Fatal Auto Accident Attorney

Maryland, Virginia, & Washington, D.C.

As the leading cause of accidental death in the U.S., fatal auto accidents often result in wrongful death lawsuits brought by surviving loved ones. The loss of a loved one, for any reason, can place tremendous emotional and financial hardship on a family. Auto accidents can be particularly difficult because they are sudden and unexpected. Since families often travel together, during your time of grief you may also be caring for an injured loved one, and you may be injured yourself.

Fatal car accident lawsuits can be multifaceted. While many wrongful death cases are fairly straightforward, some are very complex.

• You may be suing for the wrongful death of a loved one and your own injuries from the same accident.
• A car accident can mean instant death or the victim may die from their injuries days, weeks or even months after the accident.
• There may be multiple victims and/or multiple responsible parties.
• A case which at first appears to be negligence on the part of another driver may actually be due to a defective vehicle or defective roadway.
• The person you are suing may be facing criminal charges, such as DUI, in connection with the accident.
• If you were driving in an accident caused by a defective vehicle or defective roadway, you may have to defend yourself in a criminal case.

Types of wrongful death and responsible parties

The cause of the accident will determine the type of wrongful death case, and the responsible party. In your typical auto accident, a driver is responsible due to negligence, recklessness, or intentional wrongdoing. However, wrongful death cases arising out of a car accident are frequently not so typical and can involve:

• Defective roadways
• Product liability (defective vehicle)
• First responder error or misconduct
• Other circumstances

The "other circumstances" can be a wide range of events stemming from various types of negligence or wrongdoing.

For instance, a mental health patient who is improperly medicated or inadequately supervised may try to commit suicide by causing an auto accident leading to your loved one's death. While this may initially appear to be the intentional act of the driver who caused the accident, that driver may be considered incapable of making the decision and not responsible for his or her actions, with those actions being the result of medical malpractice.

More commonly, a person who provided alcohol to an already intoxicated person or a minor may sometimes be held responsible for the resulting accident.

If a loved one in your family has died as a result of what you believe is a wrongful death in Maryland, Washington DC, or Virginia, contact the law offices of Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. Our wrongful death lawyers will examine your case and consult with you to determine what damages may be entitled to recover at no cost to you.

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