Personal injury law allows the survivors of someone killed by another person’s negligent acts to file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation for the loss of his or her loved one. The skilled wrongful death attorneys of DuBoff & Associates, Chartered can help.
What exactly is wrongful death?
In the state of Maryland, wrongful death is defined as death that results from an accidental injury caused by the negligent act of a legally liable person or entity. State laws in Maryland and the laws of Washington, D.C. allow the heirs of a person killed through an act of negligence to receive compensation from the negligent party.
Compensation need not necessarily be for financial losses. Wrongful death suits can yield damages for lost wages, medical bills and funeral costs, and also for loss of companionship and loss of consortium.
The wrongful death statute and survival actions
There are two laws in Maryland that detail how wrongful death claims and cases proceed:
- The wrongful death statute specifies how survivors are to be compensated for the death of a loved one injured through negligent means.
- The survival statute specifies how surviving family members are to be compensated for damages and expenses incurred up to the moment of the victim’s death as a result of an injury caused by a negligent act.
Complicating matters further, Maryland has a “pure” contributory negligence law on its books. Very few states still do. This law states that if the victim of a personal injury claim can be found to be even one percent responsible for the accident in question, the entire claim can be dismissed. This is one of the many reasons that if you suspect you might have a valid personal injury or wrongful death claim, you should retain legal counsel as soon as possible.
Emotions often run high with regard to wrongful death cases. The knowledgeable attorneys at DuBoff & Associates, Chartered also have experience in working with clients facing other emotionally charged legal issues such as medical malpractice, and nursing home abuse. They can guide you through this challenging time in a supportive manner.
Wrongful death cases are serious matters
DuBoff & Associates, Chartered has handled wrongful death claims for clients in Washington, D.C. and every part of Maryland, including Bethesda, Bowie, Rockville, Germantown, Easton, Laurel, Montgomery County and Prince George’s County. Contact us online or at 301.495.3131 to arrange a consultation.
Home and hospital visits are available to our seriously injured clients who are unable to make it to our office and we offer evening and weekend appointments when necessary. We are pleased to offer free initial consultations in personal injury cases and offer contingency fee arrangements when appropriate.