Money will not replace your loved one nor will money take away or ease your grief. However, the judicial system has no other way to compensate families when a loved one is killed through negligence or a wrongful act. Therefore, Maryland enacted wrongful death laws so that families could file claims against the party or parties responsible for their loved one’s death.

Examples of situations and instances that might give rise to a wrongful death claim in Maryland include:

  • Automobile accidents
  • Medical malpractice
  • Work-related accidents
  • Pedestrian and bicycle accidents
  • Drunk driving and drugged driving accidents
  • Defective products (product liability claims)
  • Slips and fall accidents (premises liability claims)
  • Intentional acts
  • Recreational and sports-related accidents

Almost any accidental or intentional injury could give rise to a wrongful death claim if the death was caused by negligence or other wrongdoing.

The Pinder Plotkin Legal Team helps families seek justice for their loved ones. Call for a free consultation to discuss the circumstances of your loved one’s death.

How Much is a Wrongful Death Claim Worth?

As discussed above, money is not a substitute for a family member. However, compensation for a wrongful death claim can help your family as you continue to recover and move forward after the loss of a family member.

Valuing a wrongful death claim involves many factors. Damages in a wrongful death claim may include financial losses and non-economic (pain and suffering) damages.

Economic Damages in a Wrongful Death Claim

Under Maryland’s wrongful death laws, there is no limit for economic damages in a wrongful death claim. Therefore, you can recover the full amount for all financial losses related to the death of your loved one.

Examples of economic damages included in a wrongful death claim are:

  • Medical expenses from the date of the initial injury through the date of death;
  • Cremation, funeral, and burial costs;
  • The projected loss of income and benefits throughout the decedent’s life; and,
  • The loss of goods and services provided by the decedent.

Our Parkville wrongful death lawyers work closely with financial, economic, and other experts to accurately estimate the financial losses. It is extremely important to work with experts who understand how to value a wrongful death claim because the opposing party will do everything in its power to lower the value for financial damages to avoid paying a large settlement or jury verdict.

Non-Economic Damages in a Wrongful Death Claim

Non-economic damages relate to the pain and suffering caused by the loss of a family member. Unfortunately, Maryland places a cap on pain and suffering damages in a wrongful death claim. The cap on pain and suffering damages increases each year slightly. Currently, the cap for pain and suffering damages exceeds $2 million.

Our Maryland wrongful death attorneys carefully monitor the caps on non-economic damages to ensure that we demand the maximum compensation allowable by law for your loss. Examples of non-economic damages included in a wrongful death claim are a loss of love and affection and loss of companionship.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in Maryland?

The primary beneficiaries of the decedent are allowed to file a wrongful death claim in Maryland. Beneficiaries include a surviving spouse, child, or parent. However, if none of these immediate beneficiaries exist, a secondary beneficiary may be able to file a wrongful death action. An experienced Parkville wrongful death attorney can help you determine if you have a  wrongful death claim as a secondary beneficiary.

Is There a Deadline for Filing Wrongful Death Lawsuits in Maryland?

As with other personal injury claims and other causes of action in Maryland, there is a Statute of Limitations for wrongful death lawsuits.  If you fail to reach a settlement for your wrongful death claim, you must file a wrongful death lawsuit before the deadline, or you lose your right to seek compensation for your claim.

The Statute of Limitations for filing a wrongful death lawsuit in Maryland is three years from the death of your loved one. There are very few exceptions to the deadline to file a wrongful death lawsuit, and the majority of cases are subject to the three-year deadline. Therefore, you should contact Pinder Plotkin as soon as possible to discuss filing a claim to seek justice for you, your family, and your loved one who died because of a negligent or wrongful act.

Call a Maryland Wrongful Death Attorney Now

Contact Pinder Plotkin LLC by calling 410-525-5337 to schedule your free consultation with a Parkville wrongful death lawyer. We want to help you hold the person or party responsible for the death of your family member responsible and liable for his or her actions.

The information provided in this website is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject. The information contained in this blog is also subject to change and should not be relied upon. Contact the Pinder Plotkin Legal Team for a FREE consultation.

Is There A Statute of Limitations for Wrongful Death Cases in Maryland?

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