What Time Limits Apply to a Personal Injury Claim?
As an experienced personal injury lawyer Harrisonburg VA relies on might tell clients, the medical bills of a severe accident can be just as damaging as the accident itself. When you add lost wages and lost benefits onto these bills, it can get even harder for accident victims to recover physically and financially.
If you’re seeking legal counsel from a personal injury lawyer Harrisonburg VA has to offer, you might already be aware that there are certain time limits that apply to these claims. It’s essential to keep in mind that these time limits can vary from state to state, and that time limits within a state may change over time. For detailed information about the deadlines that apply to your case, it may be wise to speak with a Harrisonburg VA personal injury lawyer.
Standard Statute of Limitations
A “statute of limitations” describes the time limit placed on taking a legal action. In a personal injury matter, this limit defines how long an injured individual may wait to file a claim after an accident occurs. For injuries that develop after a specific accident or incident, the statute of limitations will likely begin counting down from the day of the accident.
States often have general statute of limitation laws that pertain to personal injury cases, unless a specific type of injury case has its own statute. Some states set their general statutes at 1 year, but others may allow for a time limit of up to 6 years. Virginia, like many other states across the country, sets many personal injury claim statutes at 2 years.
Discovery Rules and Extended Deadlines
Many injured victims seek counsel from a personal injury lawyer Harrisonburg VA can provide, because their own situation involves some extenuating circumstances. It’s possible, in some cases, for the injured victim to be unaware of his or her injury until long after the statute of limitations has passed.
A common example is long-term exposure to toxic substances, such as asbestos or lead, which may lead to severe illnesses over a long period of time. “Black lung disease” is a very specific condition that affects coal miners who have inhaled coal dust over several years.
Victims of these injuries might not be able to pinpoint exactly when their condition began developing. Some states have enacted “discovery rule” legislation which may allow injured victims in these situations to file a claim, even after the standard limit has passed. Instead of considering the date of the accident to be the beginning of the statute, the time limit might be measured from the date when the individual discovers his or her condition.
Speaking with a personal injury lawyer in Harrisonburg VA may help you determine if your situation involves any of these extenuating circumstances.
Find a Personal Injury Lawyer Harrisonburg VA Can Count On
If you’ve recently been injured in an accident caused by another person or entity, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Personal injury claims and lawsuits can be incredibly beneficial for accident victims who have sustained traumatic injuries in accidents.
It’s important to have your claim filed correctly before your time limit is up, or you might not be able to file a successful claim or lawsuit. To speak with a skilled personal injury lawyer Harrisonburg VA residents trust about deadlines that may pertain to your own case, contact MartinWren, P.C. today at (434) 817-3100.