In a Georgia wrongful death case, monetary compensation can come from a settlement or a verdict at trial. In the case of a jury trial, it is the members of the jury who decide what, if any, damages they will award in the wrongful death claim.
Moreover, when jurors are deliberating on what damages to award in the case, they are supposed to view the case from the point of view of the decedent. Specifically, jury members can consider all of the activities, places, events, and people that gave the deceased individual’s life some meaning. In addition, they may consider the videos, stories, and photographs presented by the decedent’s loved ones who may testify in open court on the witness stand. After listening to all of the evidence presented, the jurors would then decide the damages.
As part of the estate claim portion, a jury can award expenses related to the funeral and burial of the decedent, as well as damages for all of the pain and suffering that the decedent endured until the time of his or her untimely passing.
Finally, a jury may award compensation for medical procedures, treatment, and bills that the decedent incurred from the time of the occurrence until he or she passed away. Lastly, as part of the estate claim, a jury may decide to award monetary compensation for pre-accident fright that the decedent experienced at the time of the occurrence—when he or she may have realized that death was coming due to the fatal injury.
