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Georgia Wrongful Death Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents and Wrongful Death for Georgia on
Q: If my car get hit from behind and a passenger of my car dies can I be charged with anything

My car broke down in the road and my passengers and I got hit and 1 died

Michael W. Horst
Michael W. Horst
answered on Jan 12, 2022

The short answer is maybe. If the car breaking down was sudden and unexpected to the extent it was impossible to avoid stopping and temporarily leaving your disabled vehicle in the roadway, then I do not see any charges being filed. However, if you had reason to know the car was not roadworthy... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Wrongful Death for Georgia on
Q: My mother was killed by cartersville medical center on June 15, 2018. They gave her to much potassium. How can I sue.

This is wrongful death, they caused her cardiac arrest.

Nelson Craig Johnson
Nelson Craig Johnson
answered on Sep 7, 2021

You should seek out legal counsel and provide them with the medical records to review. This will be a Medical Malpractice case which requires showing the doctors/nurses breach the standard of care and caused injury to the patient as a result of that breach. If the attorney believes there was a... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law, Federal Crimes and Wrongful Death for Georgia on
Q: Is Faking Your Own Death a Crime? And what charges can you get?
Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Apr 10, 2021

A Georgia attorney could answer best, but your post remains open for two weeks. If it's done in the context of life insurance benefits, which is the common scenario, the crime is generally insurance fraud. Outside of that or other contexts involving illegal acts (but instead done as a... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law and Wrongful Death for Georgia on
Q: can a witness also watch and listen to trial as it takes place

I am a child to a deceased mother, who was killed due to domestic violence,, i am almost sure I will have to testify and i would like to listen and watch the trial as it proceeds. My family is saying that’s not allowed and I’m worried.

Christine King
Christine King
answered on Apr 1, 2021

I am so sorry for your loss. I am sure this has been very difficult. Unfortunately, sequestration of witnesses is a normal practice. It is designed to illicit truthful testimony that has not been swayed by the testimony of other witnesses. Ultimately, it is up to the judge.

I hope...
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2 Answers | Asked in Wrongful Death for Georgia on
Q: Troup county sheriff's department went out there with me to get his stuff as long as I had my marriage license I have .

I am his wife lately we're not divorced not separated anything he was living with me he got on drugs he moved in with them he died they're on drugs too by the law is it not legally my stuff to resume from them instead of hers to sell I have receipts for most of it.

Christine King
Christine King
answered on Mar 23, 2021

Good afternoon. Could you please clarify what the issue is? Thank you in advance.

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3 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law and Wrongful Death for Georgia on
Q: If a country jail releases someone that is a illegal and they commit murdered my mother the next day can I sue them

It was my mother who was murder

Regina Irene Edwards
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Regina Irene Edwards pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Feb 5, 2021

There is no such person as an "illegal." A jail is not responsible for the actions of an undocumented person who may commit crimes after their release. Same for a citizen.

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1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law and Wrongful Death for Georgia on
Q: What would a aggravated assault charge be in Ga.Daughter protecting sister from husband and hit him and he filed charges
Seth Meyerson
Seth Meyerson
answered on Oct 18, 2020

The daughter might have a justification defense to charges.

2 Answers | Asked in Wrongful Death for Georgia on
Q: When a settlement is reached in wrongful death case in Georgia, what is the protocol for allocating funds fairly?

Without "enlightened conscience of jury", how to allocate fairly to both estate and WD claims in order to satisfy equitably the heirs. Isn't there some sort of protocol or "golden rule"? Being a heir, I cannot decide things like pain and suffering prior to death and the... View More

Michael W. Horst
Michael W. Horst
answered on Oct 5, 2020

That is a great question and, unfortunately, there is no exact answer. It is generally the rule of thumb that the vast majority of the funds are allocated to the wrongful death claim. The reason being is that any funds applied to the estate claim are subject to any liens which may have been... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Wrongful Death for Georgia on
Q: If there is no estate and no will and I need to obtain my loved ones medical records,, how do I do so?
Robert W. Hughes Jr.
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Robert W. Hughes Jr.
answered on Aug 17, 2020

(2) Upon written request from the patient or a person authorized to have access to the patient's record under an advance directive for health care or a durable power of attorney for health care for such patient, the provider having custody and control of the patient's record shall furnish... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Tax Law and Wrongful Death for Georgia on
Q: Do I have to pay taxes on funds received from my mother's personal injury cases case. She died as a result.

The defendant payed a settlement to my mother's estate. The settlement states "No Releasee has ever admitted, and but rather each specifically denies, any allegation of wrongdoing. " The case was against a nursing home.

Eric  Day
Eric Day
answered on Aug 17, 2020

If the settlement is for pain and suffering, then the payment of that settlement is non-taxable. The only issue you would have as far as taxability of the funds that were then distributed to you through the estate would be if the distribution exceeded the exemption amount on the gift tax of 11.5... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Wrongful Death for Georgia on
Q: Does 19-7-1 (c)(6) apply to an adult deceased
Michael W. Horst
Michael W. Horst
answered on Jul 12, 2020

Yes. Please see Hall v. Bailey, 560 S.E.2d 76, 253 Ga.App. 595 (2002).

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1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law, Civil Rights, Constitutional Law and Wrongful Death for Georgia on
Q: How do you get a coroner to do a inquest when you can’t get them to respond to your phone calls, emails etc?

They have no physical address for a office and has went out of his way to ignore the family for over 3 years now even though they are aware the family does not agree with the findings, has the evidence to prove the cause and manner of death to be different then listed on the death certificate, has... View More

Ecleynne Mercy
Ecleynne Mercy
answered on Jan 16, 2020

Georgia Bureau of Investigations

3121 Panthersville Road

DECATUR, GA 30034

Primary: (404) 244-2600

2 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents and Wrongful Death for Georgia on
Q: My father died 22 years ago in a car accident caused by someone else. I was a minor and Nothing was pursued.

The other driver was at fault, failed to yield.

My parents were divorced and my mother did not pursue anything. I have just recently found out the details, can I do anything now ?

Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on Jan 9, 2020

Just to be sure, contact a member of the Ga. Trial Lawyers Assn but no, it is too late. There's a statute of limitations for wrongful death and related claims that is long over. Even if you had a claim as a minor, that would have expired on your 18th birthday or 2-3 years after that, depending... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law and Wrongful Death for Georgia on
Q: If the GA First Offender Act allows records to be immediately seal, why is the offender listed on Vinelink's website

The motion was filed and the records were sealed immediately. No records appear on any Georgia Department of Correction sites, etc. Is VineLink's (owned by Appriss) site violating the First Offender Act?

Joshua Schiffer
Joshua Schiffer
answered on Dec 13, 2019

Allows is the key word. You have to move/motion to seal after the case is concluded (unless the sealing was arranged during the plea) to seal the records.

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1 Answer | Asked in Civil Rights, Federal Crimes and Wrongful Death for Georgia on
Q: My cousin was killed by a police officer in Ga 2012. His mother is dying of cancer but she never got true Justice

How could we appeal a decision in court. The police officer was never held responsible? There was no evidence provided, and there was no justice pertaining to his death. It was a WRONGFUL DEATH that basically got overlooked . When looking up even the case information on the incident only articles... View More

Gary Kollin
Gary Kollin
answered on Sep 11, 2019

You cannot appeal the decision of the prosecutor

2 Answers | Asked in Wrongful Death for Georgia on
Q: Can i take the pool/company to court

The man was under water for ten minutes and it took someone who wasnt even a lifeguard to inform them about him.There was no lifeguard vigilant at the area he was in. once they noticed him it took 1 minute to get him out of the pool. He eventually died because of drowning

Robert W. Hughes Jr.
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Robert W. Hughes Jr.
answered on Sep 4, 2019

It is possible, but other facts are needed to fully explore whether somebody failed to follow proper safety rules resulting in this person's drowning. You should see an attorney knowledgeable in pool safety regulations to discuss your matter in greater detail.

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1 Answer | Asked in Federal Crimes, Libel & Slander, Personal Injury and Wrongful Death for Georgia on
Q: What if the signing doctor put false cause of death on the certificate? Called it an overdose with tests disproving over

Called the persons death a possible overdose when every test came back clean.

Ecleynne Mercy
Ecleynne Mercy
answered on May 2, 2019

A death certificate serves as evidence only of (1) the death itself and (2) the immediate agency (reason) of the death. Other conclusions, such as those regarding the events leading up to the death or whether the cause of death was intentional or accidental, are not admissible. Swanson v. State,... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents and Wrongful Death for Georgia on
Q: If you settle with a tort claim (o.c g.a. subsection 9-11-67.1) can you still be suit in civil court for wrongful death?
Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on Feb 7, 2019

Assuming part of the settlement was a release generally no, though it depends who was released. Get a copy of the release, talk to the lawyer the insurance company paid to represent you.

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law, Personal Injury and Wrongful Death for Georgia on
Q: Are employers required to report deaths of employees to work comp or OSHA?

My healthy 42 yo husband died at work while in the restroom. Death certificate states: cause and manner of death are undetermined. All toxicology and other testing negative. I have no idea what happened to him at work... I was never informed that I or my daughter could be entitled to work comp... View More

Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on Feb 4, 2019

Your estate lawyer should have suggested to you that you had that right. Likely it's passed, but why not contact a member of the Ga Trial Lawyers Assn in your county--they give free consults. Look for one that handles workers compensation.

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