What is the Process like For Wrongful Death Cases in Chatham County, Georgia?
If your loved one died due to someone else’s negligence, you have two years to file a wrongful death case to pursue justice. Once the wrongful death case has been filed, your wrongful death attorney will gather evidence, file paperwork, and manage deadlines. Allow us to explain in detail the importance of each step and how your wrongful death attorney, Mickey Kicklighter, will proceed in your wrongful death cases in Chatham County.
- Step 1: Gather Evidence
Negligence or intent must be present for a wrongful death claim to be valid, and it must be proven in the case. These are the definitions of negligence and intent:
Negligence occurs when someone fails to provide the expected standard of care.
Intent occurs when someone purposefully acts outside of the expected standard of care.
In both scenarios, it must be proven that the defendant committed negligence or acted with intent which ultimately caused your loved one’s death. Your wrongful death attorney will gather evidence to prove negligence or intent and present the evidence to the judge during the lawsuit. - Step 2: File Paperwork
There are two wrongful death claims that you can pursue – damages to cover the full value of the deceased’s life or damages to cover financial losses related to the deceased’s death. With each claim, there is extensive legal paperwork that must be filed in a timely manner to pursue compensation. Your wrongful death attorney, Mickey Kicklighter, can file this paperwork and be your advocate during this process.
- Step 3: Manage Deadlines
A wrongful death claim must be filed within two years of the deceased’s death date. Once filed, there are multiple deadlines we must adhere to so we can pursue damages related to the wrongful death. Managing these deadlines will keep the case on track and help us pursue optimal results.