Maryland Wrongful Death Attorneys

If you are on this page – you probably have lost a loved one due someone else’s negligence. We know how challenging this can be. It is essential to find out if your family is owed compensation for this tragedy.

If you lost a loved one to a wrongful death – the key is to find the right law firm to help you.

Our Maryland wrongful death attorneys at Alpert Schreyer Injury Accident Lawyers can help you get through this. We will handle everything related to your legal case. We want you to focus on your family.

Don’t hesitate to reach out because you’re worried about affording our experienced legal team. Our law firm works on a contingency fee basis. We cover all the upfront costs in your case. You don’t pay us anything unless we win your case.

Learn how we can help you and your family during this difficult time. Contact us today at (301) 932-9997 to schedule your free legal consultation with one of our experienced Maryland wrongful death attorneys.

Experienced Representation for Grieving Families in Maryland and DC

Experienced Representation for Grieving Families in Maryland and DC

If you have lost a loved one in an accident that would not have occurred but for the negligence of another, you are likely feeling not only sorrow but also anger at the unfairness of the situation. To add insult to injury, you may have also been left saddled with hefty financial expenses that, plainly, you should not have to pay for. You deserve to spend time in peace grieving the loss of your loved one, but these stressful matters can make that impossible.

Fortunately, our wrongful death attorney team can help. At Alpert Schreyer Injury Accident Lawyers, we will fight to get you the compensation you need to cover medical and funeral expenses, loss of wages and future earnings, loss of love and companionship, and other related damages.

Trust us to represent you, and we will apply our over 30 years of legal experience to strengthen your case. We will work to get you the compensation you need to take care of your financial issues. That way, you can focus on coping with your loss.

To schedule a free, confidential consultation, call (301) 932-9997 today. Our Maryland wrongful death attorneys also take on cases in Washington, DC.

Who Can Sue for Wrongful Death in Maryland?

Maryland’s wrongful death statute provides a list of people entitled to sue in the event of a fatal accident. Generally, those closest to the decedent and/or most dependent on them are prioritized over others.

The state rules are as follows:

  • The primary beneficiaries to a wrongful death action include the spouse, parent, or child of a victim.
  • If there are no primary beneficiaries living at the time of the decedent’s passing, second beneficiaries may file suit. These include blood or marriage relatives who were “substantially dependent” on the decedent.
  • Non-dependent relatives who are neither primary beneficiaries nor secondary beneficiaries cannot file a wrongful death suit.

Speak with a knowledgeable Maryland wrongful death attorney to find out whether you qualify to recover damages under a wrongful death claim.

What Is a Survival Action?

A personal representative of the decedent’s estate may file a survival action to recover compensation for that estate. The point is to hold the at-fault party financially liable for damages experienced by the decedent and their estate up until their passing.

In other words, survival actions are concerned with a victim’s experience between the time of the accident and the time of their death.

How to Prove a Wrongful Death Case

The following four elements must be established by the claimant in a wrongful death case:

  • A human being died;
  • The death occurred due to the negligent or intentional actions of another;
  • The claimant’s life has been adversely affected by the death; and
  • The decedent’s estate has a representative.

Fault, or liability, is arguably the most important element in any civil claim case. A Maryland wrongful death lawyer can help you identify the liable party by conducting an investigation and collecting relevant evidence. If you bring a wrongful death case against the wrong party, you will lose that case and may miss the deadline to file a case against the correct party. It is crucial to get it right the first time.

How Much Is My Wrongful Death Case Worth?

Compensation amounts are generally determined by the circumstances of the decedent’s life and the effects of their death on the lives of the claimants. Due to the nature of wrongful death cases, it is not uncommon for claimants to reach multimillion-dollar settlements and judgments.

In Maryland, there is no limit to how much economic damages one may recover; however, there is a cap on non-economic damages. As of October 1, 2021, non-economic damages are capped at $905,000. Per state law, the cap is raised by $15,000 every year on the first of October.

Please note that the cap also changes based on the number of beneficiaries. For example, if there are two or more beneficiaries filing suit, the cap for non-economic damages is raised to $1,357,500.

Economic Damages

These include financial damages that directly resulted from the fatal incident, as well as the loss of future financial contributions by the victim.

Economic damages may include:

  • Medical costs
  • Funeral and burial expenses
  • Loss of victim’s wages
  • Loss of victim’s benefits, such as pension or health insurance
  • Loss of inheritance
  • Loss of goods and services the victim would have provided if still alive

For reference, anything that came with a receipt or bill will likely fall into this category.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages include less tangible losses, such as those concerning social and emotional needs. They do not, therefore, come with receipts or bills. These damages are often met with larger rewards.

Examples of non-economic damages include the following:

  • Pain and suffering
  • Mental anguish
  • Loss of care, protection, guidance, advice, training, and nurturing
  • Loss of love, society, and companionship
  • Loss of consortium

Punitive Damages

In Maryland, punitive damages are awarded only in cases in which the defendant’s conduct was malicious, according to the Maryland Court of Appeals, “in the sense of conscious and deliberate wrongdoing, evil or wrongful motive, intent to injure, ill will, or fraud.”

Clear and indisputable evidence must be established before a claimant can collect on this type of damage. It is very rare for a Maryland jury to award punitive damages in a wrongful death case.

Wrongful Death of a Child

If you have suffered the truly irreparable loss that is the loss of a child, there is no greater pain. These tragedies completely disrupt a parent’s life, making it hard to think or focus on anything. Even if the parent wants to bring the party responsible for their child’s death to justice, the parent often does not have the energy to pursue a lawsuit. When trying to cope with such a devastating loss, dealing with legalities is the last thing many people want to do.

The compassionate wrongful death lawyers at Alpert Schreyer Injury Accident Lawyers understand your reasons for not wanting to take legal action on your own. That is why we are offering to handle your legal matters in your stead so you can get the compensation you need to push all else aside and focus on mourning the loss of your child.

Get in Touch with Compassionate Attorneys Today

At Alpert Schreyer Injury Accident Lawyers, we are proud to help clients with wrongful death cases involving:

Our Maryland wrongful death lawyers are honored to be trusted by clients to fight in the memory of their loved ones. We never falter in our advocacy, as we strive to get the results your loved one deserves, and to get you the closure and compensation you need to move forward.

Depending on the circumstances of your loved one’s accident, our legal team will utilize accident reconstruction, eyewitness reports, and material evidence to build a strong case on behalf of your family. We offer free consultations at our six offices in Waldorf, Bowie, Frederick, Lexington Park, and Rockville. But if you can’t come to us, we can come to you.

Contact us online or at (301) 932-9997 for the caring and knowledgeable insight of a Maryland wrongful death lawyer.