The goal of a robbery or burglary is usually financial gain by taking items or money that belong to someone else. Many thieves try to avoid detection or interaction with the people whose possessions they intend to steal.
Burglars, in particular, typically time their crimes to avoid interacting with the owners of the items they covet. Unfortunately, acts of theft can go from bad to worse when the criminals involved become violent, often because they got caught in the act or surprised.
Whether someone robbing a member of your family discharged their weapon during an altercation or a burglar struck your loved one and knocked them down the stairs when they encountered each other during a theft in progress, people can wind up hurt or even killed in theft crimes. When that happens, the surviving family members can take civil action against the thief who caused the death.
Surviving dependents can hold criminals responsible for the deaths they cause
Under Georgia’s wrongful death statute, surviving dependents have the right to take legal action against someone who causes the death of another person through negligence or improper behavior, such as criminal activity. Spouses, children and even parents can seek financial compensation from a criminal whose actions resulted in a tragic loss for their family.
Depending on the circumstances, there may be other individuals with secondary liability for your loss. A business with inadequate lighting or security in place could leave visitors unnecessarily vulnerable to theft, while security companies that failed to monitor the systems they installed could also be responsible for failing to respond in a timely manner.
Reviewing the exact circumstances of the incident with someone familiar with George’s personal injury laws can give you a better idea of what options you may have.