In most wrongful death cases, there are three different types of damages that could be available to family members that file the suit. These types of damages possible are as follows:

• Economic damages. Economic damages refer to specific types of compensation that are generally easier to place a number value on. They also include the value of any financial contributions that the victim could have made to his family and survivors had he or she not passed away in the accident. Types of economic damages include the loss of the victim’s expected lifelong earnings, medical and funeral expenses, loss of benefits (like insurance or pension), loss of inheritance and more.
• Non-economic damages. These types of damages are harder to give a specific value as they are more subjective in nature, but they often are valued higher than economic damages. Examples include loss of consortium for the spouse, loss of companionship, mental anguish, pain and suffering, loss of protection or guidance, loss of training and more.
• Punitive damages. Punitive damages are specifically meant to punish the liable party when he or she exercised extreme recklessness, negligence or bad conduct. Some defendants are ineligible for punitive damages, but there are situations in which punitive damages could reach up to three times the amount of other assessed damages in the case.

In some cases, the survivors who filed the wrongful death suit may also receive compensation for interest and attorney’s fees spent during the process of the case.

To learn more about potential damages in Georgia wrongful death claims, contact a knowledgeable Atlanta lawyer with McMenamy Law, LLC.