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A fatal motorcycle accident leaves families facing questions they never planned to ask, including whether suing for wrongful death is an option, and Regan Zambri Long’s Washington, DC motorcycle accident attorneys help make sense of that moment.
We bring nearly 200 years of combined experience to wrongful death and motorcycle accident litigation, and that experience shapes how these cases are built from the start. Our award-winning team knows where motorcycle fatality cases tend to break down, how insurers challenge fault and damages, and which facts carry the most weight when responsibility is disputed. That approach has led to more than $1 billion in personal injury settlements and verdicts, including wrongful death outcomes of $77 million, $19.5 million, and $15.2 million, and it is why we are recognized nationally as one of America’s Best Law Firms for plaintiff personal injury litigation.
Have you lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident in Washington, DC? Contact our motorcycle accident attorneys today, and one of our attorneys will personally get back to you for a free consultation. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We also front all case costs, so you don’t pay unless we win your case.
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A wrongful death claim is brought by the family of a fatal accident victim. Wrongful death claims are tort claims, such as negligence or malpractice, and are brought on behalf of the victim. In the majority of states, the plaintiff in a wrongful death suit is the deceased person’s estate or immediate family. Each state has its own rules on wrongful death, but generally, only immediate family members can file a wrongful death lawsuit, and the wrongful death compensation will go to the family members or the victim’s estate.
When a person is killed by the wrongful act of another person, their close family may have the right to file a wrongful death claim. Most states today have a wrongful death statute, which gives surviving family members a “cause of action” or lawsuit even after the death of the victim. In the majority of states, the beneficiaries of a wrongful death claim are spouses, parents, and/or children. If the victim was not married, the victim’s parents were no longer living, or the victim did not have children, another family member (either related by blood or by marriage) can recover damages if they were financially dependent on the victim.
Wrongful death is a type of tort law that requires proving negligence. To prove wrongful death, the following four elements of a tort claim must be established:
An estimated 53% of motorcycle accidents involve a motorcycle and another vehicle. According to data from the National Safety Council, 56.48% of the 6,335 motorcyclist deaths in 2023 involved one other vehicle, while another 7.55% involved more than one other vehicle. Some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents are the same as vehicle accidents: distracted driving, reckless driving, speeding, and weather conditions.
There are risks involved with motorcycles specifically though. Motorcycles are small, less stable, and sometimes hard to see, which puts motorcycles at a greater risk for accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has even reported that motorcycles are 28 times more likely to be involved in an accident than a vehicle. Some risks specific to motorcycles are:
Damages in wrongful death cases are awarded to compensate the family of the victim for any expenses from the accident– and even sometimes for future expenses based on the loss of the loved one. These damages include:
Each state has its own limitations on how long you have to file a wrongful death claim. This rule is called a statute of limitations. You must work with a lawyer who understands these deadlines.
Regan Zambri Long, PLLC, practices throughout Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. The statute of limitations in these three locations is:
A lawyer will help with a wrongful death claim in many ways, but the most valuable services that a lawyer provides in a wrongful death action are:
If you have lost a loved one and you are thinking about filing a wrongful death action, you should consult with a knowledgeable wrongful death lawyer. An experienced attorney will provide support, and they will advocate for your family’s rights.
Regan Zambri Long has the training, knowledge, and resources needed to effectively pursue wrongful death claims. Our lawyers have significant experience with motorcycle accidents and have been representing survivors in wrongful death suits for almost 30 years. That experience is reinforced by consistent peer recognition. All of our partners are named among the Best Lawyers in the District of Columbia for Plaintiff Personal Injury Litigation, and three partners are currently ranked among the Top 100 Super Lawyers in Washington, DC, with senior partner Salvatore Zambri named to the Top 10. Our partners are also nationally recognized as being among Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers in America.
We have recovered millions of dollars in wrongful death claims over the years, including a $1.6 million settlement for a motorcycle driver who suffered an amputation in an accident, and a $1.2 million settlement for a woman thrown from a motorcycle. Broader wrongful death results include:
We take pride in providing the highest quality legal representation for families who have lost loved ones.
A lawyer from Regan Zambri Long will assist you in navigating the legal issues in wrongful death lawsuits. Call today to schedule a free consultation with our wrongful death attorneys in Virginia, Washington, and Maryland.
Have you or your loved one sustained injuries in Washington DC, Maryland or Virginia? Regan Zambri Long PLLC has the best lawyers in the country to analyze your case and answer the questions you may have.