Call Now 202-960-4596
Losing a loved one in a wrongful death accident can become more than just a battle with grief. Often, these claims become legal battles, reviewing fault, negotiating claims, and still trying to process how you’ll move forward without your loved one. No one should have to bury a family member because of the neglectful acts of another person. But if you do, don’t take on the legal system alone. Instead, call the Bethesda wrongful death lawyers of Regan Zambri Long.
Our attorneys will give your case the compassion and commitment it needs to be brought to a close, while you focus on healing your family. For a no-obligation, free consultation, contact the Bethesda wrongful death lawyers at 202-960-4596.
Contact Us Today to Schedule
A Free Consultation
Finding a law firm to handle the intricacies of a Maryland wrongful death claim can be difficult simply because of the difficulties of these cases. At Regan Zambri Long PLLC, our team has years of experience handling the most complex wrongful death claims in the Washington Metropolitan Area, including Bethesda.
What makes our law firm different is our extensive knowledge and access to industry experts who can help strengthen your claim.
Regan Zambri Long has secured millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for the families of wrongful death victims and we do it with compassion and dedication. We tap into every outlet we have, contacting experts for witness testimony, uncovering evidence the other party may not want you to find, and working with recreation specialists if needed to establish fault.
And all of this comes at no upfront cost to you. Instead, we work on a contingency fee basis meaning you pay nothing until a settlement or verdict is reached. And if we don’t win, you don’t pay.
Under Maryland law, wrongful deaths are caused by “an act, neglect, or default including a felonious act which would have entitled the party injured to maintain an action and recover damages if death had not ensued.”
In Maryland, there are two types of wrongful death claims that can be filed: survival actions and wrongful death actions.
Survival actions are those which compensate the individual’s estate for expenses related to the death. This may include medical costs pertinent to the injury or illness that caused the death, and funeral expenses. These claims also recover compensation for the decedent’s pain and suffering. Survival actions are based on the harm to the deceased, not to the family members.
Wrongful death actions give compensation to the family members for the death of the loved one. These include economic and non-economic damages. In some cases, punitive damages may also be awarded for excessively negligent acts.
Anytime a negligent act leads to a fatality, it is a wrongful death. In Bethesda, MD, some of the most common causes of wrongful death include:
The statute of limitations for wrongful death claims in Bethesda, MD is three years from the date of the person’s death. However, if the cause of death was an occupational disease, the statute of limitations is ten years from the date of the death, or three years from the date that the cause of the person’s death was found to be the disease, whichever is sooner.
Under Maryland law, any possible beneficiary may file a wrongful death claim–even if the primary beneficiary chooses not to. The following parties may file a wrongful death or survival action in Maryland:
Whether it is a primary or secondary beneficiary bringing forth the wrongful death or survival action, a good faith effort must be made on the filing parties’ part to notify potential claimants of their right to participate in the claim. Once an effort has been made to notify all parties, the claim can move forward.
It is important to know that adding more beneficiaries to a claim will not reduce the amount of compensation given to each party. In Maryland, the courts determine the amount of compensation for each beneficiary rather than coming up with a lump sum amount.
Proving wrongful death takes a dedicated level of care from your legal team. The elements of negligence which must be proven in a Bethesda wrongful death claim include:
Proving these elements can be difficult which is why you’ll need legal representation from a Bethesda wrongful death attorney.
If you are successful in your Bethesda wrongful death claim, you may be entitled to economic and non-economic damages for your loss. The damages you may be able to recover include:
In the state of Maryland, there is a cap on non-economic damages you may be entitled to. The cap will adjust depending on the number of beneficiaries named in the lawsuit. The value of the cap changes every October 1, so keep that in mind when filing a wrongful death claim as that can impact the amount of compensation you recover.
Contact Us for a Free Consultation Today
If you have lost a loved one due to the negligence of another person or entity in Bethesda, MD, or anywhere in the Washington Metropolitan Area, call Regan Zambri Long. Our personal injury lawyers have more than 100 years of combined experience in personal injury law and can utilize that experience for your family.
Losing a loved one under any circumstances is devastating to a family, but when you know that death could have been prevented, you deserve to hold those parties accountable. The financial strain on your family isn’t something you should be left to deal with, not when it was preventable.
We understand that no settlement or verdict will bring back your loved one, but it can help you financially regroup following their death. Don’t handle these complex cases alone.
For a no-obligation, free consultation, contact the Bethesda wrongful death lawyers of Regan Zambri Long today at 202-960-4596 or contact us online. The statute of limitations has begun, do not wait to call us for a case evaluation.
