A 2020 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety report states that out of the 2199 fatalities of two-vehicle accidents between large trucks and passenger vehicles, 97% were occupants of the passenger vehicles.
Family members might want to hold someone responsible if a loved one died in a collision with a negligent truck driver. Filing a wrongful death lawsuit can make that happen.
What is wrongful death?
When people act negligently and cause fatalities, those people may be liable for wrongful death. In Georgia, plaintiffs must prove that the defendants were negligent. Some examples of trucking negligence are:
- speeding
- driving while intoxicated
- improper training
- distracted driving
- ignoring mandatory daily and weekly driving limits
- poor truck maintenance
- faulty truck parts
Negligence can be the responsibility of the drivers, trucking companies and even the truck manufacturers.
What damages can families recover with a wrongful death lawsuit?
Wrongful death lawsuits allow family members to request compensation for various damages.
Economic damages
These things have a quantifiable value and can include:
- medical bills
- loss of retirement funds
- burial expenses
- loss of future wages
- loss of medical insurance
Non-economic damages
Putting a monetary amount of the full value of life is challenging. Georgia calculates non-economic losses from the perspective of the decedents and the life they missed out on because they died. Examples include the joys of raising children, the satisfaction of participating in hobbies and the pleasure of spending time with friends.
Wrongful death lawsuits provide an economic resource for surviving family members to move forward with their lives after losing a loved one in an accident with a large truck.