Wrongful Death Attorney in
Compassionate guidance and relentless legal advocacy for families who have lost a loved one due to someone else's negligence.
Losing a family member is the most devastating experience anyone can endure. When that loss was entirely preventable—caused by a drunk driver, a negligent trucking company, a careless doctor, or an unsafe property—the grief is often compounded by a profound sense of injustice.
At Childress & Justice LLC, we know that no amount of money can ever replace the person you lost. However, a wrongful death lawsuit can provide the financial security your family needs to survive, while simultaneously forcing accountability on the person or corporation whose negligence shattered your world.
Our Macon wrongful death lawyers take on the legal burden so you and your family can focus entirely on grieving and healing.
Understanding Wrongful Death Claims in Georgia
Georgia's Wrongful Death Act is unique compared to many other states. Under O.C.G.A. § 51-4-2, the law requires that damages be calculated from the perspective of the deceased individual, not the surviving family members. The legal standard demands compensation for the "full value of the life of the decedent."
This "full value" is broken down into two distinct components:
- The Tangible (Economic) Value: This includes the money the deceased would have earned over their normal life expectancy, including wages, benefits, and retirement. It also includes the measurable economic value of household services they provided (such as childcare, maintenance, and chores).
- The Intangible (Non-Economic) Value: This is the value of the life to the person who lost it. It accounts for what made their life meaningful—their relationships with spouses and children, their hobbies, milestones they will never reach, and their everyday enjoyment of living.
Effectively demonstrating the "intangible value of a life" requires an experienced wrongful death attorney. We work closely with families to tell the story of the loved one they lost, using photographs, videos, and testimony from friends and coworkers to show a jury exactly whose life was taken.
The Estate Claim (Survival Action)
In addition to the Wrongful Death claim brought by the family, Georgia law allows for a second, separate claim brought by the administrator of the deceased person's estate. This is known as the Estate Claim.
The Estate Claim seeks compensation for the damages the deceased person suffered directly prior to their death. This includes:
- Medical expenses incurred fighting to save their life.
- Funeral and burial expenses.
- The conscious physical pain and suffering the victim endured between the time of the injury and the moment of death.
- Punitive damages, if the defendant's actions were exceptionally reckless or intentional.
Our firm meticulously handles both the Wrongful Death claim and the Estate Claim simultaneously to ensure maximum recovery and accountability.
Common Causes of Wrongful Death
Frequently Asked Questions
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