Legal Question in Personal Injury in Maryland
Hello. I got in a car accident in Maryland. I broke my jaw. Friend's insurance company paid me for pain and suffering. i never hired a lawyer than. can i bring the case back?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Probably not. Generally an insurance company will not pay out any money until the injured party signs a release fully waiving all rights to bring a future claim or lawsuit. Additionally, rights to sue must be exercised in a certain time frame (called the statute of limitations) or they are lost forever.
The only exception in Maryland is PIP coverage which pays a small amount for medical bills for a driver or passengers in the car without regard to fault. PIP does not usually provide any compensation for pain & suffering, so likely your payments were not PIP coverage but instead a regular insurance claim.
The above general information does not substitute for specific legal advice. While I hope this general legal post helps you may wish to consult with an attorney who can review the facts of your particular situation in depth.