Germantown, MD Wrongful Death Attorney

When a person is killed as the result of another party’s negligent or intentional conduct, their loved ones may recover compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit. There are multiple categories of monetary damages that may be sought.

However, these cases must be brought to court by certain parties. You can contact our attorneys for help identifying the right person to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Furthermore, our legal team can help plaintiffs build their cases and fight for financial compensation.

After your loved one suffers a wrongful death in Germantown, MD, you can get support from our experienced wrongful death attorneys at Rice, Murtha & Psoras today by calling (410) 694-7291.

What is a Wrongful Death in Germantown, MD?

The definition of wrongful death is set forth by Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. Art., § 3-901. In simple terms, a wrongful death is a one that happens as the result of another person’s negligent or intentional actions.

There are many forms of negligent behavior that can lead to wrongful deaths in Germantown. For example, any of the following may constitute a wrongful death:

  • A death that occurs because of a car accident where one party is to blame
  • A death that happens because a doctor fails to adhere to appropriate standards of care when administering treatment
  • A death that stems from usage of a defective and dangerous product
  • A death that occurs because a property owner fails to tend to dangerous hazards on their premises

If you suspect that someone you love died because of another party’s negligence, you can reach out to our wrongful death lawyers for help assessing the strength of your potential lawsuit.

Wrongful Death Lawsuits vs. Survival Actions in Germantown, MD

If your loved one suffered a wrongful death, there are two main options for seeking monetary damages. During a free case assessment, our wrongful death attorneys can help determine if you should file one or both of the following:

Wrongful Death Lawsuits

Wrongful death lawsuits are filed in order to recover compensation for damages suffered by victims’ families. Compensation for any of the following damages may be awarded in a wrongful death claim:

  • Emotional distress
  • Loss of companionship, comfort, and protection
  • Loss of economic support
  • Loss of marital care

Complex evidence may be required in order obtain the aforementioned damages in your case. Therefore, guidance from our attorneys may be valuable when seeking to prove that such damages were suffered.

Survival Actions

Additionally, you may obtain compensation after a wrongful death by filing a survival action against the liable party. Unlike wrongful death lawsuits, survival actions do not compensate plaintiffs for deaths themselves. Rather, these actions serve to compensate family members for damages victims could pursue if they were still alive. For instance, the following may be recovered in a survival action:

  • Medical expenses incurred between the time of injury and death
  • Lost income incurred between the time of injury and death
  • Damages for pain and suffering sustained before the victim passed away
  • Property damage
  • Funeral expenses
  • Punitive damages

Fortunately, our wrongful death attorneys can also help victims’ families determine if they have grounds to file a survival action in Germantown.

Common Causes of Wrongful Deaths You Can Sue for in Germantown, MD

Wrongful deaths may stem from many different sources of negligence. The following are all common causes of wrongful deaths that you can sue for in Germantown, MD:

Highway Accidents

Car crashes are a particularly common source of wrongful deaths. Crashes that occur at high speeds are more likely to result in serious injuries. Accordingly, a high number of fatalities stem from highway accidents. After these crashes, victims’ families can call our law firm for help filing their claims.

Slip and Falls

Slip and fall accidents can also lead to wrongful deaths. People that fall from tall heights are especially susceptible to sustaining fatal harm. For instance, someone who suffers a slip and fall on a tall staircase may sustain a deadly head injury. If your loved one passed away because of a fatal slip and fall, you may be able to bring a lawsuit against the at-fault property owner.

Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice is another source of wrongful deaths in Germantown. This refers to situations where physicians deviate from appropriate standards of care. For example, a surgeon may be liable for medical malpractice if they fail to provide a patient with necessary post-operative treatment. Furthermore, a doctor may be sued if their patient dies because of a misdiagnosis.

Pursuing wrongful death cases based on medical malpractice can be a complicated task. Plaintiffs need medical experts to testify that defendants did not act in accordance with appropriate standards of care. Assistance from our experienced wrongful death attorneys can be beneficial when locating the right experts to support such a claim.

Pedestrian Accidents

Additionally, pedestrian accidents are a common source of wrongful deaths in Germantown. When pedestrians are hit by negligent motorists, catastrophic injuries can happen. Many of such accidents occur because drivers fail to obey traffic signals and do not properly yield to people crossing the roadway. Fortunately, there are several forms of evidence that may be used to establish fault for such accidents. If you family member was killed because of a pedestrian crash, call our law firm for help building your potential case.

Motorcycle Accidents

Many wrongful deaths stem from motorcycle accidents. These crashes often occur because drivers attempt illegal lane changes and improper left turns. Riders are not afforded the same protections as those driving standard cars. Therefore, when they are hit, they have a higher propensity to suffer deadly injuries. After you loved one is killed because of a fatal motorcycle crash, you can get in touch with our wrongful death lawyers to weigh your options for pursuing compensation.

If You Need to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Germantown, MD, Call Our Law Firm for Support

In the aftermath of a family member’s fatal accident, you can seek help from our wrongful death lawyers at Rice, Murtha & Psoras by dialing (410) 694-7291.