Collateral Source Rule in Maryland (Part A)

If you are involved in a car accident in Maryland, there are a number of different entities that could be responsible for compensating you for injuries and damages. The collateral source rule in Maryland exists to protect accident victims from having their claims against at-fault parties minimized by the fact that third parties not related to the claim, such as health insurance, may have already made payment on the medical services rendered to the victim.

Explanation of the Collateral Source Rule in Maryland

Quite simply, the collateral source rule prevents defendants in an injury case from introducing as evidence the fact that a victim's injuries or damages have been or will be covered or compensated for by any source other than the defendant, or party against whom the claim has been filed.

For example, if you are seriously injured in a car accident in Maryland, and your medical insurance pays for some of your medical bills, the at-fault party, or defendant, cannot bring up the fact that some of your bills have already been paid for by another party when you are seeking damages.

This applies to any third party that is not named in your claim but that may pay you damages if you are injured, including medical payment coverage, your automobile insurance, medical insurance, Worker's Compensation, or other coverage that is applicable to your circumstance.

Although Maryland's contributory negligence statute sometimes makes it difficult for victims of a car accident in Maryland to recover the funds they need to address their injuries from at-fault parties, the collateral source rule in Maryland protects victims from aggressive defendants seeking to minimize their own financial liability in an accident for which they are at fault.

If you have been injured in a car accident, contact a Maryland accident attorney to answer your questions and provide you with the counsel and support you need.

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