Have you been hurt because of someone else’s carelessness? If so, you must get paid for your medical bills, lost pay, and pain and suffering. That being said, you need to be aware of a very important time limit: the statute of limitations.
This law gives you a certain amount of time to file a personal injury case. If you miss that date, you can face devastating consequences. To learn more, get a legal consultation today.
How Does the Statute of Limitations Work?
Every state has the same law called the “statute of limitations.” It says exactly how long someone who has been hurt has to file a case. This date is different in each state, but it is usually between one and six years after the accident happened.
In most cases, the clock starts running on the date of the accident or event that hurt the person. But there are times when this is not the case, like when the damage was not obvious at first.
Why is there a statute of limitations?
There are several reasons for these time limits. They make sure that proof stays new, which makes it easier to figure out who is responsible. Also, they keep the accused from having to defend themselves against old claims, where witnesses may not be available or memories may have faded. The statute of limitations also supports fairness by pushing people to act quickly and stopping cases from going on forever.
What could happen if you miss the deadline?
If you miss the statute of limitations date, you will be punished severely. You have until this date to file a claim, or the court will probably throw out your case, no matter how good it is. In other words, you are no longer allowed by law to ask for money to fix the damage you caused. This can be very bad for your finances, especially if someone gets hurt badly and has to pay a lot of medical bills.
Exceptions from the deadlines
People do not always have to follow the strict rules of the statute of limitations. Sometimes, the date can be pushed back, which is also known as “ticking the clock.” This could happen if the person who was hurt was a child at the time of the accident.
Also, if the responsible party’s name was not known at first, the clock might not start until that information was found. However, these exceptions are not always possible and depend on the state.
Protect your rights.
You can not say enough good things about knowing the statute of limitations. it is important to talk to a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible if you were hurt because of someone else’s carelessness.
An expert can tell you what the statute of limitations is for your case and make sure you file on time to protect your right to pay. Do not wait for your chance to get justice to pass; be bold and know the dates.
