Losing a loved one in a car accident often devastates a family emotionally and financially. However, if someone else is responsible for causing your loved one’s death, you could take justice into your own hands by contacting a Hyattsville car accident lawyer at the Adam Smallow Injury Lawyers for help.
With our firm by your side, you can fight to hold the liable party accountable for the financial harm your family sustained. We can discuss how we’ll handle all the legal details while you grieve your loved one. For more information contact our Hyattsville personal injury lawyer.
Causes for Fatal Car Accidents in Hyattsville
One of your wrongful death attorney’s top responsibilities will be investigating the cause of your loved one’s fatal car accident in Hyattsville. Of course, car accidents can happen in many ways, so your lawyer will conduct an in-depth investigation to establish liability.
Negligent driving is one of the most common causes of fatal car accidents in Hyattsville. Some examples of negligent driving include:
- Failure to yield
- Failure to use a turn signal
- Making illegal turns
- Failure to stop
- Driving while intoxicated
- Drowsy driving
- Distracted driving
- Aggressive driving
- Road rage
However, negligent driving is not the only cause of fatal car accidents. Unfortunately, dangerous road conditions have led to fatal car accidents on numerous occasions. Some examples of dangerous road conditions include missing street lamps or stop signs, broken pavement, and unsecured road construction zones.
Who Might Be Liable for My Loved One’s Fatal Car Accident?
You could hold a drunk or distracted driver responsible for your loved one’s Hyattsville crash. However, what if hazardous road conditions led to their death? Some parties you could hold accountable include:
- State government agencies and officials
- Municipalities
- Contractors and subcontractors
- Property owners
- Safety inspectors
It is also essential to consider whether vehicle defects played a part in causing your family member’s fatal car accident. For example, when a manufacturer does not recall a faulty part in a timely manner, victims can suffer devastating and fatal injuries. Thus, if a defective vehicle or car part caused the accident, you could potentially hold these parties responsible:
- Maintenance technicians
- Motor vehicle parts designers
- Motor vehicle parts manufacturers
- Motor vehicle parts suppliers and distributors
- Safety inspectors
- Auto dealerships
As you can see, you might have various liable parties who share fault for your family member’s fatal car accident. Sorting through liability questions while mourning your loved one’s death can overwhelm even the strongest of us. However, having a knowledgeable wrongful death attorney by your side could ease this burden.
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How Hyattsville Fatal Car Accident Claims Work
Fatal car accident claims work similarly to personal injury lawsuits in Maryland. The decedent’s surviving family members—typically a spouse, child, or parent—would file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking financial compensation for the damages they sustained due to their loved one’s passing.
Although every person’s fatal car accident claim unfolds differently, most cases follow a similar path:
- Hiring a wrongful death lawyer in Hyattsville to take on your case
- Investigating the accident to establish liability
- Gathering evidence to prove fault
- Examining your family’s losses (both economic and noneconomic) to calculate the value of your claim
- Filing a claim with the at-fault parties’ insurance companies
- Advocating for your interests at trial if necessary
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Who Has the Right to File a Fatal Car Accident Claim in Hyattsville?
Under Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. Code § 3-904, only specific parties have the right to file a wrongful death claim for a fatal car accident in Hyattsville. These parties include:
- The decedent’s surviving spouse
- The decedent’s surviving children
- The decedent’s surviving parents
If the decedent did not have any of the previously mentioned family members, anyone related to the decedent by marriage or blood who relied upon them financially could file a claim.
Statute of Limitations for Hyattsville Fatal Car Accident Claims
You must file your Hyattsville fatal car accident lawsuit before the statute of limitations expires. Sadly, the statute of limitations typically expires three years from the date of the decedent’s death. However, the circumstances of your loved one’s death could affect the deadline. To avoid confusion surrounding the statute of limitations, you might want to have one of our experienced legal advocates on your side.
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Compensation for Fatal Car Accident Victims and Their Families
In wrongful death claims, the decedent’s surviving family members receive damages to compensate for their loved one’s injuries and how their lives have been affected by their loss.
Some common types of damages awarded in Hyattsville fatal car accident claims include:
- The loss of the decedent’s income and potential future earnings
- Loss of comfort, protection, companionship, and love
- Loss of attention, guidance, counsel, and support
- Medical expenses incurred before their death
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Emotional pain and suffering
Many of these damages fall under Maryland’s statutory cap for noneconomic damages outlined in Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. Code § 11-108. However, we will work to recover the maximum allowed to ensure your loved one’s death doesn’t destroy your family’s financial situation.
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Get Help From a Fatal Car Accident Lawyer in Hyattsville Today
Dealing with an insurance company and bringing your case to court may be the last things your family wants to deal with during this difficult time. However, doing so may be the best way to help your treasured loved one get justice and keep your family from sustaining irreversible financial harm.
Reach out to a Hyattsville fatal car accident attorney at the Adam Smallow Injury Lawyers for a no-cost, risk-free consultation. Our firm is proud to offer free case reviews to the families of fatal car accident victims across Hyattsville and nearby cities. Schedule yours today by calling our office or completing our convenient contact form.
Call or text (410)777-8960 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form