Lexis Nexis
Gary W. Starnes Attorney at Law
736 Georgia Avenue
Suite 404 Dome Bldg.
Chattanooga, TN 37402
Phone (800)281-2403
Fax (423) 266-7193
Email: gstarnes@volstate.net
Wrongful Death Attorney
Chattanooga, Tennessee
*=required | Privacy Policy
A person who dies as a result of another’s negligence or reckless behavior may be entitled to sue the person who caused their wrongful death. In Tennessee and Georgia the victim’s estate representative has the right to file a wrongful death claim in the victim’s name. Additionally, the heirs of the deceased have their own, separate rights to pursue claims due to the wrongful death of their loved one.
Situations involving wrongful death can become very complex because so many variables must be considered. In addition to who is entitled to compensation there are questions about who will pursue the claim on each person’s behalf. Here are a few questions to consider:
If you were to die unexpectedly, due to the negligence of another person, how will your family’s needs and financial responsibilities be taken care of?
- Have you named a personal representative or trustee for your estate?
- Who will act in the interests of your minor children?
- If you don’t designate who these people will be, do you know who will designate them, and whom will they choose to fill these roles?
- How would the value of each loss from your wrongful death be calculated?
Other questions must be answered following a careful investigation of facts and damages as they apply to each party who is entitled to damages. Some of these include:
- Actual expenses, such as medical bills, funeral expenses, property losses, and immediate lost wages.
- Expenses more difficult to estimate, such as physical and mental pain and suffering, future lost earnings, care of minors or dependent adults
- Incidental damages such as the loss of society and services of the deceased, and loss of companionship.
The urgency and confusion during the initial few weeks also present another risk to heirs who survive wrongful death victims. Decisions made at this time are often irreversible but must be made at a time when you are most vulnerable, and in need of someone to trust. Insurance companies, particularly the defendant’s, will pressure you for a quick settlement, if they offer to settle, at all. The settlement offer(s) will require a waiver of your and other heirs’ future rights to claim damages for their losses.
To make sure you preserve everyone’s rights and obtain a settlement that is fair and appropriate, you will need the help of an experienced wrongful death attorney and his team of investigators to collect all of the necessary, and often unobvious facts.
If you are the heir or next-of-kin of a wrongful death victim, you can benefit by seeking counsel from an experienced wrongful death lawyer. Please contact Gary Starnes, Attorney at Law, wrongful death attorney in Chattanooga serving victims in the states of Tennessee and Georgia. Or call 1-800-281-2403 for a complimentary evaluation of your claim. Mr. Starnes is licensed to practice in the states of Tennessee and Georgia.