Pikesville Wrongful Death Lawyer

Honest, Individualized Attention on Your Case to Help You Obtain Compensation

No one wants to lose a loved one, especially not due to an accident. Instances of wrongful death can occur in a range of situations, from car accidents to premises liability cases to toxic work environments. Individuals who have lost loved ones in accidents may file a wrongful death claim with the court to obtain damages for their losses. The Law Office of Justin A. Wallace is a trial firm dedicated to representing individuals throughout Pikesville, Maryland, and Attorney Justin A. Wallace will provide the personalized attention and straightforward, honest guidance you need to navigate the legal process.

Contact the Law Office of Justin A. Wallace by calling (410) 996-4488 for a free consultation to discuss your wrongful death claim in more detail. Representing residents throughout Baltimore, Maryland. Spanish translation available.

What Constitutes Wrongful Death?

Wrongful death can occur in a myriad of ways, such as a car accident caused by another driver’s negligence, medical malpractice, or an intentional crime that caused death collaterally. If an individual has been injured in an accident and succumbs to their injuries and dies, their loved ones may have a case for wrongful death. In short, “wrongful death” is a personal injury claim that the deceased individual would have been able to sue for if they were still alive.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim?

The deceased individual’s spouse, parents, and/or children have the legal right to file a wrongful death lawsuit on their behalf. If they do not have these surviving family members, anyone related to them by blood or marriage and who was substantially dependent on them may file a claim. Note that there is a statute of limitations for a wrongful death claim.

What Is the Maryland Wrongful Death Statute of Limitations?

A statute of limitations refers to a specific time period during which legal action can be taken for a particular claim. It sets a deadline for initiating a lawsuit or filing a complaint after a specific event has occurred. Once the statute of limitations expires, the right to pursue legal action is generally forfeited, and the defendant can raise the defense that the claim is time-barred. The family members of a wrongful death victim have to bring forward a claim within 3 years from the date of the death. If the accident involved an “occupational disease” caused by toxic fumes in the deceased person’s workplace, the statute of limitations extends to the earlier of 10 years from the date of death or 3 years from the date the occupational disease was identified as the cause of death.

How Do You Obtain Damages for Wrongful Death?

A successful wrongful death case may award damages to the deceased individual’s survivors. The main purpose of these damages is to compensate the surviving family for the suffering caused by the loss of their loved one.

Types of damages that can be awarded in a wrongful death claim include:

• pain and suffering;
• mental distress and anguish;
• loss of companionship;
• loss of parental, marital, or filial care;
• loss of advice, counsel, attention, or education;
• loss of financial contributions the deceased would have provided their survivors.

Non-economic damages, or damages relating to more abstract losses rather than financial ones with a monetary value, are capped at $905,000 (2022), with increases every year. If the wrongful death case involves multiple beneficiaries, the damage cap is 150% of the cap for single beneficiaries.

You may understandably be going through a difficult time mentally and emotionally as you cope with the loss of a loved one. You do not have to navigate the aftermath alone, and the Law Office of Justin A. Wallace is here to provide legal counsel and support. The staff at the firm also aims to build a strong relationship with clients so you can feel taken care of. At the Law Office of Justin A. Wallace, you will find both legal assistance and emotional support. For cases as serious as wrongful death, work with an attentive trial law firm that is capable of fighting for your case to the end.

Schedule a free consultation with the Law Office of Justin A. Wallace by calling (410) 996-4488 to get started today.