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Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Maryland?
The death of a loved one is always devastating, but when it is caused by another person’s negligence, it can make you feel the need to hold someone accountable. Along with the grief, surviving relatives often face sudden financial strain. In Maryland, certain family members have the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit to seek compensation for their losses and hold the at-fault party responsible. Speaking with a knowledgeable Washington County, MD wrongful death attorney is the first step and can help you understand your legal options.
What Is Considered a Wrongful Death in Maryland?
A wrongful death occurs when a person’s life is taken due to someone else’s negligence, carelessness, or intentional action. Civil law treats these cases differently from criminal charges, focusing instead on financial recovery for the family.
What Counts as Emergency Room Malpractice in Maryland?
Patients visit the emergency room expecting quick, accurate, and potentially life-saving care. When medical professionals make critical mistakes, the results can be devastating. An Annapolis, MD medical malpractice attorney can help determine whether those mistakes amount to emergency room malpractice and guide you through the process of seeking compensation for your injuries.
Common Examples of Malpractice in the Emergency Room
Mistakes in emergency rooms can happen for many reasons, often due to the fast-paced nature of the environment. Common examples from emergency care that can lead to a malpractice suit include:
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Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis: Failing to identify a heart attack, stroke, or internal bleeding in time can have fatal consequences.
What Do You Do if the At-Fault Driver Does Not Have Insurance in Maryland?
Car accidents are already inherently stressful. Finding out the other driver does not have insurance only adds to the frustration. In Maryland, all drivers are legally required to carry car insurance, but that does not mean everyone follows the law. If you were hit by someone without insurance, you may still have options for covering your medical bills, lost wages, and vehicle damage. A Hagerstown, MD car accident attorney can help you understand what steps to take next.
Steps To Take Immediately After a Car Crash With an Uninsured Driver in Maryland
The following steps can strengthen your claim and make it easier to pursue compensation, even when the at-fault driver is uninsured:
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Call 911 immediately: Request medical help for anyone injured and ask for a police officer to come to the scene.
Are Falls in Nursing Homes Considered Negligence in Maryland?
Falls in nursing homes are not always considered negligence under Maryland law. However, they can be if the facility fails to meet its duty of care. Nursing homes have a legal responsibility to provide a safe environment and appropriate supervision to prevent avoidable injuries. When a resident suffers a fall and someone else is at fault, it may be grounds for a negligence claim. If your loved one was injured, speak to a Columbia, MD nursing home neglect lawyer to understand your options.
How Are Falls Prevented in Maryland Nursing Homes?
Maryland law requires nursing homes to develop individualized care plans that include fall prevention strategies. Under COMAR 10.07.02.60, facilities must assess each resident’s needs and update care plans at least every three months or whenever the resident’s condition changes. These plans often include supervision levels, assistive devices, and medication reviews to reduce fall risks.
Can a Group Home Be Liable for a Resident’s Death in Maryland?
Death in a group home can raise many questions, and families dealing with grief and confusion are often left trying to pick up the pieces. When negligence leads to wrongful death, legal action may be possible. Under Maryland law, families can pursue a wrongful death claim to seek accountability and compensation. A Hagerstown, MD group home abuse lawyer can help you understand your rights and determine the next steps toward legal action.
Common Causes for Wrongful Death in Maryland Group Homes
When a group home’s failure to meet its duty of care results in death, surviving family members may have a right to hold the facility responsible under Maryland Code, Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 3-902, which addresses wrongful death claims.
Who Do I Sue for a Truck Rollover Accident in Maryland?
Several parties could be liable for a truck rollover accident. These crashes often lead to severe injuries, significant vehicle damage, and even fatalities. If you suffered injuries or lost someone you love in a rollover accident, you have the right to seek compensation. A Hagerstown, MD truck accident lawyer can guide you through the complex legal process and fight for a fair settlement.
Who Could Be Responsible for a Rollover Truck Accident in Maryland?
Determining who is liable for your accident is the first step in filing a claim. Given the circumstances, any of the following could be responsible for a rollover crash:
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Truck drivers: Under Md. Code, Transportation § 21-801, the truck driver may be at fault if they were speeding, distracted, fatigued, or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Even small errors can cause a truck to lose balance and tip over.
Maryland’s Contributory Negligence Law and Car Accident Claims
Maryland is one of only four states, along with the District of Columbia, to use the pure contributory negligence rule to govern personal injury claims involving shared fault. The law can have a significant impact on anyone injured in a car accident. If you recently suffered injuries and damages because of a negligent driver and have concerns about your role in the accident, a Hagerstown, MD car accident lawyer can help you determine whether you have a right to compensation.
What Is Contributory Negligence in Maryland?
Maryland’s contributory negligence law dictates that if an injured person is found even one percent at fault for an accident, they are completely barred from recovering any damages from the other party involved. Most other states follow the comparative negligence rule, which allows victims to recover partial damages even if they share some blame.
Do I Need Expert Testimony for a Malpractice Case in Maryland?
If you suffered an injury caused by a medical professional in Maryland, you may have the option to recover financial compensation for the losses you incurred. However, as the person filing the claim or lawsuit, you are responsible for proving fault and a direct connection to your losses. One of the most important elements in a medical malpractice lawsuit is expert testimony. Maryland law makes it a requirement if you want to sue, and an experienced Hagerstown, MD medical malpractice attorney can guide you through the process.
What Is an Expert Witness in a Maryland Malpractice Case?
An expert witness in a medical malpractice case is typically a licensed healthcare provider who has specialized knowledge relevant to the issues in your claim. Their role is to explain how the standard of care applies to your case and whether the provider in question failed to meet that standard. Maryland courts rely on experts to help jurors and judges understand complex medical facts that are beyond the knowledge of the average person.
How Do I Prove Nursing Home Neglect Caused a Bedsore?
To prove that bedsores, also known as pressure ulcers, were caused by nursing home neglect, you must show that the facility failed to provide the care necessary to prevent the injury. Many factors can complicate these cases, and finding sufficient evidence to support your claim may be challenging without assistance from an experienced Hagerstown, MD nursing home bedsore injury lawyer. With a knowledgeable legal representative to help you gather documentation, you may be able to hold the facility accountable for neglect.
What Signs Indicate That a Bedsore Was Caused by Neglect?
Even with proper care, various medical and physical conditions increase the risk of pressure ulcers. For example, patients with diabetes, vascular disease, and autoimmune disorders have an increased risk of bedsores because of impaired blood flow. However, some red flags that may indicate that neglect could have contributed to bedsores in a nursing home include:
Distracted Driving and Car Accidents in Maryland
Distracted driving is among the most common causes of car accidents in Maryland. At no point should someone intentionally take their attention away from the road. However, it happens, and people suffer because of it. In Maryland, you have the right to hold the at-fault driver in your case financially accountable for their actions, but you also have the responsibility of proving that they were negligent. Learn more about the laws regarding distracted driving and talk to a Hagerstown car accident attorney about building your claim.
What Is Distracted Driving in Maryland?
Distracted driving refers to any activity that takes a driver’s attention away from the road. The most common example is texting and driving, but it also includes talking on a cell phone, eating, adjusting the radio, operating a GPS, reaching for something in the vehicle, and more. Traffic studies show that teenagers are the demographic most likely to be involved in a crash caused by distracted driving.
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