Losing someone you love in a fatal car accident changes everything. Alongside the grief, families are often faced with questions they never expected to need to answer. How will funeral expenses be paid? What happens if the person who died was the family’s primary source of income? Does the law provide any options when another driver’s negligence caused the crash?
While no legal action can undo such a devastating loss, it may provide financial stability and a measure of accountability during an incredibly difficult time. If another person’s careless or reckless actions caused your loved one’s death, a fatal car accident lawyer can help you understand your rights and explain whether your family may have a wrongful death claim under Maine law.
At Mann Law, we know that families are looking for more than legal representation after a tragedy. They need honest answers, compassionate guidance, and an attorney who will take the time to understand what their family is facing. We are here to help you navigate the legal process with care while protecting your family’s interests every step of the way.
Contact us at 207-709-0900 to discuss your case in detail.
Enter the date of your accident to see the filing deadline that generally applies to your situation.
Not every fatal collision automatically results in a wrongful death lawsuit. Under the Maine Wrongful Death Act, a claim may arise when a person’s death was caused by another party’s negligent, reckless, or wrongful conduct.
Examples include collisions involving:
Every case is unique. Determining whether negligence contributed to a fatal crash often requires a detailed review of the evidence, including police reports, witness statements, vehicle damage, electronic data, and accident reconstruction findings.
Families often contact us to ask whether what happened could have been prevented. Answering that question is often the first step toward determining whether a wrongful death claim is appropriate.
Fatal crashes receive a much more extensive investigation than most other traffic accidents. Depending on the circumstances, multiple agencies and specialists may become involved to determine exactly what happened.
For serious collisions, the Maine State Police Fatal Crash Reconstruction Unit may conduct a comprehensive investigation. Their work often includes documenting the crash scene, analyzing vehicle damage, reviewing vehicle electronic data, examining roadway conditions, and reconstructing the sequence of events.
Medical findings can also play an important role. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner may determine the cause and manner of death, while treating physicians at facilities such as Maine Medical Center or Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center may provide critical medical documentation regarding the injuries sustained before death.
Our role is not simply to wait for these investigations to conclude. We carefully review the available evidence, identify additional information that may strengthen a claim, and work to preserve important records before they become more difficult to obtain.
Fatal crashes occur throughout Maine, from busy interstate highways to quiet rural roads.
High-speed collisions along I-95, serious crashes on U.S. Route 1, and head-on collisions along Route 2 continue to contribute to fatal traffic accidents across the state. Rural areas, including parts of Hancock County, can present additional risks because of winding two-lane roads, limited lighting, wildlife crossings, and longer emergency response times.
Fatal crashes continue to affect families throughout Maine. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the state recorded 177 traffic fatalities in 2024, up from 135 in 2023. The data also shows that 142 of those fatalities occurred on rural roads, underscoring the heightened risks drivers face outside Maine’s more densely populated areas. These crashes occur on major corridors like I-95, U.S. Route 1, and Route 2, as well as on smaller two-lane highways throughout the state.
A wrongful death claim is not about assigning a dollar value to someone’s life. Instead, it is intended to help surviving family members recover the financial losses created by a preventable death.
Depending on the circumstances, compensation may include funeral and burial expenses, medical bills incurred before death, lost income and financial support, and damages related to the loss suffered by surviving family members.
In some situations, a separate survival action may also allow the deceased person’s estate to pursue damages the individual could have recovered had they survived their injuries. Determining which claims apply depends on the specific facts of the case and the administration of the estate through the appropriate probate court, such as the Cumberland County Probate Court or Penobscot County Probate Court.
Every family’s circumstances are different. Rather than making assumptions about what a claim may be worth, we take the time to understand how the loss has affected your family, your finances, and your future.
The weeks following a fatal accident are understandably overwhelming. During that time, insurance companies may begin investigating the crash, requesting information, or discussing potential settlements.
Having legal guidance early allows your family to focus on one another while someone else manages the legal process. An attorney can help preserve evidence, communicate with insurers, review applicable insurance coverage, and protect your family’s rights before important decisions are made.
Because Maine follows an at-fault insurance system, identifying all available insurance coverage, including applicable liability policies governed by the Maine Bureau of Insurance, can be an important part of pursuing a claim.
Families should never feel pressured to make immediate decisions while they are grieving. Taking the time to understand your legal options allows you to make informed choices when you are ready.
Choosing a fatal car crash lawyer in Maine is about more than legal experience. It is about finding someone you trust to guide your family through one of life’s most difficult chapters.
At Mann Law, we combine more than 50 years of legal experience with a compassionate, personalized approach. We intentionally keep our practice relationship-focused because we believe every family deserves individual attention, honest communication, and thoughtful legal guidance.
Attorney Chrissy Mann also brings a unique perspective to wrongful death cases. Before founding Mann Law, she represented insurance companies handling injury claims. That experience gave her valuable insight into how insurers investigate complex cases and evaluate potential liability. Today, she uses that knowledge to help families navigate difficult claims with preparation, strategy, and clear communication.
Our goal is not simply to pursue a lawsuit. It is to help your family understand your options, protect your interests, and move forward with confidence, knowing you have an experienced advocate by your side.
If you have lost a loved one because of another driver’s negligence, you do not have to navigate the legal process alone.
Whether you are trying to understand your rights under Maine’s wrongful death laws, dealing with insurance companies, or simply looking for answers about what comes next, Mann Law is here to help.
We invite you to contact us for a confidential consultation. We’ll listen to your story, answer your questions honestly, and explain your legal options so you can make informed decisions for your family. If you’d like to learn more about how negligence claims are handled after a crash, visit our Maine car accident lawyer page for additional information before reaching out.
In Maine, a wrongful death lawsuit is generally filed by the personal representative of the deceased’s estate, not by individual family members acting on their own. The personal representative brings the claim on behalf of the estate, and any damages recovered may ultimately benefit eligible family members, such as a surviving spouse, children, or other heirs.
If an estate has not yet been established, the probate process must typically begin before the claim can move forward. Because every family’s circumstances are different, speaking with an attorney early can help clarify who has legal authority to act and what steps to take next.
A family may be able to recover compensation for both the financial and personal losses resulting from a fatal car accident, depending on the circumstances of the case. Recoverable damages may include funeral and burial expenses, medical bills related to the deceased person’s final injury or illness, lost financial support, and certain damages related to the loss suffered by surviving family members.
Every wrongful death claim is different. The available damages depend on factors such as the deceased person’s age, income, family situation, and the facts surrounding the accident. Rather than relying on estimates or comparisons to other cases, it’s important to evaluate the claim based on its own unique circumstances.
If you’re thinking about suing after a fatal car crash in Maine, the deadline depends on the specific legal claims involved. Many negligence claims against private individuals are governed by the six-year statute of limitations found in Maine Revised Statutes Title 14 § 752, but wrongful death cases may involve additional procedural requirements that should be evaluated as soon as possible.
Although six years may seem like plenty of time, important evidence can disappear, witnesses’ memories may fade, and insurance investigations begin almost immediately after a fatal crash. Speaking with an attorney early can help preserve evidence and ensure your family’s rights are protected.
A wrongful death claim seeks compensation for the losses experienced by surviving family members after a loved one’s death, while a survival action allows the deceased person’s estate to pursue claims the individual could have brought had they survived.
Although the two claims are often filed together, they compensate for different losses. A survival action may include damages such as medical expenses, lost income before death, or the pain and suffering the deceased experienced before passing away. A wrongful death claim focuses instead on the losses suffered by surviving family members. Determining whether one or both claims apply depends on the specific facts of the case and how the estate is administered.
Legal References Used to Inform This Page
To ensure the accuracy and clarity of this page, we referenced official legal and other resources during the content development process:
