No matter whether you sustained injuries in a car crash or a slip-and-fall accident in Pennsylvania, you should consult an attorney to know if you have a valid personal injury claim. If your injuries result from someone’s action, wrongdoing, intent, or negligence, you may have a valid case, provided that the person owed you a duty of care. Philadelphia, PA personal injury attorneys can help determine the worth of your claim, and numerous law firms are around for help. Most lawyers would offer a free initial consultation, and you can discuss the facts of your case in person.
However, you must take action at the earliest because there is a Statute of Limitations in Pennsylvania. This law states the deadline for filing a personal injury lawsuit after an accident. For your help, here is an overview of the statute of limitations in the state.
The basics
In Pennsylvania, the statute of limitations allows two years as the standard time limit for filing an accident lawsuit. This extends to all kinds of personal injury lawsuits, regardless of other factors. The civil lawsuit must be initiated within two years from the accident date. If you lost a loved one in such an accident and want to file a wrongful death lawsuit, you still have two years to take action, but the clock will start ticking from the deceased’s date of death. The date of death could be a date later than when the accident happened.
What if you miss the deadline?
If you decide to sue a party after the deadline is over, your case will most likely be dismissed. The other party will file a “motion to dismiss”, which will be typically accepted. There are a few exceptions to this. For instance, if the injured person is a minor, the two-year deadline will start when the person turns 18. The statute of limitations is important and matters to every personal injury lawsuit.
Call an attorney
While two years may look like a lot of time, the statute of limitations doesn’t extend to insurance claims. Also, if you don’t take action immediately after the accident, you may lose valuable evidence to prove your claim. You can check online for personal injury law firms in Pennsylvania and ask for an appointment. Don’t delay calling a lawyer, as they can start working on the case immediately and gather other details, witness statements, and evidence.