Losing a loved one to a preventable accident is a tragedy that no one should have to suffer. If your loved one died because of another person's carelessness or inaction, you can file a Wrongful Death Lawsuit against the responsible party.
Our Wrongful Death Attorneys in Duluth, Ga, have the skills and experience these sensitive and complicated cases require. Our Accident Lawyers are well-versed in wrongful death laws, legal deadlines for filing claims, and all of the components necessary to prove fault in wrongful death cases.
If you have lost your family member because of the wrongful acts of another in Duluth, GA, you may have a valid wrongful death lawsuit. The Brown Firm can help your family find closure and receive the financial compensation your family deserves.
With over 30 years of dedicated experience, the law office of The Brown Firm has Personal Injury Attorneys who are proud to represent those who have fallen victim to another person's negligent actions. It would be an honor to help you through this tragic situation.
Georgia State Law defines a "wrongful death" as the death of one person caused by the "negligent, reckless, intentional, or criminal" acts of another person or entity. Wrongful Death only occurs when the loss of life is due to another person's negligent actions and could have been prevented.
When you file a wrongful death claim with your attorney in Duluth, you are trying to obtain compensation from the party at fault.
Wrongful Death cases can be very complex and are substantially different from other personal injury cases. In a typical personal injury case, the victim files the claim against the responsible party. In a wrongful death case, the family or estate must file the claim to recover damages.
There are complications with filing a wrongful death claim, and the process can be quite confusing for loved ones. There are unique challenges even for seasoned trial lawyers. Because of Wrongful Death Cases' complicated nature, it is important to seek professional legal help before filing a claim in Duluth, GA.
Skilled lawyers understand Georgia's laws and regulations necessary for a fair outcome in a wrongful death suit.
Common Wrongful Death Accident Lawsuits:
If you have lost a loved one in a wrongful death accident, one of our expert lawyers can help you navigate the many steps involved in filing a claim and seeking compensation for loss of future income. You may seek compensation for pain and suffering and other expenses as well. Our lawyers are experienced helping families who have lost a loved one in the following types of accidents:
You need an experienced attorney to increase your chances of a favorable case outcome by preserving important evidence, conducting your investigation, and gathering available testimonies.
If you intend to take legal action after losing a family member in an accident, it is important that you act quickly. Keep in mind that filing a wrongful death lawsuit and determining who has the right to make a claim must wait until after death, not the time of injury.
The Statute of Limitations limits the time survivors or personal representatives have to bring a wrongful death suit to court. In almost all cases, the claim must be filed within two years of the date of death. If the wrongful death claim is not filed within the two year period, those involved no longer have a right to make a case.
Wrongful death claims involve all types of fatal accidents, from simple car accidents to complicated medical malpractice or product liability cases. Persons, companies, and governmental agencies can be found to be legally at fault for acting negligently or intentionally. Georgia wrongful death law sets up a hierarchy of relatives who have standing to sue for the death of a loved one. The hierarchy is as follows:
To file a lawsuit, a family member or heir must first be appointed the estate or descendant's personal representative. This process is done through the county's probate court, where the descendant last resided or owned property. The estate can also be opened in the county the death occurred or where the lawsuit will be filed.
We know how complicated it can be to pursue wrongful death actions, so we recommend that you not attempt to file your claim on your own. When you choose to partner with The Brown Firm in Duluth, we will handle the probate process from start to finish. Hiring experienced legal representation is crucial to the outcome of your case. We know from experience.
The first step involved in filing a suit is to hire an experienced attorney who can investigate the facts and details of your wrongful death to determine if you have a valid suit. Once the attorney has decided that there is a valid wrongful death case, the next step is for a personal representative appointed by the probate court to file the lawsuit on behalf of the deceased's estate or survivor.
The lawsuit is a legal document, called the Complaint, that is filed at the courthouse. This document sets forth the legal basis for the claim, including allegations of negligence or intentional acts that caused the death. The lawsuit also implores the various types of compensation allowed under the state's statutes and ordinance.
Wrongful Death Settlements include compensation paid for both non-economic and economic losses. Some of those losses are financial, while other losses are emotional, such as losing the deceased’s love and companionship.
There are no written guidelines for determining the compensation amount for non-economic wrongful death claims. If the case went to trial, a jury would be responsible for deciding the claim's monetary value. Non-economic losses include:
Compensation is also owed to the family for economic losses caused by the death of a loved one. This includes:
It is not uncommon for an economist to also place a financial value on the loss of household services, such as care of children that the descendant would have provided to the family if not for the death. This type of claim would be added to the settlement amount.
If you have lost someone you love due to someone else's negligence, you may be entitled to receive compensation for their wrongful death. Our Duluth Personal Injury Lawyers are here to help lift the burden from families facing the loss of a loved one and are committed to helping you with your personal injury case.
We believe that every client has specific goals and needs, so we take a personal approach. We want you to know that your case is receiving the right amount of time and attention. Our superior customer service is backed by a staff that truly cares about you. Our team of attorneys has the gratitude, understanding, and compassion your specific circumstances call for. If you live in or near the city of Duluth, GA, our attorneys can help you through this difficult time.
At The Brown Firm, our attorneys have many years of experience advocating on behalf of the families who lost someone dear to them due to wrongful death. We are dedicated to helping you recover the compensation that you deserve during this tragic time.
At the law firm office of The Brown Firm, we offer a Free Consultation to see how we can best assist with your specific needs. Click on the link below to speak with one of our Duluth, Georgia wrongful Death Attorneys!
Harry understands client injuries like only a treating medical provider can. This experience has provided him with first-hand knowledge in effective case evaluation and handling of personal injury claims.
Our superior customer service is backed by a staff that truly cares about you, and an attorney who has the gratitude, understanding and compassion for your specific circumstances.
It is this unique customer service approach that sets us apart from other Personal Injury firms
The Brown Firm is truly amazing and I have nothing but RESPECT for them all. I've never been in an accident so I didn't know where to have my expectations, Peter was awesome and reassure me that we had a winning case. When you have a team of attorneys who is working to make sure you get everything you deserve that is beyond fantastic. I am truly blessed to have had The Brown Firm representing me in my case. I recommended everyone to call them, you won't be disappointed I promise you that.
The Brown Firm is an outstanding and incomparable establishment. The tact and caring nature of my Attorney and Case Manager made the case run very smoothly. They will fight for you from beginning to end paying attention to every detail of your case. If I could give 10 stars I would. Thank you again Brown Firm, for your dedication and hard work to your clients.
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If an individual is killed because of wrongful conduct, the family of the victim and the other beneficiaries may be able to file a wrongful death action against the person or the people who are responsible for the incident.
This Tort Law is governed by the statute. But the wrongful death statutes differ from every state. Here is the link to Georgia's Code. But generally, this will define who may sue for wrongful death and if there are any limits applied to the damages.
Even before, the wrongful death statutes were created to provide the needed financial support for the widows and orphans and also to motivate people to exercise extra care to prevent injuries.
A wrongful death action is separate and very different from criminal charges. And neither of these two proceedings affects or controls the other. This only means that the defendant acquitted of murder can still be sued by the victim’s family in a civil action for wrongful death.
A wrongful death claim is only applicable when a victim who was supposed to file a personal injury claim is killed because of the negligence of the person at fault or it can because of an intentional act.
Here are the situations that wrongful death can be applicable.
Hiring a Wrongful Death Attorney will not cost you any upfront legal fees, because they work on what is called a Contingency Fee Basis, and also provide a Free Consultation.
A Contingency Fee Basis means that you do not pay any legal fees upfront, and your attorneys only collect a fee in the form of a small percentage of your final settlement.
Working on a Contingency Fee Basis is very beneficial to Personal Injury Victims because they can rest assured knowing that their attorney will do everything in their power to maximize their settlement for them.
Individuals entitled to wrongful death compensation will depend on the state statute.
There are statutes that provide for the recovery by the surviving spouse, or next of kin, or maybe the children. There are some states that allow a surviving spouse to take action even when they are separated unless the spouse is proven guilty of desertion or maybe the spouse did not provide support.
There are some instances that the children will file a lawsuit for the wrongful death of their parents. And parents will also be able to file a lawsuit for the wrongful death of their children. There are some states that only minor children will be allowed to sue the one responsible for the wrongful death of their parents. And there are some state statutes that will not allow the parents to file a suit for an adult child who is already financially independent or married.
For the defendant to be liable for the wrongful death claim, the plaintiff should be able to meet the proof required. Here is an article that talks about evidence.
This will be the same proof that the deceased victim would have provided if he or she lived.
By using “negligence” against the defendant, this goes to show that the defendant needs to provide the victim with their deserved care.
This also means that the defendant did not meet his required duties where these duties were the cause of the death of the victim. This also means that the death of the victim caused the damages which the plaintiff now in trying to recover.
There are certain factors to be considered when determining the amount of the damages for the wrongful death. In order to compute the compensation, the salary of the decedent that he or she could have earned will be multiplied to the number of years of the possible number of years that the decedent could have lived but will also be adjusted with inflation.
There are actual tables used as a guide for the average life expectancy depending on age and gender. The health status, as well as the nature of his or her work, will also be taken into consideration by the jury.
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