Fatal Accident Lawyers Who Fight for Maryland Families

If your loved one died in a crash, we can help you demand justice

The unexpected death of a loved one is a traumatic experience. But if a family member dies in a car accident, the flood of emotions can be overwhelming. This is especially true if another driver caused your loved one’s death. You deserve justice and accountability, but the process can be complex. That’s when an experienced fatal accident lawyer can make a meaningful difference.

Our attorneys at Goldberg Finnegan in Silver Spring have years of experience working with grieving families. We thoroughly understand how the legal system works in Maryland with regard to fatal car accidents.

We also realize the sensitive nature of these cases. That’s why we promise to keep you informed throughout the legal process, whether you decide to accept a settlement or file a wrongful death lawsuit. We treat clients the same way we would treat our own mother. You’re truly family here.

Common causes of fatal crashes

Like many motor vehicle accidents, fatal crashes often occur because the at-fault driver was behaving negligently. Examples include:

• Speeding, which remains one of the leading causes of fatal car crashes in Maryland and nationwide.
• Distracted driving, including texting while driving, which has become increasingly common in recent years.
• Drunk driving, which consistently causes more than one-third of all fatal car accidents in Maryland, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
• Tired drivers who fall asleep at the wheel, sometimes due to drinking and which can be combined with high-speed collisions.

Who can pursue legal action after a fatal accident?

In most cases, immediate family members are eligible to be financially compensated if a family member dies in a car accident in Maryland. Immediate family members are normally defined as:

• Spouse (husband or wife)
• Children
• Parents

In order to obtain compensation, family members often need to file a wrongful death lawsuit, which you can learn more about below.

What legal options are available?

In most cases, when someone dies in a car accident in Maryland caused by another driver, there are potential legal options available to family members, including:

• Accept a settlement offer from an insurance company. This is a one-time payment meant to pay for your family’s losses.
• Negotiate a better settlement offer with an insurance company and ask for more money before agreeing to accept the settlement.
• File a wrongful death lawsuit against the at-fault party seeking damages, the legal term for financial compensation.

Who pays for a fatal crash?

First, it’s important to understand how Maryland’s insurance system works. Maryland has what’s known as an at-fault car insurance system. This means the at-fault party is responsible for compensating injury victims and surviving family members for their losses.

Technically, the driver who caused the accident is the at-fault party. However, in terms of who compensates your family, that responsibility often goes to the at-fault driver’s insurance company. They’re the ones who would pay you directly for your financial losses.

How much time do I have to take legal action?

In most cases, surviving family members have three (3) years from the date of a fatal car accident to file a wrongful death lawsuit. This deadline is known as the statute of limitations as described in Maryland Code Section 5-109.

However, just because you have three years to take legal action does not mean you should wait that long. In many cases, the evidence you need to build a strong legal case can be lost or destroyed if you wait to take legal action. And without strong evidence, you might have a weak legal case.

How much is my claim worth?

There’s no set dollar amount when it comes to settlements or lawsuits involving fatal crashes. Each one is unique. What matters most is that you receive an amount that pays for the total financial impact of your loved one’s loss, now and in the future. Such expenses and financial losses can include:

• All medical care received by your family member in response to their accident.
• Funeral expenses.
• Cost of repairing your family member’s vehicle or buying a new one if it’s a total loss.
• Lost future income your loved one would have earned if they had survived.
• Pain and suffering in certain circumstances.

You have suffered enough. You should not have to pay for your loved one’s death out of pocket. You have rights, and our attorneys can fight for them.

After a fatal crash, our attorneys can help you find your way forward

Unfortunately, just because your family deserves to be financially compensated for your loved one’s death does not mean you will. Often, you have to take an aggressive approach to demand justice and accountability after a fatal car accident.

Our attorneys know what’s at stake. That’s why we take these types of cases so seriously. When you have our caring and compassionate legal team on your side, you can be sure that we will do everything possible to deliver justice to your family. Whether you decide to accept a settlement offer or file a wrongful death lawsuit, you can be sure that we have your best interests at heart.

Discover what we can do for you. Contact us and schedule your free and confidential case evaluation at our Silver Spring law firm. We handle claims involving fatal crashes throughout Maryland.