When a Cobb County Family Loses a Loved One, You Deserve Clear Answers

A Georgia wrongful death claim lets certain family members seek compensation after a loved one dies because another person or company was negligent. If you are looking for a wrongful death law firm in Cobb County, this guide explains who can file, what a claim can recover, the filing deadline, and what happens after the first call. Ugwonali Law Group works from its office at 3400 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta, Georgia.

What a Georgia Wrongful Death Claim Is and Who It Is For

A wrongful death claim is a case brought after a person dies because another party’s negligent or wrongful act caused the death. It asks the at-fault party to answer for the loss the family suffered.

Common examples include:

• A fatal truck crash on a Georgia road
• A fatal car crash caused by a negligent driver
• A death caused by an unsafe condition on someone else’s property
• A fatal slip and fall on property that was not kept safe

A wrongful death claim is separate from any injury claim the person might have started before dying. It is brought on behalf of surviving family members. Who was at fault, and how the death happened, shape each claim.

Our wrongful death work covers fatal truck accidents, fatal car accidents, premises liability deaths, and fatal slip and falls. For a broader overview, read our Georgia wrongful death guide. Families who have lost someone recently can ask our team to review the facts.

Who Can File and How Long Families Have to Act

Under Georgia law, a surviving spouse may bring a claim for the death of a spouse, and if there is no surviving spouse, a child or children may bring a claim for the death of a parent. When no surviving spouse exists, a child or children may bring the claim. O.C.G.A. § 51-4-2 sets out this order.

If no one is entitled to bring the claim under O.C.G.A. § 51-4-2 or § 51-4-4, the administrator or executor may file it for the next of kin (O.C.G.A. § 51-4-5). Who files matters, so ask early.

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). Each death is different. Families should confirm which deadline applies to their loss right away.

Evidence can disappear over time. Crash reports, vehicle data, photos, surveillance video, and property records are easiest to collect early. Once they’re lost, rebuilding the record is harder. Our intake team can confirm who may file and which deadline fits your loss.

What a Wrongful Death Claim Can Recover

When a death results from a crime or from criminal or other negligence, the personal representative may seek funeral, medical and other necessary expenses resulting from the injury and death (O.C.G.A. § 51-4-5(b)). The evidence about the life lost and the loss to the family matters most.

Here’s how the recovery is shared. If there is a surviving spouse, the spouse receives no less than one-third of the recovery. If there is no surviving spouse, the children share equally, per capita (O.C.G.A. § 51-4-2).

When a death results from a crime or from criminal or other negligence, the personal representative may recover funeral, medical, and other necessary expenses (O.C.G.A. § 51-4-5). Necessary expenses from an injury are also a legitimate part of the damages estimate (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-7).

Bills and receipts are common records people keep to document expenses after an injury. Special damages must be proved to be recovered (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-2).

Insurance matters too. Federal law sets minimum financial responsibility levels for certain motor carriers that haul property (49 U.S.C. § 31139). When a commercial truck is involved, the coverage behind each company can shape how a claim is evaluated. Our team reviews that coverage during the free case review.

How the Process Works, Step by Step

A wrongful death case moves from a first call to evidence, investigation, claim talks, and, when needed, a lawsuit.

1. First consultation. Intake staff talk with you by phone or chat, in English or Spanish. The first consultation is free, confidential, and comes with no obligation to continue.
2. Evidence. The team gathers crash or incident reports, medical and autopsy records, photos, and vehicle or property data. Early collection protects the record.
3. Investigation. The team identifies each party that may share responsibility, including insurers and the companies that own a truck or property.
4. Claim talks. The claim goes to insurers, and you hear about each development. Insurers often take time to respond.
5. Lawsuit, if needed. When talks don’t resolve the claim, a lawsuit may be filed. Civil cases in Cobb County courts are filed electronically, and filers need an e-filing account (E-File Court Records). Timelines vary from case to case.

Families stay informed at every stage, so nothing happens in the dark.

Why Families Work With Ugwonali Law Group in Cobb County

Ugwonali Law Group is led by attorney Adanna Ugwonali, the responsible lawyer for this page. Our lawyers and support staff handle wrongful death matters across the firm’s practice area.

We represent families in Cobb County, Marietta, across metro Atlanta, and throughout Georgia. Our office is at 3400 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta, Georgia.

Intake is available in English and Spanish, so you can ask questions in the language you’re most comfortable using.

The firm focuses on serious injury and death cases, including truck accidents, car accidents, premises liability, and catastrophic injury. These cases often involve hospital care, medical records, and documented losses. That focus shapes how we work. We build the evidence first and explain each step in plain words.

Common Questions Families Ask Before Calling

Families often ask about court, fault, and timing before they call. Short answers follow.

Talk to Our Team About Your Family’s Case

If someone you love died in a crash or on unsafe property, a free case review is how you learn what the facts mean for your family.

You may be deciding whether to pursue a claim while you’re still grieving, arranging a funeral, and watching the calendar. You don’t have to sort those questions out alone.

Request a free case evaluation at our contact page, or chat with our intake team in English or Spanish.

This page is general information and not legal advice. Responsible lawyer: Adanna Ugwonali, Ugwonali Law Group, 3400 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta, Georgia. Contact through the link above.