Car crashes can cause devastating injuries. In severe cases, these injuries can be deadly. Accidents that occur at high speeds and those involving large vehicles are most likely to produce severe harm.
Fortunately, after a fatal collision, the victim’s family may pursue compensation by filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the at-fault motorist. There are multiple forms of monetary damages that can be recovered. Our attorneys can help potential plaintiffs determine the proper course of action.
If your loved one was killed because of a car accident in Maryland, get help obtaining the payment you deserve. Reach out to our experienced Baltimore wrongful death lawyers by calling Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291. Our attorneys can review your case for free.
Who Can File a Car Accident Death Claim in Maryland?
According to Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. Art., § 3-901, a wrongful death is one that is caused by “an act, neglect, or default including a felonious act which would have entitled the party to maintain an action and recover damages if the death had not ensued.” Simply put, a wrongful death occurs when someone is killed because of another person’s negligent or intentional conduct.
After a wrongful death, the victim’s family may recover financial compensation by filing a lawsuit -against the at-fault party. Accordingly, if your loved one was killed because of a car accident, you may seek monetary damages by filing a wrongful death case against the motorist who caused the crash.
However, wrongful death cases may only be filed by certain parties. In Maryland, the victim’s spouse, parents, or children may all file the claim. If no one in those groups has survived the deceased, then any person related to the victim by blood or marriage and who was significantly dependent on the victim may file the case. If your family member was killed in a fatal car accident, you should contact our Rockville wrongful death lawyers right away. Our attorneys can help find the right person to file your case.
When to File a Car Accident Death Claim in Maryland?
In most cases, you will have three years from the date of your loved one’s deadly accident to file a wrongful death claim. Failure to adhere to this deadline could cause you to forfeit your case. Accordingly, you should contact our Glen Burnie wrongful death lawyers as soon as possible after a fatal crash. Our attorneys can help file your case on time.
Furthermore, evidence needed to support your claim can become difficult to gather and preserve as time goes on. For instance, eyewitnesses can forget crucial details and physical evidence can deteriorate. The sooner you reach out to our experienced attorneys, the more easily we may collect the information needed to win your case.
What Damages Can Be Recovered in a Car Accident Death Claim in Maryland?
There are multiple forms of monetary damages that can be recovered by a victim’s family in a car accident death claim. The compensation awarded can provide important support to family members through periods of immense hardship. Any of the following types of damages may be sought:
- Financial support the deceased would have provided
- Emotional suffering
- Loss of companionship, comfort, and protection
- Loss of parental care
- Loss of marital care
- Loss of advice, counsel, guidance, or education
Complex evidence may be required to support a claim for the aforementioned damages in your case. The assistance of our West Lafayette wrongful death lawyers can be highly valuable when fighting for the full range of payment available to you.
What Evidence May Be Used to Support a Car Accident Death Claim in Maryland?
In order for your car accident death claim to succeed, you must gather evidence that shows that the accident at issue was caused by the defendant’s negligent conduct. There are several forms of evidence that can be used to establish this link. The following are common types of evidence used by our West Lafayette wrongful death lawyers:
Accident Reports
After a deadly accident, a police officer should visit the scene to draft an accident report. Such a report may contain information that points to the cause of the collision at issue. For example, an accident report may contain statements from drivers, statements from witnesses, or a drawn crash diagram. Accordingly, these reports may be very helpful to our attorneys when building your lawsuit. Our team can help recover and review a copy of the official accident report in your case.
Witness Statements
Witness statements are form of evidence often used to prove fault for deadly accidents. Eyewitnesses can offer either written or oral testimony that explains how crashes occurred. For instance, a witness may assert that they saw a driver run a red light before causing a fatal collision.
Therefore, you should always attempt to retrieve contact information for any witnesses to a deadly accident if possible. Afterward, our Dundalk wrongful death lawyers can offer support when reaching out for their cooperation.
Photos from the Scene of an Accident
Photos from the scene of a fatal accident may also be useful when proving fault. For instance, photos of a badly damages vehicle may be used to show that a defendant driver was speeding at the time of a crash.
Furthermore, photos from the scene of a crash may be used to disprove defendant’s alternative theories of fault. For example, a defendant driver may state that their crash actually caused poor weather conditions. In that case, photos from the scene showing clear weather could be used to disprove the defendant’s argument. Our attorneys can help recover and review any photos taken at the scene of the accident in your case.
If You Loved One Was Killed Because of a Car Accident in Maryland, Our Attorneys Can Help
If your loved one was killed because of a car accident, seek assistance from our experienced Columbia wrongful death lawyers by calling Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291 to review your case for free.