Understanding Statute of Limitations
By: SmithSEO | Posted: 18th December 2009
If you are considering filing a personal injury claim, it is important to understand what statute of limitations is and how it might affect your case. Most states require that personal injury claims are filed within a reasonable period of time. If you don't file within that time frame, you lose the ability to collect adequate compensation for your injuries. However, that reasonable period of time will fluctuate from state to state and situation to situation. It is important to know the factors that might affect your statute of limitations to ensure you have time to get the full amount of compensation you deserve.
The State
State law has a direct impact on your statute of limitations, because each state has its own set of laws governing how much time a victim has to file a personal injury claim. The average time is anywhere from one to two years, but this is a very general rule. To find out the statute of limitations in your state, you can find listings of statutes of limitations on the Internet. You can also contact a personal injury lawyer in your state to get up to date information from an experienced professional.
The Injury
Your statute of limitations may also vary based on the type of injury you sustained. Some injuries and illnesses won't show up right away, so the statute of limitations may begin with the actual diagnosis of the problem, rather than when the accident occurred. Wrongful death also has its own statute of limitations for survivors in most states. The best source of information about statute of limitations for your particular injury is from a personal injury attorney who specializes in the kind of injury you sustained.
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