If you find yourself the victim of another person’s actions, you probably have a strong case to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, after the injury you probably have a lot on your mind. As one of the personal injury lawyers in Pennsylvania might explain to you, your top priority should always be to get your injury tended to by medical professionals. You will then have to handle medical bills, getting your life back on track, and more. It can be hard to find the time to file your claim, which raises the question of how much time you have to file. There is a time limit and it is referred to as the “statute of limitations.” What you should understand is that statute of limitations can change; therefore, it is advisable to ask the personal injury lawyers in Pennsylvania about the statute that may be applicable to your own case.
The Statute of Limitations
The time limit you have begins to count down at the time of the injury. If the statute of limitations is one year, for example, then you can file a claim up to exactly one year after the injury. The specific statute of limitations differs from one state to the next and from one type of claim to the next. When you utilize the personal injury lawyers in Pennsylvania, such as those from Wieand Law Firm, we will be able to inform you of exactly how long the statute of limitations is in your case.
It is important to realize that the statute of limitations limits how long you have to file a claim. It does not mean your case needs to conclude before it runs out. However, it does take several days or weeks to file a case so you should not wait until the last minute to file. If you file after the statute of limitations expires, the judge will likely throw your case out. Bear in mind that even if the statue is, for example, two years, it could differ in your own case. For instance if you did not discover the injury until three years after the incident, you may still be able to pursue compensation. The personal injury lawyers in Pennsylvania, from Wieand Law Firm can listen to what happened and let you know what options are available.
How Long Is the Statute of Limitations?
For personal injury cases, the statute of limitations is almost always two or three years. However, there are 10 states where the statute of limitations for personal injury cases is longer or shorter. These exceptions are:
- Kentucky – One year
- Louisiana – One year
- Tennessee – One year
- Wyoming – One year
- Florida – Four years
- Nebraska – Four years
- Utah – Four years
- Missouri – Five years
- Maine – Six years
- North Dakota – Six years
In general, the statute of limitations for Pennsylvania is two years. Minors who were injured may have until they turn 20 years of age to file a case. Again, it is always a good idea to research the laws surrounding personal injury in your state. Each state handles things slightly differently, so being informed is wise. You can likely get a free consultation with the personal injury lawyers in Pennsylvania. This will allow you to get more focused information quickly and easily, and should always be one of the first steps you take to prepare for your personal injury case.
Personal Injury Lawyers in Philadelphia in Your Corner
The attorneys at Wieand Law Firm have seen the impact that a personal injury can have on a person and their family. We take immense pride in representing plaintiffs just like you, standing in your corner and helping you as you begin to put the pieces of your life back together.
From the moment you become a client of Wieand Law Firm, you have a team of competent, caring professionals who can use their years’ of experience to make a strong case on your behalf to defense attorneys, insurance agents, judges, and juries so that you get fair compensation for your claim. Call on of the injury lawyers available from the Wieand Law Firm today. We are here to help.
