In Personal Injury Cases, Time is of the Essence
Everything in life has an expiration date, and the possibility of bringing a personal injury claim to court is no exception. If you have suffered from a personal injury due to an automobile accident or otherwise, it is important for you to pursue your claim as soon as possible, once you have made the decision to do so. Every jurisdiction in every state in the country has what is known as a “statute of limitations” for every possible claim that can be brought to court. A statute of limitations is essentially a time limit for how long you can wait to file a claim. If the statute of limitations expires for your particular type of claim you can no longer bring it to court, or recover any damages for the harm suffered. With regard to injuries stemming from an accident, time limits can range from one year to six years, depending on the state. Also, personal injury claims are not always considered a blanket category. The statute of limitations in New York, for example, is two and half years for medical malpractice, but different for other types of personal injury. To know how much time you have your own personal injury claim, you should consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer.
In California, a personal injury claim has a statute of limitation of two years. It is important to know when the statute of limitations begins to run, so you have an accurate idea of how much time you actually have to bring a claim. In most jurisdictions, the statute begins to run after the discovery of the harm, not necessarily from the moment of the accident. There is a limit to the definition of discovery if the person who suffered the harm should have known that the pain they are experiencing required medical attention and they put off seeing a doctor for an extended period of time when a reasonable person would not. As soon as you realize you have been in an accident which was not your fault, you should initiate personal injury proceedings with the aid of a personal injury attorney.
Keeping track of the statute of limitations, and then taking the steps necessary to file a suit, while bolstering the merits of your case with evidence, statements, and records is no easy feat. You can help yourself immensely by seeking out the help of a personal injury lawyer. If you live in California, the Los Angeles-based California Attorney Group has a full roster of excellent personal injury lawyers whose collective experience and skill sets combine years of trial, settlement, negotiation, and pretrial personal injury expertise. Making the decision to file a claim for personal injury is never easy, but it is the right step to take if you have been wronged. Do not lose the opportunity to find justice and receive the full compensation you deserve by having the wrong attorney by your side. Contact the California Attorney Group today, and receive the best representation for a personal injury suit available to you.
