Say your car was rear-ended. Or you were bitten by a dog. Or you slipped and fell on a wet floor in a supermarket. It wasn’t your fault. Your injuries were severe. It took you a long time to recover.
Let’s assume further that, a little over two years after the incident, a friend suggests that you see a personal injury lawyer. Perhaps, he advises, you can be compensated for your pain and suffering. You see the lawyer. But you are disappointed when the attorney tells you that you waited too long. The personal injury statute of limitations has expired. Therefore, you will never be able to recover a dime for your pain and suffering.
Simply put, a personal injury statute of limitations is a law that limits the time you have to sue for accident injuries. There may also be other deadlines involved
Normal Deadlines Are Extended Only Rarely, in Unusual Circumstances.
In rare cases, these deadlines can be extended. To obtain an extension, you usually have to prove that you weren’t reasonably aware at first that an accident injured you. For example, if a doctor botches your operation, but you don’t experience symptoms until a month later, the deadline might be extended an extra month.
In most case, though, you will be immediately aware that the accident caused injury. Therefore, you will be bound by the normal personal injury statute of limitations.
Another exception might be if you were negotiating with the other party’s insurer, and the insurer lulled you into believing it would settle the case out of court, to get you to miss the suit deadline.
If you’re injured in an accident, Attorney Michael Pisanchyn recommends that you “see an EXPERIENCED attorney immediately.” This is the only way to ensure that you get the compensation you deserve after suffering an injury that wasn’t your fault.
If you’ve been injured, contact the Pisanchyn Law Firm for a free consultation toll free at 1-800-444-5309 or visit PisanchynLawFirm.com.
