Maryland law determines the amount of money that personal injury clients can receive for their injuries. There are two types of damages, economic and non-economic, that have different effects on a person who suffers from an accident. In addition, there are caps for damages that are awarded in court for personal injuries, wrongful deaths and pain and suffering.
The number of damages
The state of Maryland places caps on the amount of non-economic damages, which include pain and suffering, that can be won in personal injury cases. In 2021, the cap was $905,000 for a personal injury in which the person survives and $2,262,500 for wrongful death.
Economic damages include lost wages, medical bills, and living expenses that are more important to pay off. Punitive damages are intended to punish wrongdoers for unacceptable behaviors and to prevent similar actions from being committed in the future. The state sets no cap for the number of economic damages, which could exceed millions of dollars.
The importance of caps
There must be caps on the awards of non-economic damages. However, many personal injury lawyers claim that accident victims do not receive the full compensation that they deserve. Although lawyers are limited by the law, they may be able to convince the courts that their plaintiffs deserve the full amount of compensation for their injuries.
Limits on compensation
Insurance companies, health care providers and private businesses may be left covering the costs of accident victims. Even with punitive damages, the caps are meant to restrict the payments that plaintiffs can receive if they win their cases to avoid over-burdening these companies and providers.