Wrongful Death Lawsuit Timeline

We recently represented two daughters whose father had died in a bad truck wreck in Aiken, SC. In representing these two daughters who were obviously heartbroken and trying to get through the passing of their father, one of their questions was how long this will all take. With a wrongful death case, that question or that response has many, many different variables.

A wrongful death case will take longer than other types of cases. A wrongful death case involves, often, filing claims not only in civil court but also in probate court. There is the matter of having to open estates and have wrongful death cases approved by judges. They are a bit different than your typical case because they do involve the death of someone. Wrongful death cases often take a long time because of the insurance carrier that you’re dealing with, as well. If you’re dealing with an unreasonable insurance company, like any other case, it can take a very long time to resolve the case. You may even have to file a lawsuit and go through months, perhaps even a year, of litigation before you can even get to a position where you’re able to settle your claim.

Whatever you choose to do, you need to find an attorney who has experience in litigating wrongful death claims, an attorney who has experience in litigating claims against insurance companies, and who has successfully litigated claims against these insurance companies; it will affect how the insurance company evaluates your case, and it will affect, ultimately, how much money you get in the end. If you have any questions about a wrongful death matter, please contact us.

Have you lost a loved one due to someone else’s negligence and have questions about the wrongful death lawsuit timeline?