Seeking Justice For The Loss Of Your Loved One
Losing a loved one is never easy, especially if their death was preventable. If someone else’s negligence caused an accident that led to the death of a family member, then you may have a valid wrongful death claim. While no amount of compensation can bring your loved one back or erase the trauma you’ve suffered, it can help you get back on your feet financially.
At Newbern Law Firm, I assist clients throughout the Atlanta metropolitan area in filing wrongful death claims on behalf of their deceased loved ones. I am attorney Christopher Newbern, and I have over a decade of trial and personal injury experience that I use to build strong cases for my clients. As I have won multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements, you can trust me to fight tirelessly for you and your family.
What Qualifies As A Wrongful Death Claim In Georgia?
In Georgia, the deceased’s surviving family members – including their spouse, surviving children and parents – or a representative for their estate can bring a claim for wrongful death. To have a valid wrongful death claim, you must prove that someone else’s negligence caused the accident and resulting fatality.
A wrongful death case can arise out of any kind of accident, including those involving:
- Cars: Car accidents are some of the most common types of accidents. Fatalities are a regular occurrence in many high-speed collisions.
- Medical malpractice: Medical mistakes, medication errors and anesthesiology mistakes are all life-threatening, when they turn fatal, doctors must be held accountable.
- Industrial and manufacturing: On the industrial manufacturing floor, machines with immense power and speed are doing complex work, with humans in the mix. Any lapse in safety guidelines can lead to devastating losses.
- Trucks: Massive commercial trucks are much more likely to cause fatalities than most other types of accidents, even at low speeds.
- Slips-and-falls: While slips-and-falls are not normally fatal, it is not unheard of for someone in poor health to sustain fatal injuries due to the negligence of a property owner.
In a wrongful death claim, you can recover damages for funeral costs, medical expenses, lost wages and future earning potential, loss of companionship, and pain and suffering. At Newbern Law Firm, I will take the time to thoroughly examine your case and the evidence to help determine your best path forward.
Who Has The Legal Right To Sue For Wrongful Death?
In Georgia, the right to sue for a wrongful death is restricted to two tiers of individuals. These tiers are:
- Tier 1: Surviving Spouse (must share recovery with children, minimum 1/3 share).
- Tier 2: Surviving Children (if no spouse).
- Tier 3: Surviving Parents (if no spouse or children).
- Tier 4: Personal Representative of the Estate (in the absence of immediate family).
It is important to note that the bottom tier of the groups with the right to sue is only seeking to recover estate costs, in an estate claim and it is not a true wrongful death claim. Typically, an estate claim is not going to pursue lifetime earnings or loss of companionship.
Catastrophic Injuries Can Lead To Fatalities
In a serious accident, it is fairly common for victims to survive the impact and later pass away days or weeks later because of medical complications. Catastrophic injuries include injuries or illnesses that result in permanent disabilities or a lengthy incapacitation. The recovery period for a catastrophic injury is often lengthy and may include multiple surgeries, expensive medical treatments and long hospital stays.
Common catastrophic injuries that lead to fatalities include:
- Amputation infections
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal organ damage
Watching a loved one suffer through a serious injury or illness, especially one that was caused by someone else’s negligence, can be traumatic. You and your family deserve justice and the means to begin healing. I will help you hold the responsible parties accountable so that you can move forward.
How An Atlanta Attorney Secures Compensation For Wrongful Death Claims
When I take on a case, I look closely at the duties and breaches of the liable parties to you and the loved one you lost. I look closely at all the evidence and build a case using the facts that illustrate how the liable parties’ negligence or intentional acts have caused irreparable harm to you.
Losing a loved one is the most devastating loss a person or family can suffer. I will help you hold the liable party accountable.
Get Started On Your Case
When you work with me at Newbern Law Firm, I will take the time to get to know you, your family and your concerns before developing a strong case strategy to help you succeed. To learn more about how I can assist you in filing a wrongful death claim in a free consultation, call my Atlanta office at 943-245-8801 or contact me online.