When someone is injured due to another person’s negligent or criminal actions, the victim can often file a personal injury claim against that person to recover any losses related to their medical bills, lost wages and other related expenses.
What happens, however, when an injury victim doesn’t survive? In those cases, survivors may be able to file a wrongful death claim. While personal injury claims are designed to compensate the living, wrongful death claims compensate the victim’s survivors.
In Georgia, wrongful death actions can be brought by a surviving spouse, the surviving children and the parents of the deceased, depending on the situation. Failing those options, the administrator of the deceased’s estate can also press a claim.
Wrongful death claims can ask for damages like compensation for pain and suffering, medical expenses related to the deceased’s injuries, funeral expenses and the value of their future lost income to the family.
It’s often possible to file a wrongful death claim even when you might think otherwise. For example, the widow and children of a Georgia investigator have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the owners of the gas station where he was shot and killed. Their lawsuit claims that he was a victim of negligent security since the owners were aware the area was crime-ridden and took no steps — like adding safety lighting and security cameras — to increase their patrons’ safety. They also retained an employee even though they knew he used the location to deal drugs.
If you’ve lost a loved one due to someone else’s wrongful actions, a wrongful death claim may help you obtain a measure of justice. It can also provide you and your family with the money you need to maintain the stability of your home.
