Damages in Prince George’s County Wrongful Death Cases
No amount of money can make up for the loss of a loved one, no matter how much compensation you recover from a civil case. That said, civil compensation for losses stemming from a family member’s wrongful death can be crucial to mitigating the devastation your family will experience.
Help from experienced legal counsel can be vital to identifying recoverable damages in Prince George’s County wrongful death cases and demanding a fair amount of restitution for your loss. It is important to understand how state law defines—and sometimes restricts—compensable losses in cases of this nature. Fortunately, a dedicated wrongful death attorney can explain these rules in further detail during a private consultation.
Recoverable Economic Damages in Wrongful Death Cases
Through a successful civil action in Prince George’s County, surviving family members can demand compensation for the losses they experience after their loved one’s wrongful death. These losses often include the following:
- financial contributions the deceased would have made to survivors
- mental anguish, emotional pain and suffering,
- loss of society, companionship, comfort, and protection
- loss of marital care, parental care, or filial care, and
- loss of attention, advice, counsel, training, guidance, or education.
While it is also possible to recover economic losses sustained by the decedent or the decedent’s estate, it must be done through a different type of claim called a survival action rather than a wrongful death action.
Are There Caps on Non-Economic Damages in Prince George’s County?
Non-economic losses may include mental anguish, lost consortium, lost love and companionship, and lost guidance and advice. Importantly, though, state law places a “cap” on how much money beneficiaries of wrongful death victims can recover for non-economic forms of harm.
This cap—codified under Maryland Courts & Judicial Proceedings §3-2A-09—changes slightly each year to account for inflation. Therefore, the year in which a wrongful death occurs can have a significant effect on how much money surviving family members can recover. As a point of reference, though, most caps for cases arising between October 1, 2022, and October 1, 2023, is $920,000. For wrongful death claims with two or more beneficiaries, the cap is $1,380,000 and, combined between wrongful death and survival actions with multiple beneficiaries, is $2,300,000.
Are Punitive Damages Available in Wrongful Death Claims?
In addition to “compensatory” damages, the court in Prince George’s County can impose “punitive” damages to punish the defendant for the behavior that led to someone’s negligent death. However, these damages are extremely rare.
Discuss Compensable Damages in a Wrongful Death Case with an Attorney in Prince George’s County
Every wrongful death claim is unique—and so are the specific losses that a family may seek restitution for. No matter what forms of harm you and your loved ones have suffered due to your family member’s premature death, you deserve fair compensation for the effects of your loss.
If you want to maximize damages in a Prince George’s County wrongful death case, there is no substitute for help from a knowledgeable wrongful death lawyer. Call today to schedule a consultation.
