Columbus, Georgia Wrongful Death Lawyers
Columbus, Georgia Wrongful Death Lawyers
The Fierce Ally You Need. The Empathy You Deserve.
Putting your life back together after a wrongful death takes more than a settlement. It takes compassionate support from trusted advocates.
Do you have a case?
Handling your case confidently and compassionately
Here to Help.
At Montlick, we treat you with the empathy and respect you deserve. We handle your case as if it were our own, or the case of our own loved one. We work hard to make your life easier during a difficult time.
Here to Win.
At Montlick, our goal is to ease your financial burdens by putting the most money possible in your pocket, where it belongs. With billions of dollars won for our clients, our attorneys know what it takes to win.®
Right now, you are in the middle of one of the most difficult situations you’ll ever endure. When someone you love loses their life due to negligence, feelings of confusion, rage, grief, and anger become so strong it’s hard to see a path forward. In your most challenging moments, our wrongful death lawyers fight aggressively on your behalf while treating you and your family with the respect you deserve.
A Name You Know, A Reputation You Can Trust™
Georgians know our name—and with good reason. Montlick is known as a fierce and respected personal injury law firm of the highest integrity. For decades our attorneys have fought and won the money our clients need to move forward after tragedy. Find out how we can help you today.
Wrongful Death Personal Injury Lawyers Serving Columbus, GA
Defining a Wrongful Death in Columbus, Georgia
A wrongful death is defined under Georgia law in O.C.G.A. 51-4-1 et seq. Under the statute, a death is wrongful if it is caused by negligent, reckless, or the intentional actions of another. Generally, negligence is the central component to any wrongful death claim caused by an accident and negligence usually must be established for the wrongful death claim to be successful. Negligence is defined as the failure of an individual or company to use reasonable care when a duty exists to do so.
The Powerhouse Firm that Puts You First®
Your best interest will always be our primary focus. If you’re in Columbus, Georgia and need a Catastrophic Injury lawyer, Call 1-800-529-6333 or dial #WIN® (#946) from your mobile phone.
Wrongful Death Lawsuit Attorneys Near Columbus
Here’s What You Need to Know About Wrongful Death Claims
What Constitutes a Wrongful Death?
There are many types of conduct and hazards that may be the basis of a wrongful death action including trucking and car accidents and collisions, construction site or on-the-job accidents, slips, trips and falls, medical malpractice, dangerous drugs, violent crime and more.
If your loved one dies in an accident or is killed by an intentional criminal act like those above, it may give rise to two separate legal claims that are typically brought together in a single wrongful death case: a survival cause of action and a wrongful death cause of action.
A survival action is effectively a personal injury claim that addresses the pain and suffering of the deceased between the time of the accident or intentional misconduct and the person’s actual death. It can include lost income over the reasonable life expectancy of the decedent, and medical costs and expenses.
The survival cause of action may be brought by the representative of the decedent’s estate and also may include burial and funeral costs. The objective of the survival accident is to compensate the decedent’s estate for the damages that the victim would have been entitled to if he or she had survived.
Who Can Pursue a Wrongful Death Claim?
Under Georgia law, only certain relatives are allowed to file wrongful death claims. Surviving spouses are usually given priority. If the accident victim has children, the children’s interests must be represented in the wrongful death claim as well. This is because any children have a right to a portion of the proceeds of the recovery under Georgia’s wrongful death statute. If the decedent did not have a surviving spouse or children, a personal representative, such as an administrator of the decedent, may pursue the claim. In such a situation, proceeds collected by the personal representative would be for the benefit of the next of kin.
Damages in a Wrongful Death Claim
When you lose a loved one due to an accidental or intentional wrongful death, you may incur a wide array of expenses and losses. Georgia law recognizes this and allows the family members of those killed due to negligence to seek two different claims. The first category of losses are financial losses related to the death, which include:
- Medical expenses incurred prior to the decedent’s death;
- Funeral and burial costs;
- Pain and suffering experienced by the decedent before death.
The deceased’s estate pursues these types of losses in a survival action.
The next category of damages, which arise from a wrongful death claim, includes losses related to the value of the life of the deceased, including:
- Lost wages
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of job-related benefits
- Loss of other intangible benefits, such as love, guidance, and more.
While financial losses can be itemized, intangible losses are hard to assign a financial value. The loss of a relative’s presence and guidance in your life is often immeasurable. Our wrongful death attorneys understand the severity of hardship endured by those who tragically and suddenly lose their loved ones.
We work with our clients to accomplish the difficult and painful task of calculating the damages related to the loss of family members.
Financial Hardship After a Wrongful Death
When you lose someone you love to a careless accident or a crime, the sense of loss and grief can be overwhelming. With so much emotional pain, it’s difficult to focus your attention on the financial and legal matters that must be handled.
When a parent, spouse or child suffers fatal injuries in a serious Columbus car accident or other circumstance, the mountain of medical bills and other expenses may be financially devastating. If the family member who dies was also a significant contributor to the family’s household income, these financial problems can be even more daunting. You’ve already endured the unbearable, the last injustice you need is to experience financially instability.
If you have lost a loved one due to someone else’s negligence in Columbus or are dealing with the devastating aftermath of a wrongful death, call 1-404-529-6333 or dial #WIN® (#946) from your mobile phone.
We don’t get paid until you do. Call today for a free consultation and we’ll tell you how we can help.
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Serving Columbus, GA and More
Providing Representation in the Following Areas:
Phenix City, AL (36867, 36868, 36869)
Fort Benning, GA (31905)
Fortson, GA (31808)
Midland, GA (31820)
Cataula, GA (31804)
Upatoi, GA (31829)
Waverly Hall, GA (31831)
Smiths Station, AL (36877)
Ellerslie, GA (31807)
Hamilton, GA (31811)
Salem, AL (36874)
Pine Mountain, GA (31822)
Cusseta, GA (31805)
Fort Mitchell, AL (36856)
Shiloh, GA (31826)
We Win More than Settlements.
We win the peace-of-mind you need to get your life back.
At Montlick, we believe comprehensive legal representation is a right, not a privilege. That’s why we provide our services on a contingency fee basis. You only pay when we win.
Because we can’t stop accidents from happening, we do what we can to help minimize their long-term impact. We put more money in your pocket, where it belongs.