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Wrongful Death Attorneys – Accident Lawyers

When people are harmed due to the negligence or wrongful acts of another party, the injured party has a right to recover for the damages caused. Normally, these damages are classified as either economic or non-economic. Economic damages include items such as medical expenses and lost wages from missed work, while non-economic damages compensate for the less tangible aspects of an injury, such as pain and suffering and emotional distress. More information

However, when a person is killed in an accident rather than injured, a family member can usually bring a wrongful death action against the party responsible for the accident. Known as a wrongful death action, these cases are similar to personal injury lawsuits, differing primarily in terms of the damages which can be recovered. In a wrongful death case, recoverable damages are those suffered not by the decedent, but by the person bringing the lawsuit. Damages can include the following:

Funeral and Burial Expenses

Loss of financial support that the decedent would have provided
Loss of gifts or other benefits the decedent would have given
The value of services the decedent would have contributed to the household

Likewise, examples of non-economic damages personal to the plaintiff include:

Loss of society, companionship, and comfort
Loss of marital relations
Loss of training and guidance

Wrongful death actions are creatures of statute, and are therefore governed by state law. The precise nature of allowable damages differ from state to state, as do other matters such as which family members are entitled to bring a suit, and the time frame within which a lawsuit may be brought, known as the statute of limitations. An experienced trial attorney will be sensitive to these distinctions, and advise you on the specific rules governing a wrongful death action in your particular jurisdiction.

Survival Actions

When a person injured in an accident dies within the limitations period but before filing suit, or began a lawsuit but did not live to see a settlement or verdict, a personal representative of the deceased may pursue a survival action on his or her behalf. In these instances, the damages sought are those which were personal to the decedent, such as medical expenses. When undertaken, survival actions are often coupled with wrongful death actions, enabling a maximum recovery for the victim and his or her family.

Our skilled and knowledgeable trial lawyers have served clients across the country in personal injury and wrongful death actions arising from automobile accidents and product liability matters. If you have lost a loved one due to the negligence or wrongful acts of another party, contact our office today for a free initial consultation. More information on this website

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April 23, 2019

Product Liability Lawyer

The United States is a nation of consumers. We rely on consumer products to improve our everyday lives, from the cars we drive to the coffee makers in our kitchens. Big or small, consumer products drive commerce and make life more enjoyable.

Unfortunately, products don’t always work the way they were intended to function. In the most devastating cases, a person gets injured or killed because a product was designed improperly, a company failed to recall a product, or a manufacturer made a product with a critical flaw.

We Get Compensation for People Hurt by Dangerous Products
When a company manufactures an unsafe product, it should be held accountable for the injuries that result. At FitzPatrick & Associates we have helped clients throughout Washington D.C. get full and fair compensation for injuries caused by dangerous products.

Generally, there are three types of product liability cases. In some cases, a defective product case involves more than one type of claim.

Negligent Design. In some cases, a product contains critical design flaws that make it dangerous before it even goes into production. In these situations, every unit produced is dangerous.

Negligent Manufacture. Sometimes, a defect in the manufacturing process results in some units having dangerous flaws, whereas units produced in other factory runs are unflawed. Only the defective products are dangerous in these cases.

Failure to Warn. Manufacturers have a duty to warn end users about the proper way to use a product, as well as improper uses that could lead to injuries. For example, a product made for an adult may well be perfectly safe when used by an adult, but the same product may be extremely dangerous if it falls into the hands of a child. In this case, the manufacturer most likely has a duty to warn the consumer about the product’s age restrictions.

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March 12, 2019

Personal Injury Attorney

After a car accident, slip and fall, or any other kind of accident, you just want someone to help you put your life back together. An experienced personal injury Attorney can be a rock when you feel like you’re drowning in medical bills, doctors’ visits, and calls from the insurance company. It’s a lot to deal with, but you don’t have to do it alone.

Injury Law Firm

At FitzPatrick & Associates, personal injury attorney help people reclaim their lifestyle and their livelihood after an accident. As a victim of negligence, you shouldn’t have to pay for another person’s carelessness.

With more than 20 years’ experience helping injury victims get the justice and compensation they deserve, we are confident we can help you. A litigator with a deep knowledge of personal injury and medical malpractice law. Attorney, Christopher M. FitzPatrickhandles a full range of personal injury cases, including:

Car accidents
Pedestrian accidents
Metro and public transportation accidents
Construction accidents
Slips and falls
Medical malpractice
Product injuries
Traumatic brain injuries

Why You Need Personal Injury Attorney

After an accident or becoming a victim of medical malpractice many people turn to friends or family members for a lawyer’s recommendation. For quite a few people, a car accident or other injury is the first time they have needed a car accident lawyer’s helpand it is critical to choose the right lawyer who has extensive experience in this field.

You deserve the highest level of skill and experience possible. That is what Maryland car accident lawyer, Christopher M. FitzPatrick and FitzPatrick & Associates offers.