If a loved one has died due to the sort of incident that could lead to a personal injury case, you or another family member can file a wrongful death action. Georgia’s laws governing wrongful death cases cover who can bring a case, what kind of damages can be recovered, and who gets any awarded money. Notably, you can bring a wrongful death claim when the death was caused by someone’s negligence, by a defective product, or if someone deliberately caused it. Let’s take a look at wrongful death claims in Georgia, including how a wrongful death lawyer can help you and your family recover compensation. Who Can Sue for Wrongful Death? The order for who can serve as a representative to start a wrongful death action is spouse, child, parent, then estate representative. In other words, if your spouse dies, then you can sue on their behalf. If your…

For a 13-year-old Georgia boy, the mid-June day seemed ordinary. He was helping his family do yard work. The boy was edging the sidewalk, removing grass and weeds close to the pavement where a mower may not be able to reach. An unexpected tragedy turned this uneventful day into a wrongful death case in the blink of an eye. Seemingly out of nowhere, an SUV came speeding around the corner, and the driver failed to properly negotiate the turn. She struck both the boy and his father and did not even stop. As she drove away, the father, who suffered a serious leg injury, did his best to help his son, but the boy's injuries were severe, and being badly injured himself, there was little he could do. The injured father and son were taken to a local hospital for emergency medical treatment, and while the father was able to hang on, the…

Sometimes obeying traffic laws seems to interfere with what a driver thinks needs to be done. There are days when one is late for work and it feels like every light in Georgia is turning red just as the individual approaches it. Other days, one is in a hurry to get home or to a meeting and the stop sign just seems to be pointless. While there are times when some traffic laws may appear to get in the way, fatal accidents can occur when they are not heeded. Recently, two individuals were killed and another critically injured when one of the individuals failed to stop at a stop sign. According to authorities, one of the drivers was traveling west toward an intersection and appears to have legally proceeded to cross through it. Another driver was traveling south toward the same intersection. However, this driver apparently did not stop as required by the…

Most drivers in Georgia go to great lengths to ensure that they are following all traffic laws to protect both their personal safety as well as the safety of others they may encounter. Unfortunately, it may be impossible for even the safest of drivers to avoid the negligent acts of others. For example, a fatal accident involving a tire on a tractor-trailer recently resulted in a woman's death. The incident happened on a day in mid-August. According to reports, a 31-year-old man from out of state was driving a tractor-trailer in the northbound lanes of Interstate 75. Two wheels on the tractor-trailer apparently came off one of the axles of the truck. One of the tires flew across a concrete median and struck a southbound sports utility vehicle. Law enforcement officers claim that the tire took most of the top of the vehicle off. The 36-year-old driver of the SUV, a…

Drivers in Georgia likely come across a variety of different flashing lights, warning signs, and other precautions to protect their safety. Unfortunately, some people may choose to ignore these signs or fail to see them, potentially placing their own lives at risk as well as the lives of their passengers or others in the area. In fact, a recent fatal accident in Georgia -- which could ultimately result in a wrongful death lawsuit -- appears to illustrate the potential dangers of failing to obey flashing lights. The incident happened just before 7 a.m. on a day in early August. According to reports, a 45-year-old man drove a van onto train tracks. The man allegedly ignored several warnings that a train was coming. Reports indicate that the intersection was equipped with several safety tools, including crossbucks, lights, gates, and bells. Video of the incident reportedly shows the man leaving the van just…

Obedience to the rules of the road is vital to a driver who wants to remain safe. Although the actions of other drivers cannot be predicted, fatal accidents can often be avoided when everyone drives with care. An 18-year-old Georgia girl is facing charges after police say her actions caused one of the state's most tragic fatal accidents this year. According to police reports, the girl and another driver were on their way to school in January when she hit the back of the other car. The car was pushed off the road and hit a tree. The driver died from his injuries. The girl's car went spinning, also off the road and landed in a ditch. Her injuries were minor and she was able to hold a rational conversation with responding emergency personnel. A collision reconstruction unit recently concluded its investigation and advised police charges of vehicular homicide, reckless driving,…

Three people died following a tragic accident involving a diesel truck, according to local sources. The Peach County Emergency Management Agency in Fort Valley confirmed the truck accident that killed both the truck driver and two people in a passenger vehicle. The precise cause of the Georgia accident is still under investigation. Limited information is available from this report, but it has been confirmed that the accident happened on the evening of March 30. Apparently, a tractor-trailer driven by a 55-year-old woman was headed eastbound on the 49 Bypass when the accident occurred. For reasons that are still unknown, the truck collided with a southbound vehicle carrying two female students, both 19 years old, who attended the nearby Fort Valley State University. The force of the impact caused the fuel tank on the tractor-trailer to rupture. This, in turn, caused both vehicles to catch fire, trapping all three people in…

It seems there are a number of people who think the rules of the road do not apply to them. Distracted driving, drug use or alcohol consumption before driving, or otherwise negligent behavior behind the wheel are all causes of fatal accidents on Georgia roadways. A man faces multiple charges after causing one of the state's most recent fatal accidents. The man and a friend were headed south when his 2007 Chevrolet sedan left the road. After hitting some trees, the car went spinning back onto the road and hit another vehicle going north. Rescue personnel found the man injured and his friend dead when they arrived at the scene. There was no mention of any injuries to the occupants of the second vehicle. The man was taken to a local hospital. However, he left the hospital before the admission process was completed. U.S. Marshals located and arrested him on numerous…

Too often do family and friends have to say an earthly farewell to a loved one because another person was negligent while driving. The option of filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the perpetrator is available in most cases of death due to negligent or reckless behavior. The family of a Georgia couple appears to have grounds to pursue financial damages from a wrongful death lawsuit after the death of a couple. The husband and wife, both 71 years of age, were in their Ford F-150 and were traveling through an intersection when a semitrailer ran a stop sign. The pickup hit the side of the semi, causing the semi to roll on top of the pickup truck. The couple died upon impact. Georgia State Patrol officials have not released details of the accident but state they are still investigating the matter. They indicated that charges will likely be issued to the 30-year-old…

Georgia residents who own dogs know their pets need to be walked on a daily basis. Most set out at a convenient time of day to ensure the dog gets the exercise it needs, never thinking it may end in tragedy. A family lost someone they loved in a wrongful death accident when he was walking his dog. The woman believed responsible apparently left the scene but has been identified by police. The 66-year-old man was in his own yard when a vehicle, suspected to be a silver Infiniti and going too fast for the weather conditions at the time, hit him and his dog. Both the man and the dog were killed instantly. Later in the day and less than a mile away, police found the vehicle they believed to be used in the hit-and-run accident. Police discovered the owner of the vehicle was in jail but used various means,…