It is very difficult to place a monetary value on a person’s life. When a family member is killed in Atlanta and someone else is found to be responsible, that person may be ordered by a judge to compensate the family for financial loss. There is no one amount that is typical in these types of cases. Each person’s life is valued differently when it comes to what they would have contributed to the family had they remained alive.
When a family member brings a wrongful death claim, they are doing so in order to retrieve damages for the death of their loved one. The family may be entitled to compensation for any medical bills that were incurred as a result of the accident and prior to the death. Economic damages such as these will be totaled using receipts and payment records and are typically awarded cent for cent.
Other damages include those that are totaled using estimates. For example, a person who passed away may have been employed and contributing to the family. That person’s salary would be calculated up to the typical date of retirement and taking into account annual increases in salary. A person’s retirement benefits and contributions may also be taken into account.
If a loved one has died as the result of criminal activity or an accident in Atlanta, an experienced attorney can be of assistance. An attorney can help a family determine what type of settlement is fair and how much they can expect to recover.