Smyrna
Wrongful Death Lawyer in Smyrna

After the passing of a family member, it can be hard to know where to turn. You could be even more confused and hurt if someone else intentionally or negligently caused their loss of life. Filing a wrongful death claim can allow you to hold them accountable and ease your financial burden.

A wrongful death lawyer in Smyrna can help you by investigating your case and gathering evidence that proves the other party’s negligence. The team at John Foy & Associates has been helping people like you since 2003, so you can trust us with your case.

We recognize that no amount of money can take away the grief during this difficult time. However, compensation can allow you to focus on healing instead of dealing with expenses. You can talk to a Smyrna personal injury lawyer for free when you call us.

Benefits of Hiring Our Smyrna Wrongful Death Lawyers

Losing a loved one is one of the most devastating experiences a family can endure, especially when the death was caused by someone else’s negligent actions. During such an emotional time, facing the legal process of a wrongful death lawsuit can be overwhelming.

Our experienced wrongful death lawyers in Smyrna are here to support you every step of the way and help you pursue the justice and compensation your family deserves under Georgia law.

• In-depth knowledge of wrongful death laws: We understand the challenges of Georgia law and ensure your wrongful death claim is filed correctly within the statute of limitations.
• Thorough case evaluation: Our team investigates the cause of death—whether from car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, rideshare accidents, vehicle accidents, workplace accidents, slip and fall incidents, pedestrian accidents, or defective products—to build a strong case.
• Pursuit of all possible damages: We seek full compensation for economic damages like lost income, medical bills, funeral and burial expenses, and burial costs, as well as non-economic damages such as emotional distress, pain and suffering, and loss of companionship.
• Experience with complicated evidence: We may work with experts such as medical professionals and a forensic economist to calculate the full extent of your financial loss and future impact on the estate representative and surviving family members.
• Accountability for negligent parties: Whether the death was caused by medical malpractice, driving under the influence, faulty construction, or a breach of duty of care, we identify all liable parties and pursue a wrongful death lawsuit on your behalf.
• Handling aggressive insurance companies: We deal directly with the insurance company to protect your rights and prevent unfair settlement offers that do not reflect the true value of your claim.
• Compassionate legal support: A personal injury lawyer from our team will guide you through the legal system with sensitivity and respect, helping you understand each step of the process during this emotionally difficult time.
• Maximizing compensation through legal strategy: We may also pursue punitive damages in cases involving especially reckless or intentional conduct, such as a criminal action resulting in death.
• Personalized representation: Every case is unique. Whether the wrongful death arose from a personal injury matter involving medical treatment, motor vehicle accidents, or another scenario, we tailor our approach to meet your family’s specific needs.

Hiring a wrongful death lawyer in Smyrna helps ensure that your loved one’s legacy is honored with the justice they deserve. After all, a wrongful death claim can be overwhelming, especially when you’re grieving and trying to make sense of an unexpected loss. 

Let John Foy & Associates handle the legal burden—from dealing with the insurance company to fighting for fair compensation—so you can focus on healing, supporting your family, and remembering the one you’ve lost with dignity and peace of mind.

Family Members Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim

Georgia has restrictions on who can file due to wrongful death laws on a deceased family member’s behalf. This cuts down on inter-family conflict and ensures that one claim is filed for the decedent’s accident.

The Official Code of Georgia Annotated (OCGA) § 51-4-2 lays out the order in which people can claim compensation for wrongful death. Keep in mind that this is simply who can file, but not necessarily who gets the entire settlement:

• If there is a surviving spouse, they file the claim.
• The decedent’s children file the claim if there is no surviving spouse.
• If the decedent had no living spouse or children, their parents would file the claim.
• If none of the above apply, someone designated by the decedent’s estate may file the claim.

The payment in these scenarios depends on what family members are living and who is filing. For example, if a surviving spouse files and has two living children, the settlement is split into three equal parts. If there are more than two surviving children, the spouse receives a third, and the children split the rest equally.

If you’re unsure whether you can file or who will be receiving compensation for your family member’s death, a personal injury lawyer can help. At your initial consultation, your lawyer can help you understand what steps you and your family should take.

The Key Elements of a Wrongful Death Claim

Your loved one’s untimely death is tragic, regardless of whether anyone was at fault. However, to legally count as a wrongful death, there are specific criteria that your situation must meet. 

If there is no valid argument for wrongful death, you may have to rely on your loved one’s insurance company to pay for expenses. The key elements of a wrongful death claim are:

• A duty of care: You and your Smyra wrongful death lawyer have to show that the other party owed your loved one a duty to treat them as well as any person can reasonably expect to.
• Negligence: This occurs when someone breaches the duty of care — this can be intentional or unintentional and does not necessarily have to be a criminal act. It just has to be below the standard that someone should treat someone else.
• Causation: You and your lawyer will have to show that not only was the other party negligent, but that negligence also caused your loved one’s death.
• Damages: It’s not enough to show how the other party caused your family member’s death. To get financial compensation, you also need to show why you deserve compensation. You need to show the economic and non-economic damages that the at-fault party’s negligence caused.

Your catastrophic injury lawyer in Smyrna will gather evidence proving these points. By proving your claim and showing the full extent of your damages, your attorney will ensure that the other party and their insurance company give you as much compensation as possible. 

This may include gathering strong evidence, consulting with experts, calculating both economic and non-economic damages, and negotiating aggressively on your behalf to make sure you are not shortchanged or pressured into a low settlement.

Damages You Can Recover for Wrongful Death

Your compensation in your wrongful death claim will depend on the damages your loved one and your family suffered because of the at-fault party’s actions. Damages like yours are usually split into economic, non-economic, and punitive. A law firm can help you reach a fair settlement for your damages through settlement negotiations.

Economic Damages

The first type of damage that your lawyer will calculate will be your economic damages. These are the financial losses you and your family experienced due to your loved one’s accident and subsequent death.

Economic damages can include:

• Medical bills
• Funeral expenses
• Burial expenses
• Lost wages
• Loss of future household income

Non-Economic Damages

In most accident cases, the other type of damage that comes into play is non-economic. Non-economic damages are the toll on your quality of life and that of your loved one before they pass away.

Non-economic damages can include:

• Loss of consortium
• Loss of companionship
• Pain and suffering
• Mental trauma and emotional pain

Your wrongful death attorney in Smyrna, GA, will most likely use your economic damages to calculate your non-economic damages.

They will first multiply your financial losses by a specific number. This number is determined based on the suffering your loved one and your family endured. The product of this calculation will then define the amount you receive for your non-financial losses from the negligent party.

Punitive Damages

The third type of damage you could recover compensation for is not a factor in every accident case. Punitive damages punish parties whose actions were particularly egregious and discourage others from making the same mistake.

You aren’t guaranteed any punitive damages, but they appear more in wrongful death claims than in other accident claims.

Understanding the Legal Process and Statute of Limitations in a Wrongful Death Lawsuit

When facing the challenging journey of a wrongful death lawsuit, it is crucial to understand the legal process and the associated time constraints due to the statute of limitations.

One of the first steps in the legal process involves calculating damages, including medical expenses and funeral costs. For many families, these unforeseen costs can be financially devastating. A lawsuit can provide a financial lifeline to help cover these expenses.

In Georgia, the statute of limitations for wrongful death claims is generally two years from the date of the loved one’s death. This time limit can make it crucial to begin the process quickly, especially since evidence collection and case-building can take some time.

Nuances to the Georgia Statute of Limitations

Certain circumstances can alter the statute of limitations for your case in Georgia, making consulting with a team of experienced personal injury attorneys even more vital. These cases can arise from various incidents, including fatal accidents such as:

• Truck accidents
• Motor Vehicle Accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Workplace accidents
• Defective Products

Irrespective of the cause, it is essential to prove that the responsible party failed to exercise reasonable care, leading to the fatal event.

Traffic laws, for instance, mandate certain responsibilities for drivers to ensure the safety of others. A breach of these laws can result in a wrongful death claim. Our personal injury firm has experience handling a wide range of cases, including ones involving motor vehicle accidents.

During these difficult times, you need a reliable support system that understands the emotional turmoil and can guide you through the legal intricacies of a wrongful death lawsuit. You need an experienced accident lawyer throughout the process.

Call John Foy & Associates to Speak With a Smyrna Wrongful Death Attorney Today

Your family member’s passing should not mean you carry a financial burden over the emotional one you already suffer. Our wrongful death lawyers in Smyrna can help you recover from your ordeal, if only monetarily.

With over $1 billion recovered for our clients, John Foy & Associates is ready to join your team. To get a free consultation with an attorney who can help, call us today, then visit our FAQ page to learn more.