Olney, MD Wrongful Death Lawyers

The demise of someone you love can never truly be prepared for. There will be sadness, frustration, confusion, or any number of other feelings – all perfectly valid. Moreover, you may have to deal with unexpected expenses like paying for a funeral or living without a prominent income source. These feelings of loss can be compounded in instances where you believe that a loved one’s death could have been avoided had someone else simply done their job. When that is the case, there are legal options available to you.

Our firm can help you deal with the aftermath of the sudden loss of someone you care about by helping you file a wrongful death claim. We know how sensitive these cases can be and will work tirelessly towards obtaining justice for you and your loved ones.

Rice, Murtha & Psoras’s caring wrongful death attorneys are ready to help you with your needs when you contact us at (410) 694-7291.

What are Wrongful Death Lawsuits in Olney, MD?

Wrongful death lawsuits are a special kind of civil action. Normally, a civil case is brought by a plaintiff who had some injury done to him in order to get damages from the defendant. In wrongful death lawsuits, the victim is, sadly, deceased. This means that they cannot file a claim. Instead, certain family members file wrongful death lawsuits to get compensation for the “injury” of a loved one’s untimely death.

There are some special rules for who can file these kinds of lawsuits. Under Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. Art. § 3-904(a)(1), only children, parents, and spouses can file a wrongful death lawsuit. However, if there are no relatives that fit into those categories, others, like cousins or nephews, can file the lawsuit instead with the help of our wrongful death lawyers if they are dependent on the deceased.

To get damages for injuries done to the deceased prior to their death, you have to file something called a “survival action.” This is a special kind of case that is filed by the executor of the deceased’s estate, and it pays damages to the estate.

What Causes Wrongful Death Lawsuits in Olney, MD?

Wrongful death lawsuits arise from many of the same circumstances as personal injury cases. The only real difference sometimes is that the negligent conduct resulted in death. Some things that can result in wrongful death lawsuits include:

Medical Malpractice

We trust medical professionals with our lives. Sadly, this means that sometimes medical professionals are negligent and cause someone’s untimely death. Medical malpractice is professional negligence that results in an injury to someone. A botched surgery, missed diagnosis, or incorrectly prescribed medications can lead to a wrongful death claim under the “right” circumstances.

Medical malpractice laws and rules surrounding wrongful death claims interact with each other in complicated ways, so it is best to get in touch with our wrongful death lawyers as soon as possible to work out the details of your particular situation.

Car Accidents

Car accidents are, sadly, an everyday occurrence in the United States. It should not come as a surprise that some of these accidents result in the death of some or all of the passengers.

If your loved one died in a car crash, it is imperative that you file a police report after the accident. This will help with any potential criminal proceedings that stem from the accident, and the report can also assist you in your wrongful death claim.

Truck Accidents

Truck accidents are incredibly dangerous. They are some of the largest vehicles on the road and leave passengers of other vehicles involved in truck crashes seriously injured or killed.

In these cases, more than one party may be liable for the death of your loved one. For example, if a trucker was asleep behind the wheel and struck and killed the victim, you may be able to sue the trucker for negligently driving while tired as well as the trucking company for pushing the trucker to drive beyond when they were supposed to.

Workplace Injuries

Some jobs have more danger associated with them than others. Construction sites, factory work, and other jobs around heavy machinery can result in workplace deaths if proper safety precautions are not taken. For example, if a construction worker not qualified to work with electrical wiring is tasked with that job and then gets electrocuted to death, you may be able to submit a wrongful death claim to the court. However, it is very important to note that there are some special rules surrounding workplace injuries that will need to be taken into account by our wrongful death lawyers, so you should discuss the particulars of your situation before proceeding down that path.

Products Liability

A product liability lawsuit refers to a case where the plaintiff alleges that they were injured by a defective product. In the context of wrongful death lawsuits, sometimes defective products result in the death of the end-user.

Many defects can lead to the untimely death of the user. For example, suppose a mechanic works on a car but incorrectly installs the brakes, and they no longer work. If the unfortunate driver of that vehicle tries to stop and gets in a fatal crash, the mechanic could be responsible for that defective vehicle killing the driver. Alternatively, suppose a parachute company issues parachutes with a known flaw that prevents them from deploying on occasion. If a victim then uses that parachute and it fails in their time of need, that company may be liable for the victim’s death.

Discuss Your Claim with Our Wrongful Death Lawyers from Olney, MD Today

Our team of wrongful death lawyers from Rice, Murtha & Psoras can be reached at (410) 694-7291 to talk about your claim.