Too Late to Sue for Wrongful Death?

Whether you live in St. George, Utah or outside the state, there is usually a time limit associated with when a lawyer can file a case. There are various statutes of limitations that determine whether a lawsuit is still feasible in different states. Wrongful death cases also have their own statutes of limitations and they change between states as well.

One of the most important factors for a case in St. George and the rest of the United States is the “discovery of harm” rule. In most cases it is important to determine when the clock starts ticking on a case. The most important thing that needs to be taken into consideration for this is when the person filing the suit knew or should have known that they had received an injury.

Depending on the situation, you may or may not have a lot of time after the actual event to file a claim with your lawyer. For example, a major car accident or a slip and fall accident will make their damages known quite quickly—if not immediately. Wrongful death is even more clear-cut than that. The simple question is: “When did the person die?” Loved ones do not have a lot of time after the death to file.

St. George is no stranger to lawsuits, especially ones that involve a death that occurred because of a negligent act or service. The death of Kaden Jones happened just earlier this year after his diabetes got out of control after the first day at a basketball camp. The family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit for the death of their son.

In another case, also earlier this year, in St. George, police officers shot and killed Benjamin Schroff, who had robbed a bank and took two hostages on a car chase through the city. Family members who would have liked to file charges were not able to because the actions of the police were deemed justified.

Wrongful death lawsuits do have a time limit to them, but thankfully there is many a qualified lawyer in cities throughout the nation who are able to assist families to file in a timely manner. Time is truly of the essence when it comes to these things. While it may be hard for a family not to grieve or cope with the death of a loved one, it is important to file at the right time before it’s too late.

Nate Myers is a legal writer reporter for Fusion 360, an SEO and content marketing agency. Information provided by Robert J Debry.