If you have suffered harm due to someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for your injuries. If you have lost a loved one due to negligence, you may be entitled to damages for wrongful death. A knowledgeable, experienced personal injury attorney will be able to advise you on how to proceed to get compensation for your losses. No amount of money will take away the pain of losing your loved one, but you’re entitled to compensation if someone contributed to or directly caused the death of your family member.
When it comes to personal injury cases and negligence, one very important factor to keep in mind is that you must take legal action within the statute of limitations assigned to that particular type of case. In Maryland, there are different time periods for each type of case. Let’s take a look at medical malpractice, product liability and breach of contract statutes of limitations in Maryland.
Personal Injury Statutes of Limitations in Maryland
Personal injury attorneys represent people harmed by the negligence or wrongdoing of others. Medical malpractice and product liability are two areas of personal injury law that can result in millions of dollars worth of expenses following an injury or death.
Even though medical professionals take an oath to “do no harm,” they’re human and will make mistakes. When those mistakes could have been prevented, you have the right to take legal action against the negligent party(ies). Doctors, dentists, nurses, therapists, administrators, EMT’s and even hospitals can be held accountable for injuries and deaths that result from medical negligence. One of the most common types of medical malpractice is surgical error, and thousands of people in the United States are harmed each year during or after a surgical procedure.
Maryland law states that you have only five years from the time of injury to file suit, and merely three years after the date the injury was actually discovered, whichever comes first. Clearly, there’s no time to waste if you feel you’ve suffered due to a medical professional’s negligence. The longer you wait, the more you lessen your chances of being able to receive monetary compensation to help with your medical expenses.
Product Liability Statute of Limitations
In Maryland, you only have three years from the time you’re injured by a defective product to take legal action. You may have suffered an injury due to a faulty car part, a defective appliance, a poorly constructed high chair, or any number of medical devices that have been discovered to be dangerous in some way. Because statutes of limitations can be a bit confusing (trying to figure out the exact date a medical device failed, for instance), it’s very important to contact a Maryland product liability attorney as soon as possible following your injury.
Breach of Contract Statute of Limitations
For both written and verbal contracts, the statute of limitations for breach of contract is three years in Maryland.
We encourage you to consult with an experienced attorney as soon as possible after you realize you might have a legal claim. Once the statute of limitations has run out, no legal action can be taken.
Don’t wait. Time may be limited and you need a legal expert. Start your search today for a law firm in your area.
