Did you recently lose someone you love in a fatal accident in Charles County, MD? An experienced Charles County wrongful death lawyer can help you recover compensation. Our team at Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers has the skills to fight for justice. You may deserve compensation for medical expenses, funeral costs, and the loss of your loved one’s support, company, and guidance.
Between us, our lawyers have over 125 years of experience helping families like yours. We’ve used our legal knowledge to recover millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts.
We know that you’re dealing with an incredible amount of grief. You can count on us to handle the legal issues while you take care of yourself and your family. Just contact our law firm in Charles County, Maryland, at (301) 297-3701 to schedule a free consultation with a Charles County wrongful death attorney who can help.
How Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You Recover Compensation for Wrongful Death in Charles County
You’re probably facing an uphill battle when it comes to recovering compensation. That’s true regardless of whether the defendant is accepting or denying responsibility.
Establishing fault for a wrongful death is the first step. Even once liability is clearly established, the insurance companies will try to downplay your losses. You may even have a lowball settlement offer on the table.
Regardless of your situation, having an experienced Charles County personal injury lawyer in your corner is the best way to maximize your compensation award. Families like yours have trusted Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers for decades. Our Charles County wrongful death lawyers have a proven track record of successfully helping our clients get justice.
When you hire our Charles County personal injury lawyers, you can count on us to:
- Identify all parties who can be legally responsible for your damages
- Defend against unfair blame-the-victim insurance strategies
- Hire top-rated experts to support your claim
- Calculate the true value of your case
- Negotiate aggressively to secure the maximum compensation possible
The insurance company may seem sympathetic. That’s no guarantee that they’ll offer a fair settlement. Call us today to learn more about how a Charles County personal injury attorney can help your family.
How Do I Know Whether I Have a Valid Wrongful Death Case in Maryland?
Consulting an experienced attorney is always the best way to understand your legal options.
Under Maryland law, a wrongful death is a death caused by someone else’s act, neglect, or default (including crimes). If your loved one would have had a valid personal injury case, your family likely has the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Wrongful death cases are heard in civil court. Most claims are based on accidents. They’re actually very similar to wrongful death cases. Of course, the difference is that the victim’s injuries were so serious that they couldn’t survive.
Your family may have a valid case if your loved one died due to:
- A negligent driver who caused a motor vehicle accident
- A manufacturer who sold a defective product
- A property owner who failed to keep their premises safe
- Someone who committed an intentional criminal act
It’s always possible that the state could charge the defendant with a crime. Any criminal matter is separate from your rights under Maryland wrongful death laws. In wrongful death cases, you’re seeking compensation. Criminal courts are obviously concerned with punishment.
Only Certain Parties Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Maryland
Not just anyone can file a wrongful death claim in Maryland.
Under Maryland law, wrongful death lawsuits are intended to benefit the following survivors:
- A surviving spouse
- Children
- Parents
However, if none of these parties exist, any relative (by blood or marriage) can file the lawsuit if they were dependent on the victim for financial support.
What Is the Difference Between a Wrongful Death Lawsuit and a Survival Action?
A wrongful death case is brought to seek compensation for losses suffered by a victim’s family. Survival actions seek compensation for the victim’s own losses that were suffered between the date of injuries and the date of death.
As such, the victim’s estate technically files the survival action. Damages typically include lost wages, medical expenses, pain and suffering, and trauma. The proceeds become part of the victim’s estate and will ultimately pass to the victim’s heirs.
How Much Compensation Is My Charles County Wrongful Death Case Worth?
Various factors will impact the value of your wrongful death claim.
Primary factors that our team will evaluate include:
- The circumstances of the accident
- Your family’s financial losses
- Your loved one’s age and life expectancy at the time of death
- How the victim contributed to the family’s finances
- Household services performed by the victim
- How the loss has impacted your family’s wellbeing and daily life
- Your costs, including funeral expenses, administration costs, attorneys’ fees, etc.
- The nature of the responsible party’s actions
The insurance company may try to convince you that every life has a “standard value.” Our lawyers are here to evaluate your unique circumstances so that we can maximize your financial award.
What Types of Damages Are Available if My Charles County Wrongful Death Lawsuit Succeeds?
Wrongful death cases are designed to compensate surviving family members for all losses they’ve suffered due to the death.
Examples of the types of damages you may be entitled to receive include:
- Loss of financial support, including lost employment benefits and income
- Loss of consortium or loss of a spouse’s companionship and support
- Loss of parental support, instruction, and guidance
- Mental trauma, anguish, pain and suffering
- Funeral expenses and burial costs
In a survival action, your loved one’s personal representative can pursue compensation for the losses experienced by the victim prior to death.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Wrongful Death Lawyer in Maryland?
Our Charles County wrongful death attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. You’ll never have to worry about racking up huge hourly fees or covering an upfront retainer when you hire Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers. That way, you’ll never have to worry about how you’ll pay your attorneys’ fees.
What Happens to My Right to Seek Damages if Someone is Blaming My Loved One for Causing Their Own Death in Maryland?
You can lose your right to damages entirely. If the other side can prove your loved one was even 1% liable for the accident that caused their death, your family cannot seek compensation.
Maryland’s contributory negligence system is particularly harsh. Take allegations involving shared fault seriously. These allegations aren’t always fair or supported by evidence. If the insurance company and defendant are blaming your loved one, contact our law firm for immediate legal assistance.
What Causes Most Deadly Accidents in Charles County?
Our attorneys at Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers have decades of legal experience. We have the skills to handle any type of wrongful death claim in Charles County.
Some of the most common causes of fatal accidents include:
- Car accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Dangerous property conditions (premises liability)
- Medical malpractice
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Truck accidents
- Sports accidents
- Uber or Lyft accidents
- Boating accidents
- Maritime accidents
- Construction accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Exposure to toxic substances
- Dog bites
- Defective products
- Fires or explosions
- Nursing home abuse and neglect
- Intentional torts and criminal acts
You have enough to handle in your life right now. Our lawyers will conduct a thorough investigation and determine who is responsible for your loss. While you take the time to grieve, we’ll be investigating and evaluating your legal options. All you have to do is contact our Charles County wrongful death attorneys for a free consultation.
How Do I Prove Liability After Losing a Loved One in a Fatal Accident in Maryland?
Many different theories can form the basis for a wrongful death case. For example, negligence, strict liability, and intentional tort theories could play a role. Negligence is by far the most common legal theory involved in wrongful death cases.
Negligence means:
- The defendant owed your loved one a legal duty of care
- They breached that duty by some careless or reckless act
- That action, or breach of duty, directly caused your loved one’s death
- Your family suffered specific damages as a result
These are all legal concepts. You will need to provide evidence to support each element. When you hire us, our lawyers will search for any available evidence. Depending on the circumstances, that may include accident reports, traffic citations, witness statements, employment records, and physical evidence from an accident scene.
How Long Do I Have to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit After an Accident in Maryland?
The statute of limitations in wrongful death cases is three years. Surviving family members have three years from the date of the victim’s death to seek compensation. Once the three-year window of time closes, your family can no longer pursue compensation.
Contact a Trusted Charles County Wrongful Death Lawyer for a Free Case Review Today
Someone else made a mistake, and now your family is left dealing with unimaginable pain. Our team at Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers is here to help you fight for justice. Contact our Charles County wrongful death lawyers today to learn more about your legal options after the loss of a loved one in Charles County, MD.