Personal Injury Lawyer

After you’re injured in an accident, you probably don’t want to think about all the legal issues just yet. You’re focused on mentally and physically recovering, and you just want to take care of yourself. While this is understandable, it’s important you realize you may have a limited amount of time to file your lawsuit. As soon as you’re physically and mentally able, or if you can have someone help you while you’re unable to do it yourself, you should get started with your lawsuit.

The Statute of Limitations

Every state has something called the statute of limitations. It’s a time limit for which you have to file any type of lawsuit. For each type of case, there is a different time limit, and they also vary from state to state. This is why it’s important you speak with a lawyer to truly understand how long you have to get your lawsuit filed.

For example, in Missouri, you could have up to ten years to file a medical malpractice lawsuit. If you confuse that with a personal injury lawsuit, you could be in trouble, as Missouri only allows for five years to file for personal injury. If you live in Montana, you only have three years to file your personal injury lawsuit, but your friends just over the border in North Dakota have six years. As you can see, it’s critical you understand the statute of limitations specifically for personal injury in your state.

Extensions of the Statute of Limitations

There are limited situations that extend the time frame you have to file your personal injury lawsuit, regardless of the state in which you live. For example:

• If your injury resulted in you becoming comatose, you wouldn’t have the conscious knowledge of your injury or the ability to seek compensation. Instead, the statute of limitations would begin after you woke from your coma and a doctor declared you mentally competent to understand what you’re faced with.
• If your injury occurred while you were a minor, you could have more time to work on a case. Minors cannot bring a lawsuit for personal injury, but as soon as you turn 18, you can begin the process. The statute of limitations would begin on your 18th

Learning More About Personal Injury Timelines

A lawyer could be your biggest advocate when you are injured in an accident. To learn more about personal injury cases and the timelines associated with them, contact your lawyer today. Contact an attorney like a personal injury lawyer, at the law offices of Davis & Brusca, LLC, for more information.