Compassionate Legal Support for Families After a Wrongful Death in Metro Atlanta or Georgia
Losing a loved one because of someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing is one of the hardest things a family can face. During this difficult time, a wrongful death attorney in Georgia can help you understand your rights, talk through your options, and determine whether you may have a wrongful death case under Georgia law.
Georgia wrongful death attorney Tshai Budhi, representing the Summit Legal Team, understands what is at stake for your family. With more than a decade of experience as a trial lawyer handling catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases, she knows how to investigate what happened, build a strong case, and hold at-fault parties and their insurance companies accountable. At Summit Legal Team, every case matters, every time. Our law firm is here to shoulder the legal burden so you can focus on your family.
If you lost a loved one due to someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing, reach out to our office for help. We will take the time to listen to your story, answer your legal questions, evaluate your case, and explain your legal options. Call us at
(404) 905-6983 or submit our online contact form.
What Is Wrongful Death in Georgia?
A wrongful death in Georgia happens when someone dies as a result of someone else’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional wrongdoing. A wrongful death case is a civil claim brought by surviving family members or the decedent’s estate to seek financial compensation for the loss of their loved one.
Wrongful death claims can arise from many types of accidents, including, but not limited to:
- Car accidents
- Commercial truck accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Slip and falls
If you are unsure whether your loved one’s death qualifies as a wrongful death under Georgia law, do not hesitate to schedule a free, confidential consultation with us. We can evaluate your case and help you understand your legal options.
Who Can Sue for Wrongful Death in Georgia?
Georgia law sets out who may file a wrongful death claim on behalf of a loved one. The general order is:
- Surviving spouse, if married at the time of death (GA Code § 51-4-2)
- Child or children, if there is no surviving spouse (GA Code § 51-4-2)
- Parent or parents, if there is no spouse or children (GA Code § 19-7-1)
- Administrator or executor of the decedent’s estate, for the benefit of the next of kin, if there is no one else entitled to bring a claim (GA Code § 51-4-5)
If you are unsure whether you have the legal right to bring a wrongful death claim, schedule a free, confidential consultation with us. We can evaluate your case and determine your legal options.
What Damages Are Available in a Georgia Wrongful Death Case?
In Georgia, there are usually two types of civil claims that can arise from a wrongful death:
- A wrongful death claim for the full value of the life of the decedent, as shown by the evidence
- A separate estate claim for expenses resulting from the injury and death, which is brought by the personal representative of the estate
Both claims may be available in the same case, and they work together to cover different aspects of the loss of your loved one.
The "Full Value of the Life" Claim
Certain surviving family members can bring a wrongful death claim seeking compensation for the full value of the life of the decedent, based on evidence. Georgia law defines this as the value of the decedent’s life “without deducting for any of the necessary or personal expenses of the decedent had he lived.”
The full value of life is measured from the perspective of the person who died, not from that of the decedent’s survivors. It includes both economic and non-economic losses, including, but not limited to:
- Lost income and future earning potential over your loved one’s working lifetime
- Lost employment benefits, such as health insurance and retirement contributions
- Value of services they would have provided to their household
- Time your loved one would have spent with family and friends
- Life experiences, milestones, and activities they would have enjoyed
- Value of relationships, companionship, and other non-financial aspects of life
The Estate Claim: Final Expenses and Suffering
Separate from the full value of the life claim, GA Code § 51-4-5 gives the personal representative of the estate the right to recover certain damages, including:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Medical expenses that resulted from the injury and death of the decedent
- Other expenses that resulted from the injury and death of the decedent
Compensation recovered in an estate claim goes to the estate. Then, it is distributed according to the decedent’s estate plan or intestate succession laws.
Areas We Serve
At Summit Legal Team, we advocate for families throughout Metro Atlanta and the state of Georgia. For example, some of the cities we serve include:
- Atlanta
- Augusta
- Buford
- Camp Creek
- Cascade
- Clarkston
- College Park
- Conyers
- Decatur
- East Point
- Fayetteville
- Jonesboro
- Lawrenceville
- Lithonia
- Locust Grove
- Macon
- McDonough
- Norcross
- Rockdale
- Savannah
- Stockbridge
- Stone Mountain
- Tucker
- DeKalb County
- Gwinnett County
- Newton County
Wrongful Death FAQ
How much does a Georgia wrongful death lawyer cost?
Most Georgia wrongful death lawyers, including ours, work on a contingency fee basis. This arrangement means you do not pay any upfront attorney’s fees or out-of-pocket costs. Instead, we cover the upfront costs of your case, and our fee is a percentage of the settlement or verdict recovered for your family. If we do not win your case, then you do not pay anything.
What if my loved one was partially at fault for the accident?
If your loved one was partially responsible for the accident, then you may still have a viable wrongful death case. Georgia follows a modified comparative negligence law, which means that your family can seek compensation as long as your loved one was less than 50 percent at fault for the accident. However, any recovery may be reduced by your loved one’s degree of fault.
Contact Our Georgia Wrongful Death Lawyer for a Free Consultation
If someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing caused your loved one’s death, you may be able to seek justice and financial compensation. We understand that nothing can ever make up for your loss. However, a wrongful death claim may help ease the financial burden and provide a measure of accountability for what happened.
Our firm handles wrongful death cases throughout Georgia and is here to listen, answer your questions, and guide you through your options under Georgia’s wrongful death laws. Call us at
(404) 905-6983 or submit our online contact form, and we will reach out to you soon.