Maryland's Wrongful Death Lawyer
Vehicle Accident, Medical Malpractice, Product Liability
Wrongful death is a legal term used in Maryland to describe what is usually one half of the two claims that arise when there is a fatal accident - usually from medical malpractice, motor vehicle accident or defective product – caused by the negligence of another person or company.
A wrongful death claim is a claim brought, pursuant to the Maryland wrongful death statute, on behalf of the survivors of a wrongful death on their own behalf for the loss of their loved one. The estate of the victim also has a claim in Maryland called a survival action. In Maryland, unlike some other jurisdictions, a survival action is made by the personal representative of the estate on behalf of the estate for the recovery of damages for injury to a fatally injured person.
It is a common sense notion that when people are killed by the negligence of another person, their families and loved ones have the legal right to seek compensation for both the economic loss caused to them by the death as well as the pain and suffering of losing someone you love. Yet, historically, wrongful deaths were not recognized as claims in Maryland. Under the common law, when a person was killed as a result of the negligence of someone else, any personal injury claim that could be made for the accident terminated with the victim's death. Today, Maryland, like every state, has a statute that allows for the family to recover in the event of a wrongful death. Our Maryland wrongful death attorneys seek compensation on behalf of the victim's family for medical malpractice, motorcycle, car and truck accident claims, and for deaths caused by defective products.
There is a cap on wrongful death claims in Maryland (described more fully here). There is no cap, however, on noneconomic damages in a wrongful death case. Usually, what drives values in wrongful death claims is the loss of future earning capacity – what the victim would have earned in compensation if the defendant did not negligently kill the victim.
Our lawyers have handled scores of wrongful death cases, helping families navigate the difficult legal issues that almost invariably occur with what is often the sudden, unexpected accidental death of a parent, spouse, or child. As attorneys experienced with the handling of wrongful death and survivor's claims, we are committed to handling all the legal aspects for you and your family. We can handle the legal issues in the wrongful death claim against those responsible so the family can concentrate on the difficult emotional issues in losing a loved one.
If you have lost a loved on in a fatal Maryland car accident and would like to speak with a lawyer about your potential wrongful death claim, call one of our lawyers at 800-553-8082 for a free, no obligation consultation. You can also click here for a free Internet consultation.
More Information to Better Understand Maryland Fatal Accident Claims