McDonough Wrongful Death Lawyer

You must provide four key elements to prove a wrongful death. These elements include: 

1. Duty of Care. According to Georgia law, a wrongful death must result from the recklessness or negligence of another party. The duty of care is the standard for reasonable actions. A lawyer from Scholle Law will cite the doctrine establishing the defendant's duty of care.
2. Breach of Duty. Your lawyer will argue that the defendant breached their duty through negligent actions. These actions will depend on the details of your case. 
3. Causation. Your lawyer will need to demonstrate that the other party's negligence caused your loved one's death. This is distinct from a breach of duty of care. Causation forms an additional link between the defendant and the results of the tragic incident. 
4. Damages. Your lawyer will need to show that the victim's death has resulted in demonstrated damages to your family. Your lawyer will provide any documentation that proves your damages. This can strengthen your case.

Our legal team will need to demonstrate each of these elements as persuasively as possible. A skilled Georgia wrongful death lawyer can use witness testimony and evidence as appropriate. The end goal of these steps is obtaining compensation for you.

 

Finding a law firm you are comfortable with is one of the most important aspects of pursuing a wrongful death claim. In order to find the right lawyer for you, be sure to ask the following questions:

• How much experience do you have with wrongful death cases?
• Will you handle my case directly if I hire your firm?
• Do you believe that I have a strong basis for a wrongful death claim?
• How much compensation am I entitled to?
• What will you do to win my case?
• What will you charge for handling my case?
• What resources will your firm provide for my case?
• What level of involvement can I expect to have in my case?
• What are your firm's results in cases like mine?

Do not hesitate to ask any other questions that arise. Hiring a lawyer is a major decision; you want to get it right. The team at Scholle Law will answer all the questions you have.

The statute of limitations, or time limit, for filing a wrongful death claim in Georgia is two years. The clock starts on the date that the victim passes away, as noted by Georgia law (O.C.G.A § 9-3-33).

There are unique circumstances in which this time limit could change. Regardless, it is in your best interest to initiate your wrongful death claim as soon as possible. Your Duluth wrongful death lawyer will help you stay ahead of the deadline. Doing so is essential to winning your case.

You may seek quick compensation after your loved one's passing. You may have no other recourse to make ends meet. However, speed can be an unrealistic expectation for a wrongful death case. 

A wrongful death suit settles quickly may result in insufficient compensation. An insurance company may offer a fast settlement. This offer may be tempting. This is a strategy that insurance companies can use to pay lower-than-necessary settlements. 

We will take the necessary time to pursue the compensation you deserve. Working with a Duluth wrongful death lawyer from our team will provide great insight. We will explain how much compensation your claim is worth. We will help you avoid the regret that comes from accepting a quick, insufficient settlement. 

A wrongful death claim that includes maximum compensation can take time to settle. This is because: 

• We need time to gather as much relevant information as possible
• The insurance company may initially refuse to pay the full amount that you deserve
• The insurance company may require drawn-out negotiations before agreeing to settle
• Your case may need to go to trial (if settlement negotiations are not successful)
• Trial may be a lengthy process, especially if the defendant does not accept liability for the death of your loved one

Your case may take months or longer. In some cases, filing the lawsuit and working through the legal system can take years. We can explain these possibilities. We will also explain how your family can remain financially afloat during this period.  

It's essential that you find a Duluth wrongful death lawyer who will work hard for you. Your case is too important to do otherwise.

These two terms are often used interchangeably, but they have distinctly different legal definitions:

• Wrongful death cases refer to civil claims that one person brings against another party on behalf of a person who has died. In a wrongful death case, the defendant could be a person, a business entity, or a government entity.
• Homicide is defined as the unlawful killing of a human being by another. This is a criminal act.

Criminal death is governed by a state's criminal code.

Criminal deaths and homicides are managed under a state's criminal code. Title 16 of the O.C.G.A. contains Georgia's criminal code, which encompasses cases such as murder and manslaughter. The state prosecutes homicide cases, while personal injury attorneys like Charles Scholle litigate wrongful death cases.

Criminal homicide cases and civil wrongful death cases generally have different aims. In a criminal death case, the court aims to punish the wrongdoer for their actions. In a wrongful death case, the aim is to compensate the victim's family for their loss. 

There are several other important differences between criminal death and wrongful death in the state of Georgia:

• A district attorney's office will not pursue a wrongful death claim (it is not under their legal purview).
• You can pursue a wrongful death case even if the district attorney's office pursues a criminal action for homicide. You can file a civil case whether or not the defendant is found guilty of criminal charges. A famous example of this is the OJ Simpson trial, in which Simpson was found not guilty of murder but was found liable for wrongful death in civil court.
• The criminal code of Georgia does not apply to a wrongful death action. Instead, Chapter 4 of Title 51 (Torts) of O.C.G.A. applies.
• There will be no "guilty" or "not guilty" verdict in a wrongful death suit. Instead, it will determine that the defendant is "liable" or "not liable."
• Wrongful death cases cannot result in jail time or imprisonment for a defendant. Rather, monetary damages may be awarded if the responsible party is found liable.

These distinctions are important. They may be difficult for you to grasp or navigate as you seek compensation, however. Your emotional anguish may make legal terms and principles even more difficult to understand. You do not need to grapple with these issues alone. Your Duluth wrongful death lawyer will guide you through the legal process. They'll fight for the positive outcome that you deserve.

While medical malpractice can relate to wrongful death, the two terms are distinct.

• • Malpractice refers to a type of medical negligence

 

• • Wrongful death is a type of claim that parties settle in civil court 

 

Medical malpractice refers to a negligent act that results in injury to a healthcare provider's patient. This can include a failure to act.  Not all wrongful death cases involve medical malpractice. Some malpractice claims result in wrongful death lawsuits, but not always. Some cases of medical malpractice are fatal. In these cases, the victim's loved ones can initiate a wrongful death claim to recover damages.

Medical malpractice can include several different types of action, including:

• • Misdiagnosis

 

• • Failure to diagnose

 

• • Misinterpreting lab results

 

• • Poor follow-up

 

• • Surgical mistakes

 

• • Failure to monitor during surgery

 

• • Premature discharge

 

• • Medication errors

 

• • Use of unsafe equipment

 

Rehashing an instance of medical malpractice can be traumatic for you. You do not have to relive a loved one's wrongful death. By hiring Duluth wrongful death lawyer from Scholle Law, you avoid re-experiencing a traumatic event. We will deal with your case in its entirety.

Workers' compensation could be one option for pursuing damages after a workplace incident. Demonstrating the liability of the company can be difficult, however. This is especially true if the worker did not die while physically on or in company property. Your workers' compensation lawyer can perform an independent investigation to provide cause, but this can take time.

Understanding workers' compensation benefits takes time, effort, and legal knowledge. The compensation that results from a workers' compensation claim can also differ from the awards granted in a wrongful death claim. Our firm understands the differences between workers' compensation and other legal actions. We can help you determine the best legal path forward.