Baltimore Injury Lawyer Blog
Unless you live somewhere there is no TV, radio, or internet (which makes you seeing this unlikely), you know there was a big train crash in the Ohio last month.
This was a bad accident that involved several deaths and many more injuries. Whenever something like this happens, I think it is expected that there will eventually be litigation. The litigation about this accident has already started. The legal system generally moves like global climate change- slowly and inexorably. A lawsuit being filed two days after the injury is very, very fast.
Maryland has a three-year statute of limitations. This means that an injury lawsuit must be filed within three years of the date of the injury, or it is forever barred. In this case, the victim is fifteen. Under Maryland’s SOL, his lawsuit would need to be filed within three years of his eighteenth birthday.
The Time to Calibrate the Case
Filing a lawsuit quickly can be a bad idea because it may not give enough time to gather all the necessary evidence, consult with experts, and build a strong case. Rushing into litigation may lead to mistakes or oversights that could hurt the chances of winning the case. It is important to carefully evaluate the situation, gather all relevant information, and seek legal advice before making any decisions about pursuing legal action.
Maximum Medical Improvement Is One Problem
My practice on injury claims is to avoid filing a lawsuit until the client is at Maximum Medical Improvement. All this means is that the injured person has recovered fully, or has reached the point where further medical intervention would not be helpful. The reason is that I want to have a full and complete picture of the client’s damages before filing suit. This helps in many ways, such as in selecting and identifying the proper experts, determining the amount of damages to be sought, and allowing pre-suit settlement negotiations. It also helps to minimize playing catch-up, like trying to collect medical records and bills for a client who is still in treatment while simultaneously preparing the case for trial.
What Can Be Gained?
I don’t know the attorneys representing the plaintiffs who have already filed suit. I’m not saying they did something wrong- there are a lot of “right ways” to handle a personal injury case. Sometimes cases are filed early because that is what the client wants. I am sure there are other reasons as well. I just usually take the opposite approach.
I am curious as to what the advantage to the client is as a result of filing so quickly. Obviously, starting the process sooner means completing it sooner. Other than that time savings, what does such an aggressive stance get the client? Maybe the publicity translates into a stronger negotiating position for settlement.