How Long Do You Have to Pursue a Wrongful Death Claim in Washington State?

When you are faced with the tragedy of losing a loved one, you should know that you may be eligible to pursue a wrongful death claim. The Washington wrongful death lawyers at Schauermann Thayer can help your family fight for justice and accountability. 

Washington law imposes a time limitation, referred to as a “statute of limitations”, on wrongful death claims. The general rule is that you have three years from the date of death, or the time when you learned that your loved one’s passing was wrongful, to file a lawsuit against the responsible party. Even though three years seems like a long time, you should take steps to begin the legal process as soon as possible.

Get in touch with the attorneys at Schauermann Thayer to learn whether you may have a wrongful death claim. We handle cases in a tenacious manner, while showing families compassion during difficult times.

You Have a Time Limit on Your Wrongful Death Claim

Every personal injury case has a statute of limitations. Claimants do not get unlimited time to pursue legal action. This is because it would be fundamentally unfair to make a potential defendant deal with a lawsuit at some undetermined point in the future, long after they have evidence available to defend against a claim.

In Washington, you would generally have three years from the date of your loved one’s passing to initiate a wrongful death lawsuit. The statute of limitations is a firm and strict deadline. After it passes, you can lose the right to seek financial compensation altogether. 

While you generally have three years from the date of death to file a wrongful death case, the “discovery rule” may apply.  Under the discovery rule, the statute of limitations time clock begins to run from the moment that you realize that you have a claim. In some cases, your family may not know right away that your loved one’s death was wrongful. 

The statute of limitations is a firm deadline. It does not matter whether you miss the deadline by one day or one year; you would still end up with the same result: losing the legal right to pursue a claim. 

Because of the strict requirements related to the statute of limitations, you and your family should not wait to contact a wrongful death lawyer. Usually, the longer you wait to hire a wrongful death lawyer, the harder it becomes to prove a case, because evidence may be lost and witness memories may deteriorate. 

Contact a Washington Wrongful Death Law Firm Today

If you have tragically lost a loved one due to someone else’s actions, get legal help from the experienced wrongful death lawyers at Schauermann Thayer. The first step that you can take is to contact one of our attorneys to schedule a free initial consultation. Visit our website, or call us today at (360) 695-4244 to speak with a determined lawyer.