What Are My Rights if a Loved One Dies in a Multi-Vehicle Crash?

If a loved one dies in a multi-vehicle crash, your rights will depend on your relationship to the person who passed away. For instance, certain family members might be legally permitted to file a wrongful death claim and recover the full value of their loved one’s life.

This often includes financial losses as well as the loss of companionship, particularly if another party’s negligence caused the fatal collision. To fully understand your rights if a loved one dies in a multi-vehicle crash, contact an Atlanta multi-vehicle car accident lawyer ASAP.

When One Crash Involves Many Drivers

Multi-vehicle crashes are some of the most complex accidents on Georgia roads. These collisions often involve three, four, or even more vehicles. They may start with one driver’s mistake, but quickly turn into a chain reaction.

For example, one driver may brake suddenly on I-285. Another driver may be following too closely. A third driver may be speeding. In seconds, a single impact becomes a pileup. In Georgia, these crashes are especially common on highways, including:

• I-75
• I-85
• I-20

This is especially true during periods of heavy traffic, bad weather, or construction zones. When multiple cars are involved, figuring out who caused the crash becomes much harder.

If your loved one died in a multi-vehicle accident, you deserve clear answers about who was at fault and what your family can do next. Contact our Atlanta car accident lawyers for a free consultation to discuss your case.

Georgia’s Wrongful Death Law Explained

When someone dies because of another person’s negligence, Georgia law allows certain family members to file a wrongful death claim.

A wrongful death claim is a civil lawsuit. It is separate from any criminal charges that may be filed. In Georgia, the following people generally have the right to file a wrongful death claim:

• The surviving spouse
• If there is no spouse, the deceased person’s children
• If there is no spouse or children, the parents
• In some cases, the estate representative

The goal of a wrongful death claim is to recover the “full value of the life” of the person who passed away. This includes both financial and non-financial losses. Understanding who has the legal right to file is one of the first and most important steps.

What Does “Full Value of the Life” Mean?

Georgia uses unique language when it comes to wrongful death cases. The law focuses on the “full value of the life” of the deceased person. This includes two major parts, those being economic value and intangible value.

Economic Value

This is the financial side of a person’s life. It can include:

• Lost wages
• Lost future earnings
• Lost benefits, like health insurance and retirement contributions
• The value of services the person provided to the family

If your loved one was the primary income earner, this part of the claim can be significant.

Intangible Value

This refers to the human side of loss. It includes:

• Loss of companionship
• Loss of care and guidance
• Loss of a spouse’s relationship
• Loss of a parent’s support

There is no simple formula for calculating these losses. They reflect the unique life your loved one lived and the impact they had on your family.

Why Multi-Vehicle Crashes Are Legally Complicated

In a two-car accident, the situation is often more straightforward. In a multi-vehicle crash, liability can be shared among several drivers. Georgia follows a modified comparative negligence rule. This means that fault can be divided among multiple parties.

If a driver is less than 50% responsible, they may still be eligible to recover damages, but those damages will be reduced by their percentage of fault. If someone is 50% or more at fault, they may not recover damages. In a fatal multi-car crash, insurance companies often point fingers at each other.

One driver may blame another. Each insurer tries to reduce its payout. This can delay compensation for grieving families. Here’s what evidence in these cases often includes:

• Police reports
• Crash reconstruction
• Eyewitness testimony
• Traffic camera footage
• Black box data from vehicles

The more vehicles are involved, the more complicated the investigation usually becomes.

Call Us to Learn What Your Rights Are if a Loved One Dies in a Multi-Vehicle Crash

If your loved one dies in a multi-vehicle crash, it’s normal for people in your position to wonder what your rights are. Depending on your relationship to the person who died, you might have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim or compensation to cover the full value of your loss.

Holding the negligent drivers accountable for their actions might be something you can do, too. However, it all depends on the details of the case and who you were in relation to the victim prior to their passing. For a case-specific answer, contact John Foy & Associates ASAP.

Founded in 1999, our attorneys have 350 years of combined experience. Together, we’ve recovered more than $1 billion for our clients. Known as The Strong Arm™, we will fight for a fair outcome on your behalf and help you understand your rights under Georgia state laws.