Georgia Wrongful Death Statute of Limitations

Every state has a limited timeframe during which a wrongful death lawsuit can be filed. The Georgia wrongful death statute of limitations is typically two years, though it may vary depending on the circumstances of the case. Failing to file a wrongful death lawsuit during this time may make you ineligible to recover damages for your loss. If you have recently lost a loved one because of another party’s actions or negligence, you should contact an experienced wrongful death attorney as soon as possible to avoid letting the statute of limitations run out.

The law stating that a wrongful death lawsuit must be filed two years after the incident has exceptions. In some cases, victim’s family does not discover the cause of death right away. For example, if a death is ruled as an accident, but the family later discovers that the cause of death was actually murder, the family’s statute of limitations may begin after this discovery.

In cases involving personal injury, the rules regarding statute of limitations are even more complex. For example, suppose a man suffers injuries as the result of a slip and fall at a grocery store, but lives for two years without filing a personal injury claim against the establishment. If the man later dies of complications from the injuries after the statute of limitations runs out on the personal injury case, the man’s family may be ineligible to file a wrongful death claim against the grocery store.

The statute of limitations and amount of damages that may be recovered vary from case to case. If you have suffered the loss of a loved one, you should speak to one of the wrongful death attorneys at Head, Thomas, Webb and Willis. Our attorneys can explain the statute of limitations in your case and help you file a wrongful death lawsuit against the responsible party.

As soon as you hire an attorney at Head, Thomas, Webb and Willis, we can begin building your case in order to make sure we meet the state’s deadline. Please contact our law firm today with any questions you may have regarding your wrongful death case.