/a
Copyright © 2024 Gelb & Gelb, P.C. All rights reserved.