Wrongful death lawsuits are not just about compensation. At times, social justice is served as well.
Wrongful death cases are about loss, grief, fear and anxiety for the future, but they are also about social justice. In many cases, the family of the deceased is hoping to change something for the better of others. They do not want what happened to their loved one, to happen to anyone else. It is a strong motivation for change when someone who caused the death of another is sued for their negligence.
In this case, a 32-year-old man was killed when a 17-year-old drunk driver slammed into his car in the middle of an intersection. It turned out the 17-year-old had obtained his liquor from a local food mart. The teen’s blood alcohol content was in the stratosphere, at .136. The man’s family sued for wrongful death, a suit that was dealt with after the driver had served his five year prison sentence for pleading guilty to negligent homicide.
In the civil wrongful death lawsuit, the family was awarded $716 million. While it was a victory of sorts for the family, they were only interested in stopping local food marts from selling alcohol to children. The family wanted the suit to send the message that parents were not going to put up with that kind of irresponsible conduct from any store selling booze. The very thought that storeowners were selling alcohol to underage teens, struck a cold note of fear in parents in the area.
At trial, the store denied selling alcohol, but the plaintiff’s attorney was able to prove otherwise. It turned out the store owner had a sneaky underground system for selling liquor to minors. He would tell them they had to pay more, in cash and once they produced the money, he would take them into the back of the store, hand them the booze and a plain bag or box and let them out the back door. The victory is bittersweet for the family, knowing their son, if he were still alive today, would be playing hockey and other sports.
Wrongful death lawsuits are often a way to find closure for a grieving family, but they are not something that can be undertaken alone. You would need the assistance of a qualified Atlanta personal injury lawyer to get you through the mazes of the court system, and obtain a just and equitable settlement or verdict. Call an Atlanta personal injury lawyer with any questions you may have about your case. It’s his job to help you assess the situation and let know you what your options are to move forward.
Tim Anderson writes for Atlanta Personal Injury attorney, Stephen M. Ozcomert. The firm specializes in personal injury, malpractice, motorcycle accidents, and wrongful death. To learn more about Atlanta personal injury lawyer, Stephen M. Ozcomert, visit Ozcomert.com.