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When another party's negligence takes someone you love in Bel Air, Maryland law may allow surviving family members to recover for funeral costs, lost financial support, and companionship.
Accidents caused 3,261 deaths in Maryland in 2024, the fourth leading cause of death in the state. Source: Maryland Department of Health, Vital Statistics Administration
The Pinder Plotkin Legal Team handles wrongful death claims across the Town of Bel Air and Harford and Cecil counties on a contingency fee, and we can explain your family's options at no cost. You pay nothing unless we win.
At Pinder Plotkin, the initial consultation is free, whether by phone or in person. You have the right to an attorney, and we work on a contingency basis — you do not pay attorney fees up front while dealing with medical bills and lost wages, and our fee comes only after you win.
Maryland follows contributory negligence — one of only a few states that still do. If the person who died is found even slightly at fault for what happened, it can bar the family's recovery entirely. That is why proving the other party's fault cleanly, and early, matters so much. In 2025, Maryland reported 480 traffic fatalities statewide, down 18% from 582 in 2024 — the first time since 2014 that crash deaths fell below 500 (Office of the Governor of Maryland / Maryland Department of Transportation).
We investigate every angle — police reports, witnesses, and the circumstances of the incident — to establish that the negligence sits with the responsible party.
A wrongful death action is brought by the surviving family — spouse, parents, and children — to compensate for their losses, including lost companionship, lost support, and lost income.
A survival action is brought by the estate for what your loved one endured before passing, such as medical bills, funeral costs, and pre-death pain and suffering. Many families bring both, and we handle each for you.
Primary beneficiaries — a surviving spouse, parent, or child — have the right to file. If there are no primary beneficiaries, secondary beneficiaries (other relatives who were substantially dependent on the deceased) may file.
The estate may also bring a separate survival action through its personal representative.
Maryland wrongful death claims can recover economic damages (lost wages and financial support, medical bills, funeral and burial costs) and non-economic damages (loss of companionship, guidance, and the mental anguish of losing a loved one).
Maryland caps non-economic damages, and the cap adjusts each year; cases with two or more beneficiaries carry a higher cap. Punitive damages are rare and generally require proof of actual malice, not ordinary negligence.
Our Bel Air wrongful death lawyers handle fatal-injury claims arising from:
In Maryland, the statute of limitations for a wrongful death claim is generally three years from the date of death (Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. §3-904). A few situations can change that window — for example, deaths caused by occupational disease — so it is best to speak with a lawyer as early as you can so no deadline is missed.
A wrongful death claim begins like any injury claim: another party's negligence caused a loss your family should not have to bear. From there, we investigate, identify and notify the responsible parties, negotiate with the insurer, and — if they will not deal fairly — file suit and try the case. Litigation Partner Tony Balasamo leads every case that needs the courtroom, and we keep you informed at each step.
Bel Air is the seat of Harford County, and our office also handles cases throughout neighboring Cecil County. In Maryland, a wrongful death action is filed in the Circuit Court for the county where the death — or the negligence that caused it — occurred.
Circuit Court: 20 West Courtland Street, Bel Air, MD 21014
Circuit Court: 20 West Courtland Street, Bel Air, MD 21014
Circuit Court: 129 East Main Street, Elkton, MD 21921
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We handle car accident cases throughout Bel Air and the surrounding counties.
Primary beneficiaries — a surviving spouse, parent, or child — can file. If there are none, certain other relatives who were substantially dependent on the deceased may file. The estate can also bring a separate survival action.
Generally three years from the date of death. A few exceptions can change that window, so it is best to talk with a lawyer as early as you can.
It depends on the facts — lost income and support, medical and funeral costs, and the loss of your loved one’s companionship all factor in. We give you an honest assessment after reviewing your case, never a number we cannot stand behind.
A wrongful death claim compensates the family for their loss. A survival action compensates the estate for what your loved one endured before passing. Many families bring both, and we can handle each for you.
Nothing up front. We work on a contingency fee, which means you pay us only if we recover for you. Your first consultation is free.
It can. If the other side argues your loved one was even partly at fault, it can threaten the whole claim. That is why we build every case to prove fault clearly and early.
Some resolve in months through settlement; others take longer if they go to trial. We move as efficiently as the facts allow and keep you updated the whole way.
Often, no — many cases settle. But we prepare every case as if it will be tried, because that readiness is frequently what earns a fair settlement. If trial is the right path, Tony Balasamo leads it.
These guides were created to help you protect your health, avoid costly mistakes, and understand your rights after an accident.
At Pinder Plotkin, this isn't a satellite office — it's home. Christian Miele lives here in Bel Air and served the state as a Maryland Delegate before joining our firm. Josh Fannon lives in Harford County. And Tony Balsamo grew up in Harford County. Our team didn't move here for the caseload — when you work with us, you are working with people who know these roads, these courts, and these neighbors.
If someone else's negligence took your family member, the Pinder Plotkin Legal Team is ready to help — with compassion, and with the resources to hold the responsible party accountable. Call (888) 844-5373 or request your free consultation. You pay nothing unless we win.
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