How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit?
The length of time to file a car accident case – the statute of limitations is what we’re talking about. The statute of limitations varies from one state to another.
In Tennessee, where I do most of my work, it’s one year from the date of the accident. In Missouri, where I also work, it’s five years from the date of the accident.
So you have to be very careful. Get an attorney; let them investigate your case.
There are other reasons for doing it early, like interviewing witnesses, preserving evidence – things like that, that tend to dry over time.
And the statute of limitations – the time bar to filing a case in an accident – is absolute. It doesn’t matter how egregious your case is or how appealing it is or how terrible it would be if it were barred. Once that date passes, that’s it, and there’s no two ways around it. It’s absolutely barred forever. So you really need to pay attention to that and move early on it.
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