When you’re in a car accident, your injuries are only the beginning of your problems. You’re also likely to be impacted by medical expenses, lost income, and even the emotional trauma of being involved in a wreck.
Although filing a claim against the at-fault party can help you recover a financial settlement, it’s important to remember that doing so is a time-sensitive issue.
Read on to learn more about the statute of limitations on personal injury in Virginia, and don’t forget you can get help from car accident lawyers in Virginia.
As a form of a personal injury claim, car accident settlements are also bound by the same rules and regulations. From the perspective of a car accident victim, or plaintiff, in one of these cases, the statute of limitations is one of the most important rules to keep in mind.
That’s because the statute of limitations essentially works like a deadline on the amount of time that can pass between the accident and the filing of your claim.
Generally, the deadline to file a claim is two years from the date of the accident.
If you file your claim after the statutory deadline has passed, it could lead a judge to dismiss your petition in court.
For that reason, it’s important to speak to an experienced attorney who can help you with your claim as soon as possible after your accident.
It’s also important to note that under some circumstances, the statute of limitations can be “tolled,” or extended.
This usually happens when the date of discovery of your damages is different from the date of the car accident in question.
For example, let’s assume you suffered neurological damages in your car accident that don’t reveal themselves to you until three months later. That means that the deadline could be interpreted to start running three months from the actual date of the crash.
In these types of cases, it could be up to the discretion of a judge whether or not to effectively extend the expiration date of your car accident claim’s filing time.
If you file a claim with the at-fault party after the deadline has already passed, it’s likely that they will petition a judge to have your case dismissed—which means you would be unable to recover a settlement.
If you’re unsure about the potential impact of the statute of limitations on your car accident claim in Virginia, let an experienced attorney at Halperin Law Center go over your case for free.
When you’re injured in a car accident, don’t let the clock run out on your chance to recover a financial settlement. Our attorneys have the experience and resources you need to help you maximize your settlement. Contact a car accident lawyer with Halperin Law Center.
Call us at 804-527-0100 or fill out the contact form on our website to schedule your free consultation.
At the Halperin Law Center, we believe that people should be held responsible for their actions. If your life was disrupted by an injury, then don't hesitate to take legal action at our Richmond, VA, law firm for the compensation you deserve.... View full business profile here: Halperin Law Center
