A wrongful death claim or lawsuit alleges that the decedent was killed as a result of negligence on the part of the defendant, and that the surviving dependents or beneficiaries are entitled to monetary damages as a result of the defendant’s conduct.
 

This type of claim is different from a normal negligence lawsuit, which is filed by the person injured for the resulting damages. Originally under “common law” (the general legal principles passed from England to the United States over hundreds of years), a wrongful death claim did not exist based upon the reasoning that the claim died with the victim where there was no way to compensate them for damages. The surviving family members then could not claim damages from the person who caused the victim's death. Over the years, states have passed "wrongful death statutes" that provide compensation for persons who may have been damaged from the death of the victim as well as an incentive to act carefully and safely. Today, Maryland has a wrongful death statute.
 

If you believe you have a claim for the wrongful death of a family member, you should contact our office to discuss it.
 

There is no charge for a consultation.