Baltimore Wrongful Death Lawyers Providing Legal Services And Personalized Attention For Those Who Have Lost a Loved One
Maryland Wrongful Death Attorneys – Helping Families Recover Compensation For Funeral Costs, Pain And Suffering, And More
Losing a loved one is a traumatic experience, especially if you find out your loved one was killed because of the negligent acts of a careless individual. Fortunately, you may be able to pursue legal action against the at-fault party and hold him responsible for the pain and suffering that he has caused.
Wrongful death can be caused by a number of events, including car accidents, truck accidents, slip and falls, and medical malpractice. If you have lost a loved one, talk to an attorney to see if you have the right to file a wrongful death claim.
Let one of our wrongful death attorneys review your case now by scheduling a free case evaluation. Our phone number is 410-752-4878.
What Do Wrongful Death Attorneys Do?
Wrongful death claims are complex, which means you will need an attorney if you want to recover the compensation that you deserve. How can a wrongful death lawyer help? It can be difficult to prove that the defendant’s negligence was the cause of your loved one’s death.
Proving liability can involve interviewing witnesses, consulting with medical or accident reconstruction experts, and gathering evidence from the scene of the accident. All of this would be very difficult for you to handle on your own.
But, that’s not the only way that an attorney can help. Family members may be able to recover compensation for funeral expenses, loss of companionship, pain and suffering, loss of wages, loss of benefits, and more.
It can be incredibly challenging to place a value on the losses you have suffered after a loved one passes away, but an attorney can help. Experienced wrongful death lawyers know exactly how to calculate how much financial support you have lost as a result of the wrongful death.
An attorney can also closely examine the case to determine the value of your emotional pain and suffering and loss of companionship. If you don’t work with a wrongful death attorney, it’s very possible that you could miscalculate the value of your claim and accept a settlement that is far less than what you actually deserve.
An attorney can also help in the event that your case goes to trial. The jury will want to hear a convincing argument delivered by a charismatic and honest speaker, and that’s exactly why you will need legal representation from one of the top attorneys in Baltimore.
What is a wrongful death claim in a Maryland accident claim?
When an accident results in the death of an innocent victim, there are two types of claims that can be filed by the family of the deceased, a wrongful death claim and a survival action. The wrongful death statute and the survival statute have different purposes. These causes of action are brought by different persons.
The damages are recovered for different reasons. The causes of action, though growing out of the same wrongful act, are entirely different. The wrongful death statute purpose is to provide the decedent’s relatives with recovery for lost support or benefits that would have been provided to them had the decedent not died because of another’s negligence.
The survival statute purpose is to provide for the recovery of damages incurred by the deceased during their life that would have been recoverable had they survived.
A loss to the decedent’s estate in a survival action concerns only damages sustained by the decedent, not for damages sustained by the decedent’s relatives which are covered by a wrongful death action brought by a Baltimore wrongful death lawyer.
Maryland’s wrongful death statute allows certain relatives of a victim who died to bring a cause of action for injuries to them as a result of the death. The damages recoverable under a wrongful death claim include pecuniary losses to the claimant as a result of the decedent’s death, such as medical and funeral expenses, emotional pain and suffering, and loss of support, as well as non-pecuniary damages.
The wrongful death statutes purpose is to provide decedent’s relatives with an award for the lost support that they would have received had the decedent not died.
Whereas, the purpose of the survival statute is to provide for the recovery of damages, sustained by the decedent in life, which the decedent could have recovered had he survived.
Separate Causes of Action Under Each Claim
A wrongful death action and a survival action, though growing out of the same wrongful or negligent act, are two separate causes of action. An action for wrongful death is a cause of action, that can be brought by relatives of the decedent.
A survival action is an existing cause of action that survives the decedent and can be pursued by the personal representative on the decedent’s behalf.
How To Find The Best Wrongful Death Attorney That Can Help You Win
A quick search on the internet will show you that there are countless wrongful death attorneys in Baltimore, which may leave you wondering how you can find the right one for your case. It’s always best to start your search by asking loved ones if they have any recommendations.
Be sure that you specifically ask for a wrongful death lawyer instead of just asking for a lawyer in general. The attorney that you work with must be experienced in this type of law in order to help you recover compensation.
Get in touch with the local bar association to find out if they can help you locate an Baltimore wrongful death lawyer near you. You should be able to create a short list based on the information you receive from the bar association and your friends and family members. Then, it’s time to start scheduling consultations so you can meet or speak on the phone to each attorney before making your decision.
During the consultation, it’s important to ask about the attorney’s experience handling wrongful death cases. How many years has he practiced law? What percentage of his cases has involved wrongful death? What kind of success has he had with representing clients in wrongful death cases? The answers to these questions will help you determine if the attorney is qualified to handle your case.
You should also ask about the attorney’s prices. Most wrongful death lawyers—including those at The Law Office Of Marc J. Atas & Associates—work on a contingency fee basis.
To put it simply, this means that we don’t get paid unless we help you and your family recover compensation. This is an ideal scenario for clients because it means they don’t have to pay any attorneys’ fees upfront, and won’t have to pay at all unless they receive money through a settlement or verdict.
Finally, ask about the attorney’s experience taking cases to trial. Many wrongful death claims are settled outside of the courtroom, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that yours will be. It’s important to be prepared by hiring an attorney who can take your case to trial if necessary. Ask the attorney how often he reaches settlements on behalf of his clients and how often he has to take cases to trial.
Seek Legal Representation From One of the Top Wrongful Death Law Firms in Baltimore
No one should have to go through the unbearable pain of losing a family member because of the negligent acts of another person. Unfortunately, this happens far too often.
If your loved one has been killed due to another person’s negligence, speak to an Baltimore wrongful death attorney as soon as possible. Our law firm has various practice areas, including wrongful death, motorcycle accidents, vehicle accidents, and truck accidents.
Please schedule a free consultation with our team of attorneys by calling 410-752-4878.