Brunswick, GA Wrongful Death Lawyer

Brunswick Wrongful Death Attorney

Whenever one party harms another party, causing physical injuries and/or economic losses, the victim has the right to pursue a personal injury claim against whoever harmed them. The objective of a personal injury claim is to ensure accountability for the defendant and compensation for the victim to make them as whole as possible again. However, not every victim of a personal injury will recover. When a victim dies, this can form the foundation of a wrongful death suit.

Experienced Legal Representation for Wrongful Death Claims in Brunswick, GA

Filing a wrongful death claim in Southeast Georgia is similar to the process of filing a personal injury claim, but there are specific rules that apply to wrongful death claims that you need to understand to succeed with this type of case. Spohrer Dodd Trial Attorneys is a seasoned team of South Georgia attorneys with the skills, resources, and experience you want on your side if you intend to file a wrongful death claim in the Brunswick area.

Our firm has a long history of successful civil claims because we take time to learn each client’s unique needs and concerns. We know how emotionally stressful a wrongful death case can be and strive to help each client resolve their case as efficiently as possible. If you believe you have the right to file a wrongful death claim in South Georgia, we can help, and it is important to reach out to trustworthy legal counsel as quickly as possible for assistance with this type of case.

Proving Liability for a Wrongful Death in Brunswick

The first challenge a plaintiff faces in any wrongful death suit is proving fault for the death. A few of the most commonly reported causes of wrongful deaths in South Georgia include:

• Motor vehicle accidents caused by negligence. Traffic violations, speeding, and distracted driving are just a few examples of how drivers might cause devastating and fatal accidents. Your attorney can help gather traffic camera footage, vehicle computer data, and other evidence needed to prove liability for a fatal accident in the Brunswick area.
• Drunk driving. It is illegal for anyone to operate a vehicle while intoxicated, and doing so can lead to conviction for driving under the influence (DUI). Penalties for this offense automatically increase substantially when a defendant has caused severe bodily harm or death with their actions.
• Medical malpractice. All medical professionals have a duty to do no harm to their patients, but medical malpractice is one of the most commonly reported causes of accidental injuries and deaths in the United States each year. This type of wrongful death case requires meeting very specific procedural requirements and the attention of an experienced attorney.
• Interpersonal violence. Any type of violent crime has a high chance of leading to felony charges in Southeast Georgia, and this is especially true of any criminal act that results in great bodily harm or death. Intentionally killing another person can lead to homicide charges along with civil liability for wrongful death.

Success with a wrongful death claim requires clear evidence that the defendant directly caused the death. Only certain parties have the right to file a wrongful death claim, and an experienced Brunswick wrongful death attorney can work closely with the plaintiff and the victim’s family to help them understand how their case is likely to progress. Once you have secured the evidence needed to prove liability for a wrongful death, you can proceed with claiming compensation from the defendant.

It is important to note that if a victim is found to be partially responsible for the fatal injury, this will diminish the final case award from the wrongful death claim under the state’s modified comparative fault rule. If you are concerned that your lost loved one was partially liable for the fatal accident that took their life, it is vital to consult with a Brunswick wrongful death attorney as quickly as possible to determine the most viable approach to your case.

Claiming Damages in a Brunswick Wrongful Death Suit

State law allows the plaintiff in a wrongful death claim to seek multiple forms of compensation from the defendant who caused the death. First are economic damages, or the direct financial effects of the death. The family has the right to seek compensation for funeral and burial expenses along with repayment of lost financial support the deceased provided to their family. It’s possible to recover compensation for lost income and lost value of household services.

Next are non-economic damages, specifically, the pain and suffering of the victim’s surviving family. Your Brunswick wrongful death attorney can help determine a suitable amount to claim to reflect the grief, loss of affection, and loss of moral support and companionship provided by the deceased. It can be difficult for the average person to imagine a suitable monetary figure to reflect such intangible yet severe damages, which is another reason having legal counsel you can trust makes this type of claim much easier to manage.

If the estate of the deceased incurred losses such as medical bills for the victim’s final medical treatment, a survival action can be filed against the defendant to seek compensation for these losses. Additionally, it is possible for a wrongful death claim to yield punitive damages if the defendant caused the death through some illegal act.

It can be very difficult for any family to face the legal proceedings likely to follow a wrongful death in Southeast Georgia, and an experienced Brunswick wrongful death attorney can be an invaluable source of support and guidance in this difficult time. Spohrer Dodd Trial Attorneys approaches every wrongful death case we accept with the goal of helping our client recover as fully as state law allows. We will also seek a swift settlement if possible, but if the defendant in your case refuses settlement for any reason, we are fully prepared to represent you in court.

Wrongful Death Lawyer FAQs

Q: How Much Can You Get From a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in South Georgia?

A: The total potential value of any wrongful death claim varies based on multiple factors. The family has the right to claim funeral and burial expenses, the value of lost household services the deceased provided, and compensation for the income the deceased is no longer able to earn for the family. They may also claim compensation for their pain and suffering, and a survival action can help them recover losses sustained by the deceased’s estate.

Q: Who Has the Right to File a Wrongful Death Claim in Brunswick?

A: Under state law, the surviving spouse of the deceased is first with the right to file a wrongful death claim, followed by surviving children. If the deceased did not have a spouse and/or children, their next closest living relative or personal representative of their estate would have the right to file the claim. If you are unsure whether you have grounds to file a wrongful death claim in Southeast Georgia, consult a Brunswick wrongful death attorney as quickly as possible after the unexpected death of a family member.

Q: Will the Defendant Go to Jail for Causing a Wrongful Death?

A: It is possible for anyone who causes a wrongful death in South Georgia to face jail time and other criminal penalties depending on how they caused the death. If they caused a wrongful death through negligence, criminal prosecution is only likely if their actions exceeded the general definition of standard negligence. However, if they caused the death through illegal action, criminal prosecution is not only likely, but they will also face harsher penalties once convicted.

Q: Do I Need Legal Representation to File a Wrongful Death Claim in Brunswick?

A: It is technically possible to file a wrongful death suit without hiring an attorney, but success with the claim is unlikely for the average person. Additionally, even if they manage to win the case on their own, they would be unlikely to recover as much compensation as an attorney could have secured on their behalf. Hiring an experienced Brunswick wrongful death attorney not only increases your chances of success with the claim but also significantly increases your likelihood of maximizing your total compensation.

Q: How Much Are Attorneys’ Fees for a Brunswick Wrongful Death Attorney?

A: The majority of the attorneys representing wrongful death cases in Southeast Georgia work on a contingency fee basis. Instead of charging a client upfront or ongoing legal fees, the attorney takes a percentage of the total compensation they recover for their client at the end of the case. However, with a contingency fee agreement, they only take this fee if they win the case, and they take nothing if they are unsuccessful with the claim for any reason. Always make sure you fully understand a prospective attorney’s billing policy before you agree to their representation.

The attorneys at Spohrer Dodd Trial Attorneys have extensive experience handling complex civil cases on behalf of clients throughout Southeast Georgia, and we know the emotional weight that any wrongful death claim can impose on a victim’s family. You are likely to have many pressing legal questions in the aftermath of a loved one’s wrongful death, and we are ready to provide the answers you need in this difficult time. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation with a Brunswick wrongful death attorney you can trust.