Personal Injury Accident Cases

in Calvert County, Maryland

Calvert County is, however, one of the fastest growing counties in Maryland. In fact, according to Census Bureau's statistics, Calvert County is one of the 100 fastest growing counties in the United States, showing a 16% population increase in only four years. This growth is partially due to the County's location in the Greater Washington Area, the expansion of operations at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station (PAX River) in Lexington Park (St. Mary's County), and Calvert County's outstanding quality of life. It is also an affluent county that is among the highest in the country in median household income.

Calvert County has its share of motor vehicle accident cases. There also seem to be an inordinate amount of truck accident cases in the county, most on Route 4. Sadly, the county typically has about a dozen fatal accident cases each year. The beauty and open roads in the county also lends Calvert County to more than its share of motorcycle accident deaths.

Calvert County as a Venue for Personal Injury Case

Situated in Southern Maryland, Calvert County is considered a conservative venue in which to try a personal injury lawsuit by most accident lawyers in Maryland. As Calvert County becomes more urbanized, the verdicts have slowly but steadily risen in motor vehicle accident cases. Realistically, it is still a tough place for medical malpractice plaintiffs. Calvert County juries still favor doctors. But, certainly, good malpractice cases are winnable in Calvert County.

The Circuit Court for Calvert County has only two sitting judges, Judge Warren Krug and Judge Marjorie Clagett. Cases filed in Calvert County typically take about 12 to 15 months to get to trial. The case management system established by the court is generally a "hands-off" approach, setting fair deadlines for the discovery in each case, which are generally agreed upon by counsel during an informal scheduling conference in the judge's chambers.

Once a trial date is set, the trial will almost always go forward because the court smartly does not over book itself. However, if the lawyers ask for a case to be postponed, the new trial will most likely not be for another year.

The District Court for Calvert County is, naturally, also a smaller venue, usually having one or two judges hearing cases on any given day. The docket is generally light, in fact, the court operates 3 dockets per courtroom, per day, at 8:30, 10:30 and 1:30. Generally, the auto accident cases in Calvert County District Court are placed on the 10:30 and 1:30 dockets.
      Because Calvert County's docket is not very heavy, personal injury accident cases generally take only 60 to 90 days to get assigned a trial date. When a case gets continued, sometimes the case will be reset as early as three weeks. Accordingly, lawyers filing in Calvert County must make sure they are fully prepared for trial when they file suit.

Sample Calvert County Verdicts

• 2012: $13,642 Verdict.  Plaintiff is stopped at a traffic light and is rear-ended by Defendant driver.  The impact is described as medium to heavy.  Defendant admits liability, and once the case proceeds to trial on the issues of causation and damages.  Plaintiff sustains soft tissue injuries to her neck and back and claims the crash directly aggravated her psoriatic arthritis.  Defendant, insured by State Farm, disputes the severity of Plaintiff’s condition and argues that the injuries complained of are related to Plaintiff’s pre-existing condition.  The jury returns a $13,642.00 verdict for the Plaintiff. 
• 2012: $1,042,292 Verdict.  Plaintiffs, husband and wife, are injured in their home when a house next to theirs collapses.  Defendant, acting as his own contractor, spends several years building a house in close proximity to the house where Plaintiffs reside.  Defendant’s house then collapses into the Plaintiff’s dwelling while the Plaintiffs are inside.  Wife suffers serious lacerations around her eye (which she claims causes permanent disfigurement, although no loss of vision) and soft tissue injuries, while husband sustains a rotator cuff injury which requires surgery.  Nationwide Mutual Insurance, who insured the home where the Plaintiffs lived, paid $335,639.00 to the owner of the home and then sought subrogation of that amount from the Defendant.  Defendant does not answer the complaint or show up for trial, and a jury awards $335,639 to the homeowner’s insurance provider, $294,623 to the wife, and $412,030 to the husband.  

• 2007: $3,497,000 Verdict. Plaintiff, in her mid 40’s, presents to a physician with complaints of pelvic pain.  After a sonogram reveals an ovarian cyst, Defendant recommends surgery to explore the source of her pain and possible removal of the cyst and ovaries.  Plaintiff is subsequently diagnosed with a colon perforation.  Plaintiff files suit and alleges that the Defendant performed an unnecessary procedure and perforated her colon during the operation, leading to multiple physical ailments, including a colostomy, two additional surgeries, a bowel obstruction, colovaginal fistula and scarring.  Defendant maintains the care was reasonable and appropriate and the surgery was necessary to determine and address the etiology of her pain.  He denies perforating the colon during the procedure and contends that Plaintiff’s perforation was caused by her diverticulitis.  Plaintiff submits $97,000 in past medical expenses, which the jury gives her along with another $3,400,000 for pain and suffering.  The award is reduced to $702,000 pursuant to Maryland’s cap on non-economic damages.

• 2006 $1,370,025 Verdict. Plaintiff, a 42 year old operations manager, is driving on an unlined access road to pick her daughter up from high school when she is struck head-on.  Plaintiff suffers serious injuries including a fractured tailbone, torn meniscus in the right knee (requiring surgery), disc disruption and herniation at C6-7 requiring a discectomy, fusion and refusion with the insertion of metal plating.  While initially alleging Plaintiff was contributorily negligent, Defendant admits liability at trial and withdraws the contrib defense, but asserts that Plaintiff’s continuing complaints and the need for surgeries are related to preexisting degenerative conditions.  Plaintiff claims chronic pain from the tailbone and neck injuries, resulting in total disability from employment.  She sought between $885,941 and $1,251,038 in past and future medicals, as well as past and future lost wages.  The insurance company that was willing to try this case? It will come to the surprise of no one that it was State Farm. The jury sided with the Plaintiff and awarded more than she was asking, at $1,370,025.   

No one is suggesting these are average verdicts in Calvert County personal injury cases and you can expect a similar result in every case. What they do show is that in the right case, a jury in this county will give a fair award. Most insurance companies understand this and value cases for settlement accordingly.

Hiring a Lawyer for Your Calvert County Claim

Our attorneys handle accident and malpractice cases in Calvert County. We will fight to get you the results you deserve.

If you have been injured in a car, truck, or motorcycle accident or by medical malpractice in or around Calvert County or southern Maryland, call to speak to one of our accident attorneys at 800-553-8082 or select here for a free consultation.

Calvert County Resources