Losing a loved one, especially in a sudden fashion can be devastating. The pain can be unbearable if a family member passed away because of the reckless or negligent actions of another party.
Thankfully, in Georgia, you can seek justice by filing a wrongful death claim. This allows surviving family members to get monetary compensation. While no amount of money can replace a loved one, compensation helps cover the financial hurdles that come with the unexpected death of a family member. Your Smyrna wrongful death lawyer will help with your compensation.
However, it is not advisable to take on the lawsuit alone. You should be able to grieve without the stress of handling the complex claims process. This is where the Smyrna wrongful death lawyers at Diaz & Gaeta come into the picture.
We are experienced in this field and will work aggressively to seek the settlement you deserve. We will figure out the value of your claim and fight to ensure you get justice.
Call our Smyrna personal injury lawyers today at 678-503-2780 for a free initial consultation!
Table of Contents
What Is Wrongful Death?
In the state of Georgia, wrongful death is defined as the death of an individual as a result of intentional, reckless, criminal, or negligent acts of another party (business or person). Negligence in this regard entails when a party fails to practice reasonable care when there’s a duty to do so. That’s why it’s mandatory to prove negligence in a wrongful death claim. In Georgia, possible legal grounds for a wrongful death claim include:- Defective products
- Pedestrian accident fatalities
- Criminal acts
- Improper or illegal alcohol service
- Nursing home neglect
- Driving under the influence
- Engineering malpractice and faulty construction.
Who Is Eligible for Filing a Wrongful Death Claim in Georgia?
The law in the state of Georgia is specific to the parties that qualify to file a wrongful death claim. According to Georgia’s Wrongful Death Act, the loved ones of the deceased can file a wrongful death claim. The first party allowed to file a wrongful death claim in the state is the spouse of the deceased. They are also allowed to represent the interest of their children in court if they had children with the deceased. It’s important to note that the spouse gets at least a third of the settlement money, regardless of the number of kids. The children can file a claim if there is no surviving spouse, followed by the parents of the deceased if there is no surviving spouse or children of the deceased. Lastly, the deceased’s estate representative can file a claim if the deceased left no surviving spouse, children, or parents. The estate holds the damages and utilizes them for the next of kin of the deceased if the wrongful death claim is successful.What Types of Damages Can Be Recovered From a Wrongful Death Claim?
The deceased’s loved ones can recover the following types of damages:Full Value of Life Damages
These types of damages are designed to put a monetary value on the life of the deceased. It is hard to determine the precise value and so, the jury panel assigns an amount that they consider fair. The full value of life damages can be divided into two:Economic Value
This entails the earnings capacity of the deceased. It is easy to calculate the total if the deceased was a working individual. Economic value factors in how much time was left in the workforce, benefits, pension, as well as their salary. However, it is difficult to calculate the total for a child, unemployed victim, stay-at-home parent, or senior citizen. Georgia believes in assigning value to the life of the individual. As such, the jury will handle each case differently to give the best possible compensation. In addition, Georgia law recognizes that assigning a specific dollar value to a person’s life can be difficult and inadequate. Therefore, in cases of wrongful death, the jury is allowed to use their judgment and experience to determine an appropriate amount of compensation for the loss of the victim’s life and the impact it has had on their surviving family members. At Diaz & Gaeta Law, our experienced team of Smyrna wrongful death lawyers understand the emotional toll that losing a lobed one can take on you and your family. We are committed to fighting for the compensation and justice you deserve.Non-Economic Value
This factors in the fact the life of the victim was cut short. As such, they will miss the chance to lead a happy and meaningful life with their loved ones. Therefore, the jury awards the damages that they consider fair to the deceased’s loved ones. Calculating non-economic damages can be challenging, as they are subjective and difficult to quantify. However, the jury may consider various factors, such as the age and relationship of the deceased to their surviving family members, as well as the emotional and psychological impact of the loss. At Diaz & Gaeta Law, our Smyrna wrongful death lawyer team are experienced in handling wrongful death cases and are dedicated to fighting for the rights of our clients.Medical, Funeral, Burial, and Other Expenses
These damages are awarded to help the family members of the deceased handle the medical, funeral, burial, and associated expenses. In this regard, you should make a list of all the expenses and give it to your Smyrna wrongful death lawyer as related damages tend to be broad. If you hire our team, we will be able to assess your list and know what you can recover through damages.Can the Surviving Family Members File for Punitive Damages?
Punitive damages aren’t mentioned in Georgia’s Wrongful Death Act. As such, judges strictly interpret the law and don’t permit the award of punitive damages in wrongful death claims. However, punitive damages are possible in an estate claim. In this type of claim, the estate seeks to recover expenses like funeral costs and the deceased’s medical bills. The estate can also pursue damages for pain and suffering by the deceased if he/she didn’t die immediately. Even if the deceased only survived for a few seconds, it’s possible to seek punitive damages. Similar to personal injury cases, punitive damages in estate claims are awarded where the court decides the party at fault intended to harm the deceased or when they showed extreme disregard for others’ wellbeing. Claims for punitive damages tend to be hard to prove and you will need a great attorney on your side. This is where the team of Smyrna wrongful death lawyers at Diaz & Gaeta Law comes into the picture. We understand the challenges involved in proving willful or wanton conduct, but we are committed to fighting for the maximum compensation available to our clients. Our team of skilled Smyrna wrongful death lawyer has the knowledge, experience, and resources necessary to investigate your case thoroughly, gather evidence, and build a strong case on your behalf. We work tirelessly to ensure that you receive fair compensation for your losses, including compensatory.
