The sudden death of someone devastates families across Athens, particularly those due to someone else’s negligence. The financial consequences of the loss compound the emotional trauma associated with the death.
Coping with the loss of a loved one means missing work to grieve, paying for burial and funeral expenses, and sometimes additional costs with childcare or home chores. Eligible persons have a right under Georgia Law to pursue compensation from the person who caused the death of their loved one. The statute of limitations for filing lawsuits for wrongful death is two years. Acting quickly to find a trusted attorney is always best.
Although money cannot eliminate the grief or bring back a loved one, it makes it easier to cope with the loss. You deserve compensation to cope with the emotional distress and fill the financial void left by the deceased relative.
Suppose you lost a loved one due to another party’s careless actions. In that case, our compassionate Athens wrongful death lawyers at Hall & Collins Injury Lawyers can support your quest for compensation.
Whether you’ve lost someone due to a car accident, pedestrian accident, or at someone’s property, we are here for you.
Why Choose Us
The ability to recover from the loss of a loved one depends on the settlement value you obtain from a wrongful death claim. You should, therefore, work with our highly skilled wrongful death attorney, who’ll protect your interests in the claim.
Here are a few reasons to work with us:
- Experience: Our wrongful death attorneys have over 50 years of combined legal experience, which gives us the confidence to protect the rights of families who lose their loved ones due to someone else’s recklessness or negligence.
- Location: You can find us conveniently at 594 Oconee St Ste. 111, Athens, GA 30605, a few blocks from Oak Street Convent.
- Tried and Tested: Our clients recommend us for our impressive track record. After initially receiving a $500,000 settlement offer, our wrongful death attorneys pursued an additional $1.5m, making a two million dollar settlement for an elderly lady who was struck and killed by an SUV.
Compensation for a Wrongful Death
Losing a loved one in a tragic accident is an unimaginable pain that can have devastating consequences for the surviving family members. When a wrongful death occurs due to someone else's negligence or intentional actions, Georgia laws allow the family to seek compensation for various damages incurred.
You can obtain the following damages in a wrongful death claim:
Medical Expenses
You can seek compensation for the costs of medical treatment and care for the deceased individual before their passing. These damages cover hospital bills, doctor's fees, medication expenses, and emergency room charges incurred during treatment.
Our wrongful death lawyer can use medical records to prove these expenses and pursue compensation on your behalf.
Funeral and Burial Expenses
You can also recover the costs of arranging the deceased’s funeral, burial, or cremation through a wrongful death claim. These costs include funeral home services, burial plots, caskets or urns, headstones, and other funeral-related expenses.
Loss of Financial Support
The significant impact of a wrongful death claim is the loss of financial support that the deceased may have provided to their family members. These damages compensate you for the income, benefits, and economic contributions the deceased might have made if they were still alive.
Loss of Household Services
In addition to financial support, the surviving family members can seek compensation for the loss of household services that the deceased may have provided. These damages cover housekeeping, childcare, home maintenance, and other services the deceased might have contributed to the household.
Emotional Distress
Surviving family members may also receive compensation for the emotional distress or mental anguish they suffer after losing a loved one in a wrongful death case. These damages include pain and suffering, grief, anxiety, depression, and other emotional trauma caused by the untimely death.
Loss of Companionship
Another significant damage in a wrongful death claim is the loss of companionship, love, and support that the surviving family members will have received from the deceased.
Loss of companionship damages compensate you for the loss of guidance, care, affection, and emotional support, which can have long-lasting emotional effects on the surviving family members.
Punitive Damages
A judge or jury can award you punitive damages where the defendant's actions were particularly egregious or intentional. Punitive damages aim to punish the wrongdoer and discourage others from engaging in similar behavior.
Where Do Wrongful Death Accidents Occur in Athens
Wrongful deaths occur in different ways, including car accidents, product liability, work-related accidents, and truck accidents. Car accidents have a significant share of wrongful deaths in Athens.
Here are the common areas where wrongful death accidents occur in Athens:
- College Park: The area around the University of Georgia campus is often prone to car accidents, especially at night when students are out and about. Street racing, drunk driving, and distracted driving are the typical risks in this vicinity, contributing to a higher likelihood of fatal accidents.
- Downtown Athens: With its lively bars, restaurants, and music venues, downtown Athens sees heavy foot traffic and vehicular congestion, increasing the chances of wrongful deaths. Pedestrian collisions, DUI-related incidents, and speeding crashes are frequent in this busy district.
- Atlanta Highway: A major thoroughfare in Athens, Atlanta Highway witnesses significant daily traffic. Speeding, reckless lane changes, and driver fatigue are common causes of accidents along this busy stretch of road, leading to tragic outcomes.
Our Athens wrongful death attorneys can investigate the cause of a vehicle accident, gather evidence, and pursue compensation for the losses associated with the loss of a loved one.
Fighting the Insurance Company
Insurance adjusters have the objective of minimizing financial liability for their employers. They may reject your claim or make a low settlement offer that doesn’t cover your losses. Our trusted wrongful death attorneys can level the playing field so you obtain a favorable outcome against the at-fault party's insurance provider.
Here’s how our Athens wrongful death lawyers can protect you:
Establishing the True Value of Your Claim
The aftermath of a wrongful death is emotionally overwhelming. You, therefore, deserve to be fairly compensated for your losses. Our experienced Athens wrongful death attorneys at Hall & Collins Injury Lawyers can determine the true value of your claim. Hence, you receive the compensation you deserve from insurance providers.
Calculating the value of a wrongful death claim involves various factors, such as financial loss, emotional impact, and loss of care and support. Our skilled wrongful death lawyers will meticulously analyze each aspect of your case to determine the full extent of your damages.
They are highly knowledgeable, can accurately assess the financial impact of your loss, and can present a compelling case to insurance companies.
Our dedicated wrongful death lawyers examine every detail of your case to pursue the full compensation you deserve.
Handling Insurance Tactics Designed to Minimize Payouts
Insurance companies may try to shift blame onto the deceased, arguing shared liability to reduce their financial obligation. They may also undervalue the claim, offering settlements far below what is fair.
Our Athens wrongful death attorneys understand these tactics and are well-equipped to negotiate on your behalf, ensuring you receive the compensation you deserve for your loss.
With our experienced wrongful death lawyers, you can rest assured that your best interests are protected. We have dealt with similar cases, allowing us to counter all bad-faith insurance tactics.
We will advocate for you every step of the way to secure a favorable outcome in your wrongful death case.
Gathering and Presenting Strong Evidence
The success of your wrongful death claim depends on the availability of strong and compelling evidence. Our wrongful death lawyers at Hall & Collins Injury Lawyers rely on substantial evidence to support a compensation claim after the loss of a loved one.
Here are some key types of evidence to support a wrongful death claim:
- Detailed medical records that document the extent of the injuries sustained by the deceased individual.
- Eyewitness accounts can provide valuable insight into what transpired, leading to the wrongful death.
- Professional testimony from professionals in relevant fields, such as medical professionals or accident reconstruction specialists, can offer an objective opinion of what led to the death of your loved one.
- Visual evidence, such as photographs or videos, can offer compelling documentation of the scene of the incident, the injuries sustained, or the damages caused.
By working with our skilled wrongful death attorneys who appreciate the role of evidence, you can increase the chances of a successful outcome in your case.
Negotiating With the Insurer of the At-Fault Party
Many insurers are notorious for making low settlement offers that don’t cover your injury-related losses. Our skilled wrongful death attorney can step in as your advocate, guiding you through the negotiation process with the at-fault party's insurer.
The outcome of negotiations with insurers can maximize the value of your claim and ensure that you receive fair compensation for your loss. By meticulously reviewing the details of your case, they can present a compelling argument to the insurer, highlighting the extent of your loss and the impact it has had on your family.
Through strategic negotiations, they can push for a settlement that accurately reflects the actual value of your claim.
Further, our highly skilled wrongful death attorneys can counter any attempts by the insurer to devalue your claim or shift blame onto the victim. They’ll also firmly advocate for your rights so the insurer doesn’t exploit you during negotiation.
When you entrust your case to our seasoned wrongful death attorney, you can rest assured that your best interests are protected.
Representing You in Court
Suppose the at-fault party's insurer attempts to undermine your rightful compensation claim. In that case, our wrongful death attorneys at Hall & Collins Injury Lawyers can advocate for your rights in court.
Our wrongful death lawyers will handle all legal filings, present arguments, and cross-examine witnesses to prove liability and damages. They will use their courtroom experience to counter defense tactics and persuade the judge or jury.
They can also scout for opportunities for settlement negotiations instead of taking your case to a full trial. Our wrongful death attorney can also initiate an appeal or protect your interests during the appeal process.
What to Do After a Wrongful Death
Although losing a loved one is an overwhelming experience, your actions can protect your rights.
Here are the key steps you should consider taking after a wrongful death:
- Obtain a death certificate: A death certificate is a document that officially certifies the cause and manner of death. Our wrongful death lawyer will use the document when pursuing a wrongful death claim.
- Preserve Evidence and Documentation: Collecting and preserving evidence related to the wrongful death will be the foundation of a strong case. Keep all relevant documents, such as medical records, accident reports, and witness statements, as they will be valuable in proving negligence.
- Do Not Negotiate With Insurance Companies Alone: Insurance companies may try to settle quickly and offer low compensation amounts. You can protect your interest in the claim using a legal professional. Our experienced wrongful death attorney can evaluate the offers and negotiate on your behalf.
- Consult a Wrongful Death Lawyer: You should speak with our wrongful death lawyer after a loved one dies due to someone else’s negligence. They will assess your case, provide legal guidance, and advocate for your rights throughout the claim process, easing the burden on you during this difficult time.
Let Hall & Collins Injury Lawyers Help You During this Difficult Time
The wrongful death of a loved one can translate to loss of companionship, care, and support from your close relationship. The death can also disrupt your finances because of burial expenses or the additional burden of supporting your family.
Our experienced wrongful death lawyers from Hall & Collins Injury Lawyers understand the impact of your loved one's death and can pursue compensation on your behalf. We can investigate the details of your death and build a strong case against the at-fault party.
Contact us at (706) 381-6055 for your free consultation. We're ready to listen and stand by your side throughout the process.