Helping Georgia Families Pursue Answers and Accountability After a Loss

For a wrongful death attorney in Atlanta, Ugwonali Law Group handles these claims from 3400 Peachtree Road NE. A Georgia wrongful death claim lets certain family members or the estate seek recovery after a loved one dies because of someone else’s negligence. This guide explains the claim in plain language so you know what to expect.

What a Georgia wrongful death claim is and who it is for

A wrongful death claim is a civil lawsuit. It is brought after a person dies because of another party’s negligent or wrongful conduct. A civil claim is separate from any criminal case.

Georgia law allows a surviving spouse to bring the claim. If there is no surviving spouse, a child or children may bring it (O.C.G.A. § 51-4-2).

This page is for a surviving spouse who may bring a Georgia wrongful death claim under O.C.G.A. § 51-4-2 (Manfred Keais, As Next of Kin and As Administrator of the Estate of Eric Keais v. Othel D. Kelley, Iii (2026)), for the decedent’s child or children if there is no surviving spouse, and for the administrator or executor of an estate in cases where no one under §§ 51-4-2 or 51-4-4 may sue, as described in O.C.G.A. § 51-4-5. Many are facing a sudden death after a crash or a fall on unsafe property. Grief and paperwork often arrive together, so the steps below stay simple.

Some families are not sure who qualifies. Raise that question early. The right person to bring the claim depends on the family’s situation and the records that exist.

Types of fatal incidents Ugwonali Law Group handles

Ugwonali Law Group handles wrongful death matters that follow serious incidents. These include fatal crashes, deaths on unsafe property, and deaths after catastrophic injuries.

• Fatal truck accidents, including crashes involving commercial trucks.
• Fatal car and motor vehicle accidents on metro Atlanta roads and across Georgia.
• Deaths after a fall on unsafe property. Under Georgia law, an owner or occupier who invites people onto land can be liable for injuries caused by failing to use ordinary care in keeping the premises and approaches safe (O.C.G.A. § 51-3-1).
• Deaths after a traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury that needed hospital care and treatment from a medical doctor.

The firm focuses on cases involving serious injury or death, real medical treatment, and a responsible party with insurance or a corporate policy behind it. If your loss is unclear, the intake team can explain how it fits during the free review.

How the wrongful death process works, step by step

Most cases move through five stages, starting with a free review. Each case moves at its own pace.

1. Free case review. You call or request a free case evaluation. Intake staff, in English or Spanish, collect basic facts about the loss.
2. Gather records. Keep the police or crash report, hospital and medical records, funeral and burial receipts, and any insurance details for the other party.
3. Investigation. The team looks at how the death happened and who may share responsibility.
4. Claim and negotiation. The claim goes to the insurer. The team walks the family through any offer, and the family decides what to accept.
5. Court filing if needed. If a fair resolution is not reached, the case may be filed.

Families often wait while they grieve, and that is understandable. Still, early records matter most. Many families also speak with insurers before they understand the claim. Ask the team before giving any recorded statement.

Deadlines and timing you should know about

Georgia’s general deadline for actions for injuries to the person is two years after the right of action accrues (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33). The statute also has exceptions. Ask about your own deadline during the free review rather than assuming the general rule applies to you.

Early action also protects evidence. Surveillance video is often recorded over. Vehicles are often repaired or sold. Witness memories fade with time. Acting early helps keep these facts available.

What a wrongful death claim can seek

For a claim by the surviving spouse or, if there is no surviving spouse, a child or children, Georgia measures the recovery by the full value of the life of the decedent, as shown by the evidence (O.C.G.A. § 51-4-2). The statute defines that value as the full value without deducting the decedent’s necessary or personal expenses had they lived (O.C.G.A. § 51-4-1).

When death results from a crime or from criminal or other negligence, the personal representative may recover funeral, medical, and other necessary expenses resulting from the injury and death (O.C.G.A. § 51-4-5). When there is a surviving spouse, that spouse receives no less than one-third of the recovery (O.C.G.A. § 51-4-2).

Fault can reduce a recovery. Damages are reduced in proportion to the plaintiff’s percentage of fault. A plaintiff who is 50 percent or more responsible may not receive any damages (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33). The Georgia Supreme Court addressed apportionment under this statute in Quynn v. Hulsey.

Every case turns on its own facts and evidence. An amount can’t be predicted from general information.

Why families contact Ugwonali Law Group

Ugwonali Law Group is led by attorney Adanna Ugwonali, who is the responsible lawyer for this page. The firm’s office is at 3400 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta, Georgia.

Our attorneys and our team handle wrongful death claims for families across metro Atlanta, including Fulton, Clayton, Cobb, and Rockdale counties, and statewide in Georgia. Our team includes assistants and office staff who help families with records and scheduling.

Intake staff take calls in English or Spanish. The firm explains the legal and medical process in plain language, so families can make decisions with the facts in front of them.

Common questions and your next step