Lawyer Explains Statute of Limitations (or Deadline) in Georgia Wrongful Death Cases

There is a deadline by which a wrongful death case must be filed, as most people know. Lawyers call that deadline the “statute of limitations.” It refers to the deadline by which a plaintiff’s claim (or claims) must be filed with the court.

Under Georgia law, there are different statutes of limitation (i.e., different deadlines) for different kinds of cases. Wrongful death cases are usually treated like personal injury cases for purposes of the statute of limitation.
The general statute of limitations for personal injury cases is two years, so that deadline also applies to wrongful death claims and claims made on behalf of the decedent’s estate.

However, there is an important exception. “Loss of consortium” claims can be brought within four years. In this video, we talk about what “consortium” means and where you can find this rule.

This rule applies in most types of wrongful death cases. It applies in tractor-trailer accidents, car accidents, pedestrian accidents, motorcycle accidents, and bicycle accidents. It applies in shooting cases, product liability cases, and malpractice cases.