Have you lost a loved one in a fatal accident in Calvert County, Maryland? Contact the legal team at Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers for help at (301) 932-9997. We offer a free consultation with a Calvert County wrongful death lawyer to discuss your family’s right to compensation.
A wrongful death claim can address medical expenses, lost financial support, and the profound loss of companionship and care your family is experiencing. Speaking with a knowledgeable local attorney can help you understand your options and take the next steps toward justice during this difficult time.
Why Call Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers for Legal Help With a Wrongful Death Claim in Calvert County, MD?
You’ve suffered an unimaginable loss. If you’re like many families, you may be wondering where to turn for help–and what you can do to get justice. Count on the team at Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers to hold the at-fault parties responsible.
Clients in Calvert County, MD, trust us because:
- Between us, our lawyers have over 125 years of experience fighting on behalf of grieving families like yours.
- Our results speak for themselves. Since we opened our doors, our dedication and hard work have helped us recover over $100,000,000 on our clients’ behalf.
- We’ve been recognized by the American Association for Justice and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum for our efforts.
Now, we’re here to help your family stand up to the insurance companies and defense teams. Call us today to learn how our Calvert County personal injury attorneys can help you fight for the money your family needs and deserves.
How Do I Know Whether I Have a Wrongful Death Case in Maryland?
Under Maryland wrongful death laws, you likely have a valid case if:
- Your loved one was killed because of another party’s “act, neglect, or default,” and
- Your loved one would have been entitled to file a personal injury lawsuit if they had lived
Wrongful death claims can be premised on a number of underlying legal theories. You may have a case based on:
- Negligence, if your loved one was killed in an accident
- Strict liability, if your loved one died using a defective product
- Medical malpractice, if a medical error was the cause of death
- Intentional torts, if someone’s intentional wrongdoing caused the death
Our attorneys in Calvert County handle all types of wrongful death claims. If you believe your loved one died because of another person, contact our law firm today for a free case review.
How Do Wrongful Death Cases Work in Maryland?
Wrongful death cases are civil matters. They function similarly to personal injury lawsuits. The key difference is that the injuries involved were fatal. Civil courts in Maryland have the authority to award damages, or financial compensation, to surviving family members.
Compensation may be awarded to a victim’s surviving:
- Spouse
- Children
- Parents
The wrongful death claim is entirely separate from any criminal issues that may arise. Defendants can face criminal charges and also be sued for wrongful death. Your right to compensation does not depend on the defendant’s criminal liability.
In fact, most wrongful death cases don’t involve crimes. Most are based on accidents or mistakes.
How Much Is My Calvert County Wrongful Death Case Worth?
The purpose of a wrongful death case is to compensate a family for the losses they’ve been forced to endure. To secure a full compensation award, you must understand your case value. Otherwise, you risk letting the insurance companies take advantage of you.
The value of a wrongful death claim depends on many different factors, including:
- The circumstances of your loved one’s death
- The medical bills and other financial costs your family incurred due to the defendant’s acts
- Your loved one’s age and life expectancy at their time of death
- Your loved one’s projected future earning potential, considering past work history and education
- The identities and ages of surviving dependents
- How your loved one contributed to the family and household, considering both financial and non-financial contributions
- How your family has suffered in the wake of your loss
- The victim’s pain, suffering, and trauma prior to death
- Whether your loved one shared any fault
For most families, recovering financial compensation is the only way to get justice after the loss of a loved one. Your loss was entirely preventable. You deserve to hold the defendant responsible to the fullest extent possible.
Our Calvert County personal injury lawyers have the skills to make that happen. Contact us today to learn more about the steps we’ll take to assess the fair value of your claim.
What Types of Damages Are Available To Surviving Families in a Wrongful Death Case in Calvert County?
Damages in wrongful death cases are not limited to financial losses in Maryland. Surviving families may seek compensation for both economic damages and non-economic damages.
Examples of the types of damages your family may have experienced include:
- Medical expenses incurred prior to the victim’s death
- Loss of your loved one’s financial support
- Mental anguish and pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium, or loss of a spouse’s companionship and support
- Loss of parental guidance, education, and protection
- Funeral expenses and burial costs
- Loss of the value of the household services provided by the victim
Your family is entitled to recover the full value of your economic damages without limit. However, Maryland law does impose a cap on the value of a non-economic damages award. The cap changes from year to year, depending on the facts and the number of beneficiaries involved.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Wrongful Death Lawyer in Maryland?
Like most personal injury law firms, our team at Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers works on a contingency fee basis. You pay absolutely nothing until we settle your case or win a jury verdict. When you hire us, you’ll agree to pay a percentage of the compensation we recover on your family’s behalf.
Can My Family Recover Damages if My Loved One Is Being Blamed for an Accident in Maryland?
Maryland follows the harshest comparative negligence law in the country. If your loved one shared fault, your family cannot recover compensation under Maryland’s contributory negligence system.
Defendants in Maryland attempt to defend themselves by blaming victims for their own injuries. If your loved one has been blamed, your family does not automatically lose your right to compensation.
The defendant will have to prove that your loved one did, in fact, share some fault for their own fatal injuries.
What Causes Most Wrongful Deaths in Calvert County?
Wrongful death claims can arise based on any number of scenarios. Accidents are an extremely common basis for these cases.
Our Calvert County wrongful death attorneys represent clients who have lost loved ones in all types of situations, including:
- Car accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Construction accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Biking accidents
- Truck accidents
- Accidents involving buses and public transit
- Uber and Lyft accidents
- Boating or maritime accidents
- Dangerous property conditions
- Workplace accidents
- Falls from heights
- Dog bites
- Defective products
- Medical malpractice
- Nursing home abuse and neglect
It’s important to consult an attorney quickly if you have lost a loved one in an accident. When you hire us, we’ll begin collecting evidence immediately. That way, we’ll have the tools to build the strongest case possible.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Wrongful Death in Maryland?
Accidental deaths form the basis for most wrongful death cases. Negligence is the primary legal theory involved in accident-based cases.
The four elements of a successful negligence case are:
- The defendant owed your loved one a legal duty of care
- They failed to exercise a reasonable amount of caution, thus breaching their duty of care
- The breach of duty directly caused your loved one’s death
- Your family suffered damages
Our lawyers have the resources to collect any evidence that can be used to prove these elements. Your family may be struggling right now. We’re here to handle the investigation and build the strong case you deserve.
How Long Do I Have To File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Maryland?
The statute of limitations gives most surviving families three years to file a wrongful death claim. The three-year clock starts on the date of death. Depending on the facts, you may have more (or less) time to act. It’s always smart to get a lawyer involved as quickly as possible.
Contact an Experienced Calvert County Wrongful Death Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Your family deserves the best possible legal representation if you lost a loved one due to someone else’s actions in Calvert County, Maryland. Count on Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers to help you secure top results.
Contact us today to learn how an experienced Calvert County wrongful death attorney can help your family fight for justice.
