How Atlanta Juries Calculate the ‘Full Value of Life’ in Wrongful Death Cases

But what does “full value of life” actually mean? And how do juries put a dollar amount on something as profound and intangible as a human life? Below, we break down how wrongful death settlements are typically calculated in Georgia, the factors that most influence award amounts, and why each case ends up being unique.

Under the Georgia Wrongful Death Act, the only correct measure of damages in a wrongful death case is the “full value of the life of the decedent as shown by the evidence.” That definition may sound simple, but it’s intentionally broad. The statute does not deduct for what the deceased would have spent on personal or living expenses had they lived; instead, it seeks to estimate the value of the life lost from the deceased person’s perspective.

Because the statute offers no strict formula, Georgia courts rely on a combination of evidence, expert analysis, and jury discretion. Over time, this has led to a two-part framework widely accepted in wrongful death cases.

Putting a dollar figure on future earnings and contributions involves several steps:

• Assess the decedent’s actual earnings and benefits at the time of death, such as their salary or wages, pension/retirement plan potential, bonuses, business income, investment returns, etc.
• Project their future earnings over a normal life expectancy, using age, health, occupation, skill level, and likely career growth to estimate what the deceased might have earned had they lived a full lifespan.
• Calculate the “present value” of those future earnings, using a discount rate. Under Georgia law, future income must be discounted at 5% annually when calculating wrongful death financial awards.
• Include other economic contributions such as household services (child care, home maintenance), expected inheritances or retirement benefits, and other financial support the decedent would likely have provided.

Because Georgia does not deduct for living or personal expenses the decedent would have incurred (housing, food, taxes, etc.), the full gross value, rather than net, of their lifetime contributions forms the economic damages base. In many cases, especially for younger individuals or those with strong earning potential, the economic component can amount to several million dollars once appropriately calculated.

Quantifying intangible loss is harder but equally essential. Georgia law recognizes that life is more than a paycheck, which is why the “non‑economic component” of “full value of life” is so significant. When juries consider non-economic damages, they weigh factors such as:

• The decedent’s relationships with their spouse, adult and minor children, dependents, and the person’s emotional support for family and friends.
• The decedent’s lifestyle, hobbies, community involvement, and personal qualities that made their life valuable: parenting, friendships, volunteerism, or community engagement.
• The experiences and milestones lost, like birthdays, graduations, marriages, family celebrations, and everyday joys.

Because wrongful death cases in Georgia depend so heavily on individual circumstances and jury judgment, settlement amounts (or verdicts) vary dramatically. Several key factors influence the final number:

Younger and healthier decedents with many potential years ahead of them often result in higher economic valuations because of greater projected future earnings, contributions, and lost life experience.

A high-earning professional, business owner, or someone with specialized skills stands to generate more future income than a lower-wage worker. Their loss, therefore, amounts to greater economic damages.

The more meaningful and broad the decedent’s role in family, community, or workplace, the higher the non-economic portion of the case is likely to be. Courts may consider not only financial contributions but lost companionship, parenting, mentorship, and other intangible values.

Cases supported by strong documentation, like pay stubs, tax records, employment history, and expert testimony (economists, vocational experts), tend to support more serious economic damages. Similarly, compelling narratives and testimonials about the decedent’s life, relationships, and character help juries value intangible, non-economic losses more favorably.

Even if the calculated “full value of life” is very high, the actual settlement or award may be limited by the at-fault party’s insurance limits or available assets, especially in non-commercial or personal capacity negligence cases.

Cases involving gross negligence, like drunk driving, commercial trucking, medical malpractice, or an egregious disregard for safety, often yield higher awards because liability is clearer and damages (both economic and non-economic) tend to be more substantial.

Because each wrongful death claim evaluates the unique life and future of the decedent, including their relationships, earnings, potential, and the evidence present, there is no meaningful “average wrongful death settlement” in Georgia.

While some cases settle in the low hundreds of thousands, others, especially those involving young victims, strong earning potential, or particularly tragic circumstances, may reach into the millions. High-stakes cases involving commercial defendants or medical malpractice frequently yield some of the largest awards.

Insurance companies and defense counsel often argue against high valuations for non-economic damages, making expert presentation, strong evidence, and persuasive storytelling very important.

Because the “full value of life” is inherently subjective and dependent on nuanced factors, having an experienced wrongful death lawyer can make a significant difference. A knowledgeable attorney brings:

• Experience in preparing economic-loss calculations with economists or vocational experts.
• The ability to gather comprehensive documentation, such as employment history, benefit projections, and records of household contributions, to support economic damages.
• Skill in crafting a narrative that conveys the decedent’s intangible worth: relationships, hobbies, contributions to family and community.
• Experience in estimating non-economic value fairly and persuasively for the jury.
• Strategic insight into how insurance limits, defendant resources, and settlement negotiations might affect final recovery.

If you have lost a loved one due to negligence in Atlanta, Georgia’s wrongful death laws can offer meaningful justice, but pursuing compensation is not simply a matter of applying a formula. The “full value of life” standard means that wrongful death attorneys ask juries to consider what the decedent’s life was worth in dollars, both in terms of missed economic potential and the intangible value of experiences, relationships, and time lost.

Because so many variables influence the final number, from age, income, and health to personal relationships and evidence quality, you must act promptly and gather as much documentation as possible. Strong legal representation maximizes your odds of securing compensation that truly reflects your loved one’s life and loss.