Losing a loved one in a fatal car accident in Atlanta, Georgia, can be devastating. In addition to the emotional toll, your family may face unexpected financial burdens and uncertainty about what to do next. If another party’s negligence caused the accident, you may be entitled to pursue compensation through a wrongful death claim.
At Rafi Law Firm, our Atlanta fatal car accident lawyers understand how difficult this time can be. We can investigate the crash, identify responsible parties, and help your family seek justice and financial recovery. Contact us today at (404) 800-9933 for a free consultation.
How Can Rafi Law Firm Help After a Fatal Car Accident in Atlanta, GA?
After a fatal collision, the police investigation may establish basic facts without resolving every question that matters in a civil case. That’s why we conduct an independent examination to understand how the crash occurred and identify the people or businesses whose actions contributed to it.
Our attorneys bring more than 50 years of combined experience, and our firm has recovered over $200 million for clients.
Our Atlanta car accident lawyers can take the following steps on your behalf:
- Obtain the collision report and available photographs
- Preserve nearby surveillance or vehicle camera footage
- Interview witnesses about the driver’s conduct
- Review relevant insurance coverage
- Identify the person authorized to bring the claim
- Document the losses recognized under Georgia law
- Negotiate with insurers and prepare for litigation
Contact our Atlanta car accident lawyers today for a free case review.
What Causes Fatal Car Accidents?
A fatal crash may begin with a driving decision that leaves too little time to avoid another vehicle. At highway speeds, for example, a driver who fails to notice stopped traffic may be unable to brake before impact.
Conduct that can cause deadly collisions includes:
- Driving while impaired
- Speeding through congested traffic
- Looking at a phone instead of the road
- Crossing the centerline
- Failing to yield at an intersection
The pattern of damage and the location of the vehicles can help investigators reconstruct the moments before impact. That sequence may show whether the collision could have been avoided if the driver had responded appropriately.
What Injuries Commonly Occur in Fatal Car Accidents?
Fatal car accidents often involve injuries that overwhelm the body’s ability to recover. In some cases, death occurs at the scene. In others, your loved one may survive for a period of time before the injuries prove fatal.
Severe injuries associated with fatal collisions include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord trauma
- Internal bleeding
- Severe chest injuries
- Multiple fractures
When death follows medical treatment, hospital records can help explain how the crash injuries led to the loss. Those records may also support a separate estate claim for certain losses your loved one experienced before death.
Who Could Be Liable for a Fatal Car Accident?
The driver who caused the collision may be responsible for your loved one’s death. If that driver was on the job at the time, their employer may also be legally responsible in appropriate circumstances.
Liability can become more complicated when multiple drivers contributed to the collision. Georgia’s comparative fault rules may affect the amount recoverable, making it important to examine each driver’s role rather than relying solely on an initial assignment of blame.
Georgia also determines who may bring a wrongful death action. The surviving spouse generally has first priority, followed by children in appropriate circumstances. If neither survives, other family members or the estate representative may have a role under the applicable law.
What Damages Are Available After a Fatal Car Accident in Atlanta, GA?
If your loved one died in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, Georgia law may allow your family to recover compensation through a wrongful death claim. The damages available depend on the circumstances of the crash and the losses resulting from your loved one’s death.
Under Georgia law, recoverable damages may include:
- Lost income and benefits: The wages, benefits, and other financial contributions your loved one would likely have provided over their lifetime.
- Loss of companionship: The value of the relationships, care, and companionship your loved one would have experienced throughout their life.
- Medical expenses: The cost of medical treatment your loved one received before passing away, which may be recoverable through a separate estate claim.
- Funeral and burial expenses: Reasonable costs associated with laying your loved one to rest, generally pursued through an estate claim.
- Pain and suffering: Compensation for the physical pain and emotional suffering your loved one experienced before death, when supported by the evidence and pursued through an estate claim.
Georgia wrongful death law focuses on the full value of the deceased person’s life, including both economic and intangible losses. A separate estate claim may provide additional compensation for certain expenses and suffering before death.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit?
Georgia generally provides two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit. The deadline may be affected by particular circumstances, including certain criminal proceedings arising from the crash.
A related estate claim may involve its own legal considerations. We can review the circumstances of your loved one’s death and identify the deadlines that apply to each potential claim.
Evidence also becomes harder to secure with time. Starting the investigation early gives us a better opportunity to preserve records that explain the collision.
Contact an Atlanta Fatal Car Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
If you lost a loved one in a fatal car accident, we can help you understand who may bring a claim and what compensation may be available. We will explain the process clearly so you can make informed decisions for your family.
Contact Rafi Law Firm to schedule a free consultation with an Atlanta fatal car accident attorney. We can discuss the crash, answer your questions, and explain how our attorneys would pursue accountability on your behalf.
