According to OCGA §9-3-33, spouses, children, parents, or personal representatives of the estate typically have up to two years from the date of the victim’s death to file their wrongful death claim, although exceptions do apply in some cases. For instance:
If the responsible party is a government entity or employee, there may be shorter deadlines or specific notice requirements that need to be met.
When the case involves a criminal offense, the statute of limitations may be paused (tolled) for up to six years or until the final disposition of the case, whichever period is shorter. Once that occurs, the two-year period would then start running.
You may lose your right to seek compensation if you do not initiate a wrongful death claim within the specified timeframe. An Alpharetta wrongful death lawyer can determine how much time you have left and get started right away so you don’t miss the filing deadline.