Late last night, the legislative session for
Maryland in 2015 ended. One of the more
newsworthy bills to pass in both the Senate and House is the Local Government
Tort Claims Act, which increases the civil damages cap from $200,000 to
$300,000 for harmed individuals and an increase in the total amount of damages
in a single lawsuit from $500,000 to $600,000.
Assuming Governor Hogan signs off on approval of the bill, this new law will
take effect October 1, 2015.
This
is certainly a step in the right direction for injured victims, but still is
not enough to fully compensate those suffering severe, debilitating injuries
where medical costs can easily exceed one million dollars over the span of one’s
life. With a cap at $600,000, injured
victims will likely not be able to afford necessary medical care for the
entirety of their lives. Prior to the official
passage of the bill yesterday, Maryland Senator Bobby Zirkin made
comments last week expressing his disappointment in the very small increase
in the damages cap. Senator Zirkin said,
“The $300,000 limit…would not even cover the medical expenses of many
individuals harmed through the negligence of a government agent such as a
police officer.”
As
a Maryland personal injury law firm that has represented numerous clients in
cases involving civil damages over the last twenty-five years, we are happy to
see legislators recognize the need to increase the cap, but also agree with
Senator Zirkin in that the increase is not enough. Oftentimes, our injured clients have suffered
catastrophic injuries and require expensive medical care and treatment for the
rest of their lives. A maximum of
$600,000 in a single lawsuit will not cover these expenses.
If
you or a loved one has been injured or killed as a result of the negligence of
a local government employee and would like to schedule an appointment at one of
our office locations in Columbia
or throughout Maryland to meet with one of our attorneys for a free case
evaluation, please call us at (301) 854-9000 or visit us online at: http://www.portnerandshure.com/Personal-Injury/
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