What deadlines apply to filing a wrongful death lawsuit?
You should assume that a lawsuit should be filed against the responsible parties within one year of the date of the injury that later resulted in death. If death was instantaneous, you should file suit within one year of the death. If there was a delay of one year or more between the date of the injury and the date of the death, you should file a personal injury lawsuit before the one-year anniversary of the personal injury and amend the lawsuit after the death to include a wrongful death claim. There are several circumstances under which more or less time may be available. We recommend that you contact us as quickly as reasonably possible after an injury to determine what legal rights you have, including a determination of when legal action must be taken. Do not assume that you still have time to bring a case, or that the time has run to bring a case, unless you have received advice from a competent lawyer who has been informed of all of the relevant facts.
Related Questions
- Are there any risks for filing a lawsuit in Florida seeking damages for personal injuries or wrongful death?
- In Florida what are the Statute of Limitations for filing wrongful death lawsuit or personal injury lawsuit?
- Can surviving heirs sue for the pain and suffering of the deceased person in a wrongful death lawsuit?
