Wrongful Death

A 12-year-old boy was killed in an Atlanta car accident, which officials say involved an alleged drunk driver. According to an Associated Press news report, the fatal DUI crash occurred in southwest Atlanta. Officials say the boy was crossing the street when the car struck him. The 43-year-old driver has been accused of striking the boy and fleeing the scene of the crash. The driver has been arrested and charged with vehicular homicide, DUI, leaving the scene of an accident, failure to yield, failure to maintain lane, driving on a suspended license, and reckless driving.

According to the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, there were 1,493 fatalities suffered in Georgia car accidents in the year 2008 and 416 of those fatalities were alcohol-related. Of the 1,021 drivers killed in Georgia car accidents during that same year, 331 had a recorded blood alcohol content (BAC) level of 0.00, 31 had a BAC less than .08, and 207 had a BAC greater than .08. These numbers may not reflect the total number of fatally injured drunk drivers because 43 percent of all drivers killed were not tested for alcohol consumption.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 16 percent of traffic fatalities with victims who are aged 14 and younger involved impaired drivers. If you have lost a loved one in a fatal DUI crash, it is important that you speak with an experienced Atlanta wrongful death car accident attorney immediately.

At The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C., our experienced car accident attorneys provide free consultations to anyone who has suffered a loss in a Georgia car accident. Families of deceased victims can file a wrongful death claim seeking compensation for damages including medical and funeral costs and lost future income. Please contact us at (404) 995-3955 to find out how we can help you and your family.

A Paulding County pastor was killed in an Atlanta traffic accident when a county bus struck his bicycle. According to a news report in The Associated Press, the fatal bus accident occurred along U.S. 41 in Bartow County. Officials say the bicyclist was in critical condition and later died at a hospital in Marietta. The 77-year-old driver of the charter bus faces charges of vehicular homicide and following too closely.

It is crucial for all Georgia motorists to leave enough space between their vehicle and the vehicles in front of them. According to Georgia Statute 40-6-49: “The driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of such vehicles and the traffic upon and the condition of the highway.” Motorists who are distracted, inattentive, fatigued, or impaired also tend to cause serious injury rear-end accidents.

Anyone who has lost a loved one in a Georgia bicycle accident should discuss his or her legal rights and options with an experienced personal injury lawyer. It may be possible to hold the at-fault party accountable for the crash. In cases involving negligence or wrongdoing, financial compensation may be available for medical bills, hospitalization fees, funeral expenses, lost future wages, loss of companionship, and other related damages.

The experienced wrongful death lawyers at Wayne Grant, P.C. know how to get families fair compensation for their tragic losses. We offer free consultations at (404) 995-3955 to anyone who has lost a loved one in a fatal Georgia traffic accident.

An 11-year-old boy, the stepson of musical artist Usher, suffered serious injuries in a Georgia child injury accident involving a rented personal watercraft. According to a news report in The Peachtree Corners Patch, the personal watercraft accident occurred on Lake Lanier. Officials say the 11-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl were being towed on an inner tube by a boat when a man ran them over in his rented watercraft. The boy is in critical condition and has been declared brain dead. After 21 days of the young boy being unconscious, the parents made the difficult decision to take him off life support. The girl suffered a cut on her head and a broken arm. No charges have been filed in connection with this incident.

Under current Georgia law, people renting watercrafts are not required to complete a safety course. It is unclear if additional training or renting restrictions could have prevented this tragic accident.

According to the 2011 Recreational Boating Statistics as reported by the United States Coast Guard, there were 4,588 boating accidents resulting in 758 deaths and 3,081 injuries. Tragically, 15 of the fatally injured victims in the year 2011 were under age 13. For every 100,000 registered recreational vessels, 6.2 people were killed. Eight out of every 10 boaters who drowned were using vessels that were under 21 feet in length and 84 percent of the fatally injured victims were not wearing a life jacket. Motorboats were involved in 47 percent of all reported accidents, followed by personal watercrafts with 19 percent.

The family of a deceased boating accident victim can protect their legal rights and best interests by contacting an experienced personal injury attorney. Financial compensation may be available for their terrible losses. The skilled Atlanta wrongful death attorneys at The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C., serve all of Georgia. If you or a loved one has been injured in an Atlanta accident, please contact us at (404) 995-3955 for a free consultation.

Wrongful death is a legal claim against a person who, through their negligent or wrongful actions, causes the death of another. A wrongful death victim is referred to as the “decedent.” Generally, a wrongful death claim can be filed if the decedent, had he or she not died, could have filed a compensable personal injury claim against an at-fault party. The circumstances which allow for a wrongful death claim include, but are not limited to:

• A fatal Georgia motor-vehicle injury accident caused by another’s recklessness or negligence;
• A fatal workplace injury accident caused by proven substandard or defective equipment, improper or absent safety measures or other negligence; and
• Death caused by medication errors, failure to diagnose or other forms of Georgia medical malpractice.

Under Georgia wrongful death law, an action for wrongful death is typically brought by the surviving spouse, or a child or children if there is no surviving spouse and must be done so within 2 years after the right of action accrues. The aforementioned individuals may recover the full value of the life of the decedent (including the necessary or personal expenses had they lived) for the homicide of the spouse or parent. The term “homicide” under Georgia law refers to “all cases in which the death of a human being results from a crime, from criminal or other negligence, or from property which has been defectively manufactured, whether or not as the result of negligence.”

Experiencing the death of a loved one can be very traumatic, especially when they are suddenly taken from you by the negligent or criminal actions of another. At The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C., our compassionate Atlanta wrongful death lawyers can help your family through this difficult time while working towards recovering compensation for losses such as medical bills, funeral costs, lost future wages and lost companionship. To speak to one of our attorneys about your legal rights and the Georgia wrongful death claim process, contact us today for a consultation at 404-995-3955 or 866-249-5513.