A statute of limitations is a law that sets the maximum time a party has to initiate legal action. The maximum length of time a person has to bring a wrongful death lawsuit in California is two years from the date of the accident.
Lawsuits and preparation for lawsuits take a lot of time. The process can be extremely complex depending on your case. That is why it is important to obtain legal representation as soon as possible. If you allow your two-year timeframe to lapse, it is very unlikely that you will be able to recover damages at all.