Maryland and DC Wrongful Death Attorneys
When an individual dies as a result of the wrongful act of another, the family of the deceased is entitled to financial compensation. A wrongful death action allows a victim’s family to make a claim for the economic loss caused by death along with the emotional suffering of losing a loved one.
A closely related yet different claim is known as a survival action. A survival action is brought by the estate of a decedent for the recovery of damages for a fatally injured person. While a wrongful death action seeks to compensate the family, a survival action compensates the estate of the individual who died. Damages in a survival action include medical bills, funeral expenses, and pain and suffering endured by the deceased. In most cases, it is appropriate to pursue both a wrongful death action and a survival action when an individual dies as a result of the negligent or intentional act of another.
Our attorneys have successfully recovered tens of millions for our clients in wrongful death actions on behalf of families of victims who have died as a result of car accidents, truck accidents, school bus accidents, medical malpractice, and inadequate security, among others.
Understanding Wrongful Death
Wrongful death lawsuits are personal injury claims brought on behalf of an individual who died as a result of someone else’s negligence or misconduct. Wrongful death claims are essentially the same as any other personal injury claim such as medical malpractice with the exception that they are brought on behalf of a deceased individual.
Wrongful Death Recovery
When you have lost a loved one there are many financial issues to consider. How am I going to pay for the funeral? How will I pay the mortgage without my loved one’s income? While you will need to speak with a skilled wrongful death attorney to discover what you can recover, damages can include:
- Medical bills
- Income lost due to the death of the decedent
- Funeral costs and related expenses
- Loss of companionship
- Pain and suffering
Wrongful Death Statute of Limitations
Understandably, filing a lawsuit may not be a top priority while grieving the loss of a loved one. However, it is critical that you act before the statute of limitations expires. Once this happens, you can be forever barred from filing a lawsuit. In the District of Columbia, you have two years from the date of death to file suit. In Maryland, you have three years from the date of death to file suit. While there are limited exceptions to these periods, it is critical to know that these are the limitations periods in the majority of cases.
Our Wrongful Death Results
The Costello & Edwards team has successfully recovered millions of dollars in damages for our clients in wrongful death claims. Below are just a few of those results:
- $90 Million Wrongful Death Verdict
- $2.8 Million Wrongful Death Settlement
- $2 Million Wrongful Death Verdict
Contact Costello & Edwards Wrongful Death Attorneys Today
If your loved one died as a result of the wrongful act of another, contact our firm today at 301-925-9080 to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our wrongful death attorneys. We understand your difficult situation and look forward to providing you with superior, compassionate legal representation.