One of the most traumatic things that can happen in an individual’s life is losing a loved one, especially as a result of a sudden and unexpected wrongful death. Wrongful death is when an individual dies as a result of another person’s misconduct. When this happens, families often wish to seek justice and the necessary financial assistance for the life that was taken away from them. With the help of an experienced attorney, they may seek answers and compensation for their loss.
What is Wrongful Death?
When someone dies because of another person’s negligence, carelessness, or behavioral misconduct, it is called a wrongful death. This may happen because of an accident, product malfunction, medical malpractice, unsafe premises, etc. When this happens, families are left to handle the aftermath of the unfortunate situation. In addition to dealing with the loss of a life, they are also burdened with the loss of an income on top of their suffering.
Types of Cases
There are several ways in which a wrongful death could occur. Lawsuits are typically pursued in the event of the following situations:
- Defective products: If a product is faulty, has a poor design, or lacks warnings it may injure a consumer and even cause death in some cases.
- Automobile accidents: When an accident and death occurs due to the negligence of another driver.
- Medical negligence: If a patient dies because a health care professional fails to provide them with the standard of care that is required of them.
Compensation
When family members and loved ones pursue a wrongful death case, they often experience a great financial burden in addition to their own emotional suffering. This can include expenses that must be taken care of. Because these expenses often become overwhelming, loved ones are able to seek compensation to cover these costs. Doing so can be a difficult feat, which is why it is helpful to have an experienced attorney’s assistance while seeking damages for a wrongful death. In Washington D.C., compensation may be sought for the following:
- Medical expenses before death
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages for the deceased’s future earnings
- Anxiety and emotional distress
- The value of the services the deceased provided to the family
- The loss of guidance a parent provided a child
- The loss of support from a deceased spouse, parent, or child
When seeking compensation for a wrongful death case, it is important to know there is a statute of limitations on filing a claim. A statute of limitations gives an individual a certain amount of time to pursue legal action for a wrongful death. Individuals who file a claim on behalf of the deceased is usually a surviving spouse or domestic partner. Otherwise, a claim may be filed by children, parents, or siblings. The statute of limitations in Washington D.C. to file is two years from the date of the individual’s death.
Contact our Firm
If you or someone you know experienced a loss as a result of a wrongful death, contact the Law Offices of Markey & Orsi today.
The legal team at Markey & Orsi has proudly represented clients who have been injured throughout the state of Maryland due to the negligence of another party for nearly 30 years. If you require strong legal representation, contact Markey & Orsi today to schedule a consultation.