Frederick Wrongful Death Lawyer

Wrongful Death Claims in Frederick, Maryland

Wrongful death claims in Maryland allow surviving family members to pursue compensation when a loved one’s death was the result of negligence. Wrongful death claims provide compensation for the monetary loss and emotional distress the decedent’s family members suffered as a result of the death.

When negligence leads to the death of a loved one in Frederick, Maryland, surviving family members have the right to pursue legal action through a wrongful death claim. These claims serve two primary purposes: financial compensation for the family’s losses and holding responsible parties accountable.

Maryland law allows qualifying family members to seek damages for their loss’s economic and emotional impacts. The state recognizes two distinct types of claims: wrongful death actions, which compensate surviving family members directly, and survival actions, which provide compensation through the deceased person’s estate.

Our Frederick personal injury attorneys at Regan Zambri Long can explain your legal options during a free consultation. Contact us to discuss your case.

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Who Has the Right to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Frederick?

In Frederick, the decedent’s surviving family members have the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit against those individuals or entities that caused their loved one’s death.

Primary beneficiaries under Maryland law: Spouse, children, and parents
Secondary beneficiaries and their rights: When no primary beneficiaries are alive, secondary beneficiaries may file a wrongful death claim. This includes the decedent’s siblings, cousins, or extended family members who were financial dependents of the deceased.
Time limitations for filing a claim: The statute of limitations in Maryland for a wrongful death claim is three years from the time of the death.

Call the wrongful death attorneys at Regan Zambri Long to understand you rights as a survivor in a wrongful death claim.

Most Common Causes of Wrongful Death in Frederick, MD

The most common cause of wrongful death in Frederick, Maryland, is motor vehicle accidents, which is the leading cause of wrongful death in the United States. Other common causes of wrongful death include:

Medical malpractice: When a doctor, hospital, or other healthcare provider commits a surgical error, misdiagnoses a medical condition, or fails to diagnose a health problem.
Vehicle accidents and transportation-related deaths: Car accidents, truck accidents, pedestrian accidents, and bicycle accidents.
Workplace accidents and occupational hazards: When employers fail to provide a safe workplace for workers and someone dies as a result.
Defective products and dangerous premises: Errors in design or manufacturing can create defective products that cause death, such as children’s car seats, automobile parts, electronic devices, and machinery.

If your loved one died due to someone else’s negligence, reach out to Regan Zambri Long for compassionate legal guidance.

Steps to Take After Losing a Loved One to Negligence

If you have suffered the loss of a loved one due to negligence on the part of someone else, there are important steps to take in your pursuit of justice:

Securing important documentation: obtain police records from the accident, medical records, any electronic and written communication, and witness statements. Participate in the discovery process.

Investigating the circumstances: work with a wrongful death attorney to investigate the cause of death, the circumstances surrounding the death, and the role negligence played in the death.

Preserving evidence: document all the evidence to support your wrongful death claim

Working with medical experts: seek the professional opinion of medical experts who can testify on your behalf as to the negligence that caused the loss of your loved one

Call Regan Zambri Long to handle the legal aspects while you focus on healing.

Damages Available in Frederick Wrongful Death Cases

There are different types of damages available in Frederick wrongful death cases, which are designed to compensate the surviving family members for the losses and emotional toll they have sustained. These include:

Economic damages: these losses have an assigned monetary value, including medical bills, lost wages, funeral expenses, and loss of future earning capacity

Non-economic damages: these losses do not have an exact monetary value, such as emotional pain and suffering and companionship loss

Punitive damages in cases of gross negligence: these are damages that must be paid by a defendant who is found guilty of committing an offense. These damages are in addition to any compensatory damages awarded

Schedule a free case evaluation to understand the full scope of compensation available for your family’s loss.

Building a Strong Wrongful Death Case

Building a strong wrongful death case is key to recovering just compensation for your losses. A skilled wrongful death attorney will gather important information to support your claim.

Elements of proof required: Negligence–the failure of an individual or entity to act without reasonable care or intentionally causing harm–must be proven in order to file a wrongful death claim

Role of expert witnesses: An individual who will testify that negligence resulted in another person’s death, which helps to establish liability

Importance of thorough documentation: Supporting evidence, such as medical records, accident reports, witness statements, financial losses, and the emotional toll of the loss, must be substantiated

Timeline of a typical wrongful death lawsuit: Varies from a period of months to several years, depending upon the complexity of the case.

Settlement vs. Trial in Wrongful Death Claims

There are pros and cons to settling a wrongful death claim versus resolving the claim in a trial. Wrongful death attorneys are skilled in these specific legal matters and can provide counsel regarding which approach is in your best interest.

Benefits and drawbacks of each option: settling a wrongful death claim is typically faster than going to trial, has lower costs, reaches an agreed upon level of compensation, and affords privacy for the victim’s family members. A trial for a wrongful death claim allows family members to hold the liable party accountable for their actions, which may deliver a sense of justice and closure and also may yield a higher level of compensation depending upon the strength of the evidence in the case.

Negotiation strategies: presenting strong evidence, proving the person’s negligence, using expert witnesses, documentation of medical records and financial losses, and using compassion to share the emotional pain and suffering to recover just compensation.

What to expect in court: both parties may file pre-trial motions where the negligent party may request that evidence or the case itself be dismissed. A jury will be empaneled, evidence and witnesses will be presented, and the jury will decide whether the defendant is liable for the death and, if so, the level of compensation that is to be awarded.

How long each process typically takes: this depends upon several factors, including the strength of the case, the complexity of the circumstances, and the level of compensation that is sought.

Trust our skilled negotiators and trial attorneys to pursue the best possible outcome for your family.

Why Choose Regan Zambri Long for Your Frederick Wrongful Death Case?

Wrongful death attorneys at Regan Zambri Long share more than 100 years of combined experience and have won millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts. Our law firm has:

Track record of successful wrongful death settlements and verdicts: Regan Zambri Long has recovered over one billion dollars for their clients, including a $77 million wrongful death settlement

Experience working with Frederick courts and local laws: our personal injury lawyers practice in both state and federal courts throughout Maryland.

Resources to handle complex investigations: compassionate attorneys with the resources, experience, and skills to get you the compensation you deserve

No fees unless we win your case: our law firm does not charge upfront fees to take your case

Put our decades of experience to work for your family – schedule a free consultation today.

Frederick, Maryland Wrongful Death Lawyer