Laurel, MD Wrongful Death Lawyers

Attorneys Helping to Recover Compensation for Wrongful Deaths in Laurel, Maryland

When a member of your family has died because of someone else's negligence, the grief that you are experiencing can be difficult to bear. The person you lost would still be here if the responsible party had not acted unsafely. Your family's life may have been permanently changed, and determining how to move forward may not be easy. At the same time, you may be experiencing financial problems that could affect your life for many years to come.

Fortunately, you may have a way to hold the responsible party accountable and address your loss. At Farmer & Klopfer, our attorneys can help you file a wrongful death claim and obtain financial compensation to address the harm that has been done because of your loved one's death. We understand what you are going through, and we can work with you to make sure you will have the financial resources you need as you recover from your tragic loss.

Nursing Home Negligence and Wrongful Death

When placing a family member in a nursing home or assisted living facility, families understand that their loved one needs care and assistance, and they expect that staff members will attend to the person's needs. Unfortunately, nursing home neglect and abuse are serious issues that affect many people, and in some cases, negligence in nursing homes can lead to wrongful death.

In many cases, nursing home residents are affected by ongoing neglect. Bedsores are some of the most obvious indications of neglect. When a person who cannot move on their own is left in the same position for extended periods of time, the skin and underlying tissues on the parts of a body that are in contact with a bed or other surface can break down. These sores can develop when a person does not receive the proper care due to inadequate staffing levels at a nursing home. If they are not identified and treated in their early stages, they can progress to severe wounds, dangerous infections, and other life-threatening health issues.

Malnutrition and dehydration can also lead to deaths in nursing homes when residents are not given the proper assistance while eating and drinking. Falls can occur due to inadequate supervision or hazardous conditions in a facility, and they may lead to fatal head injuries or other types of injuries. Medication errors by staff members may prevent residents from receiving the drugs needed to address serious health issues, and this can lead to death. Patients may also suffer fatal injuries if they are not provided with the proper medical care in emergencies or other situations.

Medical Malpractice Resulting in Death

Healthcare providers may be responsible for wrongful deaths if they fail to provide the proper treatments for patients or make mistakes that should have been preventable. Examples of medical malpractice that can lead to fatal injuries include a misdiagnosis that allows a serious illness to progress beyond the point where treatment is effective, a surgical error that causes uncontrolled bleeding, an anesthesia complication that causes a fatal brain injury, or a medication prescribed at a dose that causes a fatal cardiac event.

Other Situations Where Wrongful Deaths Can Occur

Slip and Fall Accidents

Property owners who do not address dangerous conditions on their premises may be held liable when those conditions cause a fatal accident. A fatal fall may occur on a poorly maintained staircase, or a person may suffer a fatal head injury during a slip and fall accident on a wet floor in a store. The owner may be held responsible for a wrongful death if they knew or should have known about a dangerous condition and did not take the right steps to address it.

Swimming Pool Accidents

Drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death in the United States. Swimming pool owners are required to ensure that pools are maintained correctly while preventing unauthorized access. A pool owner's failure to install and maintain fencing may allow children to access pools and suffer fatal drowning injuries. Other fatal injuries may occur because of entrapment in drains or other equipment, the failure to make sure trained lifeguards are present at a public pool, or the failure to post depth markings and diving warnings.

Motor Vehicle Accidents

On the roads in and around Laurel, serious motor vehicle collisions can occur. A driver may be responsible for causing a car accident because of alcohol impairment, distracted driving, traffic violations, or other forms of recklessness. Accidents involving motorcycles or pedestrians are more likely to result in fatal injuries. The family members of a person killed in an auto accident may take steps to hold the responsible driver or other parties who contributed to the accident liable through a wrongful death claim.

When truck accidents result in fatalities, multiple parties may be liable. Our attorneys can investigate these accidents, looking at a trucking company's hiring and training practices, potential FMCSA violations related to hours of service or vehicle maintenance, cargo loading practices, and other factors. We can help ensure that a family will be able to hold the liable parties responsible for a person's death.

Defective Products

When a product is placed into the market in a defective condition, and the defect causes a person's death, the companies responsible for the product's design, manufacture, and distribution may be held liable under product liability law. Defective vehicle components that lead to fatal car accidents, pharmaceutical drugs with undisclosed side effects that cause fatal injuries, malfunctioning medical devices, toys with choking hazards, appliances that lead to fatal fires, or other dangerous consumer products may be addressed in wrongful death claims.

Contact Our Laurel Wrongful Death Attorneys

When your family has lost a loved one because of someone's negligence, the attorneys at Farmer & Klopfer can help you understand your rights and work with you to address your financial and personal losses. We will fight to ensure that you will be able to receive the compensation you need to avoid financial difficulties, pick up the pieces, and move forward as you heal from your tragic loss. Contact our Laurel, MD wrongful death lawyers at 301-843-3890 to schedule your free consultation.