When a loved one dies, it’s always difficult for those left behind, but when a family member’s death was entirely preventable had someone not acted in a negligent, reckless, or purposely harmful manner, the grieving process is especially traumatic. If a loved one’s death was caused by someone else, you can seek justice as well as financial compensation for the loss you’ve suffered. Take a step out of grief and anguish by proactively making decisions to protect your family’s future.
The Decatur wrongful death lawyers at Bowen Painter Injury Lawyers’ law office understand the way financial worries only compound the loss of a loved one. While financial compensation can’t bring your loved one back, it can relieve some of the financial burden associated with a dreadful loss. Trust in our personal injury attorneys for guidance.
Understanding Wrongful Death in Georgia
When we lose someone we love it always feels like a terrible injustice, but in some cases, the loss might be a true, legal injustice as well. A wrongful death occurs when the knowing or negligent actions of one party directly cause the death of another person. Sadly, some of the most common wrongful death claims include:
- Car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle, and pedestrian accidents
- Drunk driver-related traffic fatalities
- Medical malpractice
- Workplace accident deaths
- Defective accident deaths
- Nursing home abuse or neglect
- Criminal violence
Wrongful death cases proceed separately from any criminal charges that law enforcement pursues. Criminal cases are meant as punishment and deterrent for wrongdoing while civil wrongful death cases serve to compensate family members who have lost a provider. Let a Decatur wrongful death attorney help you understand your options.
Can Any Family Member Bring a Wrongful Death Claim?
Because a wrongful death claim serves to financially compensate dependent family members, only specific persons may file this type of claim. This prevents the exploitation of the deceased by distant family members who don’t bear the financial losses of the death. Georgia law specifies that only the following survivors can file a wrongful death claim:
- The deceased person’s spouse
- The parents of the deceased individual if they had no living spouse or were a minor child
- The adult children of the deceased if they left no living spouse behind
- A family representative who filed a petition to serve as a representative and was approved by a judge
Grieving family members have 2 years from the date of the accident or incident to file a wrongful death lawsuit in Georgia.
What Compensation is Available From a Wrongful Death Claim?
When a loved one dies and leaves family members behind and someone else was at-fault, a successful wrongful death claim can bring the following compensation:
- Any medical costs incurred before the death
- Funeral expenses
- Burial expenses
- Lost income, benefits, and retirement pension
- Loss of companionship of a spouse, and/or loss of guidance and support for children
- Grief and emotional anguish
Once your Decatur wrongful death attorney investigates the circumstances of the death, they can prove liability by showing that the defendant owed a duty of care to take reasonable measures to keep the descendent safe, breached that duty, and a fatality resulted, causing financial strife for those left behind.
Why Choose Us for a Decatur Wrongful Death Case?
The skilled attorneys at Bowen Painter Injury Lawyers have years of experience in obtaining compensation for families left behind after a loved one’s preventable death. Our compassionate Decatur wrongful death lawyers understand the grief and hardship surviving family members face and can help ease financial burdens and achieve a sense of justice through a wrongful death claim. Let our legal team navigate the system for you while you focus on the grieving process.
Contact us or call our office today to take the first proactive step forward in a painful process.
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