Suffering an injury can cause more than just physical pain. It may lead to missing time at work, accumulating expensive medical bills, and losing precious time that could be spent with friends and family enjoying life. When another person\’s negligence leads to an injury, you may have a case for a personal injury lawsuit. There are strict time limits, though. It\’s a good idea to know the statute of limitations for your case, as a personal injury lawyer like one from Yearin Law Office can tell you.
What Is the Statute of Limitations?
Each state has a different amount of time from when the accident happened to file a lawsuit. If you fail to file your claim in this time frame, you may be out of luck unless extenuating circumstances exist. Each state has its own statute of limitations, so act sooner rather than later if you think you have a case.
Does Every Claim Have the Same Time Limit To File?
The answer is no. The time frame depends on the specific circumstances. In every case, the clock starts ticking when the accident happens, though.
What if the Injury Shows Up Later?
Symptoms of an injury don\’t always show up right away. In some cases, PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) may cause life-altering changes and require therapy. You may end up with neck and shoulder pain months after the accident. In some cases, this might give you an extension to file a claim. It is not a good idea to count on an exception, but sometimes it is unavoidable.
What Kind of Proof Is Necessary?
It is crucial to collect all the evidence you can. There are many things you can do to gather information including:
- Taking pictures of the accident
- Gathering witnesses who were there
- Exchanging information with anyone else involved
- Saving your medical bills
- Obtaining a report from your employer of any hours missed
It is also essential to call your insurance company within 15 days to acknowledge your claim. After sending in all the documentation, they can take up to 40 days to accept or deny your claim.
What Happens if a Claim Is Denied?
Don\’t lose hope if your claim is denied. Instead, consider hiring an attorney to represent you. An attorney may be able to negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf and offer guidance on how to proceed if that doesn\’t work. If you have questions about an injury, be sure to contact a personal injury lawyer near you.