If you have lost a loved one due to the negligent, reckless, or intentional acts of another, then you should contact Louisiana wrongful death attorney Walter Gabriel to see if you are entitled to bring an action against the defendant to secure compensation for the harm caused for wrongful death. These damages may be significant, depending on the nature of your relationship with the deceased.
Wrongful death claims apply when a beloved family member died as the result of the fault of another person, company, or corporation. Civil claims for wrongful death apply regardless of whether a family member died due to the wrongdoer’s intentional killing or criminal negligence, or whether the death occurred as a result of purely ordinary civil negligence.
These claims occur in countless types of scenarios. A claim may occur when an offender attacks a person on the premises of any business that does not have adequate security. A claim can also occur when a manufacturer defectively or improperly inspected tires or other parts of a car.
In perhaps the most common context, wrongful death claims will arise from a fatal motor vehicle collision.
Attorney Walter Gabriel has experience getting results for clients in their claims for wrongful death. He is cognizant of the pressures that plaintiffs face and the importance of resolving matters quickly and successfully. This is especially true for wrongful death claimants.
Contact the Law Firm of Walter Gabriel, LLC for comprehensive assistance.
Understanding Wrongful Death Claims from An Louisiana Wrongful Death Attorney
In Georgia and Louisiana, as in every other state, the law gives specific family members the right to sue and recover damages for the wrongful death of their loved one.
Many people do not quite understand the concept behind these claims. Wrongful death damages do not compensate the deceased individual. They instead compensate the surviving family members for the losses they suffered due to the death of their loved one.
Losses suffered by surviving family members can vary significantly, but they may include:
- Loss of financial support
- Medical expenses
- Funeral expenses
- Loss of love, affection, and emotional support
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of guidance
- Loss of domestic services
- And more
These claims have no basis without underlying misconduct, either in the form of negligence, recklessness, or intentional harm. For example, if your spouse is killed by a drunk driver, then that gives rise to a claim. On the other hand, if your spouse dies in a solo car accident where nobody else appears to be at fault, then there may not be a defendant against whom such a claim can be pursued.
What Can be Recovered?
For wrongful death cases, the estate representative sues for the full value of the life of the decedent, as shown by the evidence. O.C.G.A. § 51-4-1.
The full value of life has economic and noneconomic components for jury consideration. The noneconomic includes the decedent’s relationships and connections, and overall quality of life, and the economy was explained by the Georgia Court of Appeals as follows: O.C.G.A. § 51-4-1(1) defines “full value of the life of the decedent, as shown by the evidence,” relevant to the measure of damages recoverable in a wrongful death case, as simply the full value of the life of the decedent without deducting for any of the necessary or personal expenses of the decedent had he lived. Brock v. Wedincamp, 253 Ga. App. 275.
When the death of a human being results from a crime or from criminal or other negligence, the personal representative of the deceased person shall be entitled to recover for the funeral, medical, and other necessary expenses resulting from the injury and death of the deceased person. O.C.G.A. § 51-4-5
Georgia Wrongful Death Claims/ Claims for Pain and Suffering
For wrongful death claims, there are two main categories of plaintiffs. (1) The individual who files the wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the deceased relative. (2) The administrator of the estate, who make a claim on behalf of the decedent’s pain and suffering.
The Georgia statutes and courts have made it clear that an individual’s claim for wrongful death and an estate’s claim for the decedent’s pain and suffering are distinct causes of action. See generally O.C.G.A. §§ 51-4-2 (a); 51-4-5 (b); Complete Auto Transit v. Floyd, 214 Ga. 232 (2) (104 S.E.2d 208) (1958). What is notable also is that the plaintiff in his individual capacity and in his capacity as administrator are legally different persons. Stiltjes v. Ridco Exterminating Co., 197 Ga. App. 852, 853 (399 S.E.2d 708) (1990), aff’d 261 Ga. 697 (409 S.E.2d 847) (1991).
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Smith v. Memorial Medical Center Inc. et. al, illustrated the principles, where the plaintiff filed suit in both his capacity as an individual on the decedent’s wrongful death claim and as administrator of the decedent’s estate’s claim for pain and suffering. Smith v. Memorial Medical Ctr., Inc., 208 Ga. App. 26, 430 S.E.2d 57 (1993).
In this case, the plaintiff voluntarily withdrew his wrongful death claim once the court determined he was not the proper plaintiff for the decedent’s wrongful death claim. The defendant then moved to dismiss all claims in their entirety. This included the remaining estate claim for pain and suffering. The trial court granted the defendant’s motion and dismiss the estate’s claim for the decedent’s pain and suffering. The court of appeals determined that an individual’s claim for wrongful death and an estate’s claim for the decedent’s pain and suffering are distinct causes of action. Therefore, the court of appeals held that the plaintiff could dismiss the wrongful death claim and leave pending the estate’s claim for pain and suffering.
Survival Actions
“Survival actions,” essentially apply to allow for claims to be made where the decedent could have brought for his/her own injuries had he/she survived.
O.C.G.A. § 9-2-41 provides that “[n]o action for a tort shall abate by the death of either party, where the wrongdoer received any benefit from the tort complained of; nor shall any action or cause of action for the recovery of damages for homicide, injury to the person, or injury to property abate by the death of either party.”
Who is Eligible to Recover?
For Georgia claims, O.C.G.A. § 51-4-2 provides the answer to most questions on this matter.
The surviving spouse or, if there is no surviving spouse, a child, or children, may recover for the homicide of the spouse or parent the full value of the life of the decedent, as shown by the evidence.
- If an action for wrongful death is brought by a surviving spouse and the surviving spouse dies pending the action, the action shall survive to the child or children of the decedent.
- If an action for wrongful death is brought by a child or children and one of the children dies pending the action, the action shall survive to the surviving child or children.
When no spouse or child is available to bring a claim on behalf of the decedent, O.C.G.A. § 51-4-5 applies. That is, “The administrator or executor of the decedent may bring an action for and may recover and hold the amount recovered for the benefit of the next of kin. In any such case, the amount of the recovery shall be the full value of the life of the decedent.”
In Louisiana, only certain eligible parties may file a wrongful death lawsuit to obtain compensation for such losses. Those eligible parties include:
- Spouse and children
- Parents (in the event that there is no living spouse or children)
- Siblings (in the event that there is no living spouse, children, or parents)
- Grandparents (in the event that there is no living spouse, children, parents, or siblings)
It is irrelevant whether the relation is by blood or adoption.
Contact an Experienced Louisiana Wrongful Death Attorney for a Free Consultation
The Law Firm of Walter Gabriel, LLC is a personal injury litigation firm with substantial experience handling a wide range of disputes, including those that center around an individual’s wrongful death.
Plaintiffs deserve legal representation that is comprehensive and compassionate. He understands that the impact of a loved one’s death may leave your family in a difficult position. It’s common for the loss of a loved one to have financial and emotional ramifications that last for several years. Such damages can help to smooth over the material challenges. For example, if your spouse paid for your living expenses, then a successful wrongful death lawsuit will cover that loss.
Ready to speak to an attorney about your claim? Call or send us a message online online to schedule a free and confidential consultation with an experienced Louisiana wrongful death attorney at the Law Firm of Walter Gabriel, LLC.
Experienced Louisiana Wrongful Death Law Firm
If you have recently lost a loved one due to someone else’s negligence, you might be feeling a range of intense emotions. You might feel grief, anger, sadness, and confusion. It is normal to feel these things after such a tragedy.
In addition to the emotional pain you are likely feeling, you might also be dealing with financial burdens. If your loved one was the primary breadwinner in your family, you might be struggling to make ends meet. Or, if you must miss work to deal with funeral arrangements or other matters related to the death, you might be worried about how you will pay your bills.
The good news is that you might be entitled to financial compensation for your losses. If your loved one was killed due to someone else’s negligence, you might be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit. A successful wrongful death claim can help you recover damages such as funeral and burial expenses, lost income, and more.
If you are thinking about filing a wrongful death lawsuit, it is important to seek experienced legal help. An experienced wrongful death attorney in Louisiana can review your case and help you understand your legal options.
Contact the Walter Gabriel Law Firm today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced wrongful death lawyer in Louisiana . He will fight for the compensation you and your family deserve.
If you lost a loved one because of an Louisiana car accident caused by a drunk or impaired driver, please be wary of accepting quick settlement offers from insurance companies and/or the impaired driver without first seeking the guidance of an Louisiana wrongful death lawyer.
While a settlement might seem like a good idea in your time of need, a lawyer may be able to properly protect your rights and obtain a greater amount of compensation based on the circumstances surrounding the accident.
Unfortunately, accepting an uninformed settlement offer is what insurance adjusters and the liable party hope you’ll do. By doing so, you could be giving up your right to seek punitive damages and other relief that might be available to you under the law.
At such a difficult time in your life, you shouldn’t have to worry about protecting your legal rights. That’s where our experienced team of Louisiana wrongful death lawyers comes in. The attorney at the firm will handle every aspect of your case so that you can focus on healing and moving forward.
Meet the Louisiana Wrongful Death Lawyers from Walter Gabriel Law
If you’ve suffered the loss of a loved one due to someone else’s negligence, you need experienced and knowledgeable legal representation on your side. The Louisiana wrongful death lawyer from Walter Gabriel Law has been handling these types of cases for years, and he knows how difficult they can be for families.
Attorney Gabriel is here to make the claims process as easy as possible for you. He will work with you every step of the way to make sure that you get the compensation and justice that you deserve. He will also handle all the complicated legal matters so that you can focus on your healing.
If you’re ready to act, contact us today to schedule a free consultation. He will review your case and let you know what your next steps should be.
