Athens Wrongful Death Attorney

Standing with You through this Difficult Time 

The loss of a loved one is a difficult and highly emotional experience, but it is even more trying when the accident was caused by another party’s recklessness or negligence. In addition to the unimaginable emotional toll from losing a loved one, financial difficulties mount and are left upon the surviving family members to overcome. 

At The Law Office of Joshua W. Branch, LLC, our dedicated Athens wrongful death lawyers have the skill and experience necessary to help you navigate these challenging legal matters.

Call us at (706) 760-9220to schedule a free initial consultationwith The Athens wrongful death lawyer. We are committed to helping our clients recover the resources they need to move forward.

Georgia's Wrongful Death Statute Explained

Under O.C.G.A. § 51-4, if a person is killed by the wrongful act of another person or company, then the decedent's surviving family may file a wrongful death claim against the responsible parties in pursuit of damages equal to "the full value of the life of the decedent.

Georgia's wrongful death statute specifies the following rules:

• Wrongful death lawsuits must generally be filed within two years of the decedent's death, with certain exceptions.
• Surviving spouses are given priority for wrongful death claims, followed by surviving children. If the decedent had no spouse or children, this right would instead be given to their parents or guardians.
• The "full value of life" includes both tangible losses (such as lost money they would have earned) and intangible losses (such as relationships with family and reasons for living).
• The deceased's family may also bring a claim on behalf of their estate for damages related to pain and suffering, medical bills incurred before death, funeral expenses, and other items.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Georgia?

A common question when pursuing a wrongful death claim is "who gets the money in a wrongful death lawsuit?" The answer: Surviving family members.

The right to file a wrongful death lawsuit in Georgia passes according to the following hierarchy:

• Spouses
• Children (if there is no surviving spouse)
• Parents or guardians (if there is no surviving spouse or children)

The surviving spouse is entitled to no less than one-third of the total awarded compensation, with the remaining award being shared among the decedent's children. If the wrongful death claim is filed by representatives of the estate, all awarded damages will be held in the estate and properly distributed.

Common Wrongful Death Accidents

Wrongful death cases can arise from many different incidents; however an alarming number of deaths occur from car accidents on our highways. According to data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), there were 34,247 fatal motor vehicle crashes in the United States in 2017, resulting in 37,133 total fatalities. 

This is equal to 11.4 deaths per 100,000 people, or 1.16 deaths per 100 million miles traveled. 1,440 of these fatal crashes were from Georgia alone, with 56% of drivers killed having a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher. 67% of fatal crashes in Georgia in 2017 occurred in urban areas, with the remaining 37% occurring in rural areas.

Other common causes of wrongful death in Georgia include:

• Medical malpractice
• Bicycle accidents
• Workplace accidents
• Boating accidents
• Bus accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Truck accidents
• Intentional harm / murder

Georgia Wrongful Death Damages for Surviving Family Members

Surviving family members of the deceased may be entitled to recover compensation for the following wrongful death damages in Georgia:

• Final medical expenses incurred related to the accident
• Loss of future income
• Funeral and burial costs
• Pain and suffering of the decedent prior to their passing
• Loss of consortium (companionship)

The exact value of your claim and types of damages available will vary depending on the specific facts of your case. The Athens wrongful death lawyer at our firm is intimately familiar with the complexities, demands, and personal pressures of wrongful death litigation in Georgia and can use this knowledge to help your family seek maximum compensation for your loss.