You’ve already paid a fortune for medical treatment that went wrong. Now you’re wondering if it’s worth pursuing a malpractice case. This is where understanding what you can claim will help you recover both financially and emotionally. Hence, here are the three main types of compensation available to you under Maryland law.
What economic damages can you claim?
The first category covers the actual money you’ve lost. Economic damages pay you back for costs you can prove with bills and receipts. You can recover money for:
- Medical bills from corrective treatments
- Lost wages from missed work
- Future medical care and ongoing treatment
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy costs
- Prescription medications and medical equipment
- Future earnings if your injury keeps you from working
These financial recoveries can lift a huge weight off your shoulders. Maryland law allows you to claim all verifiable economic losses related to the negligent care you received. While these damages cover your bills, they don’t address the emotional pain you’ve been through.
Getting compensated for your pain and suffering
The second category recognizes your personal suffering beyond money. Non-economic damages pay you for the emotional and physical hardships without a price tag. You can seek money for:
- Pain and suffering from your injuries
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life and daily activities
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of companionship or consortium
- Reduced quality of life
These damages recognize that your pain goes far beyond medical bills. Your malpractice case shows that medical negligence affects your relationships, mental health and overall well-being.
However, Maryland’s statutory framework imposes a cap on total damages in medical malpractice cases. For 2026, Maryland sets the cap at $920,000 and increases it by $15,0000 each year. This limit covers both your money losses and your personal suffering combined. In rare cases, however, you may qualify for one more type of payment.
The importance of punitive damages in a malpractice case
Unlike the previous two categories, punitive damages punish extremely bad behavior. Maryland courts rarely award these and only grant them in serious cases involving gross negligence, intentional harm or complete disregard for patient safety. Your case might qualify if the healthcare provider didn’t care at all about your well-being. Unlike the damages cap that limits pain and suffering, Maryland law does not cap punitive damages. Courts determine these amounts separately based on the severity of the misconduct.
Fighting for the compensation you deserve
Knowing what you can claim in a medical malpractice case marks an important first step. Each case differs and calculating the full value of your damages requires meticulous documentation and comprehensive knowledge of Maryland jurisprudence. You deserve fair compensation that covers both your money losses and personal pain. With proper legal guidance, you can navigate the claims process and work toward the justice and resources you need to move forward.