When a loved one passes away, families are left devastated. Unfortunately, some deaths are caused due to the negligence of another party and could have been avoided if that individual was more careful. If your loved one has passed away due to negligence or wrongdoing from another party, Markey & Orsi is here to help. Coping with the death of a loved one is hard enough on its own so you shouldn’t have to deal with the stress of a legal battle or its implications. The legal team at Markey & Orsi has the compassion, understanding, and knowledge necessary to provide you with reliable wrongful death legal counsel. Contact our wrongful death attorneys today for compassionate legal guidance during this challenging time.
Causes of Wrongful Death
Any negligent act that results in the death of another individual may be considered wrongful death. In fact, even an intentional act of murder qualifies survivors of the victim to file a wrongful death action. The following are examples of negligent acts that can cause a wrongful death:
- Defective products that kill users because of manufacturing faults, poor design, or a lack of warnings can qualify survivors of the victim to file wrongful death claims against the manufacturer or other parties responsible for the product flaws.
- Automobile accidents that may include truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, and bicycle accidents, among others because of a negligent driver
- Medical negligence that results in the needless death of a patient can qualify survivors to file wrongful death actions against health care providers and facilities that fail to follow a reasonable standard of care.
Who can file a wrongful death claim in Maryland?
It is important to be aware of whether you are eligible to file a wrongful death claim in Maryland. State law provides two separate types of actions associated with wrongful death.
- In a survival action, an attorney essentially files a claim for the pain and suffering sustained by the victim from the time of the accident until the time of death, with any damages going to the estate of the victim.
- A wrongful death claim, on the other hand, is filed by a specific hierarchy of survivors who suffered harm as a result of their loss. According to the S. Department of Justice, the spouse, children, and parents of the deceased represent the first level of claimants. If no such parties exist, anyone related by blood or marriage forms the second level of claimants, provided they were substantially dependent upon the victim.
What damages are recoverable in a wrongful death case?
Clearly, no amount of money can bring back a lost loved one, but our attorneys can help Maryland survivors pursue the compensation that can help them move forward after a tragic loss. There are two basic types of compensation available:
- Economic damages are directly quantifiable losses, including funeral expenses, loss of past and future anticipated income, and other expenses associated with the injuries sustained by the decedent.
- Non-economic damages do not necessarily carry a distinct monetary value, but they still represent very real losses to survivors and are compensable up to a cap based on a complex schedule. These include mental anguish, emotional pain and suffering, loss of society, companionship, comfort, protection, marital care, parental care, filial care, attention, advice, counsel, training, guidance, or education where applicable.
At Markey & Orsi, we help families pursue the full value of their claims under Maryland law.
Contact Our Maryland Wrongful Death Attorneys
Facing the loss of a loved one is always a difficult and emotional experience, but that experience is even more difficult when the death could have been avoided. Each lawyer at Markey & Orsi understands the special nature of these challenging circumstances. We guide grieving families through their legal claims with compassion while helping ensure that they pursue the compensation they need to build new lives. Markey & Orsi has the experience and ability to help you obtain the compensation, justice, and peace of mind you deserve. Contact our firm today.
