Personal Injury Lawyer

Filing a lawsuit for a personal injury can be a long and tedious process, one that you may want to put off because it never feels like the right time. However, you can’t put it off for too long. Each state has its own statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits. A person who has been injured in an accident only has a certain amount of time that they can file a lawsuit. Once that time passes, the lawsuit is no longer relevant, meaning you could lose out on valuable compensation you need to repay medical bills and other costs. Here’s a basic guide to understanding how a statute of limitations affects you.

What Is a Statute of Limitations? 

Sometimes you need time to recover, take care of personal needs and focus on filing a claim. If you discover that your claim isn’t being met justly by an insurance company, or there are discrepancies surrounding guilt, you may look into filing a lawsuit to receive your rightful compensation. Your state has a deadline — a statute of limitations — in which you can decide this and file a lawsuit. Pass the date, and you can no longer file it.

What Is the Average Statute of Limitations Deadline?

The deadlines vary immensely from state to state. Generally, two to three years is a good guess if you don’t yet know. However, some states are as short as one or as long as six. One of the first things you should check when filing a claim or considering to file a lawsuit is your state’s specific laws.

What Is the Discovery Rule? 

A discovery rule is when some new information about the accident emerges later. If this happens, which isn’t uncommon, the general statute of limitations can be pushed back, or simply restart once that information comes forth. For example, if someone discovers they are injured several weeks after the accident, the statute of limitations may not start until then. It may also start later if it’s eventually proven that someone else was guilty of causing the accident that resulted in an injury.

How Can a Lawyer Help? 

Even making an initial consultation with a lawyer about your personal injury and the statute of limitations can be beneficial in getting you off on the right foot. Lawyers have a good understanding of state laws and can help determine if you should file a lawsuit. Contact an attorney like a personal injury lawyer, at the law offices of Davis & Brusca, LLC, for more information.