Vidalia Wrongful Death Lawyer
$30 Million Recovered. Over 28 Years Fighting for Georgia Families.
When a family loses someone to another party’s negligence, the grief is immediate. The legal questions follow fast. Craig Injury Law has been handling wrongful death cases across Georgia since 1995, and we know what it takes to build a claim that holds negligent parties accountable. Our attorneys secured a $30 million wrongful death recovery in Southeast Georgia, including a case involving a tractor-trailer, and we’ve recovered millions more for injured Georgians and their families across our 28-plus years of practice.
What sets our firm apart isn’t just that record. Clients work directly with an attorney throughout their case. You won’t be handed off to a paralegal or case manager when things get complicated. That direct access matters in wrongful death cases, where families deserve real answers from the person handling their claim, not a go-between. A civil wrongful death case can also move forward on its own timeline, independent of any criminal proceedings, and early action can protect the evidence and deadlines that shape your case.
Request a free consultation with our Vidalia wrongful death attorney by contacting a friendly staff member online or at (912) 304-5202. Bahasa Indonesia spoken. Hablamos Español!
Georgia Wrongful Death Law: What Families Need to Know
Georgia’s wrongful death law (O.C.G.A. 51-4) allows the family of a person who has died to file a civil claim for “the full value of the life of the decedent.” The statute defines wrongful death as “the death of a human being resulting from a crime, from criminal or other negligence, or from the property that has been defectively manufactured, whether or not as the result of negligence.”
Common wrongful death claims arise from car and truck accidents, defective products, medical malpractice, and criminal acts. We handle each of these claim types for families in Vidalia and across Southeast Georgia. In every wrongful death case, a civil claim can move forward regardless of whether the responsible party has been criminally charged or convicted. The civil and criminal systems are independent: even a not-guilty verdict in criminal court doesn’t bar a civil claim. Wrongful death claims in Georgia must generally be filed within two years of the date of death. When the death arises from a criminal act or a qualifying traffic offense, that two-year clock may be paused while the criminal case is pending, and once it concludes, families generally have two years from that point to file, subject to an overall limit under Georgia law.
Damages Available in a Georgia Wrongful Death Case
Georgia law recognizes two distinct categories of wrongful death damages, each with its own basis and potential claimants. We pursue compensation that accounts for your family’s full range of losses, both economic and non-economic.
Surviving Family Damages
These damages are brought on behalf of surviving family members and can include:
- Loss of the income, wages, or benefits the decedent would have earned
- Loss of household services the decedent would have provided
- Loss of companionship, care, and guidance
Estate Damages
These damages are paid to the decedent’s estate and can include:
- Funeral and burial costs
- Medical expenses incurred before death
- Pain and suffering experienced by the deceased before death
Contact us today for a free consultation with our highly skilled team!
