Georgia Wrongful Death Lawyer
Losing a loved one because of someone else’s carelessness or intentional misconduct can leave families with severe financial hardships in addition to overwhelming grief and suffering. Our supportive and experienced Georgia wrongful death lawyers can help you and your family pick up the pieces and hold those accountable who took your loved one too soon.
If someone’s careless or intentional misconduct has caused the death of your family member, we can help you hold them accountable. Your family could receive a large settlement for your losses. Call us today at (877) 245-6707 for a free consultation.
Why You Can Trust Our Georgia Wrongful Death Attorneys To Help Your Family With Your Wrongful Death Lawsuit
We are a family-owned law firm that was started in 1979 by Chuck and Eddie Farah, two brothers who are passionate about helping injured individuals and grieving families stand up to large insurance companies. We put clients first at all of our Georgia personal injury law offices, and our award-winning lawyers work as a team to win families the highest compensation available.
Insurance companies resort to almost any tactic to avoid compensating families as they should. They deny responsibility and claim it was just a tragic accident. In some cases, they will even blame your loved one for their own death.
We have won more than $2 billion in settlements and verdicts for injured clients and grieving families, and our results are no accident. Our 44 years of experience have shown us how far insurance companies will go to evade liability, and we consistently beat them at their own game.
Some of our talented wrongful death lawyers once worked for large insurance companies, and this is like a secret weapon that helps us calculate an insurance company’s every move before they make it. Brianna Lucas in our Savannah office is one such attorney, and large insurance companies don’t stand a chance.
Our Results Make All the Difference for Grieving Families
Our award-winning Georgia wrongful death lawyers consistently get big results for our wrongful death clients, including the following recent outcomes:
- $5 million for the family of a man who was killed while riding his motorcycle when a car ran a red light.
- $2.7 million for the family of a man whose fishing boat was sucked into a dam when spill gates opened by mistake.
- $1.3 million for the family of a truck driver who was struck by a semi while working on a loading dock.
- $1.2 million for the wrongful death of a father of three children.
Testimonials From Our Satisfied Clients
We treat clients like they are part of our own family. We visit them in the hospital. We call to check on them. We answer their calls and keep them informed. And we get the case results they need to move forward with their lives.
“Great people who care about you and care about your case. They kept us updated and fought for us when we needed someone to really fight for us. I’m glad we chose Farah and Farah!”
—Chris W. of Brunswick
“Farah & Farah are absolutely incredible. Look no further, they will definitely handle your case accordingly and get you what you deserve and need.”
—Lashonte W. of Albany
“Bradley Robinson was wonderful. He took care of my family and made sure we got what we deserved. When we found out my daughter got sick he made sure everything got done in a timely manner. Very honest and professional! Thank you Bradley for all that you do!”
—April W. of Savannah
Financial Compensation for the Loss of Your Family Member
We understand that no amount of financial compensation can ever truly make up for the loss of your beloved family member. However, state law allows families to pursue damages to cover their losses and bring about a measure of justice. In Georgia, you can recover the full financial value of your loved one’s life to help you as you recover from this difficult loss.
Damages you and your family may recover include income your loved one could have earned had they lived and the value of domestic services they provided, such as housekeeping, transportation, and childcare. You’re also entitled to seek damages for the direct costs related to the death, including your loved one’s funeral and burial expenses.
When you’ve lost a loved one to someone else’s negligence, your losses are much more profound than the measurable financial losses. The Georgia court system acknowledges this by allowing you to recover emotional losses that cannot be measured in dollars and cents, including the following:
- Loss of companionship.
- Loss of parental guidance.
- Loss of love and affection.
- Loss of advice, guidance, and counsel.
- Loss of comfort.
When you hire our dedicated Georgia wrongful death attorneys, we’ll sit down with you to learn your family’s cherished stories. Together, we’ll build an understanding of how much your loved one meant to you and your family. This will help us account for everything you’ve really lost and pursue the highest possible financial compensation for your family’s recovery.
We Serve All of Georgia
You and your family can count on our supportive Georgia wrongful death attorneys to be there for you whenever and wherever you need us.
Our Atlanta wrongful death lawyers will help your family pursue justice in Alpharetta, Athens, Duluth, Lagrange, and anywhere in between. If you need a wrongful death lawyer in Warner Robins, Dublin, Eastman, or other areas south of the Atlanta metro area, our Macon injury lawyers will be there for you.
In coastal Georgia, our Savannah injury lawyers can be there for your family when you need a wrongful death lawyer in Statesboro, Tybee Island, Hinesville, or other nearby areas. If your family is located farther south on Georgia’s coast, our injury attorneys in Brunswick will be there for you from Kingsland to Jesup and anywhere in between.
If you’re further west, our Waycross lawyers are available to help your family pursue justice in Homerville, Folkston, Alma, and throughout southwest Georgia. If you’re near the Florida border, our Valdosta injury attorneys will be there when your family needs us in Fargo, Quitman, Hahira, or anywhere else in the region.
If you’re located further to the north and east, you may be represented by our Albany injury lawyers.
Who Can Sue for Wrongful Death in Georgia?
The law doesn’t allow just anyone to file a wrongful death lawsuit. The right to sue for wrongful death in Georgia is first given to the surviving spouse and children. If there is no surviving spouse or children, the surviving parents can file a wrongful death lawsuit.
If no eligible next-of-kin is available, a personal representative of the deceased can file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the estate. The personal representative must hold the proceeds for the benefit of the next of kin.
How the Settlement Is Divided Among Family Members
If the deceased had a spouse and children, the wrongful death settlement is divided equally between them as long as the spouse receives no less than a third of the settlement.
If there are more than two children, the spouse must receive at least one-third, and the remaining amount is divided equally between the children.
If a child has passed away, but there are surviving grandchildren, the deceased child’s share of the wrongful death settlement is divided between their children.
If there is no surviving spouse, settlement funds are divided equally among the surviving children. If there is no surviving spouse or children, the settlement is awarded to the parents, who share them jointly if they are married and living together. If separated, the settlement is divided equally between them.
Your Wrongful Death Lawsuit Must Be Filed Before the Statute of Limitations Runs Out
Georgia requires you to file your wrongful death lawsuit no later than two years after the death of your loved one. It’s urgent that you contact a reputable Georgia wrongful death lawyer as soon as possible after your loved one’s death. This helps you protect valuable evidence and ensure your attorney has time to prepare a strong case.
If you do not file your lawsuit before the wrongful death statute of limitations expires, you will lose your right to seek justice for your loved one’s unnecessary death. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.
What if the Statute of Limitations Runs Out During Probate?
There are a few extenuating circumstances that allow for the statute of limitations to be paused, and probate is one of them. This pausing of the statute of limitations is also known as tolling. If your loved one’s estate is tied up in probate, the statute of limitations may be tolled until the estate settles.
However, if this isn’t completed within five years, the clock on the statute of limitations will start to run on the fifth anniversary of your loved one’s death. You will have two years from that point to file your lawsuit.
It’s important to avoid assuming your case qualifies for this or any other exception to the statute of limitations. Call us today at (877) 245-6707, and our skilled wrongful death lawyers will help determine how the statute of limitations applies in your case.
Causes of Wrongful Death
According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, unintentional injuries caused 5,500 deaths in Georgia in 2020 alone. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has determined that the top five causes of unintentional injury fatalities in adults ages 18 to 65 in Georgia in 2020 were as follows:
- Unintentional poisoning
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Slips and falls
- Drowning
- Fires
Negligence is commonly involved in all of these causes of death.
Unintentional poisoning may occur due to exposure to environmental toxins in the workplace, food poisoning, or medication errors.
Traffic accidents are almost always preventable, and the responsible parties are most often careless drivers. However, defective vehicle manufacturers, negligent mechanics, and others can also contribute to car accidents.
Georgia slips and falls, drownings, and fire-related deaths all fall under the area of law known as premises liability. In these cases, negligent property owners may be held responsible if they were negligent. For example, they can be held liable for failing to remove fall hazards or maintaining unsafe conditions around a swimming pool.
Proving Liability in a Wrongful Death Case and How We Can Help
When someone else has carelessly caused the death of your loved one, Georgia personal injury laws require you to prove that all of the following elements of negligence were present before a court can award damages:
- The defendant owed a duty of care.
- The defendant breached the duty of care.
- Your loved one passed away.
- Your loved one would not have passed away were it not for the breach of duty.
- The breach of duty is the actual cause of the injuries that led to your loved one’s death.
Whether or not you were present at the accident that caused your loved one’s death, piecing together what happened and how it caused the death is crucial to proving the defendant is liable.
Our nationally-recognized wrongful death attorneys in Georgia work with leading forensic investigators, medical experts, and professional witnesses who can help us determine exactly what happened. Our skilled and tenacious attorneys will also interview witnesses, look for camera surveillance, and connect all the dots. We will bear the entire burden of proving your case so you can focus on your family.
Wrongful Death Lawsuit FAQs
What Is Considered Wrongful Death in Georgia?
A wrongful death in Georgia is any death that results from a crime, negligence, or defective products. In the case of defective products, which is known as product liability law, the death is considered wrongful whether or not the elements of negligence were present.
What Is the Difference Between Wrongful Death and Survival Action in Georgia?
A wrongful death action is a lawsuit filed by the family of the deceased to pursue damages for their own losses related to the death.
A survival claim is a lawsuit filed by the family or personal representative of the deceased to continue a claim filed by the deceased before death or to initiate a new claim for losses suffered by the deceased. In a survival action, you could pursue damages for your loved one’s medical expenses and pain and suffering.
Our knowledgeable wrongful death lawyers in Georgia can file both of these claims for you at the same time without causing any added stress or burden to you.
Can the Surviving Family Seek Punitive Damages in Georgia?
Your family may be entitled to seek punitive damages if there is clear and convincing evidence of intentional misconduct or gross negligence by the defendant. These actions must have led to the accident that ultimately caused your loved one’s death. For example, if your loved one was hit by a drunk driver, punitive damages may be available.
Contact Our Wrongful Death Lawyers Today To Seek Justice for Your Loved One
If you’ve lost your beloved family member because of someone else’s carelessness or intentional wrongdoing, you and your lost loved one deserve justice. We’ll fight for you; there’s no reason to face this alone. Call our compassionate and caring Georgia wrongful death lawyers today at (877) 245-6707 for a free consultation.
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