Under Georgia law, wrongful death occurs in “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” (Ga. Code § 51-4-1 (2021).
This can include vehicle accidents caused by the negligence of another driver. When these incidents occur, Georgia law allows the following individuals to file wrongful death lawsuits in civil court:
The spouse of the deceased
Surviving children of the deceased
Surviving parents of the deceased
An administrator or executor of the deceased's estate
It is crucial to understand that wrongful death claims in Georgia must be filed within two years from the date of death, or family members will likely not be able to recover the closure and compensation they are entitled to.