Yes. So long as a victim did not contribute to the cause of the traffic accident in which he or she was injured, it is possible to file a legal suit against the responsible party(s). In Maryland, auto accident victims can collect monetary damages via the Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage provided as part of their auto insurance policy; but they also have the right to file a legal claim against the person who caused the accident.
While PIP was created to cover a victim’s hospital and doctor bills (as well as other monetary losses, such as one’s lost income due to being laid up in the hospital or nursing home), this aspect of car insurance can often fall short of the actual expenses incurred following a serious traffic accident. As experienced personal injury lawyers, the attorneys at Lebowitz & Mzhen, LLC, understand how quickly medical-related costs can mount for victims of car, truck or motorcycle collisions.
Since PIP coverage may not be able to pay for all accident-related costs, such as doctor visits, surgical procedures and PT treatments, our state’s Collateral Source Rule can provide some relief by allowing victims of traffic accidents to seek and receive compensation from other sources as well. A skilled injury lawyer can often file a claim to recover additional monetary damages from the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
As for car accident victims who may have, even in some small way, contributed to the cause of the crash in which they were injured, it is important to note that PIP coverage is not “fault-based,” which is to say that an injured driver who may have some amount of contributory negligence can still collect some compensation for their injuries even though the filing of a personal injury claim is usually “off the table” under those circumstances.
At Lebowitz & Mzhen, LLC, our skilled legal staff has years of litigation experience to help you or a loved one recover damages under the laws of the State of Maryland. If you have been badly hurt in an automobile collision, please take the time to contact us for your free, no-obligation legal consult.