Compassionate Advocacy for Maryland Families After an Unimaginable Loss
Losing a family member because someone else was careless is a grief no settlement can erase, but Maryland law gives surviving families a way to seek accountability and financial recovery. McGowan & Cecil, LLC represents spouses, parents, and children in wrongful death claims arising from fatal car and truck crashes, unsafe properties, workplace accidents, and other acts of negligence. Our Maryland personal injury attorneys handle the investigation, the insurers, and the courtroom so your family can focus on healing, and we move quickly to preserve the evidence that can help prove what happened.
Why Choose McGowan & Cecil, LLC
When a serious accident or injury upends your life, you need Laurel personal injury lawyers who combine courtroom experience with truly compassionate service. Families throughout Maryland turn to McGowan & Cecil, LLC because we have spent decades fighting for injured people, not insurance companies.
Our Maryland personal injury attorneys offer:
- 120+ years of combined legal experience in injury and disability law and a proven record of recovering in excess of $1 million in compensation on individual cases.
- Thousands of injured clients represented over decades, giving us deep insight into how Maryland insurers and defense firms handle serious claims.
- Free consultations and contingency fees so you pay no attorney’s fees unless and until we win compensation for you.
- At least one attorney and one paralegal are personally assigned to your case, so you always know who is working for you and how your claim is progressing.
- Real attorneys. Real paralegals. Real people. We provide 100% human legal support, promptly return calls, and deliver “Platinum Concierge Service” from your first phone call through resolution.
- Se Habla Español, with services available for Spanish-speaking individuals and families throughout our Maryland service area.
- Hundreds of five-star reviews on Google, reflecting our commitment to integrity, responsiveness, and client-focused advocacy.
- Deep local roots and community involvement, including long-standing support for organizations in Laurel and across Prince George’s County.
From our office in Laurel, we serve clients throughout Prince George’s, Anne Arundel, Howard, and Montgomery counties. We are prepared to take your case to trial when that is what it takes to secure the full compensation you deserve.
What Is a Wrongful Death Claim in Maryland?
A wrongful death claim is a civil action brought by surviving family members when a person dies because of another party’s wrongful act, neglect, or default. The claim compensates the family for what the death has taken from them, including financial support and the loss of the relationship itself. It is separate from any criminal case, and a defendant can be held civilly responsible even when no criminal charges are ever filed or a conviction is not obtained.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in Maryland?
Maryland law designates primary beneficiaries who hold the first right to bring the claim. Maryland Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article §3-904 gives the spouse, parent, or child of the deceased priority in filing a wrongful death claim. Maryland permits only one wrongful death action per death, so every eligible beneficiary must be accounted for in a single case.
If no spouse, parent, or child survives the deceased, a secondary beneficiary may file. A secondary beneficiary is a person related to the deceased by blood or marriage who can show they were substantially dependent on the deceased.
What Is the Difference Between a Wrongful Death Claim and a Survival Action?
Maryland allows two related claims after a fatal accident. The wrongful death claim belongs to the family and compensates their own losses. A survival action belongs to the deceased person’s estate, is filed by the personal representative, and recovers the damages the deceased could have claimed if they had lived, such as medical expenses and conscious pain and suffering before death. Pursuing both claims together is often the way to capture the full measure of a family’s loss.
What Damages Can Families Recover?
Compensation in a Maryland wrongful death case may include economic damages, such as lost wages, lost household services, and the financial support the deceased would have provided. Families may also recover noneconomic damages for mental anguish, emotional pain and suffering, and the loss of society, companionship, comfort, protection, care, advice, and guidance.
Maryland caps noneconomic damages, and the cap rises each October 1. For wrongful death claims arising on or after October 1, 2025, noneconomic damages are limited to $965,000, or $1,447,500 when two or more beneficiaries share in the award. Economic damages are not capped.
What Types of Accidents Lead to Wrongful Death Claims?
Under Maryland law, many different types of preventable accidents can give rise to a wrongful death claim when negligence leads to a fatal injury. Examples include:
- Car, truck, and other motor vehicle collisions, including crashes with commercial trucks and delivery vehicles.
- Motorcycle, bicycle, and pedestrian accidents on Maryland roads and highways.
- Boating and water‑related accidents, including serious collisions and drownings.
- Unsafe or poorly maintained premises, such as falls, structural failures, and other hazards on business, residential, or public property.
- Construction and workplace accidents, including heavy equipment incidents, crane collapses, and other job‑site catastrophes.
- Defective or dangerous products, from unsafe consumer goods to faulty industrial or construction equipment.
- Medical malpractice and hospital errors, including misdiagnosis, medication errors, surgical mistakes, and failures to monitor.
- Nursing home neglect and abuse, where vulnerable residents suffer fatal injuries because staff or facilities fail to provide appropriate care.
- Fires, explosions, and carbon monoxide poisoning caused by unsafe properties, defective equipment, or code violations
Whatever the cause, the core legal question is the same: Did someone’s negligence, recklessness, or misconduct take your loved one’s life, and who can be held legally and financially responsible under Maryland wrongful death law? Our attorneys carefully investigate the facts, identify all potentially liable parties, and pursue the full compensation available to surviving family members and the estate.
How Long Does Your Family Have to File?
A Maryland wrongful death action must generally be filed within three years after the date of death. Narrow exceptions exist, including certain occupational disease cases and deaths involving criminal homicide where key facts were concealed. Three years passes quickly when a family is grieving, and the evidence that proves these cases, from skid marks to surveillance footage to witness memories, fades much faster. The sooner an investigation begins, the stronger your claim will be.
Talk to a Maryland Wrongful Death Attorney Today
Your family deserves answers, accountability, and the financial security your loved one would have wanted. Contact McGowan & Cecil, LLC for a free, confidential consultation. We handle wrongful death cases on contingency, so there is no fee unless we recover for your family. Se Habla Español.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can more than one family member file a wrongful death lawsuit?
Maryland permits only one wrongful death action for each death. All eligible beneficiaries join in that single case, and any recovery is divided among them in shares directed by the verdict or settlement.
Does contributory negligence apply to wrongful death cases?
Yes. Maryland’s strict contributory negligence rule allows the defense to argue that the deceased shared fault for the accident, which can defeat the claim entirely. A thorough, early investigation is the best protection against this defense.
How much does it cost to hire a wrongful death lawyer?
Nothing up front. McGowan & Cecil, LLC offers free consultations and handles wrongful death claims on a contingency fee basis, which means we are paid only if we recover compensation for your family.