If your spouse dies in an auto accident, the consequences can be exhaustive and long-lasting. From dealing with your loved one’s estate to planning his or her funeral, there are many things left for you to handle on your own. The situation is even harder when you are tight on money.
Thinking about the car accident may not be easy, but learning about what happened may help you pull through. This is where it is important to understand how wrongful death cases work in Georgia.
Determining fault
In order to file a wrongful death lawsuit, you need to determine that your spouse’s death was someone else’s fault. The scenario may be so clear-cut that you do not think that you need much evidence to make your case. However, car accidents can be tricky and the defendant may try to deny responsibility. When this happens, police reports, witness testimony, medical records and any surveillance footage might help you.
Getting compensation
In Georgia, as long as you can prove that your spouse died because of someone else’s wrongdoing or negligence, you can sue for the full value of your spouse’s life. This means that you may get a sum of money that accounts for what your spouse would have earned if he or she lived. The court will also consider expenses such as funeral costs, as well as any suffering that you have endured.
Although nothing can truly ease the pain of losing your spouse, it is important to find a way to move forward. Take the time to mourn and look after yourself.