Losing a loved one is never easy. Losing a loved one to negligence can only make matters more painful. While you focus on celebrating your loved one’s achievements and planning their funeral, you can entrust your case to Kaine Law.
Our Valdosta personal injury lawyers will do everything your case requires, managing it with care and compassion. Your first case review is free, and we offer help on a contingency-fee basis.
How Much does It Cost to Partner with Kaine Law?
Right now, we don’t want you to worry about affording legal help. We want you to focus on things you enjoy, such as spending time with your loved ones. That’s why Kaine Law operates on a contingency-fee basis. This means:
- You pay nothing up front for our help.
- We don’t request our attorney’s fees directly from your savings.
- We withdraw our attorney’s fees from your settlement check.
- You don’t pay us anything if your case does not succeed.
In addition to operating on a contingency-fee basis, we will finance each of your case’s obligations, from its filing fees to its consulting costs. You just focus on your grief and moving forward. We will manage everything else.
For a free legal consultation with a wrongful death lawyer serving Valdosta, call 404-214-2001
You Generally Have Two Years to File Your Wrongful Death Lawsuit
All wrongful death lawsuits in Georgia come with a filing deadline, per O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33. You generally have two years to file your case. Though 24 months may seem like a long time, we recommend starting your case as soon as possible.
For one thing, if the statute of limitations expires on your case, you could lose the right to seek damages. Also, some evidence won’t last forever. For instance, if a surveillance camera captured your loved one’s accident, we need to secure that information as soon as possible. Otherwise, it could be unavailable later on.
Your Deadline Could Get Extended
Your lawyer can evaluate your case and determine whether the standard two-year filing period applies. For instance, if your loved one was hurt by a hit-and-run driver, this could give you more time to file a lawsuit. If the at-fault party hid their identity, this could also affect your filing period.
Yet, some circumstances could give you less time to act. O.C.G.A. § 36-33-5 notes that you could have six months to file your case against a government agency. When you partner with Kaine Law, we will assess your case and determine how long you have to file. Then, you can trust that we’ll follow all applicable deadlines.
Valdosta Wrongful Death Lawyer Near Me 404-214-2001
We Will Review and Pursue These Wrongful Death-Related Expenses
Compensation in your case could account for:
- Loss of consortium. If you lost a spouse, you could recover non-economic damages for the loss of their society and companionship.
- Your loved one’s final medical expenses. Your loved one may have required intensive medical care before their passing. Compensation for end-of-life medical expenses could include palliative care, life support, resuscitation, and other related costs.
- Your loved one’s funeral. You shouldn’t have to forgo any expense when laying your loved one to rest. Your loved one’s funeral expenses could include their memorial service, burial plot, and cremation.
- The loss of the decedent’s income. You could recover compensation for the loss of your loved one’s income, including their hourly wages, salary, and employee benefits.
Will Calculate Your Losses Depending on Your Situation
When assessing what constitutes a fair settlement, we will consider:
- Your financial losses. We will use your injury-related receipts, invoices, estimates, and billing statements to determine the value of your financial losses.
- The circumstances of your loved one’s passing. Your loved one may have survived following their accident, only to succumb to their condition later on. If so, we can consider this situation when evaluating your case.
- The other party’s role in your loved one’s passing. The insurance company may award more compensation for egregious acts of negligence than general oversights.
You can trust that Kaine Law will fight for everything you and your family need to move forward. While we understand that financial recovery cannot undo your family’s hardships, it may alleviate some of your burdens.
Fault for Your Loved One’s Passing Can Affect Your Settlement or Court Award
Even though your loved one passed away, their role in the accident could affect your final settlement or court award’s value. Per O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33, Georgia operates on a contributory negligence system. So, suppose your loved one was involved in a collision, and they contributed to 10 percent of the fatal crash.
If your losses total $1 million, because your loved one contributed to 10 percent of the collision, your recoverable damages would be reduced to $900,000. When we investigate your case, we will determine whether your loved one played a role in their passing and manage your case accordingly. We will fight for everything you need to ensure your family’s financial stability.
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Parties Who Can File for Wrongful Death Damages
Under O.C.G.A. § 51-4-2, only certain parties can pursue wrongful death-related damages. Consider the following:
- If the deceased still has a surviving spouse, the spouse may file the claim first.
- If they do not have a spouse but have surviving children, they can file the case instead. Children born out of wedlock can also bring a wrongful death case.
- If there are no surviving spouses or children, the deceased’s parents can take the case to court.
Siblings, grandparents, and other relatives typically cannot file a wrongful death claim. An exception would be if the deceased appointed them as the estate executor in their will.
However, if the deceased did not leave a will behind, it will be up to the court to appoint an executor. Your wrongful death lawyer in Valdosta can explain more about this process when you call Kaine Law.
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A Valdosta Wrongful Death Lawyer Is Here to Help You Find Justice
If you want to take action against the party (or parties) responsible for your loved one’s passing, Kaine Law stands ready to assist with your legal concerns. We’re ready to manage each step of the settlement process.
With decades of experience under our belts, our law firm has handled various personal injury actions in Valdosta and throughout Georgia. To begin your first case review, call us at any time. We’re available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Call or text 404-214-2001 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
