Waldorf, MD Wrongful Death Attorneys

No Fee Unless We Recover Money For You.

Losing a loved one due to someone else’s negligence is a tragic experience that no amount of compensation can make right. But if you find yourself in this painful situation, a wrongful death claim can afford you and your family the resources you need on your journey toward healing. Wrongful death claims are complex, and because your future can hinge on the outcome, it’s important to work with an experienced Waldorf wrongful death lawyer from the start.

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Fighting for Southern Maryland for 20+ Years

At Baldwin, Briscoe & Steinmetz, our trial attorneys are dedicated to seeking justice in wrongful death claims by taking cases to verdict when necessary. While attorneys with little trial experience may push for a quick settlement, our priority is to help you and your family receive full and fair compensation.

20+ Years of Experience

We bring extensive trial experience and deep understanding of Maryland legal statutes and procedures to every case we handle. We’ve handled hundreds of personal injury cases and are passionate advocates for our clients.

Why Choose Us?

While there are many wrongful death lawyers to choose from, our team at Baldwin, Briscoe & Steinmetz, P.C., has a track record of excellence that sets us apart.

Extensive Trial Experience

Insurance companies are keenly aware of which attorneys consistently settle and which are prepared to take a case to trial. At Baldwin, Briscoe & Steinmetz, our attorneys have secured millions of dollars for our clients.

While we cannot guarantee the outcome of your case, we promise that no other team will work harder to help you achieve the maximum compensation possible. Our readiness to go to trial is evident from the outset of our litigation strategy. Insurance companies know we won’t accept the first offer if it doesn’t serve our client’s best interests.

Local to Southern Maryland

We live and work in Southern Maryland. Our local presence gives us a unique advantage, as we’re intimately familiar with the courts, judges, and legal intricacies specific to Charles County and the surrounding areas. This local expertise allows us to handle legal issues with a level of precision that out-of-area firms can’t match.

A Team Approach

The attorneys and paralegals at Baldwin, Briscoe & Steinmetz work together as a team focused on one goal – obtaining full and fair compensation for our clients. We offer the comprehensive legal advice and representation you need to continue moving forward during this difficult time.

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Your Waldorf Wrongful Death Attorneys

Richard Steinmetz, Esq.

Since joining Baldwin, Briscoe & Steinmetz in 2011, Rick has developed an expertise in personal injury claims. He stays up-to-date with evolving legal standards, ensuring that each case is managed with exceptional skill and a keen eye for detail to achieve the most favorable outcome.

Rick is a prominent figure in Southern Maryland’s legal community, known for his formidable litigation skills and willingness to take cases to trial when necessary. His commitment to securing the best possible results for his clients, particularly in the face of challenging opposition from insurance companies.

Nivea A Ohri, Esq.

Waldorf personal injury attorney Nivea Ohri has the legal and practical experience necessary to manage a wide range of cases. She applies meticulous attention to detail and a structured approach to case preparation. This enables her to craft compelling arguments and achieve positive outcomes for her clients.

Prior to joining Baldwin, Briscoe, & Steinmetz, Nivea worked with the Maryland Attorney General’s office and several state judges. Her experience in the courtroom makes her a formidable opponent in negotiations and court proceedings. She is dedicated to advocating her clients’ interests throughout the legal process and securing justice and compensation for the families of wrongful death victims.

Compensation for your Wrongful Death Claim

If you’ve lost a loved one to another party’s negligence, you can seek financial compensation for your economic losses and emotional distress, such as:

Funeral expenses and burial costs
The amount of money spent on your loved one’s medical bills from the time of the accident to the time of their death
The lost financial support that your loved one would have continued to provide
Your emotional pain and suffering
Your loss of companionship
Your loss of the care, attention, advice, and counsel that your loved one provided

What Causes Wrongful Death in Waldorf, Maryland?

Wrongful death claims are based on negligence, which comes in many different forms and can lead to many different kinds of fatal accidents. Some of the most common include:

Car accidents and traffic crashes of every kind
Accidents on the job
Nursing home neglect or abuse – or elder abuse generally
Medical malpractice
Slip and fall accidents
Criminal acts

Every wrongful death lawsuit or claim is specific to the unique circumstances involved, and yours will follow its own course. Most causes, however, fall into categories like those listed above.

Your Confidential Consultation: What to Expect

During the initial meeting, you can expect to discuss matters like the following, which will help your legal team gain a better understanding of your legal needs and rights:

What is your relationship to the accident victim? In Maryland, the spouse, child, or parent of the deceased – as a primary beneficiary – has the legal right to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Only if there are no surviving primary beneficiaries can a secondary beneficiary – such as a sibling, cousin, niece, or nephew – seek compensation through a wrongful death claim.
When did the accident happen? The statute of limitations in Maryland allows only three years from the date of the fatal accident – or from the time of death if your relative initially survived the accident – to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
How has your life been affected by your loss in terms of both emotional and economic damages?

While discussing these emotionally charged topics is undoubtedly difficult, your caring wrongful death lawyer will carefully walk you through your no-obligation consultation – mindful of just how challenging the circumstances are for you. Your peace of mind is key, and we will spare no effort in our focused support of both your legal rights and your emotional well-being

Wrongful Death And Survival Actions

When a person is killed as a result of someone else’s negligence, there are two types of claims that can be brought for compensation: wrongful death and a survival action. The two types of claims compensate different individuals or groups and have different purposes. Often, the claims are brought together as part of a single action.

Wrongful Death

What is a claim for wrongful death?

A wrongful death claim may be brought on behalf of the family of a deceased person. A person can bring a wrongful death claim when they have lost a loved one through the wrongful act of the defendant. The wrongful act may be an action that is negligent, or it may be an action that is intentional. The defendant in a wrongful death action is the person whose wrongful act causes the death of another. A wrongful death action may also be brought against the defendant’s estate if the defendant is no longer alive at the time the action is filed.

Example: a person is negligent in the operation of their automobile, causing a crash which kills the plaintiff. The driver also dies in the crash. The negligent person’s family can sue the estate of the driver for wrongful death.

Maryland’s wrongful death statute allows a wrongful death action to be brought by a spouse, parent or child of the deceased person.

There are certain crimes and facts which may prohibit a parent from being a wrongful death beneficiary in connection with the death of their child.

A wrongful death action may be maintained against a person whose wrongful act has caused the death of another.

A claim for wrongful death is brought for the benefit of the decedent’s survivors. The damages are the harm caused to the survivors as a result of a decedent’s death.

Who can file a claim for wrongful death?

Primary Beneficiaries

A wrongful death claim can be filed by any primary beneficiary of the decedent under the wrongful death statute. A primary beneficiary is the wife, husband, parent, or child of the decedent.

Secondary Beneficiaries

If there are no primary beneficiaries of the decedent, a wrongful death action may be filed by any person related to the deceased person by blood or marriage, or who was substantially a dependent of the decedent.

In a wrongful death action, regardless of who files the claim, damages may be awarded to the beneficiaries proportioned to the injury resulting from the wrongful death.

When must a wrongful death claim be filed?

An action for wrongful death must be commenced within three years after the death of the injured person. When the death is caused by exposure to toxic substances in the workplace, the actin may be commenced within the shorter of ten years of the death or three years of the date when the cause of death was discovered.

Survival Action

A survival action is brought by the personal representative of the decedent’s estate to recover on behalf of the decedent, and for the estate, damages (such as pain and suffering), sustained by the decedent prior to his or her death.

To recover in a survival action for conscious pain and suffering, the plaintiff must establish:

That the defendant’s negligence was the direct and proximate cause of the decedent’s injuries.
That the decedent lived after the injury.
That between the time of the injury and the time of death, the decedent experienced conscious pain.

A person who lives for even a short time period after sustaining life-threatening injuries is entitled to appropriate compensation.

Survival actions damages can include:

Conscious pain and suffering following the onset of injury but prior to death
Pre-impact fright
Property damage sustained by the decedent
Medical expense between the time of injury and time of death
Funeral expenses
Loss of earnings between onset of injury and death
Punitive damages, when allowed.

When must a survival action claim be filed?

A survival action must be commenced within three years after the death of the injured person. The three years begins on the date that the victim dies.

Consult with Our Experienced Waldorf Wrongful Death Lawyers Today

The wrongful death attorneys at Baldwin, Briscoe & Steinmetz bring decades of trial experience in helping clients obtain the financial resources they need to continue moving forward. We offer a free consultation and there is no fee unless we recover.

Call (443) 853-8698 to schedule a free consultation today.