Articles Posted in Wrongful Death

Medical staff removing a patient from an ambulanceA Dunwoody man was killed while driving on I-285 in Cobb County in March of this year. According to police, the accident was caused when a tire blew out on an Isuzu box truck, causing the driver to lose control and crash into two other vehicles. Moments after the accident, another driver tragically smashed into the rear of the truck and was killed. 

According to the most recent data available from the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, 2018 saw 34 traffic fatalities involving large trucks and 193 fatalities involving utility trucks. The tragic accident above highlights some of the potential hazards associated with truck accidents. 

Who is at Fault?

coffin inside a churchIn the prior post, we discussed some of the important aspects of wrongful death claims, namely who can bring a claim and what a wrongful death claim may be worth. In this post, we’ll continue that discussion with some other important aspects of wrongful death claims that you need to know if you have lost a loved one. 

How Long Do I Have to File a Wrongful Death Claim?

The law requires that lawsuits be filed within a specific timeframe, referred to in legal terms as the statute of limitations. If you do not file your lawsuit within the statute of limitations, you will lose all of your rights, no matter how strong your claim is or how obvious it is that the other party should be held accountable. 

a man holding flowers near a graveMost of the cases we handle involve people who have been seriously injured. Unfortunately, there are also cases that involve the death of the victim. These cases are not only heart-breaking but can also be complicated. If you have lost a loved one as a result of someone else’s actions, you may have a claim for wrongful death. However, there are some important details that you need to know before you can pursue compensation.

What Constitutes a Wrongful Death?

A wrongful death is one that is caused by the negligent, reckless, intentional, or criminal acts of another person. Most of the wrongful death cases we handle involve negligence or recklessness – the victim’s death was the result of someone else’s lack of due care. Examples of these types of wrongful death claims are as follows:

A severely damaged red carA new study released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration sheds some interesting light on fatal car accidents. The report compares accident fatality rates between urban and rural areas and reveals some interesting conclusions. By studying where fatal car accidents happen, perhaps we can better understand their causes, and reduce the number of people who are killed in car accidents every year.  

At Slappey & Sadd, we stay abreast of these studies so that we can better understand the trends involved in our clients’ cases. If you’ve been injured in a car accident, or have a loved one who has been killed, we can help you get the compensation you need to put your life back together. We work with clients in Atlanta and other cities and across the state of Georgia. If you’ve been injured as a result of someone else’s negligence, give us a call at 404-255-6677 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced car accident attorneys. 

Fatalities in Urban vs. Rural Areas

The view from beside a motorcyclist's helmetMotorcyclists face risks that other motorists do not. In response, states and localities have made legislative efforts and undertaken media campaigns to make our roads safer for those of us who enjoy riding motorcycles. Unfortunately, motorcycle accident statistics appear to be trending upward in the state of Georgia despite these efforts.

The Georgia motorcycle accident lawyers at Slappey & Sadd have been helping injured motorcyclists get the compensation they deserve since 1992. We have the knowledge and experience you need to put your life back together. If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident and don’t know what to do, give us a call at 888-474-9616 or visit us online to schedule a free consultation. 

A Worrisome Trend

A black van with read end damageAccording to the CDC, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the United States. The most recent statistics reported by the CDC indicate that almost 2,500 teens were killed in 2016, with almost 300,000 suffering serious injuries as a result of motor vehicle accidents. While we are very concerned about the safety of our young people, the sad reality is that these car accidents often involve other people. Studying the causes behind these startling statistics can help make the roads safer for everyone. 

The car accident attorneys at Slappey & Sadd help accident victims in the Atlanta area and across the state of Georgia get the compensation they deserve. If you’ve been injured as a result of someone else’s negligence, we will fight for your rights. Call us at 1-888-474-9616 or visit us online to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case. 

Who is at Risk?  

Question marks on a table top. One is illuminated.As a personal injury law firm, we deal primarily with accidents. While most of our cases involve only serious injuries, some of these accidents unfortunately result in death. Understanding the leading causes of preventable injuries and death is perhaps the first step in prevention. 

If you or a loved one have been involved in an accident, the personal injury attorneys at Slappey & Sadd can help. Established in 1992, we have decades of experience in helping people get the compensation they need to put their lives back together. For a free consultation and case evaluation, call us at 404-255-6677 or contact us online to speak with one of our Atlanta accident lawyers. 

Preventable Deaths Nationwide

semi-injury-law-300x204A woman was recently killed when her vehicle was struck by a box truck in Douglasville. The accident occurred on the evening of August 10th at the intersection of Wenona Street and Bill Arp Road. A witness tried to help the driver but she unfortunately died shortly thereafter. As of the writing of this post, no further information has been released. 

The car accident attorneys at Slappey & Sadd help those who have been injured in truck accidents and helps families who have lost loved ones. We work with our clients to hold negligent drivers and trucking companies accountable. If you’re suffering as a result of a truck accident and don’t know where to turn, we can help – call us at 404-255-6677 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. 

What Happens When Someone Dies in an Accident 

lawyer standing next to a gavel with the scale of justice behind himLosing a loved one is never easy – especially when that loss occurs in a fully preventable accident that was caused by another person’s negligence. Accidents that result in death could include (but certainly are not limited to) truck accidents, car accidents, slip and falls, work-related accidents, defective product accidents, and medical malpractice (i.e. by doctors, nursing homes, and other health care providers).

The Georgia wrongful death lawyers at Slappey & Sadd, LLC have been helping individuals and estates recover compensation on behalf of their deceased loved ones for many years. Our attorneys handle wrongful death cases throughout the State of Georgia, including in Fulton County, DeKalb County, Gwinnett County, Muscogee County, Newton County, Richmond County, Troup County, Walton County, and Whitfield County.

Bringing the Wrongful Death Claim

Two motorcycles parked on the streetOn March 24, 2019, a Columbus Jury awarded $27 million to the mother of a woman killed in an accident that occurred in January of 2017. The jury’s award consisted of $22 million in compensatory damages and $5 million for the woman’s pain and suffering. The case illustrates the increased dangers for the victims of truck or motorcycle accidents, even under routine circumstances.

The Accident

On January 26, 2017, George Hooks was driving his 18-wheeler westbound on Macon Road while Cindy Tran Huyhn was headed east on her motorcycle. Both entered the intersection with Technology Parkway on a green light. The accident occurred when Hooks turned left in front of Huynh, who had the right of way because she was proceeding straight. Huynh immediately slammed on the brakes, veered left, and went into a skid. According to eyewitnesses, she almost avoided the collision but clipped the back-end of the truck’s trailer. She was taken to the hospital but unfortunately died the next day. The cause of death was listed as “blunt force trauma to the torso and extremities.”

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