Maryland wrongful death lawsuitIf your family suffered the tragic loss of a loved one in an accident, Maryland law gives you the right to file suit and recover compensation for your loss. Even though no amount of money will be able to make up for the loss of a loved one, the compensation recovered can cover expenses such as funeral costs, medical bills and provide a means to support surviving family members.
There are several factors to take into consideration when understanding the amount of compensation a victim’s family may receive for the deceased’s untimely passing. While there are no guarantees to how much you will receive, this short guide will help you understand what shapes the amount of compensation family members may receive under Maryland law.
First, you should know there are two categories of damages: economic and non-economic. These are important concepts to understand since Maryland statutes restrict how much compensation may be recovered on behalf of victims and their families. Maryland places minor restrictions on economic damages and caps non-economic damages in wrongful death accident lawsuits.
Second, there are two types of claim actions you may file in a wrongful death lawsuit: “survival action” claims brought on behalf of the victim and “wrongful death action” claims brought on behalf of the accident victim’s family.
Economic damages are expenses like medical bills, funeral costs, hospital expenses, and lost wages. Under Maryland law, there are no limits on economic damages, with the exception of capping funeral costs at $10,000. Economic damages can be calculated with little ambiguity since things like hospital bills and funeral costs are clearly recorded.
When recovering for lost wages, beneficiaries of an estate are able to recover for lost wages at the time of the accident which caused death and future earnings. Factors such as life expectancy and salary will be used to determine fair value for future wages lost. Awards for future lost wages may also be adjusted for inflation to reflect current currency values.
