Lanham Wrongful Death Lawyers

Attorneys for Fatal Personal Injury Cases in Lanham, MD

The death of a family member can leave wounds that may never fully heal. A family may struggle to come to terms with the loss of a loved one who died in an accident or another situation where someone else was at fault. They may also experience financial losses that can affect their stability, and they may not know where to turn for help. Fortunately, a skilled and experienced attorney can take steps to address a person's wrongful death and help a family obtain compensation for the harm that has been done.

At Farmer & Klopfer, our attorneys can provide the compassionate legal help that grieving families deserve as they work to recover from the tragedies they have suffered. We can handle legal concerns related to a person's death while making sure the right steps will be taken to hold the liable person or parties responsible for a family's losses. With our help, families can focus on each other and on honoring the memory of the person they have lost rather than worrying about financial problems.

Investigating the Circumstances of a Wrongful Death

When taking steps to determine who was responsible for a wrongful death, our lawyers can provide a comprehensive investigation that will examine what happened, why it happened, and who may be held liable for a family's loss.

Acting Quickly to Preserve Evidence

In cases involving car accidents, our attorneys can obtain police reports, traffic and security camera footage, vehicle data, and the physical evidence from the scene of the crash. In truck accident cases, we can make sure trucking companies or other parties involved will preserve electronic logging device data, in-cab camera footage, GPS records, maintenance logs, driver qualification files, and any other relevant evidence.

In cases involving medical malpractice, we will take steps to obtain the complete medical records related to a person's treatment and the injuries they suffered, including emergency room documentation, surgical notes, nursing records, and medication administration logs. In premises liability cases, we can document the physical conditions of the property where an accident occurred, obtain security camera footage, and review the history of maintenance performed on the property.

Identifying All Responsible Parties

We will take steps to identify every party whose negligence contributed to a person's death. In a trucking accident, we may look beyond a truck driver to determine whether a trucking company used unsafe policies, a cargo loader did not load or secure freight correctly, or a maintenance contractor did not perform repairs correctly. In a medical malpractice case, we may look at the policies and procedures followed at a hospital or medical facility to determine whether they contributed to a person's injuries.

Working With Professionals

During wrongful death investigations, qualified experts can analyze technical evidence, provide a clear picture of what happened, and identify negligence that led to a person's death. Our attorneys work with accident reconstruction experts who can determine what happened during motor vehicle collisions. Medical professionals can help us show that providers failed to follow the proper standards of care when providing treatment for patients. Financial experts can calculate the full value of the losses that have affected a family.

Addressing Damages in a Wrongful Death Case

A family may be compensated for all of the losses that a loved one's death has caused. Our lawyers will make sure all damages are fully documented so that a family can receive compensation that will allow them to move forward. We can address:

The Financial Support the Deceased Person Would Have Provided

When a family loses a person who was earning income and contributing to their household, the economic impact can make it difficult to make ends meet. Mortgage payments, utilities, groceries, and other ongoing costs will not stop after a person's death. The compensation received through a wrongful death claim can help ensure that these and other costs can be paid.

Calculating the loss of income that a family has experienced because of a wrongful death will require a careful analysis of the deceased person's work history, career trajectory, expected advancement, and the benefits that they provided to their family through their employment. Our attorneys can help ensure that compensation will address the full amount of income and benefits that a person would have been expected to earn throughout the rest of their career.

Loss of Household Services

The services that a person provided to their family may also be addressed in a wrongful death claim. These services may include childcare, household maintenance, meal preparation, transportation, and many other contributions to the household. The services that a person performed may need to be handled by other family members or by people hired by the family. The compensation paid for a person's wrongful death may address the value of these services.

Funeral and Related Expenses

The expenses related to a person's memorial service, their burial or cremation, and other aspects of their final affairs can add additional financial strain for a family. A wrongful death claim can make sure these costs will be fully covered.

Loss of Companionship and Guidance

Non-economic losses are an important component of a wrongful death claim. These damages may not have a specific financial value, but they should still be addressed in the compensation that a family can receive. A spouse may be compensated for the loss of the daily presence of their partner, the shared history of their relationship, the emotional support they would have received, and other aspects of companionship.

Children who lose a parent lose the guidance that they would have received while growing up and after reaching adulthood. The absence of a parent at graduations, weddings, the birth of grandchildren, and other important life events may continue to affect children for the rest of their lives. Parents who lose a child may also be compensated for the loss of this important relationship.

Grief and Emotional Suffering

The emotional consequences of a wrongful death can be just as harmful as other types of losses. The grief of a sudden loss or a traumatic death can be difficult to handle, and it may continue to affect family members for years or decades. Emotional trauma can affect the daily lives of family members, and the compensation they receive should reflect the harm that has been done to their emotional and mental health.

Contact Our Lanham, Maryland Wrongful Death Attorneys

When a family has lost a loved one in an accident or another situation involving negligence, the attorneys at Farmer & Klopfer can provide the representation needed to obtain compensation for their financial and emotional losses. Contact our Lanham wrongful death compensation lawyers at 301-843-3890 to set up a free consultation.