Oxon Hill Wrongful Death Lawyers

Attorneys for Wrongful Deaths in Car Accidents and Other Situations in Oxon Hill, MD

If your family member has been killed because of someone else's negligence, you may be struggling to deal with the situation. Nothing can undo the loss of a person who mattered to you. However, you can take steps to hold the responsible party accountable and obtain compensation that will address the financial, personal, and emotional impact of a wrongful death. At Farmer & Klopfer, our attorneys can help you understand the best steps to take as you address your loss, and we will fight for compensation for you and your family.

How Medical Malpractice Can Lead to a Patient's Death

A doctor, nurse, surgeon, anesthesiologist, or anyone else who is involved in providing medical care is required to follow the proper procedures and act in the best interests of patients. When they fail to do so, patients may suffer fatal injuries. Medical malpractice can lead to wrongful deaths due to issues such as:

Misdiagnosis and Delayed Diagnosis

When a doctor misdiagnoses a patient or fails to diagnose a condition in time to provide the proper treatment, an illness that should have been treatable may become fatal. Cancer that is not identified until it has reached an advanced stage could end a person's life. Fatal injuries may also occur when conditions such as strokes, heart attacks, or pulmonary embolisms are not diagnosed correctly.

Surgical Errors

Fatal injuries can occur if an operation is performed on the wrong patient. A surgeon may make a mistake during a procedure, causing damage to a vital organ such as the heart. A failure to control bleeding during surgery can lead to fatal blood loss. Instruments left inside a patient or failure to follow sanitary procedures could lead to infections, which may develop into sepsis that can cause a fatality.

Medication and Treatment Errors

A drug may be prescribed at an incorrect dose, leading to fatal injuries. Prescription errors may also lead to fatal allergic reactions. Other errors by medical personnel in emergency rooms, hospitals, or other medical facilities can prevent a person from receiving life-saving treatment or cause conditions that lead to death.

Nursing Home Negligence and Wrongful Death

A nursing home can put residents at risk when the proper care and supervision are not provided. Nursing home neglect and abuse can lead to fatal injuries, especially in situations where elderly people are in frail physical conditions and are susceptible to serious illnesses or health issues.

Malnutrition and dehydration may kill residents who are not given assistance with eating and drinking. Fatal fall injuries can occur when residents are not provided with assistance or when hazardous conditions put their safety at risk. Medication errors may occur when staff members fail to administer drugs at the right times or at the right doses, and residents may not receive the medications they need to address life-threatening medical conditions. Bedsores can occur due to neglect, and when they are not recognized and treated, they can progress to severe wounds that may lead to infections or other life-threatening health issues.

Physical abuse by staff members can also lead to fatal injuries in nursing homes. Sexual abuse may lead to sexually transmitted diseases or other conditions that could put a person's life at risk. Our attorneys can investigate deaths that occur in nursing homes, identify negligence that occurred, and help a family hold a facility responsible for failing to prevent a person's death.

Defective Products That Cause Fatal Injuries

When a defective product kills a person, the manufacturer or others involved in the chain of distribution may be held liable. Our lawyers can help address wrongful deaths caused by products such as:

Defective Vehicle Components

A brake system that fails may prevent a vehicle from stopping in time to avoid a fatal car accident. A tire that blows out may lead to a high-speed truck accident that could kill someone in another vehicle. Wrongful deaths may also be caused by defective airbags or seat belts, defective fuel systems that cause fires, or other auto parts that do not function correctly.

Pharmaceutical Drugs and Medical Devices

Prescription drugs or over-the-counter medications may cause fatalities if they have undisclosed side effects or become contaminated with toxic substances. Defective medical devices implanted in patients or used in medical procedures may include pacemakers, surgical mesh, insulin pumps, blood clot filters, or joint replacements, and when these products fail, they can cause fatal injuries.

Household Products

Defective household appliances may cause fires that can lead to fatal injuries due to burns or smoke inhalation. Defective children's products may lead to choking, strangulation, or suffocation. Food products that are contaminated with viruses, bacteria, or toxic chemicals may lead to fatal illnesses. When a product was unreasonably dangerous and caused someone's death, a wrongful death claim may ensure that the manufacturer will be held responsible.

Contact Our Oxon Hill, Maryland Wrongful Death Attorneys

The team at Farmer & Klopfer can assist with a wide variety of wrongful death cases. We can help families determine how to obtain compensation for fatal motor vehicle accidents, slip and fall accidents, dog bites, or other situations involving negligence. We have the experience needed to represent clients during these cases and make sure all of a family's damages will be addressed, including the loss of the income a person earned, the expenses related to their funeral and burial, loss of companionship, grief and sorrow, and emotional trauma.

Contact our Oxon Hill wrongful death lawyers at 301-843-3890 to set up a free consultation with our team. We can provide guidance on how to proceed in a wrongful death case, and we will work to address the legal issues involved in a case so that a family can focus on healing.