DeKalb County Wrongful Death Lawyer

Losing a family member is one of the hardest things anyone can ever handle, especially when another person caused a tragic wrongful death. If your family is dealing with this painful experience right now, you do not have to carry the heavy legal burdens all by yourself. Working with a DeKalb County wrongful death lawyer at Chance, Forlines, Carter & King, PC gives you a strong advocate who will protect your rights. Call us at (404) 760-7400 to learn how we can help with your wrongful death claim.

Why You Need a DeKalb County Wrongful Death Lawyer

Trying to deal with insurance companies after a sudden wrongful death can feel completely overwhelming when you are trying to grieve. Insurance claims adjusters often try to move fast and offer low payouts before you fully understand what your wrongful death case is worth. A local wrongful death lawyer in DeKalb County GA knows how local courts handle these cases and how to hold at-fault parties accountable.

Our firm has served injured patients and families facing wrongful death across Georgia since 1997, fighting to make sure families get full answers and proper justice. Having an experienced team on your side helps protect your wrongful death lawsuit from early mistakes that could hurt your recovery.

Common Causes of Wrongful Death in DeKalb County

A wrongful death happens when someone dies because of another person or company’s careless behavior or wrongdoing. We handle many types of fatal injury and wrongful death cases, including:

• Fatal car accidents on busy roads like I-285, I-85, or local DeKalb County streets that result in a wrongful death claim
• Multi-car accident wrongful death claim cases involving multiple drivers
• Serious truck and motorcycle accidents that cause wrongful death
• Medical mistakes causing wrongful death, such as surgical errors, failure to diagnose serious conditions, or birth injuries
• Fatal falls or dangerous safety conditions on private or commercial property leading to a wrongful death claim

Medical mistakes remain a major cause of preventable loss and wrongful death. Chance, Forlines, Carter & King, PC has a major focus on medical malpractice litigation involving failure to diagnose, hospital negligence, and birth injuries, helping families who lost loved ones due to wrongful death caused by medical errors.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Georgia

Georgia law has clear rules about who can file a wrongful death claim in DeKalb County. Under Georgia official code O.C.G.A. 51-4-2, the legal right to file a wrongful death lawsuit follows a specific family order:

1. The surviving spouse files the wrongful death claim first. If there are minor children, the spouse represents their interests too, though the spouse always receives at least one-third of the total wrongful death recovery.
2. If there is no surviving spouse, the surviving children can file the wrongful death lawsuit.
3. If there is no spouse and no children, the surviving parents have the legal right to file for wrongful death.
4. If no spouse, children, or parents are living, the administrator of the estate can bring the wrongful death claim, with any recovery going to the legal heirs.

Compensation Available in a Wrongful Death Claim

Georgia law looks at two main parts when calculating compensation for wrongful death in DeKalb County. The first part focuses on the full value of the life of the person who died, which forms the basis of the primary wrongful death recovery:

• Lost future wages and benefits the person would have earned over their lifetime
• Loss of companionship, care, advice, and relationship provided to the family

The second part belongs to the estate, which can sue for wrongful death in DeKalb County to recover direct financial losses. This secondary wrongful death action covers expenses like medical bills from before the death, funeral costs, and burial expenses. Over the years, our team at Chance, Forlines, Carter & King, PC has recovered over $600 million in verdicts and settlements for our clients, securing multi-million dollar results in catastrophic wrongful death claims.

The DeKalb County Wrongful Death Legal Process

Building a strong wrongful death case takes time, care, and deep investigation. When you work with us, we take care of the entire wrongful death process so you can focus on your family.

• Collecting Evidence: We collect the police report, medical records, eye-witness statements, and video footage to support your wrongful death claim.
• Working with Experts: In complex medical wrongful death cases, we bring in medical experts to explain exactly what went wrong.
• Handling Paperwork: We prepare all legal documents and file your claim in the DeKalb County State Court wrongful death claim system or DeKalb County Superior Court.
• Settlement Talks: We deal directly with the at-fault driver or corporate insurance adjusters to demand a fair wrongful death settlement.
• Courtroom Trial: If the insurance company refuses a fair settlement, we take your wrongful death case to court.

Steps to Take After a Fatal Accident or Wrongful Death

If you suspect another person caused a wrongful death, taking a few smart steps early on can help protect your future claim.

• Get Official Records: Request a copy of the police report or official medical documentation as soon as possible after the wrongful death.
• Save All Bills: Keep every medical bill, ambulance charge, and funeral expense receipt organized in a single folder to show your full wrongful death damages.
• Do Not Talk to Insurance Adjusters: Insurance reps may ask for recorded statements to lower the value of your wrongful death claim.
• Talk to a Law Firm Quickly: Reaching out early helps protect vital evidence needed to prove wrongful death before it disappears or gets deleted.

Georgia Statute of Limitations for Wrongful Death

Every state sets a strict deadline to file a wrongful death claim. In Georgia, the statute of limitations for wrongful death is generally two years from the exact date of death. If you miss this filing date, you will lose your legal right to bring a wrongful death lawsuit forever.

There are a few rare exceptions that can pause or change this timeline for a wrongful death claim. For example, if a criminal case is open against the same person who caused the wrongful death, the two-year timeline might pause until the criminal case finishes. However, you should never wait to check your timeline. Calling a local DeKalb County wrongful death attorney right away ensures your paperwork is submitted well before any court deadlines pass.

Contact a DeKalb County Wrongful Death Attorney

Taking action quickly after a wrongful death is the best way to safeguard your legal rights and protect your family’s financial stability. At Chance, Forlines, Carter & King, PC, we have secured multi-million dollar results in permanent disability and wrongful death claims across Georgia. We provide free, confidential consultations available 24/7 to listen to your story and explain your wrongful death legal options. Call our law firm today at (404) 760-7400 to schedule your free consultation with an attorney who cares.