Losing someone to another person’s negligence leaves families facing grief and unanswered questions at the same time. Why did this happen? Who is responsible? What can be done now?
Georgia law gives surviving family members the right to pursue accountability from those responsible for a loved one’s death — not to undo what cannot be undone, but to ensure the full cost of that loss does not fall entirely on the people left behind.
Boyd Law Firm handles wrongful death cases in Brunswick and throughout Southeast Georgia. We work closely with families through every step — gathering evidence, establishing liability, and pursuing every category of compensation the law allows
Georgia’s wrongful death statute (O.C.G.A. § 51-4-1 et seq.) allows surviving family members to bring a civil claim when a person’s death was caused by the negligence, recklessness, or wrongful act of another. Civil accountability does not require a criminal conviction — the standard is lower and the proceedings are separate.
Wrongful death claims may arise from:
Georgia law provides two distinct legal claims that families can pursue simultaneously after a wrongful death:
is brought by the surviving family member (spouse, children, or parents in that priority order). It measures the full value of the life lost — both the financial contributions and the non-economic dimensions of the person’s life that are gone. Damages flow to the family.
is brought through the deceased’s estate. It recovers for the conscious pain and suffering the person experienced before death, as well as medical expenses incurred between the injury and death and funeral and burial costs. These funds pass through the estate
Both claims should be evaluated and, where applicable, pursued. We assess the full picture from the start.
If the deceased left a spouse, the spouse holds the right to file — and must act as representative for any surviving children, sharing the recovery with them according to Georgia law. Legal separation at the time of death does not eliminate spousal standing
If there is no surviving spouse, the deceased’s children — whether minor or adult — share the right to bring the claim equally
If the deceased left no surviving spouse or children, the deceased’s parents may bring the claim.
If no spouse, children, or parents survive, the estate administrator may pursue the claim, with any recovery held for the benefit of the nearest kin.
Under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33, wrongful death claims must be filed within two years of the date of death. After that deadline passes, the claim is extinguished — permanently.
Georgia measures wrongful death damages by the full value of the life of the person who died — a standard that recognizes both what they contributed economically and what they meant to the people who loved them.
Projected lifetime earnings and lost financial support - Value of services provided to the family — caregiving, household work, financial management Lost benefits — retirement contributions, health coverage, and other employment benefits
The loss of companionship, care, guidance, and presence that cannot be measured on a spreadsheet - The loss of the relationship itself — the person, not just their function
Georgia does not cap wrongful death damages. Courts and juries determine the full value based on the life that was actually lived and lost.
If your family has lost someone because of another person’s negligence, we are here to help you understand your options. There is no obligation and no cost to speak with us. You pay nothing unless we win your case.
