How Long Do You Have To File A Personal Injury Claim?
If you've been injured in an accident, it's important to act quickly. Here are some of the deadlines you should be aware of.
Your Insurance Claim Deadline
Always report any injuries to your insurance company by the deadline in your policy. This is usually a few weeks or a few months. If you don't meet the deadline, your insurance company won't pay you anything or assist with your claim.
The reason you need to keep the option of your insurance company paying open is that there's never any guarantee that you'll win your personal injury lawsuit against the other party. However, your insurance company will pay a covered claim regardless of fault as long as you meet the conditions of your policy. In addition, your insurance company will often help you with filing a personal injury claim but only if you've followed the claims guidelines in your policy.
Legal Statute of Limitations
If you're considering the possibility of a lawsuit, you also need to be aware of the legal statute of limitations. The statute of limitations is the deadline to file a lawsuit. It keeps people from worrying about being sued for anything at any time during their life and also helps make sure evidence is fresh. The statute of limitations varies by state but is usually measured in years.
The problem with the statute of limitations in injury cases is that it can take time to discover the full extent of your injuries and know your exact losses. It can also take weeks or months to put together a lawsuit, so you can't wait until the last minute to contact an attorney because you might miss the deadline to file your lawsuit. The solution is to meet with an attorney as soon as possible after your injuries and go for a full medical evaluation even if you don't feel like you were injured.
Practical Concerns
You also need to think about practical reasons for filing your injury claim as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the harder it is to get evidence. The defendant can also argue that you got hurt doing something else, and the jury might question why it took you so long to file your claim. This doesn't mean to rush since that can also hurt your case, but you need to act as soon as you can.
To learn more about when to file a personal injury claim, contact a local personal injury lawyer today.