A Law Firm Helping Families Pick Up The Pieces After A Fatal Car Or Truck Accident
The statistics are staggering. Each year, tens of thousands of lives are lost dues to crashes on U.S. roads and highways. Many of those accidents involved collisions between standard passenger cars and trucks or other large commercial vehicles. In 2020 alone, there were nearly 5,000 fatal crashes involving large trucks and buses.
Facts and figures can feel abstract, but not to the families who have suffered such a loss. If someone you love was killed by another driver’s negligence, you deserve an attorney who will fight for justice and maximum compensation.
That’s why you should contact Sam Dennis Law. Attorney Sam Dennis has nearly 30 years of legal experience advocating for personal injury and wrongful death victims in Georgia and throughout the United States. He will fight for you, too.
Who Has The Right To Sue For Wrongful Death?
In a personal injury lawsuit, the injury victim serves as the plaintiff. That obviously cannot happen after a fatal accident, so someone else must take on this responsibility. Each state sets its own laws for who has “standing” to file a wrongful death claim. In Georgia, standing is granted to family members of the deceased in hierarchical order.
The victim’s surviving spouse and children are given first priority. If there is no spouse or children, the victim’s parents may sue. Failing that, a claim can be brought by the executor or personal representative of the victim’s estate.
Claims must generally be filed within two years of the victim’s death to fall within Georgia’s statute of limitations.
A Truck Accident Litigation Practice With A Nationwide Reach
Sam doesn’t just serve clients in Georgia. He helps clients throughout the country with their truck and commercial vehicle accident claims, often in collaboration with attorneys from his wide network of legal colleagues.
Mr. Dennis has an in-depth understanding of the common causes of fatal truck accidents, including:
- Truck driver fatigue or drowsiness
- Equipment malfunctions (especially worn-out brakes and blown tires) caused by failure to inspect and maintain the vehicle
- Speeding and aggressive driving
- Distraction from cellphones or from navigations and communications equipment in the vehicle
- Failure to respond to changing weather or traffic conditions
Trucking companies and their commercial insurers have a vested interested in keeping accident details vague or putting forth their own favorable version of events. They act very quickly to take control of a crash site and the evidence left behind.
As soon as you hire Sam, he begins an in-depth investigation into the crash, working to access the evidence and uncover the truth. He then builds a compelling case showing how the accident happened and who was at fault.
The Financial Costs Of A Fatal Accident Are Often Overwhelming
Families who lose someone in an auto accident are likely to suffer financially as well as emotionally. As your lawyer, Sam will accurately assess your full costs and losses and fight for maximum compensation.
Damages available in a wrongful death lawsuit may include compensation for:
- Hospital bills leading up to the victim’s death
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of lifetime earnings (if the victim was an income earner for the family)
- Loss of companionship
- Property loss
In rare cases, punitive damages may be awarded if the defendant’s conduct was shown to be willful or malicious, or if it demonstrated conscious indifference to consequences. Such damages are hard to claim but are appropriate in certain cases.
Tell Your Story To A Caring And Compassionate Wrongful Death Attorney
Sam Dennis Law offers skilled and supportive representation to families who have lost a loved one in a fatal auto accident. The firm serves clients throughout Georgia and nationwide.
To schedule an initial consultation about your legal matter, call Sam in Valdosta, Georgia, at 229-244-4428. You can also reach out online.