Know About Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury in California
Personal injury—workplace injury, fall and slip on a premises, medical malpractice, or motor vehicle collision—is not something anyone wishes for. Everyone wants to be healthy to pursue their life’s goals and aspirations. Unfortunately, numerous people sustain injuries due to another person’s negligence daily.
If you find yourself in this situation, you may be eligible for damages from the at-fault party. However, you must act swiftly due to the statute of limitations, which is the time limit for instituting a personal injury claim against an at-fault party.
This short piece sheds light on California’s statute of limitations for personal injury.
The California Statute of Limitations
California’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims is two years. The clock begins to tick on the date the incident occurs.
However, if you did not discover the harm immediately or it took you some months to be aware of it, you have one year from the date of discovery to file a lawsuit.
Also, you can file a wrongful death claim for a loved one’s death in an accident. You also have two years after your loved one’s demise to institute the claim against the at-fault party.
Dealing With the Government
Dealing with the government can be more challenging for many reasons. For instance, if a municipality, local government, city, or county is responsible for your injuries, you have just six months to bring a claim against them. A governmental tort claim is often restrictive and can prevent you from obtaining a reputable attorney’s guidance.
Furthermore, the government has the money and influence to engage the best attorneys for their defense. That is why you must not handle the issue with levity. “Persistence and resilience are key when seeking compensation from the government,” says personal injury attorney Ryan Block of Block LLP Injury Law Firm.
The Compensation You May Be Eligible To
Personal injury victims are often eligible for economic and non-economic damages. However, as observed earlier, you need strong legal counsel to win fair compensation.
You may be eligible for compensation, including medical expenses, pain and suffering, future medical bills, lost earnings, disfigurement and scarring, incapacitation to earn in the future, and loss of consortium (lover). Others include emotional distress and PTSD, denial of enjoyment of life, burial and funeral expenses (for wrongful death), and property damage.
You can get thousands of dollars with solid evidence and a skilled attorney.
Also Read: The Benefits of Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer
The Need for a Personal Injury Attorney
From the discussion thus far, you should act promptly to avoid instituting claims after the statute of limitations has expired. Hesitating unnecessarily will deny you the opportunity to engage a skilled legal representative and collate extensive evidence for a favorable outcome.
Understandably, an accident’s anxiety may make you confused and become inexplicably fearful. However, you should never forget the impact of financial compensation on your medical care and other needs during troubling times.
You must protect yourself and defend your family’s financial future. That is why you should promptly engage a California personal injury lawyer after an accident. Let the attorney focus on the legal battle while you focus on healing.
The law will not tolerate excuses if you allow the statute of limitations to expire. When this happens, you will lose at both ends—you will care for your injuries for yourself and bear the brunt of a failed financial future. Hence, always engage a reputable lawyer who enthusiastically takes up your case for a desired outcome.
