Has your family lost a loved one in an accident in St. Mary’s County, Maryland? Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers can help when you call (301) 932-9997. We offer a free consultation with a St. Mary’s County wrongful death lawyer who understands the pain of such losses and will fight to protect your family’s rights.
A wrongful death case can provide the financial support you need after tragedy, including compensation for medical costs, lost income, and emotional suffering. Our attorneys are here to guide you with compassion and determination. Contact us today to begin the process.
Why Families Trust Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers After Fatal Accidents in St. Mary’s County, MD
Losing a loved one is devastating, and the legal process that follows can feel overwhelming. At Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers, we understand the weight of these moments and are committed to guiding families through them with compassion and strength.
Here’s why families in St. Mary’s County, MD, who need help choose us:
- Our attorneys bring more than 125 years of combined experience handling complex cases and securing more than $100 million in awards for clients.
- We have been recognized by organizations such as Avvo, Super Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers, and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
- We are proud members of professional groups including The American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys, The American Association for Justice, Martindale-Hubbell, and Trial Lawyers Care.
- We provide personalized, respectful legal representation while leveraging the resources needed to take on negligent parties and insurance companies.
Call today to arrange a free consultation with a St. Mary’s County personal injury attorney. Members of our legal team are always available to take your call – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
What Is a Wrongful Death Claim in Maryland?
If you were to get hurt in an accident because someone else is careless, you’d have the right under Maryland state law to pursue compensation for the hardships you experienced as a result. The right to sue isn’t lost just because an accident is fatal. Instead, it can shift to another party under Maryland’s Wrongful Death Act.
A wrongful death claim can be pursued when a person’s death is caused by another party’s wrongful actions, negligence, or default, and the decedent would have been able to file a personal injury claim if they’d survived.
Wrongful death litigation helps ensure that an at-fault party is held accountable for their actions and that any resulting damages are compensated.
Who Files a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Maryland?
Not just anyone can pursue a wrongful death lawsuit in a Maryland state court. The law reserves this right for the decedent’s closest surviving family members, including the:
- Spouse
- Children, and/or
- Parent(s).
If none of these parties survive the decedent, a claim can be filed by a secondary beneficiary – like a sibling, aunt or uncle, cousin, or another close family member who was financially dependent on the victim.
Decades of Experience Handling All Types of Wrongful Death Lawsuits
Most wrongful death cases in Saint Mary’s County arise when a person is killed in an avoidable accident or because of criminal acts of violence. At Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers, we have extensive experience representing spouses, children, and parents who are grieving the loss of loved ones because of:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Bus accidents
- Train accidents
- Aviation accidents
- Boating accidents
- Construction accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Accidents involving defective products
- Dog bites
- Negligent security
- Assault and sexual assault
- Medical malpractice
- Birth injury
- Nursing home abuse
Don’t underestimate how important it’ll be to have an experienced, skilled, and successful legal advocate in your corner as you pursue damages for your loved one’s tragic death. Call our Saint Mary’s County wrongful death attorneys to discover how we can make a difference in your case as you fight for the compensation you deserve.
What Compensation Can Be Awarded in a St. Mary’s County Wrongful Death Claim?
Wrongful death cases are different from other types of personal injury cases in many ways. One of the most striking differences involves the types of damages that can be awarded. Essentially, the scope of damages is more limited.
Through a successful wrongful death claim, the plaintiff can secure economic damages and non-economic damages for:
- Lost financial support, earnings, business interests, and benefits
- Lost household support
- Lost property
- Medical expenses
- Funeral expenses
- Loss of marital care and comfort
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of society, companionship, attention, advice, counsel, and training
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Additional compensation can potentially be awarded through a related survival action, which is permitted when a decedent survives their fatal wounds before passing. The survival action seeks to compensate the decedent for the costs, trauma, and physical suffering they endured in the span of time between getting hurt and passing away.
A survival action is filed by a personal representative on behalf of the decedent’s estate. Damages awarded to the estate are then subject to distribution pursuant to the decedent’s will or Maryland state law.
Can Shared Fault Affect a Wrongful Death Settlement in Maryland?
Maryland’s harsh contributory negligence rule applies to most personal injury cases, including matters of wrongful death. Under the state’s contributory fault rule, sharing responsibility for an accident is a total bar to recovery. In wrongful death cases, the decedent’s contributory fault is relevant.
If your spouse was killed in a Saint Mary’s County car accident for which they’re assigned 5 percent of the blame, you lose the right to recover compensation in a civil wrongful death lawsuit. Not surprisingly, insurance companies tend to point fingers and blame victims for their injuries. In matters of wrongful death, the victim isn’t around to tell their side of the story, which can make these tactics really dangerous.
At Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers, our wrongful death attorneys in Saint Mary’s County, MD, will anticipate these attempts to sidestep liability and will be prepared to fight back.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Wrongful Death Attorney in St. Mary’s County?
Losing a close family member can be traumatic and stressful – especially if you relied on their income to make ends meet. Hiring a personal injury attorney to help you recover compensation for your loss shouldn’t make life more difficult. That’s why Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers represents clients on a contingency fee basis.
We’re confident in our ability to win, so we’ll stake everything on the case results we achieve. We’ll cover the costs of litigation and won’t get paid until we’ve obtained a favorable settlement agreement or won a verdict for your family at trial.
How Much Is My Wrongful Death Case Worth?
Many things have to be considered when determining how much money you might be able to receive after the wrongful death of a loved one:
- How old was the victim when they died?
- What was the decedent’s life expectancy before they were fatally wounded?
- What was the victim’s income?
- How much did you rely on the victim for financial support?
- What was the victim’s role in the household?
- How close a relationship did you have with the victim?
Wrongful death cases can be particularly difficult to value since many of the damages have to be projected or are very subjective in nature. Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers can offer the kind of resources and insight that’ll be needed to dig deep, evaluate your losses, and build a claim that can help to make you whole.
What Is the Statute of Limitations on Wrongful Death Lawsuits in Maryland?
The state of Maryland established a three-year statute of limitations for wrongful death lawsuits. This gives you until the third anniversary of your loved one’s passing to file a legal claim against a negligent motorist, a property owner, a manufacturer, an insurance company, or another liable party.
If you miss the filing deadline, you and your family members lose the ability to take legal action and demand financial justice for your loss.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced St. Mary’s County Wrongful Death Lawyer
Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers has helped injury victims and families in Maryland win over $100 million in monetary awards. In the wake of a loved one’s tragic and avoidable death in St. Mary, MD, our St. Mary’s County wrongful death lawyers are ready to stand up and fight for the compensation you deserve, too.
We offer a free consultation, so don’t hesitate to call our office to get started today.
