After a loved one’s death, the grieving process is often all-consuming, making a legal claim feel overwhelming. But if the death was caused by someone else’s careless, reckless, or wrongful action, your family can recover their financial losses and a sense of justice through a wrongful death claim. Our Union City personal injury attorneys at Jonathan R. Brockman, P.C. are dedicated to fighting for grieving families. Contact us online or call us at 770-205-8887 to speak with a compassionate Union City wrongful death lawyer who is ready to take action on your loved one’s behalf.
Why Select Jonathan R. Brockman, P.C. for Your Family’s Wrongful Death Claim?
A wrongful death claim requires compelling evidence and careful adherence to filing details. By choosing our firm to represent your case, you’ll find the following advantages:
- A dedicated Union City wrongful death attorney to personalize a strategy based on the unique circumstances of your loved one’s case
- Our commitment to professionalism and compassion allows you to leave your case in our hands while you focus on your family
- Maximizing your family’s compensation is our top priority in all aspects of our investigation, documentation, and negotiations
Our firm’s recent notable results include a $1,650,000 recovery in a client’s wrongful death case after a motorcycle accident.
When Is the Loss of a Family Member a “Wrongful Death” in Union City?
Wrongful death in Georgia is a specific category of personal injury law. If the circumstances of a death would have allowed the decedent to file a personal injury claim had they survived, then their closest surviving family member may file a wrongful death claim under O.C.G.A. § 51-4-2. Common causes of wrongful death in Union City include the following:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Uber & Lyft accidents
- Bus crashes
- Premises liability cases
- Boating accidents
- Nursing home neglect
- Medical malpractice
- DUI accidents
If someone else caused your loved one’s death or could have prevented it with reasonable care, your family doesn’t have to shoulder the financial burden as well as the grief and anguish of the loss.
What Are the Recoverable Damages in a Wrongful Death Claim?
During the initial days and weeks after a loved one’s death, it’s enough just to deal with the loss, but before long, a second reality often hits when the family begins feeling the financial consequences of the death. While no legal process returns a lost loved one, a successful claim recovers compensation for common damages such as the following:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- The claimant’s lost wages for bereavement leave
- Compensation for the lost earning years remaining to the decedent had they not died
- Lost benefits, such as medical insurance and retirement contributions
- Expenses for replacing services formerly provided by the decedent, such as caring for the home and children, or yard and vehicle maintenance
- Compensation for the family’s grief and anguish
- Compensation for the loss of a spouse’s companionship and consortium, a parent’s guidance and support, or a child’s love and lifelong comfort
A wrongful death claim is independent of any criminal charges in the same case. While the criminal court focuses on punishing the wrongdoer, the civil court’s intent is to compensate the injury victim or their surviving family members.
Who Can File a Georgia Wrongful Death Claim?
Georgia law limits wrongful death claims to the immediate family members who suffer the financial losses of the death. In Georgia, only a spouse, parent, or child may file a claim. If none of those file, the representative of the decedent’s estate may file a claim. In these cases, the amount awarded is distributed according to the terms of the decedent’s will or the state’s intestacy laws for those who die without a will.
Call a Compassionate Wrongful Death Lawyer in Union City
You shouldn’t have to take on a challenging legal process alone, especially when you are dealing with a grievous loss. Let our legal team handle the insurance companies and legal details while you focus on supporting your family. Contact us online or call us at 770-205-8887 today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a Union City wrongful death attorney.