Personal Injury & Wrongful Death

Georgia Wrongful Death Actions:Who Has The Right To Sue? (Part III)

In Georgia, if an individual loses her or her life due to the negligence of a third party and is not survived either by a spouse or children, the cause of action for the wrongful death of such an individual vests in the surviving parents. If both parents are alive, the cause of action is vested jointly in the parents if they are living together. If one parent is deceased, the right is in the surviving parent. If both parents are living, but are
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Consumers May Be Without Remedies Against Auto Manufacturers

The Atlanta consumer and product liability lawyers of Finch McCranie LLP have successfully litigated cases against auto manufacturers for serious injury and death caused by defects in their products. Now, as a result of the bankruptcy of GM and Chrysler, many deserving victims of these defective products may be left without recourse.
The bankruptcy proceedings currently underway will leave consumers currently bringing personal-injury and product-liability lawsuits against Chrysler LLC and General Motors unable to continue their actions and receive compensation for their injuries. In
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Georgia Wrongful Death Actions:Who Has The Right To Sue? (Part II)

In Part I of this series, we set forth the provisions of Georgia law for wrongful death actions where surviving spouses were involved. In this article, we shall address actions by surviving children under Georgia’s wrongful death statute where a spouse does not survive to bring such a case.
If a parent is killed due to the negligence of a third party and is not survived by a spouse but is survived by children, the cause of action for the wrongful death vests with
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Georgia Health Insurer Accused Of Unfair Practices

A lawsuit has been filed by Georgia surgery centers against Blue Cross Blue Shield Healthcare Plan of Georgia Inc. and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia, seeking class action. The lawsuit, like many others around the country attacks the insurer’s practice of discouraging visits to out-of-network providers by reimbursing procedures at a tiny fraction of “usual and customary” charges.
The suit is similar to one filed earlier this year by a dialysis provider against Blue Cross. That suit was dismissed. The new suit alleges
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Georgia Wrongful Death Actions:Who Has The Right To Sue? (Part I)

One of area of confusion to the public is determining who has the right to bring a wrongful death action in Georgia. Because our firm handles many such cases in Atlanta and throughout the State, we have decided to blog on this area of the law so that the public will better understand the provisions of Georgia law which control wrongful death actions.
In this article we shall focus on the rights of a spouse who is married to an individual killed by the
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FDA To Reconsider BPA Decision

We receive many inquiries from Atlanta consumers regarding the safety of products apporved by the federal regulatory agencies. During the Bush administration many consumers here in Georgia and elsewhere have expressed concern and bewilderment that certain drugs and products banned in other countries were “approved” by federal agencies for distribution in the United States.
Now, the Food and Drug Administration, FDA, has announced it is reviewing a controversial decision it made last year — the conclusion that BPA, a chemical used in baby bottles
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Forklift Accidents: Usually Serious And Oftentimes Deadly

When I was in high school, I was hired as a forklift driver at a textile plant. I was given no training whatsoever, had never operated a forklift and within hours was lifting huge pallets of heavy materials high into the air for placement on warehouse shelving. Fortunately, I did not injury anyone or kill myself, but I easily could have. Indeed, that same summer a high school friend of mine lost his life when he accidently drove a forklift backwards off of a loading
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Bus Accident Recommendations By NTSB

Bus accidents have been a problem in Atlanta and Georgia for many years. Recently, the lawyers of Finch McCranie LLP were able to secure a very favorable settlement for the most seriously injured survivor in the Bluffton Bus crash which occurred here some years ago.
Now, in an encouraging move, the National Transportation Safety Board is recommending charter bus companies come up with better plans to deal with crashes in remote areas. Last Friday, the NTSB sent recommendations to the American Bus Association and
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Trampolines Recalled

Potentially dangerous trampolines which have been sold in the Georgia and Atlanta areas are the subject of a recall. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in cooperaation with Skywalker Holdings announced a voluntary recall of about 60,000 trampolines manufactured in China and distributed by Skywalker Holdings LLC, of Brigham City, Utah.

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Georgia ATV Safety Tips

As a Georgia injury lawyer, I read almost everyday about a death or serious personal injuries sustained as a result of an All Terrain Vehicle ATV accident. With the increasing popularity of ATVs it is inevitable that there will be more accidents and injuries; however, most are preventable. Without exception, most ATV accidents can be traced back to a rider who broke at least one of the ATV Safety Institute’s Golden Rules. Whether you’re riding in a public park or on private land, keep these

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Signed a Consent Form but the Surgery Went Wrong? Understanding Medical Malpractice

Signed a consent form medical malpractice issues often surface after a surgical procedure results in serious injury or loss of life. 

Families are frequently told that the outcome was an accepted risk, leaving them unsure whether legal action is even possible.

In personal injury and wrongful death cases, however, the presence of a consent form does not end the legal inquiry.

From an injury law perspective, the critical question is not whether a patient signed
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Wrongful Death Compensation: Who Gets What and How It’s Decided

Wrongful death compensation is intended to provide financial stability and legal accountability after a family loses a loved one due to another party’s negligence or misconduct. 

While no amount of money can replace a life, compensation plays a critical role in addressing lost income, emotional suffering, and the long-term impact on surviving family members.

Many families assume compensation is automatically divided equally or paid to a single person. 

In reality, wrongful death damages
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Common Types of Dental Malpractice: Trends, Risks, and When to Contact an Attorney

Common types of dental malpractice form the foundation of many professional negligence claims brought by patients who suffer preventable injuries during dental care. 

From a legal standpoint, these cases are not driven by dissatisfaction or discomfort alone. 

They arise when a dentist’s actions fall below accepted professional standards and cause harm that could have been avoided through proper care.

Modern dentistry has expanded rapidly, with increased reliance on implants, cosmetic procedures, sedation, and
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How Dental Malpractice Lawsuits Succeed in Court

Dental malpractice lawsuits are won in court when attorneys demonstrate that a dentist’s actions fell outside accepted professional standards and caused avoidable harm to a patient. 

From a legal standpoint, these cases are not about dissatisfaction or imperfect results; they are about proving negligence through evidence, expert interpretation, and clear causation.

Dentists are afforded professional discretion, and courts do not second-guess medical judgement lightly. 

For that reason, dental malpractice cases demand careful legal
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Automated Truck Accidents: Attorneys Explain the Risks of Public Road Testing

Automated truck accidents are becoming an increasing concern as self-driving and semi-autonomous commercial vehicles are tested on public highways alongside everyday drivers. 

As trucking and technology companies promote automation as the future of transportation, the reality is that these systems are still experimental and when they fail, the consequences can be catastrophic.

Unlike closed testing environments, public roads present unpredictable variables: human drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, construction zones, weather changes, and sudden traffic events. 

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Different Types of TBIs Caused by Truck Accidents and Your Legal Options

Traumatic brain injuries from truck accidents often leave victims and families overwhelmed, uncertain, and unsure where to turn next.

In our experience as attorneys, many clients come to us not because they immediately wanted to file a lawsuit, but because they needed answers, clarity, and protection while dealing with a life-altering injury.

Truck-related brain injuries are medically complex and legally challenging.

Victims may look fine on the outside while struggling with memory loss, emotional changes, or the inability to return to work. 
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Why Survivors Deserve More Than Silence: The Role of Dash Cam Evidence in Truck Accidents

Dash cam evidence in truck accidents has become one of the most powerful tools survivors have to protect the truth after a devastating collision. 

When commercial trucks are involved, victims and families are often forced to stand alone against trucking companies that control critical evidence, employ rapid-response legal teams, and shape the narrative within hours of a crash. Video footage changes that balance.

Unlike statements that can be challenged or rewritten, dash cam footage captures what actually
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What Are the Risks of Opioids and When Do They Qualify as Wrongful Death Cases?

Opioid wrongful death cases happen when the known risks of opioid medications are ignored, mismanaged, or improperly controlled, resulting in a fatal outcome that could have been prevented through appropriate medical care.

Opioids carry inherent dangers, but the law does not excuse healthcare providers from responsibility simply because a drug is high risk. 

From a legal perspective, these cases focus on whether physicians, pharmacists, or healthcare systems failed to follow established standards designed to protect patients from foreseeable harm.
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Can Prescription Errors Cause Wrongful Death? Drug Negligence Explained

Prescription errors in wrongful death cases arise when a preventable medication mistake directly contributes to a patient’s death. 

These errors create grounds for legal accountability under medical negligence and wrongful death law. 

Prescription medications are not harmless consumer products. They are tightly regulated medical treatments that require careful prescribing, dispensing, and monitoring. When that process breaks down, the consequences can be fatal.

From a legal standpoint, wrongful death caused by medication error is
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Why Insurance Claims Get Denied and How an Attorney Can Help

Insurance claim denied situations can be both confusing and financially overwhelming, especially when policyholders expect coverage only to face delays, disputes, or outright rejection.

Many people assume insurance exists to provide protection during difficult times, yet insurers frequently deny claims based on technicalities, exclusions, or contested interpretations of policy language.

In this blog, we discuss why insurance claims get denied and how legal representation can help. 

We also explain how policyholders can protect their rights, challenge unfair decisions, and
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