Internal injuries, such as abdominal injuries, are some of the hardest to recognize and diagnose after an accident. Victims of abdominal injuries often need to deal with a lengthy recovery process. If you or someone close to you has suffered an abdominal injury in an accident that was someone else’s fault, it is important to contact a Baltimore abdominal injury lawyer without delay. At Arfaa Law Group, we understand that this is a painful time for your family and you, which is why Julia Arfaa will handle your case with sensitivity and discretion. She also represents victims of back injuries and other catastrophic consequences of accidents.
Understanding the Impact of an Abdominal InjuryAbdominal trauma can be life-threatening. An individual can suffer abdominal injuries through either penetrating or blunt trauma. A penetrating injury is caused by an object that pierces the skin, muscles, organs, other tissues, or bones. Both solid and hollow organs are at risk of harm from penetrating injuries. Blunt trauma causes injuries due to extreme force but not the penetration of the body with an object. Abdominal injuries may affect a variety of vital body parts, including the liver, spleen, kidneys, intestines, bladder, pancreas, and stomach. These injuries can be hard to identify because not every abdominal injury presents itself immediately. There may be damage that shows itself later.
Abdominal injuries can have a variety of causes, including:
Victims of abdominal injuries can typically recover damages through a negligence claim. Negligence occurs when an injury or death is a result of a person failing to use reasonable care. Reasonable care is defined in most ordinary situations as how a prudent person would have acted under the same or similar circumstances. (The standard is different in some situations involving medical malpractice and other forms of professional negligence.) An abdominal injury attorney in the Baltimore area can explain how the standard may apply in your case.
In order to prevail on a negligence claim, the plaintiff must establish that the defendant owed a duty of care to the plaintiff, the defendant breached the duty of care owed to the plaintiff, and the defendant’s breach was a direct cause of the accident and the plaintiff’s resulting abdominal injuries. Each of these elements must be established before any damages can be recovered.
Catastrophic injuries are distinct from other types of injuries because they typically require long-term or even life-long medical attention. These injuries can be devastating for both the victim and their family. Daily tasks can become challenging, and an individual may permanently lose the ability to work. This is why Maryland law allows victims of abdominal injuries to recover damages such as medical costs, lost wages, rehabilitation costs, pain and suffering, property damage, future medical costs, and any other losses stemming from the accident. While there is no limit on the amount of economic damages that a Baltimore abdominal injury attorney can recover for a victim, there is a cap on non-economic damages. In Maryland, the cap on non-economic damages in 2017 is in the amount of $785,000.
As with any other type of claim, a personal injury claim must be filed within a certain time frame, known as the statute of limitations. Victims in Maryland have three years from the date of an accident to file a claim in civil court. Failing to file within the three-year time frame could mean losing your right to pursue compensation altogether.
Consult an Abdominal Injury Lawyer in Baltimore or Surrounding CommunitiesIf you have suffered an abdominal injury in an accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence, you need to reach out to a seasoned attorney who can assess the merits of your case. At Arfaa Law Group, we can guide you through the legal process, ranging from negotiating settlement agreements to filing an initial claim and vigorously advocating for you in court. We represent victims throughout the State of Maryland in many types of personal injury and wrongful death claims. For more information, do not hesitate to call 410-889-1850 or contact us online.