Fatal car accidents are traumatizing. We understand that you’re experiencing overwhelming grief. You might even feel that “it’s not the right time to call a lawyer.” Yet, you’re also wondering wonder what went wrong and who could have prevented it. Our Atlanta fatal car accident lawyers will help you find those answers. We’ll ease your suffering and help you achieve justice for your loved one.
Our Atlanta car accident lawyers have successfully represented wrongful death victims’ families for decades. We’ll deliver the best customer service and the greatest result. Our prior victories and our 5-star client reviews validate that promise.
Call us today at (404) 939-9470. Also, you may fill-out our online contact form to schedule a free case review with an Atlanta fatal car accident lawyer. If you’ve got questions, we’ve got the answers.
Fatal Accidents Are Common in Atlanta
Thousands of people are injured in Atlanta car accidents every year. Many of those collisions are fatal. In 2019, there were 1,507 road fatalities in Georgia.
Most fatal car accidents occur on highways due to the prevalence of trucks and excessive speeders. However, there are also many road fatalities on Atlanta’s streets. Some drivers are even more careless on city streets because there’s less traffic and the speed limit is lower. Unfortunately, that behavior causes many deadly pedestrian and bicycle accidents. In fact, in 2019 16% of fatal car accident victims were pedestrians.
Some of the most common causes of fatal car accidents include:
Drunk drivers cause 20% of deadly car accidents.
Reckless drivers cause fatal accidents when they make unsafe lane changes, speed, and tailgate other vehicles.
Some drivers take their eyes off of the road when they hear their mobile device chime. That driving distraction may be lethal.
Defective auto parts, such as airbags, auto-pilot navigation systems, and tires cause deadly accidents.
Overworked truck drivers are prone to cause life-threatening collisions.
Atlanta Wrongful Death Claims
If your loved one died in a car accident, nothing can fully compensate you for your heartache and grief. However, our Atlanta fatal car accident lawyers can help you obtain support to relieve your financial burdens. If you’re the spouse, child, or parents of the deceased, you may file a wrongful death claim. Estate representatives also can file wrongful death claims.
Wrongful death claims enable you to recover compensation for the loss of your loved one’s care and companionship. If the deceased was your family’s breadwinner, you can recover damages to cover your lost household income. Additionally, funeral expenses are recoverable.
Our wrongful death lawyers will fight for the very best settlement result. That way, you can focus your energy on recovering from your grief.
Atlanta Survival Actions Claims
A wrongful death claimant can also file a survival action on behalf of the deceased. A survival claim is a personal injury claim that “survives” the deceased’s death. The goal of a survivor claim is to compensate the deceased, through their representative, for all the harms they suffered prior to death, such as:
The survival claim compensation honors the deceased. However, it’s disbursed to the deceased’s representative. That representative can then distribute the proceeds based on the deceased’s will, or, by agreement of the surviving family members if the deceased died without a will.
Georgia’s Wrongful Death Statute Of Limitations
There is a two-year window to file Georgia wrongful death lawsuits. Georgia’s statute of limitations (SOL) encourages victims to act quickly before memories fade and evidence disappears.
The SOL begins to run on the date of death, not the accident date. If you don’t file your wrongful death lawsuit before the SOL expires, the court may dismiss your case.
Two years might sound like a long time. But, it’s not. Fatal car accident investigations may take many months. If there aren’t any accident survivors, your lawyer might have to hire an expert to reconstruct the accident. It also often takes 3-6 months for your lawyer to acquire the deceased’s medical records. If medical causation is disputed, your lawyer may also have to hire an expert to review the case before filing it.
You should speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer ASAP. That way, your lawyer will have sufficient time to evaluate your claim and, if necessary, file and serve your lawsuit.
Our Atlanta Fatal Car Accident Lawyers Can Help You
It’s devastating to lose a loved one. Our Atlanta fatal car accident lawyers at Graham Scofield Injury Lawyers will help ease your suffering and recover the compensation you deserve.
Call us today at (404) 939-9470. Also, you may fill-out our online contact form to schedule a free case review with an Atlanta fatal car accident lawyer.
