Pennsylvania Lawyers: Wrongful Death Statute of

What is Wrongful Death? » Statute of Limitations and Wrongful Death

How the Statute of Limitations Applies to Pennsylvania Wrongful Death Lawsuits

Consult our lawyers about the Statute of Limitations in Pennsylvania as it relates to wrongful death.

Simple explanation: How the statute of limitations applies to fatality lawsuits

Statute of Limitations

The Statute of Limitations is a law that limits the amount of time you have to sue any person(s) who may have caused the wrongful death of your family member. This is called the Statute of Limitations.
The amount of time you have to file a lawsuit or claim for wrongful death varies from state to state, but all 50 states have Statute of Limitation laws. This timeframe varies from just a few months to a few years after the wrongful death occurred.
If the wrongful death was due to negligence by a government, city, or municipality, it could be the time you have to fulfill certain steps in a wrongful death claim is even less than the statute of limitations in many states.

Exception to PA Statute of Limitations

In some cases, if there is a delay in discovering that your loved ones death was related to someone else's negligence, you may have additional time to sue. This is known as the "discovery rule."
Most states have limited and strict exceptions to the Statute of Limitations. These exceptions may extend the time you have to file a lawsuit related to your loved one's death.
You should consult with an experienced, knowledgeable Pennsylvania attorney to find out whether you still have time to pursue a legal claim on behalf of your loved one's estate.

Expiration of the Statute of Limitations

If the Statute of Limitations has expired, your claim cannot be pursued.
Because there is such a difference in state laws with regards to the filing time period, it's important to get advice from a qualified wrongful death attorney as soon as possible after your loved ones death.

Conclusion

Every state has a Statute of Limitations and other deadlines for filing a lawsuit. In order to protect the rights of your family after losing a loved one, promptly consult an attorney experienced in representing estates in wrongful death lawsuits. The longer you wait -- the more risk you face that the Statute of Limitations may expire and prevent you and your family from recovering what you are legally entitled to.
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