Because the rules that govern medical malpractice cases vary considerably from state to state, it’s important that potential claimants secure representation from qualified lawyers well-versed on the intricacies of Maryland law. There are a host of key differences between Maryland malpractice law and that of other states, including, but not limited, to the following.
Statutes of Limitations
In Maryland, any medical malpractice action is required to be filed within the shorter of three years from the discovery of the injury or no more than five years of the date the alleged malpractice occurred. If the injured person is a minor, the statute of limitations doesn’t start running until the claimant is 18 years old. Regardless of the details associated with your malpractice claim, you need a lawyer who works promptly and understands Maryland’s specific malpractice laws.
Contributory or Comparative Negligence
Maryland is also one of only a small handful of states that still recognizes traditional contributory negligence; thus, if the court determines that any negligence on the part of a claimant contributed to his or her injury, no recovery will be allowed. If your lawyer fails to consider your potential contribution to an injury, you could be set up to fail before your case even gets off the ground.
If you’ve been injured due to potential medical malpractice in the state of Maryland, you should understand that the right lawyer can be the difference between a successful and failed outcome. Snyder and Snyder has years of experience and success in representing clients in medical malpractice lawsuits and has been recognized by several noted regional publications for having some of the top Maryland medical malpractice lawyers in the state.