WHAT IS THE VALUE OF MY BALTIMORE PERSONAL INJURY CASE? Venue, revisited.

I discussed in another volume the role of "venue" [i.e. where the case is tried] in assessing the value of case. It's perhaps one of the more important variables. For example, seasoned Baltimore personal injury and accident lawyers that try their cases know that district court cases in Baltimore City are worth less than those in Baltimore County. For more serious cases that make it to circuit court, the reverse  is true. You'll see a lot of studies addressing the topic. The numbers are different in every sample, in part because different counties and different time frames are analyzed. One study highlighted a fact well known to Baltimore personal injury and accident lawyers- personal injury cases is Maryland are worth less than personal injury cases just about everywhere else. A lot less. Although plaintiffs tend to prevail more often in Maryland personal injury cases, their awards are, on average, only about 30% of the national averages.

HOW MUCH IS MY BALTIMORE PERSONAL INJURY CASE WORTH? I've had a subsequent injury?

As with prior injuries, [in the context of a Baltimore car and automobile accident, your "priors" are going to be the number of times you've claimed injury in other, previous Baltimore car and automobile accidents] having a subsequent injury, especially to the same body part, will have an impact on the value of your case. Any seasoned Baltimore personal injury and accident lawyer will tell you it would be foolish to assume otherwise. The essential problem is this: if an injury victim hurts their back, then three months later hurts their back again in another accident- how is one supposed to determine what any ongoing or future medical care is related to? How does one determine if current pain and suffering is related to the first accident or the second? How does a Baltimore personal injury and accident lawyer convincingly argue that a permanent impairment is related to the first accident but not the second? The reality is the unfortunate things do happen, and folks due get hurt, sometimes in temporal proximity. Experienced Baltimore personal injury and accident lawyers have dealt with this scenario, and know, strategically and tactically how to handle cases with two accidents.

WHAT IS THE VALUE OF MY PERSONAL INJURY CASE? The problem with "priors"

What are priors? A lot can depend on the context. If you are a criminal defendant about to be sentenced, the state is gong to tell the Judge about your "priors" [i.e. your record]. In the context of a Baltimore car and automobile accident, your "priors" are going to be the number of times you've claimed injury in other, previous Baltimore car and automobile accidents. Any Baltimore personal injury lawyers will tell you it matters. A lot. The adjuster is likely aware of prior accidents and will reduce any offer to you accordingly. A jury may hear about prior injuries to the same body part, and take that into account when fixing your recovery. Seasoned Baltimore personal injury lawyers that try their cases have likely had the gut wrenching experience of the "undisclosed" prior injury to the same body part being drawn out on cross examination, in the face of a prior denial of any prior injury. Experienced Baltimore personal injury lawyers will advise you talk about prior injuries when asked. It can only hurt you if you don't.