Wrongful Death Damages
Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC Car Accident Attorneys With Experience
Motor vehicle accidents are one of the top causes of death in the United States. Car accidents kill over 30,000 annually, and car accident injuries can cause death long after the accident occurs. Spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries in particular can lead to death months or even years after the accident.
The Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC car accident attorneys at Koonz, McKenney, Johnson, DePaolis & Lightfoot, L.L.P. have years of experience representing people who have lost family members to fatal car accidents. If a car or truck accident has killed your spouse, child or parent, you may be able to bring a wrongful death action against a negligent person or entity that caused the accident and against that negligent party’s insurance company to recover compensation for your loss. You may have a cause of action against the other driver or even the manufacturer of the vehicle. Wrongful death compensation can include:
- Funeral expenses
- Mental anguish
- Emotional pain and suffering
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of financial support
- Loss of parental guidance
- Mental anguish, suffering, and pain
- Punitive damages
- Loss of pension or medical and dental benefits the deceased provided to the family
You may also be entitled to bring a survival action on behalf of your deceased family member if that family member remained alive after the accident but later died because of his or her injuries. A survival action can recover any medical expenses your deceased loved one incurred between the accident and his or her death.
What to Do to Protect Your Rights
Cause of death is often an issue in a wrongful death lawsuit. If a car wreck kills your family member, make sure to obtain an autopsy as soon as possible. Grief can be crippling, but the more active you are in documenting the accident and the injuries, the better your chances of prevailing in a wrongful death lawsuit will be.
The negligent party’s insurance company may try to either settle for a very low number or try to get out of paying the claim entirely. The at-fault party may have been underinsured or even uninsured, and your own insurance company may be balking at paying you what you deserve. Contact a vehicle accident lawyer immediately after a serious or fatal auto accident before accepting any insurance settlements. Wrongful death and survival actions involve complex legal issues, and considering what is at stake, competent legal counsel is important to have if you are pursuing such actions. If a fatal car accident has left you without the support and companionship of a family member, do not wait to find out if you are entitled to compensation. The statute of limitations for a wrongful death lawsuit is different in every state, and if you wait too long, you may not be able to recover.
The Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC car accident lawyers at Koonz, McKenney, Johnson, DePaolis & Lightfoot, L.L.P. have the experience and the knowledge to assess your case and help you obtain your maximum recovery under the law. Contact us today for a free consultation.