This is often difficult to talk about because there is no way to put a price tag on the life of a loved one. Unfortunately, that is what the court asks you to do in a wrongful death claim. Because you can only seek economic compensation in a civil case, the court will have to choose a number that it deems reasonable if the case is decided in your favor.
Georgia courts define the “full value” of a wrongful death claim using two measures – economic and non-economic losses (even though all compensation is economic). Economic losses are typically focused on the potential lifetime earnings the decedent would have made if they’d lived. It may also include an estimated value of services the victim would have performed for family members, such as home or childcare, if they typically did those tasks. These also include medical costs incurred by the victim. Economic losses are usually calculated on the current or average value for the income or service.