Maryland Wrongful Death Lawyers
Greenberg & Bederman handles wrongful death and medical malpractice cases in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC

Nearly $1M awarded in wrongful death

FREDERICK -- A Frederick County Circuit Court jury has awarded $935,000 to the family of a Thurmont man who died about two weeks after having his gallbladder removed at Frederick Memorial Hospital on Aug. 7, 2002.

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Wrongful death is the term used when someone causes the death of another person. The death may be caused by the actions of someone or by their failure to act. Wrongful death is a civil action rather than a criminal action. Since the person who died (decedent) cannot file suit or collect damages, it is the family or representatives of the estate that do so. The intent is to compensate family members who have suffered monetarily and emotionally from the loss of their loved one. Damages can be assessed for lost wages and benefits, loss of companionship, and emotional pain and suffering caused by the trauma.

Wrongful death is a claim against a person who can be held liable for a death. The claim is brought in a civil action, usually by close relatives.  Historically, a dead person could not bring a suit, and this created a legal problem where activities that resulted in a person's injury could result in civil sanction, but a person's death could not. Wrongful death is a civil claim, not a criminal claim, and in the United States, wrongful death is governed individually throught the states, although developed through common law, states have largely codified wrongful death law in their statutes.

The standard of proof in the United States is typically preponderance of the evidence (tort law) as opposed to clear and convincing or beyond a reasonable doubt (criminal law). It is often easier for a family to seek retribution against someone who kills a family member through tort law than a criminal law prosecution. It should be noted, however, that the two actions are not mutually exclusive; a person may be prosecuted criminally for causing a person's death (whether in the form of murder, manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, etc) and that person can also be sued civilly in a wrongful death action (as in the O.J. Simpson case).

Wrongful Death Resources

Additional Information on wrongful death

Maryland Wrongful Death Lawyer Blog

Wrongful Death Claim - Wikipedia Explanation

Medical Dictionary- Medical Definition of Wrongful Death

ENR.com - Wrongful Death Lawsuits Filed in NYC

Drew Peterson Sued for Wrongful Death Claim by Kathleen Savio's family-Chicago Tribune Story

Renew - A grief center for those suffering from the loss or wrongful death of a loved one

Growth House - Information on death and on issues from dying

 

 

If you or a loved one has suffered as a result of a wrongful death, call a Maryland Medical Malpractice Attorney at Greenberg & Bederman at (301) 589-2200 or toll free (888) 926-8583 or submit an online questionnaire.

The initial consultation is free of charge, and if we agree to handle your case, we will work on a contingency fee basis, which means we get paid for our services only if there is a monetary recovery of funds. A lawsuit must be filed before an applicable expiration date, known as a statute of limitations so please call right away to ensure that you do not waive your right to possible compensation.

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Neither by accessing this site or by reviewing its contents has an attorney-client relationship been formed or established; and nothing contained in this site shall constitute the giving or rendering of legal advice or be construed as a legal opinion, or guarantee of a particular resolution of a legal problem. Information is provided as a public service, and is not intended to be a substitute for competent legal counsel. The information provided is general in nature and may not apply to your circumstances, particularly if you are not in the State of Maryland (MD), Virginia (VA), and the District of Columbia (DC). Under no circumstances should you make legal decisions solely based upon the information provided on this web site. You should consult an attorney before making any important decision involving a legal matter.

Greenberg & Bederman is located one half block from the Metro Station in downtown Silver Spring, MD, one mile from the Washington, D.C. line at 1111 Bonifant St. Silver Spring, MD 20910.

Site Disclaimer

Neither by accessing this site or by reviewing its contents has an attorney-client relationship been formed or established; and nothing contained in this site shall constitute the giving or rendering of legal advice or be construed as a legal opinion, or guarantee of a particular resolution of a legal problem. Information is provided as a public service, and is not intended to be a substitute for competent legal counsel. The information provided is general in nature and may not apply to your circumstances, particularly if you are not in the State of Maryland (MD), Virginia (VA) and the District of Columbia. Under no circumstances should you make legal decisions solely based upon the information provided on this web site. You should consult an attorney before making any important decision involving a legal matter.

Greenberg & Bederman is located one half block from the Metro Station in downtown Silver Spring, MD, one mile from the Washington, D.C. line at 1111 Bonifant St. Silver Spring, MD 20910.

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