Fatal car accidents can be detrimental, leaving surviving loved ones with severe emotional pain. Family members are also left with an immense financial burden, from funeral and burial expenses to the cost of pre-death healthcare services and surgeries to the additional daily expenses related to the accident. As such, it makes sense to seek justice and compensation, even though money won’t return a lost loved one.
The laws and procedures relevant to Augusta’s fatal car accident claims are pretty straightforward, but getting the deserved compensation isn’t as cut and dry. Thus, it helps to involve an experienced Augusta car accident lawyer in your case to boost the chances of success.
Fatal Car Accident Claims Can Be Complicated
Navigating the fatal accident claims process can be difficult, especially if you don’t understand the laws or how the overall process unfolds. Such cases are usually high-valued, and you must anticipate numerous hurdles all through.
For instance, the party you claim to be at fault and the insurance company in your case will likely deny your claim. If they acknowledge your losses, chances are they’ll suggest low ball offers and use different antics to make you cave in. Most people who decide to seek legal remedies alone are usually exploited and bear their out-of-pocket expenses.
Fortunately, you can avoid all of the challenges by involving an experienced Augusta personal injury lawyer.
Get the strong arm
How an Augusta Fatal Car Accident Attorney Will Help Your Case
Involving a fatal accident attorney in Augusta specialized in wrongful death claims will help your case in the following ways:
You Need Their Support
Fatal car accident attorneys are excellent sources of support to grieving family members who’ve tragically lost their loved ones. They’re the only party who have your best interest at heart and will think objectively and focus on the law to develop a strong case.
They’ll Gather Evidence
How well you can prove the responsible party’s negligence will determine whether your fatal car accident succeeds or fails. It’s hard to do this yourself because the other party is probably working on a solid defense. Fortunately, a fatal accident attorney understands all the vital elements and will gather them to establish a robust case.
They’re Vastly Knowledgeable of the Legal Process
You can’t make it if you don’t understand the relevant laws and legal process of compensation for your losses. Fortunately, Augusta’s fatal accident attorneys understand what this type of claim entails and is better placed to build a strong case for you.
You’ll Save Time and Resources
Fatal car accident claims consume relatively more time, which gets worse if you’re navigating the process without legal representation because you may waste many resources. However, an attorney knows the complexities of the process and will help you file the claim within the two-year deadline set by the Georgia statute of limitations.
You’ll Recover Your Claim’s True Value
Your attorney is experienced in such cases, and they understand the actual value of your losses. They’ll evaluate the circumstances surrounding your case and ascertain how the loss has impacted you to pursue and recover the highest compensation possible.
They’ll Assist with Negotiations
It’s not easy to deal with savvy insurance companies at this low moment. But your attorney will take care of business, leveraging their negotiation skills to help you recover adequate remuneration to cover all your losses.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Georgia?
Not everyone close to the fatal accident victim can seek legal remedies for their loss. Generally, ascertaining a person’s right to file a wrongful death claim will depend on whether the deceased left a will.
Still, the following parties are allowed to file a wrongful death claim:
- Spouses – If the decedent is married, the first right to file a fatal car accident lawsuit would belong to the deceased’s spouse. They can also file the claim on behalf of the deceased’s children below 18 years and should receive at least a third of the complete financial recovery.
- Children – The deceased’s children can also file a claim against the responsible party or insurance company if the victim didn’t have a surviving spouse.
- Parents – When the fatal accident victim wasn’t married or didn’t have a surviving spouse and children, their surviving parents can file the claim.
- Estate representative – If the victim passed on with a will, the judge and jury would appoint a representative or executor who’ll administer the estate. Most of the time, the appointed individual will have the sole right to file the claim on behalf of the decedent.
What Legal Remedies Will Your Augusta Fatal Car Accident Lawyer Seek?
A fatal car accident claim isn’t automatically a crime, but some circumstances that led to the claim can spawn prosecution or criminal investigation. The claim is generally considered a civil lawsuit stemming from any fatality caused by an entity’s or person’s negligence. If successful, the plaintiff may receive monetary compensation from the defendant, known as damages.
The two primary categories of damages are compensatory and punitive damages. These are the overreaching umbrellas to the possible compensations surviving family members can receive from a fatal car accident claim. Let’s explore each:
Compensatory Damages
Every fatal car accident claim is meant to recover compensation from the party responsible for the accident. Compensatory damages cover the costs directly related to the accident and comprise the following:
Commonly called economic damages, this remuneration includes the quantifiable, out-of-pocket expenditures you had to pay for or the amount the victim lost because of the fatal crash. Examples include:
- Funeral and burial budget
- Cost of pre-death healthcare
- Lost income
General Damages
This compensation cover’s the non-monetary damages resulting from the fatal accident. General damages for a fatal car accident claim are hard to quantify, hence challenging to compute. The most common ones include:
- Loss of consortium
- The mental anguish of surviving loved ones and family members
- Loss of financial contribution
Punitive Damages
It’s not a must that you get this form of compensation for your fatal car accident claim. Punitive damages are only availed if the defendant’s wrongful behavior was despicable. The judge or jury may award them if they find the defendant guilty of malicious acts.
An Experienced Fatal Car Accident Lawyer in Augusta Is Here for You
You need an experienced Augusta car accident attorney to file a successful wrongful death claim. Fortunately, you’re on the right site.
Our experienced wrongful death lawyers will review your fatal car accident case for free and represent you all through. So speak with us today.
706-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form