If your family lost someone because of another party's negligence, in a crash, through a medical error, or otherwise, Maryland law gives you the right to hold those responsible accountable and to recover for the losses your family now carries.
Furman Honick Law handles wrongful death cases with care and prepares each one trial-ready from day one. There are no fees unless the firm wins. Call 410-844-6000 for a free, confidential consultation.
No claim can undo your loss. What a wrongful death case can do is secure the financial support your family depends on, cover the costs the death has caused, and require the responsible party to answer for what happened. We handle the legal work so you can focus on your family.
A trial-ready firm you can trust with your family's case
Furman Honick Law is a Maryland serious-injury and medical malpractice firm. Wrongful death cases often grow out of the same events at the center of our practice, motor vehicle collisions and medical negligence, and we prepare each one as though it will be decided by a jury.
- $80M+ recovered for injured clients and families
- Dozens of jury verdicts and 230+ 5-star Baltimore reviews
- Attorneys Dustin Furman and Allen E. Honick, recognized among the National Top 40 Under 40 Trial Lawyers, as Super Lawyers Rising Stars, and in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch
- Members of the American Association for Justice and the Maryland Association for Justice
- Offices in Owings Mills and Baltimore, serving Maryland statewide and Washington, D.C.
Wrongful death cases we handle
A wrongful death claim can arise whenever a preventable death results from another party's negligence. The most common causes we see include:
Fatal motor vehicle collisions
Car, truck, and motorcycle crashes caused by speeding, distraction, impairment, or negligent commercial drivers are a leading source of wrongful death claims in Maryland.
Medical malpractice and birth-related deaths
When a misdiagnosis, surgical error, medication mistake, or failure to respond to a known risk causes a death, including infant wrongful death claims arising from birth complications — the family may have both a malpractice and a wrongful death claim. These cases carry their own procedural requirements and their own damages rules under Maryland law.
Other causes
Deaths caused by unsafe premises, defective products, and nursing home neglect may also support a claim. If negligence contributed to the death, it is worth having a lawyer review the circumstances.
Who can file a wrongful death claim in Maryland
Maryland's wrongful death statute is specific about who may bring a claim, and only one wrongful death action may be filed for a single death; all eligible family members share in it.
- Primary beneficiaries, a spouse, parent, or child of the person who died, have the first and exclusive right to file.
- Secondary beneficiaries, other relatives by blood or marriage who were substantially dependent on the person who died, may file only if there are no living primary beneficiaries.
Because a single case must account for everyone entitled to recover, coordinating it correctly from the outset matters. We help families navigate who is eligible and how a recovery is shared.
Two claims may apply: wrongful death and survival actions
Maryland law recognizes two related but distinct claims after a death caused by negligence, and many families are entitled to pursue both:
- A wrongful death claim compensates surviving family members for their own losses, lost financial support and the loss of the companionship, guidance, care, and comfort the person provided.
- A survival action, brought by the estate's personal representative, compensates for what the person who died endured before death, such as conscious pain and suffering and medical expenses.
Understanding how these claims fit together, and how each is valued, is central to a full recovery, and it is an area where experienced counsel makes a real difference.
Damages available to Maryland families
Economic losses are not capped in Maryland. Lost income and financial support, funeral and burial expenses, and pre-death medical bills can be pursued in full.
Non-economic losses are capped, but the cap is higher for families. Maryland limits non-economic damages such as loss of companionship and mental anguish, and that cap rises every year. When there are two or more beneficiaries, Maryland allows a larger cap than for a single beneficiary.
Deaths caused by medical malpractice are governed by a separate set of caps. Our full breakdown of Maryland wrongful death damages covers each category in detail, and we make sure the full value of your family's losses is presented correctly under the rules that apply to your case.
Proving a wrongful death claim in Maryland
To recover, a wrongful death claim must establish the same core elements as any negligence case, applied to the loss of your loved one:
- Duty. The responsible party owed a duty of care; for example, a driver's duty to operate safely or a physician's duty to meet the accepted standard of care.
- Breach. They failed to meet that duty through a negligent act or omission.
- Causation. That failure caused the death, rather than an unrelated condition or event.
- Damages. The death produced losses the law allows the family and the estate to recover.
Causation is often where these cases are won or lost, especially in medical cases, where the defense will argue the person would have died regardless. Building that link with records, qualified experts, and a clear, human narrative is central to the work we do.
When a death is caused by medical malpractice
Fatal medical errors are among the most difficult wrongful death cases and an area at the heart of our practice. Maryland treats them differently from other claims: before the case can proceed, the family generally must obtain a Certificate of a Qualified Expert and file with the state's Health Care Alternative Dispute Resolution Office, and a separate set of damage caps applies. These requirements trip up families and inexperienced lawyers alike. We handle them as a matter of routine, so the case can move forward on its merits.
Why families choose Furman Honick Law
We prepare for trial from the start. A case built to withstand a jury is a case insurers and defendants take seriously. That preparation is how we position families for the strongest resolution available.
We understand Maryland's fault rule. Maryland still follows pure contributory negligence, which means the defense may try to argue that the person who died shared some blame in order to defeat the claim. Anticipating and countering that argument with evidence is a core part of our work.
We handle the complexity with care. Beneficiary rules, survival versus wrongful death claims, medical malpractice requirements - we manage all of it, and we keep you informed in plain language throughout.
What to expect when you call
- Free consultation. Share what happened when you are ready. We will explain your family's options at no cost, and we are available 24/7.
- Investigation and evidence preservation. Records, physical evidence, and witness accounts can fade or disappear. We act quickly to preserve what your case will need.
- Building the case. We work with the appropriate experts to establish responsibility and to document your family's full losses.
- Resolution. We pursue accountability and fair compensation, prepared to go to trial if that is what the case requires.
You pay nothing up front and nothing by the hour. The firm's fee is a percentage of the recovery, and there is no fee unless the firm wins.
Results and reputation
Furman Honick Law has recovered $80M+ for injured clients and families, earned dozens of jury verdicts, and holds 230+ 5-star reviews from Baltimore-area clients. Reported case results are available on our results page.
Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any future case. Every case is different and depends on its own facts.
Frequently asked questions
Who can file a wrongful death claim in Maryland?
Maryland limits wrongful death claims to certain family members. Primary beneficiaries, a spouse, parent, or child, have the first right to file. If there are no living primary beneficiaries, a secondary beneficiary related by blood or marriage who was substantially dependent on the person who died may file. Only one wrongful death action is allowed per death, and all eligible beneficiaries share in the recovery.
What is the difference between a wrongful death claim and a survival action?
A wrongful death claim compensates surviving family members for their own losses, such as lost support and loss of companionship. A survival action, brought by the estate, compensates for what the person who died experienced before death, such as pain and suffering and pre-death medical bills. In many cases, a family can pursue both.
How long do I have to file a wrongful death claim in Maryland?
Generally, three years from the date of death. There are limited exceptions; for example, certain cases involving concealment or specific occupational illnesses, but they are narrow. Because evidence is easiest to preserve early, it is wise to speak with a lawyer as soon as you are able.
What compensation can my family recover?
Families may recover economic losses, lost financial support, funeral and burial costs, and pre-death medical expenses, which Maryland does not cap. Non-economic losses, such as loss of companionship and mental anguish, are subject to a cap that rises each year and is higher when there are multiple beneficiaries. Different caps apply to deaths caused by medical malpractice.
What if my loved one was partly at fault?
Maryland's pure contributory negligence rule means the defense may argue shared fault to try to defeat the claim. This makes a careful, evidence-driven investigation essential. Do not assume a claim is barred — have the circumstances reviewed before drawing that conclusion.
Will we have to go to court?
Many cases resolve through negotiation, but the cases that resolve well are usually the ones prepared for trial. We build every case to be trial-ready and will take it to a jury if the responsible party does not offer a fair resolution. We will always discuss your options with you before any major decision.
Do we need to open an estate to file a wrongful death claim?
A wrongful death claim is brought by eligible family members for their own losses and does not by itself require an estate. A survival action, however, is brought on behalf of the person's estate and does require a personal representative to be appointed. Because many families pursue both, opening an estate is often part of the process. We can guide you through what your situation calls for.
How is a wrongful death settlement divided among family members?
Maryland allows only one wrongful death action per death, and any recovery is shared among the eligible beneficiaries. When a case resolves, the amount is apportioned based on each person's relationship to the deceased and the losses they suffered, sometimes by agreement, and sometimes by the court if the family cannot agree. We help families handle this fairly and with as little added conflict as possible.
How much does it cost to hire Furman Honick Law?
Nothing up front. Consultations are free, we do not bill by the hour, and our fee is a percentage of the recovery. There is no fee unless the firm wins the case.
Talk to a Maryland wrongful death lawyer today
Maryland's three-year deadline and the need to preserve evidence make early guidance important, but there is no pressure and no obligation. When you are ready, call Furman Honick Law at 410-844-6000 for a free, confidential consultation, available 24/7. No fees unless the firm wins.