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Losing a loved one because of someone else’s carelessness is one of the most devastating experiences a family can face. While nothing can undo the pain of your loss, Georgia law allows families to pursue a wrongful death claim, seeking accountability and financial security for the future. During a time filled with grief and uncertainty, you shouldn’t have to navigate the legal process alone. The Goldwater Law Firm can connect you with a wrongful death attorney in Georgia who can guide you, protect your rights, and help your family pursue the justice your loved one deserves.
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Why Choose The Goldwater Law Firm?
When your family is coping with an unexpected loss, choosing the right legal team matters. The Goldwater Law Firm is committed to making this process as simple, supportive, and empowering as possible, especially during a time when you’re already overwhelmed. For over 20 years, we’ve worked with our trusted law firm partners across the country to help families facing serious injury and wrongful death cases. Our law firm partners stand up to insurance companies that try to minimize or deny responsibility and make sure your family receives the fairness, respect, and compassion you’re entitled to from day one.
You will never feel like just another case when you work with our co-counsel. We take the time to understand your loved one’s story, how the loss has impacted your family, and what a meaningful outcome looks like for you. From there, we connect you with a law firm partner who will develop a strategy tailored to your specific needs, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
Because most families are not prepared for the financial challenges that follow a wrongful death, our law firm partners work on a contingency-fee basis. You pay nothing up front and nothing out of pocket. You only pay if a personal injury lawyer in Georgia secures compensation for you.
Need a Wrongful Death Attorney in Georgia?
How a Wrongful Death Lawyer Lightens Your Load
Losing a loved one is overwhelming. Handling legal deadlines, insurance calls, and paperwork on top of that can feel impossible. A wrongful death lawyer steps in to manage every detail so you can focus on your family, not the legal process.
Your Lawyer Takes the Legal Burdens Off Your Shoulders
Your attorney takes over the tasks that are time-consuming, stressful, and emotionally draining, including:
- Investigating what happened
- Gathering police reports, medical records, and other evidence
- Working with expert witnesses to prove fault
- Calculating the full value of your family’s losses
- Communicating with insurance companies
- Protecting you from lowball settlement offers
- Managing all paperwork and court filings
- Keeping track of deadlines so nothing is missed
You Get Space to Grieve and Heal
Instead of spending your days on phone calls or searching for documents, you have the freedom to:
- Support your family
- Take time to process your loss
- Handle personal matters without legal pressure
- Focus on emotional healing
A Steady Advocate by Your Side
Throughout the process, your lawyer keeps you updated in clear, simple terms. You’ll never have to wonder what comes next or face the insurance company alone.
With a wrongful death attorney handling the legal burden, you can devote your energy to the people and moments that matter most.
What Compensation Can Your Family Recover?
When a loved one’s life is cut short because of someone else’s negligence, the financial impact can be as overwhelming as the emotional one. A wrongful death claim in Georgia allows your family to pursue compensation that reflects both the economic and intangible losses caused by their passing.
Compensation may include:
- The “Full Value of the Life of the Decedent”: This includes the income your loved one would have earned throughout their lifetime, benefits they would have received, and the loss of their relationships with surviving family members.
- Medical Expenses: You may be able to recover compensation for any treatment your loved one received before passing.
- Funeral and Burial Costs: Families should not have to bear these expenses alone.
- Pain and Suffering: The physical and emotional suffering your loved one endured may be compensable.
The Goldwater Law Firm can connect you with a wrongful death attorney at one of our law firm partners who evaluates every aspect of your loss to ensure no category of compensation is overlooked. Your family deserves full acknowledgment of what was taken, both financially and emotionally.
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CALL US NOWWhat Qualifies as Wrongful Death in Georgia?
A wrongful death occurs when a person loses their life due to another party’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct. This can stem from a wide range of situations, such as:
- Car accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Truck crashes
- Dangerous products
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle crashes
- Pedestrian accidents
If your loved one would have had the right to file a personal injury claim had they survived, their passing likely meets the criteria for a wrongful death claim under Georgia law.
Georgia Wrongful Death Laws Families Should Know
Navigating a wrongful death claim is challenging, especially when you’re grieving. Understanding a few key Georgia laws can help you understand what to expect and why acting quickly is crucial. Your attorney will handle these legal details for you, but here are the essentials:
The Statute of Limitations (Deadline to File)
In most cases, Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33) gives families two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit. However, certain circumstances can cause the deadline to be paused or extended.
Your lawyer will determine exactly how much time your family has, so your rights aren’t lost.
Who Has the Right to File
Georgia law strictly outlines who can bring a wrongful death action:
- Surviving spouse (and children share in the recovery)
- If no spouse: children
- If no spouse or children: parents
- If no immediate family: the personal representative of the estate
Knowing the proper order prevents disputes and delays during an already stressful time.
“Full Value of the Life” Standard
Georgia is unique. Instead of focusing on how the loss affects the surviving family members, the law requires compensation based on the full value of the life of the decedent and what they lost, including:
- Economic value (lifetime earnings, benefits)
- Intangible value (relationships, experiences, enjoyment of life)
This standard aims to honor the total loss, not just part of it.
Comparative Negligence
Georgia follows a modified comparative negligence rule:
- Your loved one must be less than 50% at fault for your family to recover compensation.
- If they were partially at fault, their percentage of responsibility reduces what they can recover.
Your attorney works to protect your recovery by challenging unfair blame from insurance companies.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Every case is different. Some claims are resolved within a few months, especially when liability is clear. Others, particularly those involving medical malpractice, trucking accidents, or disputes about fault, may take longer. Your attorney will keep the pressure on the insurance company and update you at every stage, so you always know where your case stands.
No. Most wrongful death cases in Georgia settle outside of court. However, your lawyer will prepare every case as if a trial were possible. This approach strengthens your position during negotiations and ensures your family is protected if a trial becomes necessary.
Georgia law sets a specific order:
- Surviving spouse
- Children (share in recovery if a spouse files)
- Parents (if no spouse or children)
- Personal representative of the estate
Your lawyer will make sure the recovery is distributed according to Georgia law and that your family avoids unnecessary disputes during a painful time.
Yes. A civil wrongful death claim is separate from criminal proceedings. Even if someone is charged or not, the civil case can move forward. In fact, pending criminal charges may extend your filing deadline. Your attorney will handle the timing and coordination of the process.
Yes. Your attorney will take your case on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing up front. You only pay your lawyer if they win.
Take the Next Step Toward Justice for Your Loved One
Losing a loved one is heartbreaking, and you shouldn’t have to navigate the legal process alone. A wrongful death attorney can protect your family’s rights, fight for the accountability you deserve, and lighten the burden during an already overwhelming time. If your loved one’s passing was caused by negligence, now is the moment to take action. Contact our team today for a free, confidential consultation. Let our team stand by your side and help your family pursue justice.
The Goldwater Law Firm can connect you with a Georgia wrongful death attorney from one of our law firm partners today.