[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/blog\/autopsy-in-wrongful-death-case\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/blog\/autopsy-in-wrongful-death-case\/","headline":"Is an Autopsy Necessary in a Wrongful Death Case in Georgia?","name":"Is an Autopsy Necessary in a Wrongful Death Case in Georgia?","description":"An autopsy is a surgical procedure to determine the cause and manner of a person\u2019s death. Not every death requires an autopsy. However, an autopsy may be necessary when an unexpected or suspicious death occurs, whether due to illness, injury, homicide, or other suspected factors. What Types of Cases Require an Autopsy? Generally speaking, authorities… Continue reading Is an Autopsy Necessary in a Wrongful Death Case in Georgia?<\/span><\/a>","datePublished":"2021-11-01","dateModified":"2026-07-01","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/blog\/author\/butler\/#Person","name":"Jeb Butler","url":"https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/blog\/author\/butler\/","identifier":9,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f5a02bc71d91db5fc8645f129c4424ce6ef7af7e24fe54f4a85315a9dd28f317?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f5a02bc71d91db5fc8645f129c4424ce6ef7af7e24fe54f4a85315a9dd28f317?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Butler Kahn","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Butler-Law-Firm-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Butler-Law-Firm-Logo.png","width":210,"height":93}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/autopsy.jpg","url":"https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/autopsy.jpg","height":667,"width":1000},"url":"https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/blog\/autopsy-in-wrongful-death-case\/","video":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"VideoObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=eiwtoQ49ays#VideoObject","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=eiwtoQ49ays","name":"Do You Need an Autopsy to File a Wrongful Death Case?","description":"Do you need an autopsy to bring a wrongful death case in Georgia? Find out here...\n\n*****************************************************\nSHARE THIS VIDEO: https:\/\/youtu.be\/eiwtoQ49ays\n*****************************************************\n__________________________________________\nWe Have Four Locations to Serve You \nAtlanta, GA \nButler Kahn\n10 Lenox Pointe \nAtlanta, GA 30324 \nhttps:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/ \n--------\nLawrenceville, GA \nButler Kahn\n154 Stone Mountain Street, Suite 250\nLawrenceville, GA 30045 \nhttps:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/lawrenceville-...\n-------- \nRoswell, GA \nButler Kahn\n1255 Canton Street, Suite E \nRoswell, GA 30075 \nhttps:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/roswell-injury...\n-------- \nJonesboro, GA \nButler Kahn\n21 Lee Street, Suite 250 \nJonesboro, GA 30236 \nhttps:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/jonesboro-inju...\n------- \n\u25ba Our law firm's internet company has said that I should make shorter videos. Do you need an autopsy to bring a wrongful death case in Georgia? No, but it helps sometimes. And it helps in cases where the cause of death isn't perfectly clear. For example, if someone died in a car accident and it's not totally clear whether they were killed by the initial impact or because the roof of the car failed, they crushed flat when the car rolled over, then an autopsy is pretty helpful to determine the real cause of death. But if it's pretty clear what the cause of death was like in a shooting or actually in most car accidents, then the autopsy really isn't necessary, although it can be nice to have. So the answer to the question, do you need an autopsy to bring a wrong for death case? No. Although it can help.\n\nJOIN US ON SOCIAL MEDIA\nFACEBOOK LINK: https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/butlerfirmllc\nTWITTER LINK: https:\/\/twitter.com\/Butler_Firm\nINSTAGRAM LINK: https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/butler_law_firm\/\nLINKEDIN LINK: https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/butlerfirm\/\n\nSEE OUR REVIEWS \nGOOGLE REVIEWS: https:\/\/search.google.com\/local\/reviews?placeid=ChIJoR24iRoG9YgRSH8GpDMLiMQ\nFACEBOOK REVIEWS: https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/butlerfirmllc\/reviews\/\n\nCheck out our previous video: https:\/\/youtu.be\/CWeEQ5kuves","thumbnailUrl":["https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/eiwtoQ49ays\/default.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/eiwtoQ49ays\/mqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/eiwtoQ49ays\/hqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/eiwtoQ49ays\/sddefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/eiwtoQ49ays\/maxresdefault.jpg"],"uploadDate":"2022-12-15T17:49:20+00:00","duration":"PT1M5S","embedUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/eiwtoQ49ays","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCeMYGr94Sf4LpYwIcO3P2Qw#Organization","url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCeMYGr94Sf4LpYwIcO3P2Qw","name":"Butler Kahn","description":"We help people and families.\n\nOur firm specializes in personal injury and wrongful death cases. We are based in Atlanta, Georgia. We handle cases across Georgia and, for certain types of cases, all across the country.\n\nTOP-QUALITY LEGAL WORK. We do the work that lots of law firms skip. We track down witnesses, dig into the evidence, and prepare intensely for every deposition, trial, and hearing. We take a small number of cases so that we can devote our full attention to the clients we represent.\n\nPERSONAL SERVICE. If you hire us, you get us. You won't get blocked by a receptionist or leave unreturned messages. If you want to speak with your lawyer, you can.\n\nDOING WHAT WE SAY WE'LL DO. Some law firms make big promises at the beginning, then don\u2019t follow through. We shoot straight \u2013 when we tell you something about your case, good or bad, we mean it. No fake promises.\n\nButler Kahn\n10 Lenox Pointe\nAtlanta, GA 30324\n678-940-1444\n","logo":{"url":"https:\/\/yt3.ggpht.com\/NTOsbNEALVOnRbUCg7jUzYGcC4kNKsUTEVHm5TtiTQdLlfFKksLTnmiZG_t6zDG_e4ygtnva=s800-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj","width":800,"height":800,"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=eiwtoQ49ays#VideoObject_publisher_logo_ImageObject"}},"potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=eiwtoQ49ays#VideoObject_potentialAction","target":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=eiwtoQ49ays&t={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"},"interactionStatistic":[[{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=eiwtoQ49ays#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_WatchAction","interactionType":{"@type":"WatchAction"},"userInteractionCount":52}]]},"about":["Wrongful Death"],"wordCount":944,"articleBody":"An autopsy is a surgical procedure to determine the cause and manner of a person\u2019s death. Not every death requires an autopsy. However, an autopsy may be necessary when an unexpected or suspicious death occurs, whether due to illness, injury, homicide, or other suspected factors.What Types of Cases Require an Autopsy?Generally speaking, authorities can order autopsies without consent from the person\u2019s next of kin if the cause of death is unknown and authorities suspect any type of foul play. That could include homicide, suicide, accidental deaths, and unexpected or unexplained deaths. When authorities order an autopsy to gather information and determine the cause and manner of death, it is called a forensic autopsy. Governmental authorities may also order an autopsy if they suspect a person\u2019s death may present a public health hazard. For example, the deceased may have died from a deadly infectious disease or due to toxic exposure. When the authorities order autopsies, a medical examiner conducts and evaluates the autopsy in the medical examiner\u2019s or coroner\u2019s office. In most cases, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation medical examiner\u2019s office completes an autopsy the day or the day after the deceased\u2019s body arrives. After an autopsy is complete, the medical examiner typically determines the cause and manner of death right away and issues their final Autopsy Report within roughly four weeks. If the autopsy is complex or additional testing is required, the medical examiner may require six to 10 weeks before issuing a report.What Deaths Do Not Require an Autopsy?An autopsy is not required for all deaths. Autopsies are generally not necessary when a person dies due to a known medical condition or disease, adequate medical documentation exists to support the assumption of death by natural causes, and there are no indications of foul play.When Must an Autopsy Be Performed Under Georgia Law?According to the GBI, Georgia law stipulates that an autopsy must be performed when:A person dies as a result of violence.A person dies by suicide or casualty.A person dies suddenly despite apparent good health.A person dies unexpectedly and unattended by a doctor.A person dies in a \u201csuspicious or unusual\u201d manner, especially if they are 16 years old or younger.A person under the age of seven dies unexpectedly and inexplicably.A person is executed per the death penalty.An inmate of a state hospital or local penal institution dies.A person dies after being admitted to a hospital in an unconscious state and without regaining consciousness within 24 hours of being admitted.If Georgia law does not automatically require an autopsy, a medical examiner may still decide an autopsy is necessary based on the information they receive about a patient\u2019s manner of death. Georgia law does not require medical examiners to ask permission from surviving family members before performing an autopsy. State medical examiners are also the only ones who can \u201corder\u201d autopsies. However, surviving next of kin can request examinations by contacting the GBI Division of Forensic Sciences. In some cases, a complete autopsy may be mandatory. A full autopsy involves a thorough examination of the body\u2019s exterior and an internal assessment of the body\u2019s major organs. However, if someone dies of natural causes, their medical history demonstrates the likely cause of death, and no foul play is detected, the medical examiner may choose to perform an external or limited autopsy. When medical examiners conduct autopsies, they release reports of their findings afterward. Autopsy reports include the examiner\u2019s opinion regarding the cause and manner of the individual\u2019s death. The five possible manners of death are:NaturalAccidentalHomicideSuicideUndeterminedIn this case, \u201chomicide\u201d does not necessarily mean a person died by murder or manslaughter. \u201cHomicide\u201d simply means a person\u2019s death was the result of another person\u2019s direct or indirect actions.What Should You Do If You Believe You Have a Wrongful Death Claim?If you suspect you may have grounds for a wrongful death claim in Georgia, you can begin taking action by:Contacting a knowledgeable wrongful death attorney \u2013 Wrongful death claims can be challenging to establish and prove. An experienced Georgia wrongful death attorney can help you determine whether you may have grounds for a claim and whether you are personally eligible to file that claim. Under Georgia law, only surviving spouses, children, parents, or personal representatives of the deceased\u2019s estate can file a wrongful death claim.Working with your attorney to prepare your claim \u2013 Your attorney can help you investigate the circumstances surrounding the wrongful death, gather valuable supporting evidence, calculate losses, and determine who may be legally responsible.Negotiating with the at-fault party for a settlement \u2013 Most personal injury and wrongful death cases settle out of court. Your attorney can bring a solid claim to the negotiation table and serve as an advocate for your interests.If necessary, filing a complaint and taking your case to trial \u2013 If the other side won\u2019t agree to a fair settlement, your attorney can pursue your case in court and take it to trial if necessary.Find out How Butler Kahn Can Help You with a Wrongful Death ClaimIf you believe your loved one may have died a wrongful death, the attorneys at Butler Kahn want to help. We are equipped to handle the complex and time-consuming aspects of your case while you focus on grieving and supporting your loved ones. Many families find solace in contacting an attorney to seek justice on behalf of the deceased. When your family is ready to explore the legal options available, contact us for a free and confidential consultation."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Is an Autopsy Necessary in a Wrongful Death Case in Georgia?","item":"https:\/\/butlerfirm.com\/blog\/autopsy-in-wrongful-death-case\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]