Losing a loved one is never easy. You and your family deserve justice during these difficult times. Contact Blasingame, Burch, Garrard & Ashley, P.C. online or call (706) 354-4000 today for a free case evaluation.
What is the Typical Wrongful Death Settlement Amount in Georgia?
The death of a loved one or family members is never an easy thing to cope with, and if your loved one has died, you may be struggling with feelings of grief, loss, and even anger.
This is especially true if your loved one’s death was the result of a preventable accident.
While there is nothing that can possibly change what has happened or truly compensate you for your loved one’s death, filing a wrongful death claim may offer a sense of justice and closure, as well as the financial relief you need to support yourself moving forward.
But before you file a wrongful death action and begin the process of a civil suit, you may have questions about how much you can recover, and what the average wrongful death lawsuit settlement is.
It is important to know that all wrongful death claims are different, and therefore you should not expect to recover the same settlement as another claimant.
That being said, our Georgia wrongful death lawyers can help you understand the factors that determine a wrongful death settlement, as well as an approximate settlement amount you may recover.
Learn how we can assist you by calling (706) 354-4000 or send us an online message for a free consultation.
Georgia Wrongful Death Settlement Examples
Below is a sampling of wrongful death settlements that we’ve achieved on behalf of our clients. To see more of our personal injury case results, click here.
Please note that prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome in your case.
$3,500,000.00
Product Liability
A mother and son were involved in a rollover vehicle crash due to the instability of a General Motors vehicle, resulting in the woman being injured and her son’s death.
$3,450,000.00
Tractor-Trailer Accident
A railroad engineer was killed when a train hit a tanker truck that tried to beat the train across a railroad crossing.
$3,000,000.00
Product Liability
A fuel system defect in a pick-up truck caused a fire resulting in severe burns and the death of an 80-year-old lady.
Get a Free Wrongful Death Case Review
Do you have questions about a potential Georgia wrongful death claim? If so, simply submit the short form below to speak with an experienced wrongful death attorney from BBGA about your case.
Damages Available in a Georgia Wrongful Death Suit
A wrongful death claim is a type of civil action that may be brought when the death of one party is caused by the wrongful act, neglect, or recklessness of another party, and when the decedent would have had a cause of action to bring forth a personal injury claim against the defendant but for death.
A wrongful death claim may be filed by the spouse of the deceased person, the children of the deceased person, or the surviving parents of the deceased.
If none of the above parties exist, then a claim may be brought by the personal representative of the deceased on the behalf of any beneficiaries.
Regardless of who is filing the suit, Georgia recognizes two separate and distinct types of wrongful death claims: a wrongful death claim to establish the full life and value of the deceased, and a wrongful death claim to compensate the deceased’s estate/beneficiaries for financial losses stemming from the decedent’s passing.
As such, damages available via these two claim types include:
- Medical expenses incurred by the decedent prior to death
- The value of the deceased’s lost earnings, earning capacity, and benefits
- Funeral and burial expenses
- The value of pain and suffering experienced by the deceased prior to death
- Noneconomic damages suffered by surviving family members, such as the value of lost parental guidance, companionship, and protection of the deceased.
Factors that Affect a Wrongful Death Settlement Value in Georgia
Again, basing your potential settlement in a wrongful death claim on the “average” settlement for a wrongful death lawsuit isn’t wise; settlements vary greatly depending upon the circumstances of the case. Factors that can affect a wrongful death settlement in Georgia include:
Age of the Victim
Typically, the younger the victim, the more years the victim would have lived but for death. As such, the greater the loss of potential earning capacity and value of lost wages suffered by the victim and family as a result of death.
Earnings, Education, and Training
The amount of wages that a decedent collected prior to death, or would have collected in the future due to employment, promotions, etc. can have a large effect on a settlement, too.
For example, the family of a person who had an expected 25 working years left prior to retirement and was earning $100,000 per year would likely be entitled to a larger settlement than an individual of a similar age who was only earning $40,000 per year.
Economic Damages Suffered
In some cases, a person who is injured may live for days, weeks, or months with those injuries prior to death, incurring hundreds of dollars in medical expenses along the way.
A family deserves to be compensated for these medical expenses, as well as other financial losses, such as the costs associated with lost wages, loss of companionship, and more.
When a person dies and leaves behind a spouse, minor children, and other dependents, the loss can be especially hard on the family. Having minor children may affect the value of a claim, as minor children not only suffer financial losses when a parent dies but also the loss of parental guidance.
Keep in mind that in addition to the above factors, something that can have a monumental impact on your case is the amount of insurance that’s available.
In fact, if the defendant doesn’t have insurance, it can be difficult, if not impossible, to recoup a settlement at all.
Did You Lose a Loved One in an Accident?
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Average Nursing Home Wrongful Death Settlements
Like all wrongful death settlements, nursing home abuse wrongful death settlements include compensation for economic damages such as medical bills as well as noneconomic damages such as pain and suffering.
Usually, nursing home abuse wrongful death settlements in Georgia involve a lack of ordinary care.
Some examples of this include:
- Bedsores. Pressure ulcers can become life-threatening if they aren’t treated right away. This is a problem in understaffed nursing homes since they don’t watch their residents closely or help them rotate in bed often enough.
- Physical Assault. Most nursing home residents are frail or have physical medical conditions. Because of this, even a small amount of force could injure them.
- Slip-and-Falls. Many nursing home residents can fall due to unsafe conditions or frailty.
- Medication Errors. Sometimes nursing home staff give a resident the wrong medication or the wrong medication dosage.
Average Settlement for Medical Negligence Resulting in Death
Medical malpractice occurs when a medical professional has been negligent in their care of the victim. To get a malpractice settlement, you’ll need to prove how the medical professional harmed the victim. Usually, medical malpractice settlements cover monetary damages for recovery.
Common causes of medical malpractice include:
- The patient being mistreated or abused by the staff
- The patient not receiving the proper medication or treatment, which negatively affects their health/recovery
- The patient dying due to medical neglect or improper treatment by healthcare staff
Unfortunately, there are many cases of medical malpractice in healthcare facilities. The circumstances, cause, and damages can affect how much compensation you can get for a medical malpractice lawsuit.
How Can I Know What My Wrongful Death Case Is Worth?
The best way to learn what your case is worth, and what the average wrongful death settlement is to look for cases similar to yours, then schedule a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer.
A wrongful death attorney can review the details of your claim and provide you with a rough estimate of your claim’s value based on similar wrongful death settlements.
However, until a thorough investigation is opened and there is a clearer understanding of the insurance policies involved, it is impossible to get a precise average wrongful death settlement amount.
Contact Our Georgia Wrongful Death Lawyers Today
A wrongful death claim in Georgia must be filed within two years of the date of death.
If more than two years elapse, recovery is barred. The earlier you initiate the process, the greater the chances are that necessary evidence will be available, and the better the chances of your claim succeeding.
At Blasingame, Burch, Garrard & Ashley, P.C., our experienced wrongful death lawyers in Georgia understand how heart-wrenching losing a loved one is.
For your free, no-obligation consultation, please call our lawyers directly at (706) 354-4000 or fill out our case review form telling us more about your case. We are committed to advocating for you.
We have offices in Atlanta, Athens, and Lake Oconee and take cases across the state of Georgia. We offer free consultations and there is no fee unless we win your case.
Average Wrongful Death Settlement Amounts FAQ
Under the state statute, you can sue anyone who is responsible for your loved one’s death. They could have caused the death negligently, recklessly, intentionally, or criminally.
Georgia’s wrongful death statute states that the following can bring a wrongful death lawsuit: A surviving spouse, children, or parents.
The state of Georgia defines wrongful death as being the death of a person caused by a reckless, criminal, negligent, or intentional act of another entity (i.e. a business) or person.
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