Limitations for Personal Injury Claims

One of the most difficult things in life is dealing with a personal injury, especially one caused by using something one thought to be safe. The law literature is full of stories. People buying furniture, for example. In one case, a man in his 60s bought several kitchen bar stools. Some time later he sat in one, and it gave way; one of the legs had broken. The man injured his tailbone, and took months to heal, making worse a back condition he already had. He pursued an accident claim with the help of solicitors and won a judgment. People expect products to be quality tested and to do what they are intended, especially things like furniture, but in today's market of planned obsolescence, the consumer is really up against the wall in many cases.

Whether the case is something like the above, or actually involves things like catastrophic accidents, for example, being hit by a car, lives can be changed irrevocably by personal injury. In cases like this it is your right to file a claim. Something that is not talked of much is the statute of limitations on when you can claim. In the UK, you usually have a period of up to three years to make a claim. However, if you experienced an accident before reaching the age of 18, you are entitled to make a claim up until you are 21. This would include a road traffic accident, whether you were the driver, a passenger, cyclist, motorcyclist or pedestrian; if you were involved in an accident which was not your fault and sustained an injury.
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This is especially useful to know if you have had an accident or personal injury where extenuating circumstances have made your life miserable since the injury. The law allows for this time period, and you should consult a personal injury lawyer to see if it fits your case.