Losing a loved one is one of the most difficult experiences a person has in life. When the loss is a result of someone else’s negligence, it can be even more of a struggle. Working with a Baltimore wrongful death lawyer can help those who have lost someone due to negligence of a third-party cope with their situation.
What are three things you should know about filing a wrongful death claim?
1. You Must Prove Negligence
In order to achieve success in a wrongful death case, you must be able to show negligence. This has several components, including:
- There being a duty of care by the defendant
- There being a failure to carry out that duty of care
- The death occurred due to that breach of duty of care
- The death cause both financial losses and non-economic damages
A Baltimore wrongful death lawyer can assess whether your case meets the definition of negligence and help you prove negligence in court.
2. Not Everyone Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit
Wrongful death lawsuits can only be filed by certain people in a deceased person’s life. Knowing the deceased party or even being related to that person doesn’t automatically qualify you to file. In order to file a wrongful death claim, you must be:
- A surviving spouse of the deceased
- A minor child of the deceased
- A surviving parent of the deceased
- The representative or executor of the deceased’s estate
3. Wrongful Death Claims Must Be Filed within a Certain Period
Unfortunately, you have only a short period of time in which to act if you choose to file a wrongful death claim. If you feel you are not ready to deal with the legal aspects of your loss, a Baltimore wrongful death lawyer can help you with your case and ensure that no important deadlines are missed.
