There are several potential causes of workplace deaths. For instance, workers may sustain fatal injuries because they fell from tall heights, were struck by falling objects, were electrocuted, or were caught in machinery. Furthermore, workplace deaths can be suffered by those in multiple industries. Construction workers, agricultural workers, factory workers, and other types of laborers can all suffer deadly harm because of workplace accidents.
If your husband was killed on the job in Maryland, you should contact our attorneys for help recovering monetary damages. You may be eligible to pursue payment by filing for death benefits through Workers’ Compensation. However, those benefits are extremely limited and are often insufficient to cover damages caused by a spouse’s death. Fortunately, you may be able to recover additional payment by filing a wrongful death lawsuit or a survival action against the at-fault party. Our experienced lawyers can explain the legal options available to you.
If your husband was killed on the job in Maryland, get help pursuing the financial compensation you deserve. Get in touch with our experienced Maryland wrongful death lawyers by calling Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291. Our attorneys can provide a free case review.
Steps to Take After Your Husband Was Killed on the Job in Maryland
There are certain steps you should take after you husband is killed on the job that will help your ability to recover monetary damages. First, you should attempt to collect evidence that proves fault for your husband’s death. This may include contact information for eyewitnesses to the accident, photos from the scene, physical evidence from the scene, or another worker’s personal recollection of the event.
Next, you should contact our Aberdeen wrongful death lawyers to review your case and discuss the legal options available to you. Our team of experienced attorneys can help determine the proper course of action and will fight for the full range of compensation you deserve.
Options for Recovering Compensation After Your Husband Was Killed on the Job in Maryland
There are three primary options for recovering payment after your husband was killed on the job in Maryland. During your free case review, our Towson wrongful death lawyers can help determine the appropriate steps toward compensation.
Filing for Workers’ Compensation Death Benefits
If your husband was killed because of a workplace accident, you may be able to recover payment by filing for death benefits through the employer’s Workers’ Compensation insurer. While these benefits may be helpful, they are extremely limited. Death benefits will only be paid for a certain amount of time and will only compensate you for two thirds of your husband’s average weekly wage. Furthermore, when filing for death benefits, you will be unable to recover compensation for non-economic damages such as emotional suffering.
Death benefits are often insufficient to cover the wide array of damages related to a husband’s death. Fortunately, there are other avenues for pursuing compensation.
Filing a Wrongful Death Lawsuit
You may also recover compensation for your husband’s workplace fatality by filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the at-fault party. Under Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. Art., § 3-901, a wrongful death is a death that occurs because of “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.” In other words, a wrongful death is one that is caused by another person’s negligent or intentional act.
By filing a wrongful death lawsuit, you may recover multiple categories of monetary damages that are unavailable to Workers’ Compensation claimants. Any of the following may be compensated through a wrongful death case:
- Emotional suffering
- Loss of comfort, protection, and companionship
- Loss of financial support
- Loss of marital care
In order to recover the aforementioned damages, you must gather evidence to prove that they are related to your husband’s death. During your free case assessment, our Rockville wrongful death lawyers can help determine which categories of damages may be sought.
Filing a Survival Action
Lastly, you may also seek compensation for your husband’s workplace fatality by filing a survival action. A survival action does not offer payment for the death itself. Rather, a survival action is a type of claim that seeks to compensate a deceased victim’s family for damages the victim could have recovered if they had survived. The following damages may be awarded in a survival action:
- Funeral expenses
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages between the time of injury and the time of death
- Non-economic damages between the time of injury and the time of death
- Property damage
- Punitive damages
Our experienced Owing Mills wrongful death lawyers can also offer guidance and support when seeking payment through a survival action. The aforementioned damages can help you navigate the complex road to recovery after your husband’s death.
How Long Do You Have to File a Wrongful Death Case or a Survival Action After Your Husband is Killed on the Job in Maryland?
In most cases, you will have three years from the date of your husband’s death to seek compensation through a wrongful death case or a survival action. Failure to adhere to this deadline could cause you to miss out on important compensation. Accordingly, you should contact our Mount Airy wrongful death lawyers as soon as possible after your husband’s death. Our attorneys can help file your claim on time.
Furthermore, important evidence needed to support your case can become difficult to gather and preserve as time goes on. For example, witnesses can forget important details, and physical evidence can be misplaced. The sooner you get in touch with our attorneys, the more easily our team can collect the information needed to win your case.
If You Husband Was Killed on the Job in Maryland, Our Attorneys Can Help
If your husband suffered a fatal workplace accident, seek support from our experienced Glen Burnie wrongful death lawyers by calling Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291 to review your case for free.