The #1 Atlanta Wrongful Death Lawyer

Alan Holcomb leads our Atlanta team handling wrongful death law, bringing over a decade of experience representing families impacted by the unexpected death of a loved one.

He has worked on personal injury cases and wrongful death claims across the country, holding negligent parties accountable and pursuing compensation for the survivors of tragic loss.

His experience in building strong legal claims following a person’s death allows our firm to support families with both compassion and precision.

At TorHoerman Law, we assign a team of attorneys—rather than just one—to every wrongful death case.

This collaborative approach allows us to address every legal, financial, and emotional aspect of your claim with the focus it deserves.

Whether the loss was due to a car accident, workplace incident, or medical negligence, we fight to secure a fair settlement that reflects the true value of the wrongful death victim’s life and the impact their loss has had on surviving family members.

We understand how overwhelming it can be to pursue justice after an unexpected death, which is why we focus on the legal work so your family can focus on healing.

Our team is committed to guiding you through this process with honesty, care, and clear legal strategy.

Our Atlanta wrongful death attorneys include:

• Eric Terry: Eric leads our single-event personal injury and wrongful death team. He works directly with clients to build strong claims rooted in evidence, compassion, and accountability. Eric is known for his detailed case preparation and personalized legal support.
• Steve Davis: With more than 30 years of experience, Steve focuses on catastrophic harm and wrongful death cases. He is a seasoned trial attorney with a long history of standing up for grieving families and helping them recover meaningful compensation.
• Ken Brennan: Ken brings over 20 years of courtroom experience and has a deep understanding of how insurance companies operate. His ability to counter defense strategies is key to securing justice in complex wrongful death cases.
• Chad Finley: Chad combines legal expertise with an in-depth understanding of injury-related medical issues. He evaluates long-term financial losses and emotional suffering that result from a loved one’s death, helping calculate full damages in a wrongful death claim.
• Tyler Schneider: As managing partner, Tyler ensures that every client receives timely updates and that each case proceeds efficiently. He supports our firm’s client-focused mission and helps keep our legal strategies aligned with your goals for recovery.

At TorHoerman Law, we are committed to representing families in Georgia who have lost someone due to another party’s negligence.

Let us help you pursue accountability, closure, and compensation.

Our Founder and Experienced Wrongful Death Attorney: Tor Hoerman

Tor Hoerman is the founder of TorHoerman Law.

Under his leadership, our personal injury law firm has recovered more than $4 billion in verdicts and settlements for clients across the country.

Tor’s commitment to advocating for injured individuals has made him a leading figure in personal injury and mass tort litigation, holding powerful entities accountable and earning widespread recognition.

Through strategic legal representation and relentless pursuit of fair compensation, Tor Hoerman continues to fight for injury victims nationwide.

THL has grown to include offices in Edwardsville, IL; Chicago, IL; St. Louis, MO; and Atlanta (Marietta), GA.

How Much Does it Cost to Hire an Atlanta Wrongful Death Attorney from TorHoerman Law?

Hiring an Atlanta Wrongful Death Attorney from TorHoerman Law costs nothing upfront—we work on a contingency fee basis.

This means you only pay legal fees if we successfully recover compensation on your behalf through a settlement or verdict.

Our fee structure allows grieving families to pursue justice without taking on added financial stress after a tragic loss.

We are committed to helping families seek compensation for funeral expenses, lost income, emotional suffering, and other damages caused by a loved one’s wrongful death.

If we do not recover compensation in your case, you owe us nothing.

This approach gives families across Georgia access to experienced legal support regardless of their financial situation.

The sudden loss of a loved one can leave families emotionally devastated and financially unprepared.

In the aftermath of a wrongful death, families often struggle with grief while also facing mounting medical and funeral expenses, lost household income, and unanswered questions about what happened.

Georgia law allows a wrongful death action to be brought by a personal representative on behalf of the victim’s estate or by surviving family members.

But understanding the steps of this process while mourning can feel overwhelming.

A wrongful death lawyer can help the victim’s spouse, surviving children, or other eligible parties understand their legal options and begin building a case to recover compensation.

At TorHoerman Law, we help families take the necessary steps toward justice while allowing them space to focus on healing.

Steps to Take After a Wrongful Death Accident in Georgia:

1. Seek emotional support and counseling – Grief is overwhelming; don’t face it alone.
2. Gather documentation – Collect any medical records, death certificates, and evidence related to the accident or injury.
3. Identify the personal representative – This may be the victim’s spouse, surviving child, or a court-appointed administrator for the victim’s estate.
4. Track medical and funeral expenses – Keep a detailed record of all costs related to the victim’s death.
5. Avoid speaking with insurance companies without legal counsel – They may attempt to limit the claim before you understand its full value.
6. Contact an experienced wrongful death lawyer – A trusted attorney can guide you through your legal rights, assess the value of your case, and file a wrongful death claim on your behalf.

Gathering Evidence for a Wrongful Death Claim

In a wrongful death claim, strong evidence is essential to prove that the at-fault party’s actions directly caused the victim’s death.

Documentation helps establish liability, the financial impact on surviving family members, and the value of damages such as medical bills and necessary or personal expenses.

An experienced attorney will work to gather and organize all relevant evidence to support your claim.

Important Evidence in a Wrongful Death Claim:

• Medical records detailing the victim’s diagnosis, treatment, and cause of death
• Medical bills showing the cost of care leading up to the victim’s passing
• Death certificate confirming the cause and date of death
• Autopsy report, if available, to support the medical findings
• Police or accident reports documenting the incident and identifying the parties involved
• Eyewitness statements describing what occurred before and during the fatal event
• Proof of income and financial contributions the victim made to the household
• Receipts for funeral and burial costs and other necessary or personal expenses
• Photos or videos from the scene or of the conditions leading to the wrongful death
• Expert testimony from medical, economic, or accident reconstruction professionals

Types of Wrongful Death Damages

When a wrongful death occurs, surviving family members may be entitled to financial compensation for the losses they’ve suffered as a result.

Under Georgia law, wrongful death compensation is intended to reflect both the economic and non-economic value of the life lost.

These damages account for the impact of the victim’s death on their loved ones, as well as the broader loss of human life and companionship.

Wrongful death recovery may also include financial losses experienced by the estate and, in rare cases, the right to seek punitive damages if the death was caused by gross negligence or intentional harm.

An experienced attorney can help calculate the full value of the claim based on the unique circumstances of the case.

Wrongful Death Damages May Include:

• The full value of the life of the decedent, including income they would have earned and the intangible value of time spent with family
• Medical costs incurred as a result of the fatal injury or illness
• Funeral costs and burial or cremation expenses
• Wrongful death compensation for the emotional pain, grief, and mental anguish suffered by the surviving spouse, children, or dependents
• Loss of companionship, care, and guidance that the victim provided
• Loss of benefits, such as insurance or retirement contributions the victim would have made
• Wrongful death recovery for necessary or personal expenses related to the death
• The ability to seek punitive damages in cases of egregious misconduct or reckless behavior

Georgia wrongful death claims are governed by specific provisions in the Georgia Code, which allow certain surviving family members to file a lawsuit when a person’s death is caused by another’s negligence or criminal acts.

Under O.C.G.A. § 51-4-2, the surviving spouse or children may pursue a claim for the “full value of the life of the decedent,” including both economic and intangible losses.

The law separates wrongful death claims into two parts: one for the surviving family members and one for the victim’s estate, which can seek damages for medical bills, funeral expenses, and pain and suffering before death.

A wrongful death lawsuit may be filed when the death was caused by negligent actions, such as a reckless driver causing a fatal traffic accident, or intentional criminal acts, like assault or homicide.

Georgia courts generally allow two years from the date of death to file a claim, though exceptions exist.

The law also defines the order of who can file — starting with the surviving spouse, then children, and, if none, the victim’s parents or estate representative.

Wrongful death lawsuits can be emotionally difficult, but the legal process is meant to provide a path to justice and financial relief.

Working with an experienced wrongful death attorney can help families understand their rights under state law and take appropriate action.

The legal process for a wrongful death lawsuit in Georgia is as follows:

1. Contact a Georgia Wrongful Death Lawyer to review your case and determine eligibility.
2. Identify the personal representative or surviving family member with the legal right to file the claim.
3. Investigate the cause of death, including collecting evidence related to negligence or criminal behavior.
4. File a wrongful death lawsuit in civil court within Georgia’s statute of limitations.
5. Engage in discovery, where both sides exchange documents and take depositions.
6. Negotiate a potential settlement with the at-fault party or their insurance company.
7. Proceed to trial if no fair settlement is reached.
8. Obtain a verdict or judgment, and distribute damages according to Georgia’s wrongful death laws.

Who is Eligible to File a Wrongful Death Claim in Georgia?

Under Georgia law, O.C.G.A. § 51-4-2, specific individuals are given the legal right to file a wrongful death claim following a loved one’s death caused by another party’s negligence or intentional misconduct.

The law prioritizes family members based on their relationship to the deceased, beginning with the surviving spouse.

If no spouse exists, the right to file passes to the surviving children, and then to other eligible parties if necessary.

Only one wrongful death claim can be filed, and the person who brings the case represents the interests of all beneficiaries.

Understanding who qualifies is essential before pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit.

Parties eligible to file a wrongful death claim in Georgia:

• Surviving Spouse – The spouse of the deceased has the first right to file a claim. If there are minor children, the spouse must also represent their interests.
• Surviving Children – If there is no surviving spouse, the decedent’s children may bring the claim.
• Surviving Parents – If the decedent was unmarried and had no children, either parent may file.
• Personal Representative of the Estate – If no family members are available or able to file, the estate’s representative may bring the claim on behalf of the estate and next of kin.

Common Causes of Wrongful Death in Georgia

Wrongful death can result from a wide range of incidents where a person’s negligence, reckless behavior, or intentional act leads to the loss of life.

In Georgia, wrongful death claims are filed when a victim died due to another party’s criminal or other negligence.

These tragic cases can stem from everyday accidents or more complex legal situations involving medical malpractice or deliberate harm.

Common Causes of Wrongful Death in Georgia:

• Car Accidents – Often caused by distracted, drunk, or reckless driving.
• Medical Malpractice – When a healthcare provider’s negligence leads to fatal injury or illness.
• Workplace Accidents – Especially in construction, industrial, or hazardous job sites.
• Defective Products – Including dangerous machinery, automotive defects, or unsafe consumer goods.
• Criminal Acts – Assault, homicide, or other intentional violence resulting in death.
• Pedestrian or Bicycle Accidents – When drivers fail to yield or drive negligently.
• Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect – Fatal consequences from inadequate care or mistreatment.

To qualify for a wrongful death lawsuit in Georgia, you must have a legal relationship to the person who died and be authorized under state law to bring a claim.

Georgia law prioritizes the surviving spouse, followed by children, parents, and then the representative of the deceased person’s estate.

You must also be able to prove that the death was caused by another party’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional act.

If the victim would have had grounds to file a personal injury lawsuit had they survived, then their loved ones typically have grounds to file a wrongful death claim.

Qualifying for a wrongful death lawsuit also depends on whether the statute of limitations has passed, which in most cases is two years from the date of death.

If you’re facing medical bills, funeral expenses, or financial hardship due to your loved one’s absence, you may be entitled to compensation.

A wrongful death lawyer can help assess your eligibility and guide you through your legal options.

At TorHoerman Law, we offer a free consultation to help grieving families understand whether they qualify and how to begin the process.

At TorHoerman Law, we understand the devastating impact a wrongful death has on surviving families — emotionally, financially, and legally.

Our team is committed to helping you hold the negligent party accountable and pursue the compensation you deserve under Georgia law.

Whether the loss was caused by a car accident, medical malpractice, or another tragic event, we provide experienced legal support with compassion and care.

We handle the legal process so you can focus on your family and healing during this difficult time.

Let us help you seek justice for your loved one’s death.

Contact our Atlanta Wrongful Death Lawyers today for a free, no-obligation consultation.

Use the chat feature on this page to find out if you qualify for a wrongful death case instantly.