Losing someone in a crash raises questions you should not have to answer alone

For families searching for a wrongful death attorney Atlanta residents can call, the first questions are usually about who may file and what happens next. In Georgia, a surviving spouse may recover the full value of the decedent’s life, or if there is no surviving spouse, a child or children may recover it, for the homicide of the spouse or parent, as shown by the evidence, and an estate may recover certain expenses. This page explains those basics in plain language.

Wrongful Death Representation for Families in Atlanta and Across Georgia

Ugwonali Law Group represents families in Georgia wrongful death cases. Adanna Ugwonali is the responsible attorney, and the firm’s office is at 3400 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta.

A wrongful death claim is a civil case. It asks for compensation after a death caused by another person’s or company’s negligence or wrongful act. It is separate from any criminal case, although both can arise from the same event.

The firm’s practice covers deaths that follow:

• Truck crashes
• Car crashes
• Unsafe-property incidents
• Slip and fall and trip and fall injuries

The firm also handles serious injuries, such as traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, that later result in death.

The firm serves families in Atlanta, Fulton, Clayton, Cobb, and Rockdale counties, Marietta, Jonesboro, Conyers, and across Georgia. Our team includes support staff who handle intake and scheduling, so families can reach someone directly.

Who Can Bring a Wrongful Death Claim in Georgia

Under Georgia law, a surviving spouse may bring the claim. If there is no surviving spouse, a child or children may.

Georgia’s wrongful death statute, O.C.G.A. § 51-4-2, lets the surviving spouse or, if there is no surviving spouse, a child or children recover for the homicide of a spouse or parent. The recovery is the full value of the decedent’s life, as shown by the evidence.

If there is a surviving spouse, that spouse receives no less than one-third of the recovery as the spouse’s share.

The administrator or executor’s right to sue for the next of kin, when no one is entitled under § 51-4-2 or § 51-4-4, is found in O.C.G.A. § 51-4-5, not § 51-4-2.

Bring the family details to the first call. Intake usually asks about your relationship to the decedent, the date and place of death, and whether an estate has been opened.

What a Georgia Wrongful Death Claim Can Include

Under O.C.G.A. § 51-4-5, when a death results from a crime or from criminal or other negligence, the personal representative of the deceased person is entitled to recover for the funeral, medical, and other necessary expenses resulting from the injury and death. One is the family’s claim for the value of the life lost, which under O.C.G.A. § 51-4-2(a) the surviving spouse, or a child or children if there is no surviving spouse, may bring; the administrator or executor may bring an action for that value under O.C.G.A. § 51-4-5(a) only when there is no person entitled to bring an action for the wrongful death of a decedent under Code Section 51-4-2 or 51-4-4. The other is the estate’s claim for expenses tied to the death.

• Family claim: The statute measures the full value of the decedent’s life as shown by the evidence in each case. No amount can be promised at the start of a case.
• O.C.G.A. § 51-4-5 sets out this rule, which applies when death results from a crime or from criminal or other negligence.

Evidence shapes what can be proven. Police reports, medical records, vehicle or property records, and witness statements often matter.

Georgia also uses a shared-fault rule, O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33. Under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33, damages are reduced by the plaintiff’s share of fault. A plaintiff who is 50 percent or more responsible receives no damages.

How the Free First Consultation Works

The first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation to continue.

Families can call, request a free case evaluation, or chat with the intake team. Intake staff can sign a client on the first call if the family decides to move forward.

Bring what you have, if you can:

• Death certificate
• Police or incident report numbers
• Medical and hospital records
• Insurance information
• Photos

You don’t need all of these to start.

Intake is available in English or Spanish. Spanish speakers can ask for the consultation in Spanish: consulta inicial gratuita, confidencial y sin compromiso.

What to Expect After You Reach Out

After intake, a wrongful death case usually moves through four steps.

1. Intake call: The family describes the death, the incident, and who has been involved so far.
2. Records and evidence: The firm requests records and takes early steps to protect evidence, such as vehicle data or property conditions.
3. Investigation: The firm reviews who may be legally responsible, including insurance where it applies.
4. Claim and negotiation: The firm presents the claim to insurers. If a fair resolution is not reached, it prepares for a lawsuit.

Deadlines matter. Under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33, except as otherwise provided in that article, actions for injuries to the person must be brought within two years after the right of action accrues. Deadlines in these cases depend on the facts, so early contact helps.

If the death was also a crime, O.C.G.A. § 9-3-99 can pause the clock from the date of the alleged crime until the prosecution becomes final or otherwise ends, as long as that pause does not exceed six years. That pause is limited to six years, with some exceptions. Each step moves at the pace the records and the parties allow.

How Fees and Case Costs Work

The first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation to continue.

Before you sign, ask how fees are calculated.

Ask for these terms in writing. Ask what happens to costs if the case does not recover money. Read the agreement carefully, and ask about any term you don’t understand.

Frequently Asked Questions About Wrongful Death Claims in Atlanta

Short answers to the questions families ask first are below.

Talk With Our Team About Your Family’s Loss

If a family member died after a crash or a fall on unsafe property, you can talk through your options with our team. You may have questions about who is responsible, what your family can claim, and which deadlines apply.

You can request a free case evaluation or chat with intake. Either way, you start with a free, confidential first consultation. The firm is at 3400 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta, and intake is available in English or Spanish.

Responsible attorney: Adanna Ugwonali, Ugwonali Law Group, 3400 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta, Georgia. Contact: Ugwonali Law Group contact page. This page is general information, not legal advice. No result is promised.