Bethesda Wrongful Death Lawyers

When a loved one’s life is cut short because of someone else’s negligence, carelessness, or wrongdoing, no legal action can truly make things right. But holding the responsible parties accountable can deliver justice, provide financial security for your family, and send a clear message that reckless conduct has consequences. At Maryland Injury Lawyers, our Bethesda wrongful death lawyers fight to make sure families get answers, accountability, and compensation when tragedy strikes.

We take on the insurance companies and defendants who try to minimize their role or deny responsibility altogether. We know how to build cases that prove the truth and secure the results your family needs and deserves.

What Is a Wrongful Death Claim in Maryland?

A wrongful death claim arises when someone’s negligent, reckless, or intentional conduct causes another person’s death. Under Maryland Courts and Judicial Proceedings Code §3-901, the law gives certain surviving family members the right to recover compensation for the losses they’ve suffered as a result of the death.

This is a civil action, separate from any criminal case. A criminal prosecution, such as for drunk driving or manslaughter, punishes the offender but does nothing to help the victim’s family rebuild. A wrongful death lawsuit, on the other hand, seeks justice in the form of financial compensation for the family’s loss, even if the wrongdoer is never convicted or even charged with a crime.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Maryland

Maryland law allows primary beneficiaries—the spouse, children, and parents of the deceased—to file a wrongful death claim. If no primary beneficiaries exist, secondary beneficiaries such as siblings, cousins, or other relatives who were financially dependent on the deceased may bring the claim.

In addition to a wrongful death claim, the estate’s personal representative can also file a survival action to recover damages the deceased could have claimed had they lived, such as medical bills, pain and suffering, or lost wages before death. These cases often proceed together to ensure that both the family and the estate are fully compensated.

Common Causes of Wrongful Death in Bethesda

Bethesda is a busy suburban community, and fatal accidents can occur anywhere, from congested roads to workplaces, hospitals, and nursing homes. Some of the most common causes include:

• Motor vehicle accidents – Fatal car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle, and pedestrian crashes caused by speeding, distracted, or drunk drivers.
• Medical malpractice – Negligent medical care, surgical errors, or misdiagnoses that lead to preventable deaths.
• Workplace and construction accidents – Fatal injuries caused by unsafe conditions or employer negligence.
• Nursing home abuse or neglect – Elderly or disabled residents who die due to neglect, malnutrition, falls, or medication errors.
• Defective products – Unsafe machinery, consumer goods, or pharmaceuticals that cause fatal injuries or illnesses.

Each case is unique, but the underlying goal remains the same: to prove negligence and hold the responsible party financially accountable.

Damages Available in a Maryland Wrongful Death Case

The emotional and financial losses following a wrongful death are staggering. Maryland law allows families to recover compensation for both economic and non-economic damages, including funeral and burial expenses, loss of financial support and future income, loss of household services and care, loss of companionship, comfort, protection, and guidance, and emotional pain and suffering.

In survival actions, the estate can also recover for medical expenses before death, conscious pain and suffering endured by the deceased, and lost wages between the injury and death.

While no amount of money can replace your loved one, a wrongful death verdict or settlement can provide stability during a time of profound loss and ensure your family’s financial future.

The Importance of Proving Negligence

To win a wrongful death claim, you must prove that the defendant’s negligence caused the death. This involves demonstrating:

1. The defendant owed a duty of care (for example, to drive safely or provide competent medical treatment).
2. The defendant breached that duty.
3. The breach caused the fatal accident or injury.
4. The death resulted in damages to the surviving family.

Insurance companies often try to deny or shift blame, arguing that the victim was partially at fault. But under Maryland’s contributory negligence rule, if the defense can prove even one percent of fault on the victim’s part, the family’s claim may be barred entirely. Our attorneys understand this harsh law and know how to counter it by building a clear, fact-based case that keeps responsibility where it belongs.

Building a Strong Case for Justice

At Maryland Injury Lawyers, we take wrongful death cases personally. We work with accident reconstruction experts, medical professionals, economists, and investigators to develop comprehensive evidence that tells your loved one’s story and exposes the truth about what happened.

We demand full accountability from negligent drivers, corporations, property owners, medical providers, or anyone else whose actions caused a preventable death. Whether through settlement or trial, we fight to secure justice and financial relief for grieving families.

Why You Need a Lawyer With Experience and Resources

Wrongful death claims are among the most complex personal injury cases. They often involve multiple defendants, expert testimony, and complicated insurance issues. Our firm has the size, experience, and determination to take on major corporations, hospitals, and insurers and win.

When you work with us, you’ll get personal attention from the attorney handling your case, backed by a full team of professionals who know what it takes to win in Maryland courts. We’re not intimidated by insurance companies or defense lawyers who try to bully families into accepting less than they deserve.

Call Our Bethesda Wrongful Death Attorneys Today

You shouldn’t have to fight the insurance company while grieving your loss. Let Maryland Injury Lawyers shoulder that burden for you. We’ll investigate your case, identify every source of recovery, and demand full and fair compensation for your family’s loss.

Call us today for a free, confidential consultation with one of our Bethesda wrongful death lawyers. We’ll listen to your story, explain your rights, and fight relentlessly for justice on behalf of your loved one.