Wrongful death claims are civil court actions that award money to close family members who lose loved ones due to someone else’s carelessness. If this happens to you, you have to deal with grief and emotional uncertainty, and you may also face financial uncertainty after losing your loved one’s contributions. You have a limited time to seek money in court after a wrongful death.
Our attorneys at Ponce Law have been a local presence for more than 30 years, helping families like yours cope with the uncertainty sudden deaths cause. We fight for substantial insurance settlements or money awarded by juries. While you may be tempted to ignore the Nashville wrongful death statute of limitations during the grieving process, waiting too long is a huge mistake. Call Ponce Law now to discuss your family’s needs and how we could help you through this trying time.
The statute of limitations is the number of years the law permits you to file a civil lawsuit. Criminal cases, which the state decides whether to bring, are also governed by these limits. In some cases, your civil wrongful death case might be accompanied by a criminal charge. One such example is if a drunk driver killed your loved one.
In Tennessee, you have one year to file a wrongful death lawsuit. This one-year period does not begin when the negligent or reckless act occurs, but rather when the victim dies.
Our attorneys at Ponce Law help families torn by personal injuries and untimely deaths. Justice for our neighbors is our mission, and we aggressively uphold it. When someone else causes you grief and financial instability, they should pay. As the dominant Nashville firm in our field, we could help ensure your wrongful death case is filed according to the statute of limitations.
Many states allow a plaintiff to file a wrongful death lawsuit for two or three years after a victim’s death. Tennessee legislators believe the shortened time limit is important because a potential defendant should not have to worry about the threat of a lawsuit for many years. Also, as time passes, witnesses’ memories fade, and evidence and witnesses could disappear.
Your attorney must obtain hospital records, police reports, and witness testimonies before they are erased or lost. Building a solid case for wrongful death gives our Nashville personal injury attorneys leverage when negotiating with insurers to get you the most money for your losses within the statute of limitations.
According to Tennessee Code Annotated § 20-5-107, the deceased person’s spouse can file a wrongful death action. However, if there is no spouse, the following people are permitted to file wrongful death lawsuits:
A family member who causes a wrongful death is not permitted to bring an action for their losses or receive any proceeds from one. Call Ponce Law in Nashville now if you have questions about the statute of limitations in your wrongful death case.
After someone’s careless act or omission causes your loved one’s death, you have a limited time to recover money for your family’s losses. These losses could be emotional and financial, but they cannot be recouped if you do not file within a year.
You need a lawyer you can trust to help you take on the court system. Ponce Law is the only Middle Tennessee firm to receive the Better Business Bureau’s Torch Award for ethical commerce. The Tennessean has repeatedly named us the top law firm in the city, as tallied from votes in its Best of Music City Awards. Call now before the Nashville wrongful death statute of limitations in your case runs out.
