What is Maryland’s Collateral Source Rule?
Under Maryland law, the “Collateral Source Rule” allows a driver who has been injured in a traffic accident to receive monetary compensation from more than one source. For example, a personal injury attorney can often recover his or her client’s lost wages and medical expenses from both the injured driver’s Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance as well as from the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
In this way, Maryland state insurance law allows you, as the injured party, to be compensated twice under the Collateral Source Rule. The reason for this — assuming you have paid for PIP coverage — is because the law recognizes that, as a victim of an injury-related highway or beltway accident, you should not be penalized.
It is always important to keep in mind, as a general rule, that victims of Maryland traffic accidents are entitled to recover financially for damages and/or losses, including the following:
- Medical costs
- Lost income / wages
- Pain and suffering
- Physical / mental impairment
- Disfigurement
- Future medical bills
In addition to pursuing monetary recovery for economic damages, plaintiffs may also choose to pursue punitive damages. This kind of claim is meant to punish the at-fault party and can also be pursued by victims of Maryland car or truck accidents. The experienced legal professionals at Lebowitz & Mhzen, LLC, have the necessary background to assist traffic accident victims move forward with their personal injury lawsuits. If you or a loved one have been hurt as a result of negligence-related traffic wreck, please feel free to contact us today to set up a free, no-obligation initial consultation.